Last week we posted the Amenity of the Year winners for public courses. Today we’re sharing the winners of the private clubs.
Entries were judged on how well the addition achieved its goals, as well as on aesthetics and financial benefit. Judges for the event included Golf Inc. editors; Casey Paulson, president of sales and operations at Driftwood Golf and Ranch Club, 2015 Golf Inc. Development of the Year honoree; and Darryl Bartlett, senior project manager at NMP Golf Construction.
FIRST PLACE
Aquatics, fitness, spa
Reynolds Lake Oconee-Richland Pointe
Greensboro, Ga.
When this master‐planned resort community began developing a prime peninsula into a lakefront residential project several years ago, the ownership envisioned a place with a unique community within a community where a generation of active member‐residents could gather and enjoy a slew of new and distinctive outdoor lifestyle and fitness‐oriented amenities.
Designed by Kuo Diedrich Chi Architects, the new 11,000-square-foot Wellness and Fitness Facility at Reynolds Lake Oconee-Richland Pointe is highlighted by five well‐appointed treatment/group exercise rooms, Technogym Biocircuit equipment, a yoga lawn and an infinity‐edged adult relaxation pool. The new 35‐acre village was planned with elements of open‐air, laid back living and indoor high‐tech wellness. Interior design was done by AI3.
Since July 2021, approximately 20% of Silver‐level members upgraded their plans to Platinum to gain access to this new lifestyle and wellness village, representing a jump in initiation fees from $30,000 to $60,000 for Platinum status.
“This one checks all of the boxes — from amazing design and décor to luxury amenities galore, including workout facilities, pool, hot tub, spa and golf.” – Darryl Bartlett
SECOND PLACE
Fitness
Country Club of the Rockies
Edwards, Colo.
With several outdoor amenities, ranging from clay and hard courts to a groomed track for cross-country skiing/snowshoeing and world class golf, the Country Club of the Rockies needed to continue developing year-round opportunities for its members. To achieve that goal, the entire clubhouse was renovated to include a new health and fitness facility, which opened in June 2021.
Designed by Marsh and Associates, the multi-level health and fitness addition features a lower-level walk-out flex area for strength training, which is next to a yoga and aerobic studio. Modern-day cardio equipment is positioned at the upper level along large windows spanning the three exterior walls, providing views of the golf course and mountain terrain.
Renovated men’s and women’s locker rooms and lounges are conveniently located on at the upper level.
The design team sought to brighten up the spaces and seamlessly blend the addition with the existing mountain-style clubhouse aesthetics.
In just a few months, the club has seen huge success, including a waiting list of six to seven years to become a member, the initiation fee increased from $95,000 to $150,000 and a record number of golf rounds played in 2021.
THIRD PLACE
Member guest house
GreatHorse
Hampden, Mass.
The vision behind The New Lodge, a new member guest house at GreatHorse, was to create lodging with a premium layout for entertaining for its members, from private, elegant dinners to quaint birthday celebrations.
The shared kitchen and living area were built as the socialization hub of The New Lodge, which opened in August 2021.
All four bedrooms can be reserved together so large groups can have private rooms to sleep but can spend time together in the shared kitchen and living area. Members are not required to reserve the entire facility if they do not need to, so they have the flexibility of reserving the amenity on a per-room basis.
Designed by TMS Architects with interior design by Fran Antonacci, The New Lodge is over 4,000 square feet and reflects characteristics of the main clubhouse, including large, exposed beams on the interior, as well as towering stone walls and columns on the exterior.
GreatHorse has seen both revenue and membership grow since the addition of The New Lodge. Occupancy rates have averaged 84% on weekends and 65% during the week.
HONORABLE MENTION
Racket
The Landings Club
Savannah, Ga.
The goal of the golf-centric club was to make sure its athletic members felt just as valued as its golf members.
The Landings Club project called for a complete renovation of the Franklin Creek Sports Complex, including a new roof, canopies, awnings and the creation of a Player’s Lounge.
Completed in April 2021, it’s unrecognizable from its former self, giving new life to the tennis, pickleball and bocce courts.
Sales and clinic revenue grew 22.6% from 2020 to 2021. The bocce league jumped from 150 to 750 players, and Pickleball league from 30 to 120 players.
HONORABLE MENTION
Aquatics, racket
Montclair Golf Club
West Orange, N.J.
This past summer, Montclair Golf Club opened a new resort-style pool with a sundeck and a splash zone, along with a new paddle sports complex and six, state-of-the-art Har-Tru clay tennis courts featuring the HydroCourt subsurface irrigation system.
The designers, Hart Howerton Artchitects and Angela Grande Design, wanted to improve the arrival experience to the club, while making tennis and the pool more accessible to members, by adding dedicated parking areas.
The club sold 120 new memberships in the 2021 season, with record rounds, food & beverage revenues and member participation, club officials said.
HONORABLE MENTION
Fitness, spa
Bay Harbor Yacht Club
Bay Harbor, Mich.
To provide additional amenities in the winter months, Bay Harbor Yacht Club renovated its Fitness & Wellness Center, which re-opened in November 2020.
Peacock + Lewis converted the men’s and women’s locker rooms into a spa. The existing unused hallway was converted into an area to gather before and after classes, and to display and sell fitness merchandise. A golf simulator was added and is booked daily, club officials said.
The project has more than 2,000 square feet of fitness space and the latest developments in exercise equipment.
Since the remodeling, 40% of members have become regular users, and the expectation is that the percentage will increase.