Getting the most out of your locker room starts with a comfortable design that invites members to spend the day on-site.
Out of sight does not mean out of mind when it comes to locker rooms. While locker rooms may not draw in members and guests like restaurants and golf courses do, they are often among the most utilized spaces that set the tone for the overall club or resort experience.
“Do not underestimate the importance of the locker room,” says Robert Babyok, General Manager at Hidden Valley Country Club in Salem, Va. “Don’t let your locker rooms fall into disrepair. You need to keep them updated, stylish and appropriate for your members.”
SUMMING IT UP
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For the Ladies, By the Ladies
As the industry continues to become more family-friendly, clubs and resorts have come to recognize the value in catering equally to male and female members and guests. That means providing women with the same high-quality locker-room accommodations that are often standard in men’s locker rooms.
When the female members of Hidden Valley were fed up with their lackluster locker room, they took matters into their own hands by launching a renovation effort. “The ladies’ locker room was in deplorable condition; it was embarrassing,” says Babyok. “There was poor air handling, poor lighting, lockers that were in disrepair and outdated, and worn-out finishes and equipment.”
A group of involved female members banded together to organize and fund a major renovation. “They had a lot of talent within their group and had many great ideas,” says Babyok. “These were active women who had visited many other clubs. They used good taste and good logic to create a new and improved locker room that they could be proud of. It was a legitimate movement from within.”
The goal for the new locker room was to modernize the space with an upscale country club style and design. To do this, the former locker room was gutted and transformed into a warm, welcoming space for the women to enjoy.
Members and guests are now welcomed into Hidden Valley’s new women’s locker room by a cozy living room arrangement, complete with an upholstered couch, plush chairs, coffee tables and table lamps. The locker area features light-brown wood lockers with shelving and shoe racks for golfers. The wet area houses showers, restrooms, sinks and vanity areas.
The locker room also has a snack bar area with a large wooden buffet table that offers popcorn, snacks, cold beverages, coffee and tea. Adjacent to the snack bar is a 20-by-20-sq. ft. ladies’ card room. The card room has card tables, a bookcase used for a book exchange, comfortable seating and contemporary artwork by local artists.
“The locker room is a very warm, comfortable environment that also has a touch of class,” says Babyok.
Since the renovation, Hidden Valley’s female members and guests have taken full advantage of their new space. “This renovation was an important way to meet and exceed our female members’ expectations,” says Babyok. “Often, the way women feel about the club determines how often families or couples use the club. And locker rooms are very important to our female members.”
Onward and Upward
The men’s locker room at Green Tree Country Club in Midland, Texas, hadn’t been updated since it was built in 1983—and it was time for a change that would appeal to the club’s younger demographics. “The average age of our members has continued to drop over the last three years,” says Ron Dunn, Chief Operating Officer. “We wanted to give them a modern, up-to-date locker room.”
Along with the outdated ‘80s design and décor, space was a pressing issue. “Our members outgrew the space,” says Dunn. “We didn’t have room for everyone in the locker room, card room or the small bar area, especially during tournaments.”
The biggest challenge, however, was that the club did not have the single-level square footage to build out and create a larger locker room. “We were basically ‘landlocked’ in all directions; so we toyed with the idea of moving up,” says Dunn.
The result? A locker room that was previously confined to the first floor, to house a locker/changing area, wet areas, a card room and lounge, was gutted and transformed into a larger locker room without the card room or lounge. The card room and lounge were then moved to the second floor of the clubhouse. The upstairs card room can be accessed through the locker room via two stairways and one elevator.
Thwarting Locker Room Theft
Theft has become an increasing problem in club locker rooms across the country. Whether thieves are targeting big-ticket items like cell phones, computers and tablets, or property-provided toiletries such as toothbrushes, razors and pain relievers, clubs and resorts are looking for ways to address and eliminate locker-room crime. Todd Dufek, President of the Locker Room Managers Association (www.yourlrma.com), offers these tips for keeping your locker room safe.
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“The guys were actually pushing to move the card room and lounge upstairs,” says Brian McKinley, PGA Head Golf Professional. “This solution allowed us to double the size of the locker room, as well as the card room and lounge.”
Green Tree’s locker room now has a comfortable, masculine style. The locker area consists of a series of rich mahogany lockers that have brass plates with the locker numbers and members’ names. There is also a central seating area with soft leather seating and a couple of televisions.
One of the biggest improvements is the redesigned wet area. The former communal shower was replaced by two individual showers. The wet area also has two individual restrooms and a vanity area with stately wood finishes and leather and brass appointments.
“The locker room is an area where men can be men, and many of our members have told me how much they enjoy being in the new locker room,” says Dunn.
The club is currently reframing a number of pieces by LeRoy Neiman (known for his brightly colored paintings of sport and leisure activities) to match the new locker room’s darker wood tones. “It is really nice artwork, and reframing it will make a huge difference in giving these pieces a more up-to-date look,” says Dunn.
The next phase of Green Tree’s renovation plan includes a similar renovation of the ladies’ locker room. “The women have chosen their furniture and appointments,” says Dunn. “The ladies will have individual locker stalls, a nice vanity area, large mirrors and a card room. They have chosen a lighter color palate and more feminine décor for their locker room, but they are being treated the same way as the men and will have a great locker room.”
The club is already seeing the benefits of the men’s locker room renovation through an increase in guests that has brought a doubling in guest fees over the last two months, compared to the year before. “Before this renovation, our members were feeling embarrassed to bring clients, friends or family into our locker room,” says Dunn. “Now they are coming in, giving tours and really showing off the area.”
Simple, Yet Significant
Although the locker room at the McDowell Mountain Golf Club in Scottsdale, Ariz., is small, it is no less mighty. When the club added a restaurant to the property, management realized that adding a locker room was the logical next step.
“We wanted golfers to be able to store their belongings, shower and change their clothes here, so they would be able to stay for dinner,” says Chris Johnson, General Manager. “It was a great way to keep them at the club and increase club usage.”
The locker room has a modern, Southwestern style decorated with framed photos of Phil Mickelson, the club’s owner, and masculine black, brown and green tones. The tiled wet area of the locker room has two showers, three sinks with engineered black stone countertops, two urinals and two bathroom stalls.
The locker and changing area has dark green carpeting, brown leather benches and 24 faux-wood lockers that are free of charge and available for daily use. The back of the locker room houses a television tuned to the Golf Channel, and a buffet table with magazines is positioned against the wall.
“Although our locker room is pretty basic, I think the most important thing is that is has nice décor and finishes, and is a clean and inviting space,” says Johnson.
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