Club and resort properties are designing pools to be exciting multi-purpose spaces that can help them achieve their future goals.
In our time-crunched, multitasking society, summers remain sacred. As school lets out and a familiar sense of freedom flows through the air, it’s hard to resist the lure of the great outdoors. Welcome to pool season—the time of year when clubs and resorts come alive with members and guests eager to socialize, play and kick back for some fun in the sun.
Providing the perfect blend of recreation and relaxation, pool facilities are a hotbed of activity during those sweet 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Pools are often one of the most widely used areas of a property in season, attracting members and guests of all ages. “The pool is the most social of all of the recreational amenities of a country club,” says Howard J. Murphy, Jr., CCM, General Manager of Providence Country Club in Charlotte, N.C. “That is why they are so important.”
As clubs and resorts become more dynamic and family-focused, the pool has clearly become an increasingly valuable amenity. In fact, pools can help clubs achieve their overall goals to attract more families, increase club usage, boost event business, and provide a well-rounded social experience—or all of the above. And now that another summer season has drawn to a close, this can be the best time to rethink how existing pool areas can be redesigned, or new ones can be created, to maximize the splash they can make as a popular gathering point.
SUMMING IT UP
• Members and guests are demanding all-inclusive, resort-style pool operations.• Separating lap pools and family pools can help to offer something that everyone can enjoy. • Versatile pool facilities can help boost special-event business. |
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Attracting young families was top of mind when Merrill Hills Country Club, in Waukesha, Wis., renovated its pool facility from a standard lap pool and wading pool into a versatile facility that is now part waterpark, while still serving many other practical purposes. Now in its third season, the pool has met the club’s goal to attract new members. “As we tour families around the property, the pool is often a deal-maker,” says Ryan Doerr, General Manager.
The club now has a zero-entry activity pool, with water jets, a water archway, a mushroom fountain and a three-story waterslide. “The slide appeals to teenagers and preteens, and plenty of adults go down it, too,” says Doerr. “The activity pool has increased total family pool usage.”
A 10-foot walkway connects the activity pool with a junior Olympic lap pool, which is used for the swim team, diving, water aerobics, lap swim, adult swimming programs and even water basketball. “Our pools are so versatile; there is something for everyone,” says Doerr. “We’re appealing to members with young children, grandparents who bring their grandkids, adults and teenagers who enjoy a waterpark experience, and people looking to use the pool for fitness, too.”
Backyard Getaway
Today’s discerning members and guests expect club pool facilities to rival those of upscale resorts. The management at Tucson (Ariz.) Country Club knew its antiquated pool couldn’t compete anymore. Built in the 1950s, the club’s former pool hd a 12-foot diving well with a one-meter diving board, along with six swimming lanes that sloped gradually deeper. Further, a new state law required all pools with starting blocks to have racing lanes that were six feet deep from one end to the other.
In 2008, the club embarked on a $1.1 million pool facility renovation, to create more of a resort setting. “We didn’t want to simply put another concrete hole in the ground,” says Donald E. Beaver, Jr., CCM, General Manager/COO.
The new facility boasts two separate pools, a splash pad and a playground. The original L-shaped pool was reconfigured into the “Family Fun Pool.” The racing lanes were transformed into a zero-entry area, with a small slide for young children. The former diving well was filled to 3½ feet as a catch pool for a 97-foot, double-loop water slide. A splash pad with bubblers and water cannons was also installed.
The second pool is an eight-lane, salt-water lap pool that stretches six feet to six feet on each side for its six racing lanes. The remaining two lanes slope gradually from three feet to six feet, providing a shallower space for water aerobics and one-on-one swimming instruction.
The club also added a sound system with XM Radio, state-of-the-art lighting, and cushioned furniture. Tropical plantings and flowers further enhance the pool deck, while large palm trees and coconut mulch were strategically planted between the Family Fun Pool and the lap pool, to create a bit of separation between the families and the more serious swimmers. This separation also allows the club to host swim meets in the lap pool, while keeping the Family Fun Pool open.
“This new design gave us the freedom to do more multitasking at the pool,” says Beaver.
The club’s pool revitalization has paid off. Since the pool opened in May 2009, the swim team has almost doubled in size, from 75 children in 2008 to 148 children this year. In the last two years, 50 young families have joined the club. Plus, the club has seen a 400% increase in snack bar revenue at the pool, and another 400% increase in guest revenue.
Strategic Setups
Keeping members comfortable at the pool calls for pool setups that cater to a property’s demographics and climate. Providence CC set up its pool area to keep members cool, comfortable and engaged. The club now has three pools: a toddler pool with a watering system, a slide pool for kids and teenagers, and a 10-lane competition pool for the swim team and adult swim. A large awning-covered deck area with lounge chairs and tables is set up between the toddler pool and the slide pool. “The awning area is a great place for parents to sit in the shade while they are watching the kids in both pools,” says Murphy.
In addition to the large awning areas, the pool deck also has a combination of cushioned and strap-style lounge chairs set up to surround all three pools. Umbrella tables are positioned around the competition pool to provide shade as well.
“The entire pool complex needs to have different age groups in mind,” says Murphy. “That is exactly why our slide pool is next to the toddler pool. Putting in the pavilions to sit under was all methodically planned. Parents want to be able to sit in the shade to watch their kids, but they still want to be connected.”
Providing shade to members was also a top priority at the Tucson CC pool. “Arizona has some of the highest rates of skin cancer in the country,” says Beaver. “So, we have large umbrellas over the splash area, we have a large canvas that stretches over the entire playground, and there are umbrellas all over the pool deck.” Additionally, a large overhang with a misting system and paddle fans stretches over the cabana and snack bar areas.
Eating Out
As members and guests enjoy a pool area, the last thing they want to do is interrupt a day of play to head inside for a bite to eat. Yet, health-conscious parents and swimmers are now looking for more than just ice cream, potato chips and soda at poolside snack shacks. Well-rounded food and beverage operations will go a long way at the pool.
Merrill Hills Country Club’s poolside snack bar is more gourmet deli than greasy spoon. This past year, members requested healthier and more substantial choices at the pool, and the club happily obliged. Along with traditional grill fare, gourmet sandwiches, wraps and salads were added to the menu.
The club also offers members plenty of space for enjoying their meals. They can bring their food to their chairs on the pool deck, or sit in the open-air or screened-in patios adjacent to the pool. During the offseason, the screened-in patio doubles as a storage area for the patio furniture.
Of course, more extensive food and beverage operations require more space for poolside kitchen operations. Properties that aren’t ready to do a pool kitchen build-out can still plan ahead.
For example, Tucson CC wanted to make sure its new pool was a success before investing in full food and beverage operations at the pool. So the club incorporated the necessary electrical and plumbing fixtures and outlets into the pool facility design. “When the time comes to build a tiki hut, outdoor kitchen and/or a satellite bar and grill, we’ll be able to do that,” says Beaver.
Poolside Events
Versatile pool settings can also boost event business. Providence CC hosts a number of private and club-wide events at its pool. For private parties, the pool can be dressed up with a tiki hut, twinkle lights, floating candles and hanging lanterns. With 260 kids on the swim team, though, swim meets are the top draw, bringing 400-500 people to the club per meet. A huge tented buffet takes over the entire front lawn of the clubhouse and attracts swim team families and non-swim team members alike.
To host such a wide range of events, pool storage is a must. Providence CC has a special storage building adjacent to its pool that is used for bleachers, pool furniture and other supplies that are moved in and out as needed.
Pools also allow clubs to get a bit more creative with events. For example, one of the most popular member events at TPC Sugarloaf Country Club in Duluth, Ga., is the annual “doggy happy hour,” which takes place on the last day of pool operations each year. Members can bring their dogs to the pool for a full family pool party. The club incorporated this event with a charity drive for a local animal shelter, and it is a favorite event among the membership.
Whether the pool is bustling with day-to-day play or special events, this social hotspot can draw in members of all ages. “You have to take the entire family into consideration,” says Doerr. “The pool is one thing at a club that everyone can enjoy. If there is a good pool program and facility, it adds value to the country club.”
Playing It Safe
Pools are not all about fun and games. In fact, pool facilities are one of the most high-maintenance areas of a club, with some of the strictest safety standards. Keeping members and guests means being serious about safety, with these areas now meriting special attention. Drains: The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act was passed in 2008 to prevent drain entrapment. Existing pool and spa drain covers must be retrofitted to meet new standards. Slides: With the increasing popularity of waterslides comes additional safety concerns. Depending on their size, slides need at least two Red Cross-certified lifeguards (one at the top and one at the bottom). Member and Guest Access: Tucson Country Club in Tucson, Ariz., installed a member access key fob system, which scans an electronic device before unlocking the door. This system allows the club to track who is using the pool and when, and ensures no one can enter the pool during unauthorized hours. |
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