For any students looking for some fun off campus, perhaps the Links Club is your next hangout spot. Offering an array of activities depending on the night of the week. Be it an impromptu comedy set, karaoke, trivia, to practice your golf swing or in my case line dancing, the Links Club has it all.
“I really wanted to create a fun space for all ages. Where you don’t need an I.D. to get in, we have both a bar and plenty of non-alcoholic options, elevated bar food and something different happening every night,” said April Montgomery, the owner of Links Club, located in Carmel.
On Oct. 21 I got to dance and chat with Amanda Ramsier, the instructor of the line dancing at Links Club. Having a passion for the hobby back when she lived in Sacramento, Ramsier wanted to find a place here to keep grooving. “I used to go to Stonies in Sacramento, and I haven’t been able to find a place out here until now. So I am super excited to officially form the community here and start having little hoedowns,” said Ramsier.
Through a sorority event that featured line dancing, Ramsier’s roommate decided to give her name to the owner of Links Club, and before she knew it she found herself hosting and teaching every other Wednesday at the venue.
“We usually have anywhere from 15 to 20 people, all who have different levels of experience with line dancing. I try to go over simple steps before we hop into each dance because each dance is so particular to that specific song. So I try to go over the basics like grapevines, box steps, jazz boxes, and from there we hop in. In the first couple repeats I am teaching, then after that we are all just dancing and having fun together. What’s great about line dancing is that the song just repeats itself over and over again on all four walls, so even if you aren’t getting it at first you have plenty of time to keep trying until it clicks,” says Ramsier.
Not only is she instructing the dances, but Ramsier is also curating the music. “I pick the music, learn all the dances, but I will also take requests. I try to add in a few country swing songs into the mix as well. That way couples can have a cute moment out here too.” During the night, Ramsier announced to the group that she was pivoting to “Neon Moon” by Brooks & Dunn for any of the couple who wanted to come out and have a more intimate slow moment together.
Her goal is to keep the tunes culturally relevant, picking songs like “Achy Breaky Heart” by Billy Ray Cyrus, “Good Time” by Alan Jackson, “Shut up and Fish” by Maddie & Tae and “Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)” by Big & Rich. She hopes that each week she can teach dances to songs that people are hearing right now on the radio and in social media to keep things feeling relevant and fresh.
Jordan Grant, a frequent visitor to the area that calls Idaho home, took to the floor and requested to lead everyone in a dance.
“I grew up in Montana, and actually live out in Idaho now. But my boyfriend lives out here so whenever I come out to visit we come out to the Links Club for some fun. I learned the dance in middle school, and it’s my favorite one to pull out for occasions like this,” says Grant.
“Links is awesome, a great way to meet new people and line dancing is a great way to get exercise and a fun way to get the body moving,” concluded Grant, before running back to joining her partner in virtual golf.
So if you are a student looking for something to do, that’s not super far from campus, consider checking out Links Club . Located in the Carmel Plaza, Suite 101, between Ocean Avenue and Mission Street, in Carmel-by-the-Sea. To follow along with what events are taking place you can check out the clubs instagram account @linksclubgolf or check out their website. If you want to take a swing at swing dancing and perfect your grapevine, the next line dancing event hosted by Ramsier will be taking place on Wednesday, Nov. 11.