The club is aiming to transform into a spot for the whole family, with plans for an aquatic center with pool house, remodeled basketball and tennis courts, and a golf course redesign.
Sylvania (Ohio) Country Club is undergoing renovations intended to change it into a resort-style spot for the whole family, the Toledo (Ohio) Blade reported.
When the club opened its doors in 1916, it was centered on serving mainly male needs and the supreme sport of golf. The traditional club was uninviting to children, said General Manager Boris Gradina. Society has changed, and now women are often the decision makers when it comes to choosing a country club, he said, adding that families want a place where they can socialize together, the Blade reported.
Sylvania Country Club hired St. Louis consulting firm McMahon Group to identify consumer demands and trends that ultimately guided the estimated $2.5 million to $3 million upgrade project. The study identified “how to create a modern, appealing club,” Gradina said.
The changes were voted on by the country club’s 375 members, some of whom are investing in the remodeling projects, Gradina said. It will transform the club’s sprawling 160 acres into a recreational destination for the whole family. The upgrades will tie into its centennial celebration in the spring of 2016, the Blade reported.
This fall, the club began expanding its pool and making improvements to the surrounding area, which will become an aquatic center. Scheduled to open by Memorial Day 2015, it will contain a splash pad, water fountains, a slide, and a giant sand pit, the Blade reported.
A 4,100-sq. ft. pool house with a full-service cafe will replace the snack shack, said Jennifer Kuns, the club’s marketing director. The club’s basketball courts also will be remodeled, she said, and the space will have an open configuration with a breezeway leading to the tennis courts, which will also be replaced, the Blade reported.
One of the larger undertakings is set to begin next fall, with a redesign of the 18-hole golf course. It will be constructed in phases over the next couple of years, Gradina said. Designed by J.Drew Rogers Golf Course Architects, the course will be “customized for all levels,” the Blade reported.
“You can be a beginner and enjoy the sport or be an expert and still be challenged,” Gradina said.
The members-only restaurant located in the clubhouse is also getting a facelift. The Grille Room, set to open in spring 2015, will be remodeled with a bar-centered dining area and a modern look. Kuns said the updates are aimed to drive membership, the Blade reported.
“We have already seen more traffic this fall. Our members are spreading the word for us,” she said.
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