FAMILY CINEMA
Do you remember the old drive-in theaters and “buck night,” where the whole family loaded into the car to go watch some “B” movie? Like the ones where giant, nuclear-radiated insects ate everything in their path, including the National Guardsmen foolish enough to empty their pistols at them? In the end, the insects were stopped and the hero rescued the girl and won her heart. While the action unfolded up on the big screen, everyone in the car chowed down on hot dogs and popcorn. In a flashback to those good ol’ days, “movie night” at ClubCorp clubs has caught on in a big way, coast to coast, and has re-created the drive-in scene — without the bug-spattered windshield.

In Hendersonville, Tennessee, Bluegrass Yacht & Country Club’s “Family Float-In Movie Night” usually draws about 150 flick-loving moms, dads, and kids, according to general manager Paul Belcher. Families play together in the pool until dark, then relax on floats or pool lounge chairs to watch family movies on a big screen, with better quality than we usually got at the old drive-ins. Keeping the grill and snack bar open late justifies free admission to family movies such as Charlotte’s Web, Elf, Happy Feet, How to Eat Fried Worms, and a fitting summer title, Are We There Yet?

At Hunter’s Green Country Club in Tampa, Florida, movies are part of a monthly, themed, kids-only Saturday night, allowing parents a night away from the kids, and vice versa. Kids get a nice dinner and enjoy recent movies such as Ratatouille as they munch popcorn and sip sodas. But they also take part in a bevy of games, arts and crafts, contests, and group activities like cooking classes. With the help of the club’s chef, the young cooks bake easy stuff like muffins and chocolate chip cookies, then get the pleasure of eating them. Kids even have a chance to bellow out some karaoke.