Clubside at Cherry Valley

Pros

• The location is beautiful, with a friendly atmosphere and great food.
• The golf is great, the pro shop is nice, and the bartenders are great.
• The course is very nice, and the pro shop is very friendly.
• The club offers a wonderful full-service country club experience with great food.
• The golf course is lovely and the facility is beautiful, providing a thoroughly enjoyable day.
• The club hosts great events for families.
• The staff are welcoming and accommodating, making event setups seamless.
• The hors d'oeuvres are delicious.
• The venue is stunning and the perfect size for a group of about 100.
• The space accommodates a dance floor, a bar, a DJ, and a photobooth.
• The cocktail hour and the main meal were delicious.
• CVCC is highly recommended for weddings.

Cons

• The new management has not been responsive to membership concerns about golf tee times and other issues.
• They are limiting memberships and will only allow one person per membership to book on weekends.
• They adopted a punitive no-show policy that charges the first player in a foursome for all no-shows, which is described as absurd.
• Management was not transparent about these changes and unwilling to make concessions to the membership.
• They claim these are corporate-wide policies, which members have found to be untrue, leading to boycotts.
• The club has lost three wonderful golf pros in nine months and cannot keep a good chef.
• The recent changes have made the club feel bad and people do not want to spend time there anymore.
• For non-golfers, there is little value in the club.
• A guest reported being mocked with their name, implying discriminatory treatment toward a South Asian guest.
• A guest had an expensive headcover stolen and staff said there was nothing they could do, telling them to file a police report.

Review

Cherry Valley Country Club sits in a beautiful setting where a friendly, welcoming atmosphere greets guests from the moment they arrive. Reviewers consistently praise the scenic golf course, the well-appointed facilities, and the overall sense of hospitality. The golf itself is described as very good and well maintained, with visitors noting that the course layout is thoughtful and that carts and other amenities are modern and convenient, such as golf carts that actually charge USBs. The pro shop earns high marks for its staff, with Dean singled out as professional and hospitable, and countless guests describe the on-site team as welcoming, helpful, and approachable. The combination of a gorgeous location, solid golf, and attentive service forms the core impression many reviewers carry away.

The club's strength isn't limited to golf. It's portrayed as a full-service country club with a breadth of amenities and activities that appeal to families, couples, and individuals alike. The facilities span a range of sports and recreation options - indoor golf simulators, lawn tennis, pickleball, bocce, basketball, swimming, a well-equipped gym, and yoga classes - along with kid-focused spaces like a creche and play areas. Parking is generous, and the dining and bar operations receive frequent praise for variety, quality, and consistent service. The food scene gets special emphasis, with some reviewers noting standout dishes and a generally reliable experience, including options that cater to vegan and vegetarian diets. A recurring sentiment is that CVCC provides a complete, comfortable environment for meetings, social gatherings, and casual outings as well as for formal events.

Wedding and event experiences are a standout feature for CVCC, with several couples and organizers highlighting how the venue fits a wide range of needs. The ballroom and outdoor areas create a romantic, relaxed backdrop for celebrations, from weddings to anniversaries and company gatherings. Reviewers consistently applaud Melissa Dill, the event sales director, for her responsiveness, efficiency, and ability to accommodate diverse and sometimes cross-cultural requests. The feedback emphasizes smooth event setup, help with vendor coordination, and attention to both detail and guest comfort. Guests speak highly of the overall experience - especially the quality of the cocktail hour and main courses - and many recommend CVCC wholeheartedly for weddings, praising the venue's capacity to adapt and to achieve a polished, memorable event.

Within the member and guest community, the club earns praise for its evolving leadership and the changes brought by new management. Some longtime members have expressed concern about policy shifts - such as limitations on who can book on weekends, the way no-show penalties are applied, and the broader corporate-style approach to membership and tee times. They describe a period of upheaval, with several golf pros leaving and culinary talent shifting, which left the club feeling less cohesive and more transactional to some. Yet even these critiques acknowledge that the course remains in strong shape, the golf staff is capable, and the gym, tennis, and pickleball facilities are thriving. A late-2023 update reflects a more tempered view: despite ongoing price increases and some policy friction, the new golf pros are well-regarded, and there are tangible signs of positive change around the course maintenance and staff engagement. It's clear that CVCC's leadership and policies are a living story, with supporters hoping for continued improvement and stability.

The quality of the golf experience itself is consistently commended, even among those who have concerns about management. Commentators note that the course is pristine and well laid out, with dedicated staff members - such as Greg, the course superintendent - receiving praise for maintaining high standards. The club's physical improvements - like a new gym and enhanced tennis facilities - and the ongoing modernization of amenities (including convenient charging in carts) contribute to a perception of CVCC as a club that tries to stay current and comfortable for its members and guests. Some reviewers even call it an elite private club, while others acknowledge that there are moments when the facility feels more like a public venue in terms of policy rigidity. Still, the consensus remains that CVCC delivers a compelling, multifaceted experience that can be ideal for golf outings, business meetings, family events, and social gatherings alike.

Not every note is purely positive, but even the criticisms are balanced by practical experiences and personal resolutions. A few guests recount incidents such as the unfortunate theft of a personal item and the ensuing response from staff, which, while not ideal, are presented as isolated events rather than representative of the club as a whole. Others point to a responsiveness gap during certain periods, especially related to membership concerns and weekend tee-time bookings, but several reviewers also acknowledge improvements in leadership, updated staffing, and a more member-focused approach as part of the ongoing adjustment process. Observations about weather, temperature, and indoor accommodations during outdoor events remind readers that CVCC can adapt to conditions, ensuring comfort and enjoyment regardless of the climate.

Overall, Cherry Valley Country Club emerges as a versatile, enduring destination with a strong core of golf excellence, a comprehensive and well-run set of facilities, and a reputation for warm hospitality. It is especially lauded for weddings and events, where Melissa Dill and the CVCC team shine in turning aspirations into seamless realities. The club's beauty, coupled with a broad range of activities and a staff committed to service, makes CVCC a compelling choice for both casual visits and landmark occasions. While some members navigate growing pains associated with changes in management and policy, the evidence across reviews suggests a club that remains deeply valued by its community, capable of hosting memorable experiences, and poised to continue refining its offerings for the years ahead.

Physicians

• Menla Health Care (2.4 miles)
• Princeton Dermatology Associates (2.5 miles)
• Princeton Regional Orthopaedics PA (2.5 miles)
• The Derm Group (2.6 miles)
• Princeton Orthopaedic Associates, P.A. (2.7 miles)
• Princeton Medical Group PA (2.7 miles)
• Princeton Eye Group (2.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Brick Farm Tavern (2.5 miles)
• Tiger's Tale (3 miles)
• Mediterra Restaurant (3.1 miles)
• Hoagie Haven (3.4 miles)
• PJ's Pancake House & Bakery - Kingston (4.7 miles)
• Amalfi Cuisine (6.3 miles)
• Applebee's (6.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• CVS Pharmacy (2.5 miles)
• Lyn Farrugia Homeopathy (3.3 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.3 miles)
• Wegmans (5.6 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (5.7 miles)
• Walgreens (6.4 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (6.6 miles)

Places of Worship

• Blawenburg Reformed Church (2.9 miles)
• Princeton University Chapel (3.4 miles)
• The Parish Community of St Joseph (9.7 miles)
• St Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish (10.8 miles)
• Baps Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, New Jersey (11.1 miles)

Hospitals

• University Medical Center of Princeton at Plainsboro (5.2 miles)
• Capital Health Medical Center (6.9 miles)
• Trenton Psychiatric Hospital (11.3 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (5.2 miles)
• Starbucks (6.1 miles)
• Starbucks (7.2 miles)
• Grover's Mill Coffee Company (8.8 miles)
• Van Gogh Cafe (10.2 miles)
• Panera Bread (11 miles)
• Starbucks (11.2 miles)

Parks

• D & R Canal State Park (5.9 miles)
• Rocky Top Dog Park (5.9 miles)
• Veterans Park (8.8 miles)
• Mercer County Park (8.8 miles)
• Cadwalader Park (10.7 miles)
• Washington Crossing Historic Park (10.9 miles)

Transportation

• NJT - Princeton Junction Station (6.2 miles)
• Hamilton Station (8.9 miles)
• Trenton-Mercer Airport (TTN) (9.6 miles)

Theaters

• Regal Commerce Center & RPX (11.2 miles)