Golf, Recreation & Fitness

At Mount Vernon Canyon Club in Golden, Colo., a snow day means something other than skiing or sledding. “I had to stop classes indoors, because of cautions over how many people we could have together,” says Lili Bell Shelton, Wellness and Fitness Director. She started researching the possibilities for outdoor “snow-ga” and discussed the concept…

With families’ travel plans on hold and team sports cancelled, 2020 saw a significant boost in activity around clubs’ pools. The lessons learned from safely handling the added traffic are now being applied to preparations for another active year.

With the annual PGA Merchandise Show forced to go virtual in 2021, golf professionals had to change the way they brought in new products for their pro shops.

To boost the overall member experience and appeal to multigenerational visitors, Boothbay Harbor Country Club in Boothbay, Maine, has maximized its reputation as a full-fledged fitness destination.

Minimal-resistance training is helpful in building strength to improve movement. While yoga and pilates classes can help with flexibility and overall body awareness, they tend to be more than what most golfers are looking for. A variety of fitness options—as well as educating members in basic nutritional knowledge—will increase the value of a membership while…

Juniors are the future of golf, and a commitment to quality junior programs must be a large part of your Player Development Program.

The days of selectorized gym equipment machines are behind us, yet we have been slow as an industry to make the investment to upgrade to the proper equipment. An important aspect of member retention and use is making sure the current offerings of the gym meet the users’ demands.  The current trend is for more…

If your club has made the decision to dedicate space to building a golf performance center, now is the time to determine the budget, members’ needs and what equipment and technology will fill those needs. Here are some key steps any plan should follow:  • Begin with a budget. We all dream of what a…

With clubs having to temporarily shutter facilities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, on-site fitness-center usage came to a standstill. But novel ways were found to bring exercise regimens to members as they sheltered in place. At The Landings Golf Club, wellness operations moved outdoors. “We now safely conduct almost 40 group fitness classes per week…

Advancements in equipment are often credited (blamed) for the massive distance increases we’re seeing on the PGA Tour, but Keke Lyles, Director of Fitness and Recreation at The Bridges Rancho Santa Fe, says there’s more to the story. “Country clubs and resorts have the unique ability to provide a massive resource to the everyday golfer as…

Club + Resort Business’ Second Annual Awards recognize The Quechee Club in Hartford, Vt. for promoting a variety of new racquet-related events and introductory programs that generated a 122 percent increase in play by encouraging members to pursue new ways to have fun while remaining active. Also, The Country Club of Buffalo (N.Y.) earned honors…

Club + Resort Business’ Second Annual Awards recognize The Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe (Calif.), which introduced its Richard C. Helmstetter Performance Centre in the summer of 2020. In addition to lessons and club fitting, a stocked bar and games such as Zombie Tag on the simulator offer entertainment options for non-golfers as well.

Club + Resort Business’ Second Annual Awards recognize The Club at Keowee Key in Salem, S.C. for hosting a triathlon that boosted member participation and provided an outlet for in-person fitness in a pandemic-friendly format, and the Detroit (Mich.) Athletic Club for transforming part of its multi-story garage into an open-air group-exercise studio and fitness center.

Club + Resort Business’ Second Annual Awards recognize Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis, Mo. for transforming a wedge range into Tucker’s Trail—a plot of land that has become home to a short course with three greens and three sets of tees to each green. “The members and juniors are utilizing the course as a…

Whether they’re used to conduct lessons, fit golfers for new equipment or just to provide pure entertainment, clubs are dedicating more space for indoor simulators that are also proving to be invaluable for member retention and recruitment.