Monaco’s yachting history began in 1862, when Prince Charles III held the country’s first regattas. Within a century, Monaco became synonymous with yachting—and that led Prince Rainier III to establish the prestigious Yacht Club de Monaco. The invitation-only sailing club has a contemporary clubhouse designed by Sir Norman Foster to mimic the sleek lines of the superyachts moored in the adjacent harbor.
How you can get in
Unlike many of the clubs on this list, the Yacht Club de Monaco is somewhat transparent about its membership application. You must first be nominated by two existing members, after which your application will be reviewed by HSH Prince Albert II, President of the Yacht Club de Monaco, and the admissions committee. New membership reviews occur twice per year.
The Colony Club (New York City, New York)
Established in 1903, the Colony Club was New York’s first women’s private social club. “The clubhouse…is used by some of the smartest women in society,” wrote The New York Times in honor of the club’s first birthday. Its first clubhouse on Madison Avenue had quite the design pedigree; it was designed by Stanford White and decorated by Elsie de Wolfe. But the club moved to a specially commissioned neo-Georgian building by Delano & Aldrich on Park Avenue in 1916, with Ms. de Wolfe furnishing the interiors here too.
How you can get in
The Colony Club is still a women-only club (though men are welcome to visit the clubhouse as guests), but otherwise, its membership process is not public information.
Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle (Dornoch, Scotland)
At the close of the 19th century, Andrew Carnegie purchased Skibo Castle, deeming it “heaven on Earth.” Today, the 8,000-acre property is a private club named after the famous industrialist, and it’s an elegant country retreat for its members; facilities range from a golf course to an equestrian center to a spa. Accommodations include 21 guest rooms in the Edwardian castle to 13 estate lodges spread across the grounds. Oh, and did we mention that Madonna and Guy Ritchie got married here?
How you can get in
The Carnegie Links golf course has limited tee times for the public, but the rest of the estate is reserved for members. Applying for membership is fairly straightforward—you’re welcome to contact the club for details. But applications are only considered sporadically, and only a select few will be invited to join the ranks.
