How White Lake Yacht Club Modernized a Century-Old Sailing Tradition with Clubspot
By Fritz Baldauf
With Clubspot, White Lake Yacht Club was able to modernize and consolidate its software systems into one smooth workflow.
On the eastern shore of Lake Michigan, White Lake Yacht Club (WLYC) has been shaping local sailing and social life since 1903. The club is known for its historic clubhouse, its deep ties to the regional sailing community, and its role in developing generations of sailors. With direct access to both protected inland waters and Lake Michigan, it occupies a unique place in Midwestern yachting. Its legacy is built on tradition, but delivering that experience today requires modern infrastructure behind the scenes.
The Problem
Before adopting Clubspot, much of the club’s infrastructure relied on manual processes and disconnected systems. Information lived across spreadsheets, and workflows depended on staff knowing where to look and how to piece things together.
WLYC General Manager Jake McLouth was not at the club at the time when they made the decision of what software platform to use, he shares what he has heard about the software experience prior to Clubspot.
“Before I got here [and before we were on Clubspot] a lot of things were done by spreadsheet, so it was a problem of not having everything consolidated into one place. You would need to find whatever spreadsheet that you were keeping… It’s hard to stay organized without a software system that does it for you… Manual work was that old sticking point that Clubspot solved.”
This lack of centralization created inefficiencies across operations and made it harder to deliver a consistent experience for members. Staff spent time managing systems instead of focusing on service, and the absence of a unified platform limited visibility into day-to-day activity.
The Solution
White Lake Yacht Club ultimately chose Clubspot to replace its fragmented systems with a single, unified platform. McLouth Elaborates:
“While I wasn’t here when the decision was made, I’ve heard everyone say that Clubspot was the clear winner. It has a lot more functionality. The price is worth it… It’s an all-in-one platform, and you can really do everything that a country club or a yacht club needs it to do, and that’s the reason that it’s the clear winner.”
The goal was to consolidate operations into one system that could support both staff workflows and member interactions without added complexity. Clubspot provided that foundation, along with a level of support that the club viewed as essential.
“What we expect [out of our software] is what [Clubspot is] doing, which is great. The customer service is great, and that’s one of the biggest parts. We expect to have good customer service to help us with software, and [Clubspot] completely delivers on that,” McLouth says.
The onboarding experience reinforced that expectation and ensured the transition was smooth.
“Everything I heard about the onboarding process was that it was excellent. Bryce [Kopp], who helped us, was great. Everybody talks about him. Everybody loves Bryce. They’re like ‘wow Bryce is so helpful. Everything I heard was that the onboarding experience was excellent. I’ve worked with Bryce as well [on customer support], and he’s great, super helpful.”
The Results
The impact of Clubspot showed up quickly in the way the club operates every day.
Processes that once required manual tracking and coordination are now managed within a single system. Core functions like point of sale and event registration became significantly easier to manage, reducing administrative burden and improving accuracy across the board.
The shift has allowed staff to spend less time tracking down information and more time focused on delivering a high-quality member experience. Members benefit from a more seamless way to interact with the club, whether they are signing up for events or making purchases.
The result is a more efficient operation and a more consistent experience that aligns with the club’s reputation and standards.
When asked what he would say to another club considering the switch to Clubspot, McLouth kept it simple:
“I would say that it’s going to be able to handle all of your needs, and you’re going to have great customer support when you work with them… It’s well priced and it’s going to serve your club well. I would say go for it and that we don’t have any regrets at all.”
Want to modernize your club’s software just like White Lake Yacht Club did? Book a demo today.
