If you have ever wanted to try curling, you have come to the right place. The Granite Curling Club schedules open houses to introduce the public to our great sport. Never tried curling before but want to do so? An open house is just what you're looking for! Our instructors will teach you the basics of curling and play a short game with you. The cost is $25 per person or $60 for a family. Answers to many common questions about open houses can be found below.
Reservations are Open!!
We now offer the opportunity to reserve a time spot at our open houses for your group.
***New Youth Helmet Policy***
Effective January 2016, all participants under the age of 12 must bring and wear a helmet while on the ice. We will not be making exceptions and the club will not be providing helmets. Properly fitting bicycle, skateboard, ski, snowboard, and hockey helmets are examples of typically acceptable options. There are others which can also work, and the event coordinator will have the discretion to approve or reject adequacy of head protection. Please contact the Open House Coordinator with any questions.
Open House Schedule
2016 - 2017 Open House Schedule:
Open House dates for the season are listed below. Reservations will be available for each session one month prior to the event date.
***Open House reservations in September are subject to change/ cancellation dependent on progress of repairs to the ice arena.***
Sunday September 11 - 1:00pm - 5:30pm (Event Canceled)
Wednesday September 14 - 7:00pm - 10:00pm (Event Rescheduled)
Sunday September 18 - 10:00am - 5:00pm (Registration Closed)
Tuesday September 20 - 7:00pm - 10:00pm (Registration Closed)
Saturday October 1 - 1:00pm - 5:00pm* (Registration Closed)
Saturday November 12 - 1:00pm - 5:00pm (Registration Opens October 12th)
Saturday December 17 - 1:00pm - 5:00pm (Registration Opens November 17th)
Saturday January 7 2017 - 2:00pm - 6:00pm (Registration Opens December 7th)
Tuesday February 21 2017 - 7:00pm - 10:00pm (Registration Only Available at (US National Championships)
Saturday February 25 2017 - 10:00am - 5:00pm (Registration Only Available at (US National Championships)
Sunday February 26 2017 - 10:00am - 2:00pm (Registration Opens January 26th)
Saturday March 11 2017 - 10:00am - 6:00pm (Registration Opens February 11th)
*Annual Chili Cook Off follows October 1st Open House 5:00pm - 9:00pm - all are welcome!*
The open house I want to attend looks like it's full. Can I make a reservation?
If you click into an open house and get a message that it's full, then unfortunately all reservations for that day are currently booked. However, we may have cancellations. You may email openhouses@curlingseattle.org and request to be put on our waiting list. **Due to volume of requests you may not receive a response unless space becomes available.**
Do you have more open houses after March 26, 2016?
Our regular curling season ends in early April. After March 11, our next open houses will be in September 2017.
I didn't make a reservation. Can I still attend an open house?
Yes you may. We will fit in walk-in guests as we have space. Note that we cannot guarantee that we will have space for you, but even in our very busy Olympic open houses, we were able to accommodate almost all walk-ins. Your chances of success are pretty good if you are prepared to hang around the club and wait for someone to no-show. You are also more likely to be successful if your group is small or willing to split up. We are very likely to be able to accommodate two people, but are much more unlikely to fit in a group of 8 that insists on staying together.
Are there any other ways that I can try curling at Granite?
Generally, the only other way that a non-member can try curling at our club is with a private group event. Please see Group Events for more details. (If you're a member of another club and are visiting Seattle and want to curl at our club, please contact us directly.)
Okay, I plan to attend one of the open houses. What should I wear?
Wear loose fitting pants like sweatpants or yoga pants - not jeans - and a sweatshirt. You should dress in layers - it can be chilly on the ice, but you heat up quickly once you start playing and sweeping. Bring clean flat-soled comfortable shoes. (Tennis shoes or sneakers work well. Running shoes that are wide work less well.)
How much does it cost?
$25 per person, with a $60 maximum per family. "Family" means a family, not a group. Please do not ask us to allow you to pay $60 for a group of 8 non-related friends, for example. We do not offer a group discount.
Is there a waiver to sign? Are there any age limits? Can kids or teens curl?
All curlers are required to sign a waiver before going on the ice. Waivers will be provided at the club, or you can save time by downloading the waiver, then print and sign it, and bring it with you. Curlers under 18 years of age must have a waiver signed by a parent or guardian before going on the ice. If a parent isn't coming to the event, you can download the waiver, then print and sign it, and send it with the child.
We recommend that kids under 7 do not attend our open houses. Instead, please consider our Junior Learn to Curl program. On the ice, an adult should accompany children under 10.
Can I bring a group?
Yes you can, but please make a reservation. That will allow us to plan for your group. Groups will not be signed in or allowed on the ice until all group members have arrived at the club. Please make sure your group is all at the club 15 minutes before your reservation time.
If your group is too big to book via the reservation system, please email the Open House Coordinator and let us know how many people you would like to bring so we see if we can fit you in.
If you are planning on a group of 20 or more, please consider a Group Event . With a Group Event, you can ensure that you all learn and curl together, and you have use of the lounge for food and socializing.
What happens at an Open House?
The Open House process goes something like this:
- You arrive, sign a waiver and pay $25 ($60 family max).
- Depending on how busy we are, you may have to go upstairs and wait for your group to be called.
- We clean your shoes and fit rubber grippers on them to protect our ice surface.
- Your instructors lead you through some stretches, safety guidelines, and information about the game.
- A group of 8 - 10 people goes out on the ice for some curling instruction and play.
- Once your lesson is done, you can visit us upstairs for snacks and to learn more about curling and our club.
We have 5 sheets of ice, so we can optimally accommodate around 40 people at any given time. If we are very busy, we may have larger groups or less time on the ice.
Generally you will be on the ice for 1-2 hours which includes instruction and a small game. If we are very busy, and you do not have a reservation, you may have a long wait to get on the ice. Avoid a long wait by making a reservation!
What is the difference between an Open House and Practice Ice?
Open Houses are held at selected times during the curling season, and are open to the public. If ice is available, club members can curl at no charge, but open house guests have priority for ice time.
Practice Ice (and any unused open ice) time is for club members to practice or play pick-up games.
Can I just come and watch?
Yes. You can watch the action through windows overlooking the ice sheets. There are plenty of warm comfortable seats and friendly people are available to answer your questions and explain the game. There is no charge if you just come to watch.
OK! That was fun! How can I play more?
You're always welcome to attend more open houses! But if you want to curl more, you should consider joining a League or planning a Group Event.
I am a Granite Curling Club member. How can I help?
We need volunteers to help as greeters, shoe cleaners and instructors. If you would like to help at one of the upcoming open houses, please email the Open House Coordinator. Many thanks.