Offering the best technology and a full complement of equipment options are the keys for clubs and resorts looking to distinguish their fitness centers as more than just a place to sweat.
Fitness center users have become much more sophisticated and demanding when it comes to the equipment they want for their workouts. They expect every property to have an abundance, and full variety, of top-of-the-line cardio and strength-training machines available for their use at all times. With a proliferation of independent health clubs posing fierce competition, if your club or resort doesn’t have what members or guests want, they’ll quickly go somewhere that does.
SUMMING IT UP
• Unreliable equipment can be costly not only in terms of repair, but also customer dissatisfaction.
• Look for equipment that can accommodate both older and younger members.
• Exercise balls, bands, mats and bars offer a low-cost, low-impact alternative to strength training.
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“A fitness center that contains the best brands will support the image of a club that strives to provide the best for its members,” says Ross Bohlken, Aquatics and Fitness Director at Heathrow Country Club in Lake Mary, Fla. “Even if tight budgetary constraints exist, it’s important to select leading brands. Plus, all of the top manufacturers produce models at a variety of price points.”
Another reason for selecting leading brands is reliability. Broken equipment can be costly for a club not only in terms of repair, but also customer dissatisfaction. Accordingly, clubs like Heathrow tend to purchase equipment with high reliability rates.
“Our membership ranges in age from 30 to 80, so I look for pieces that are easy to use and effective at targeting core muscle groups,” adds Bohlken. “We also look for pieces that are built for reliability and versatility.”
Stacy Montgomery, Fitness Trainer at Valley Country Club in Aurora, Colo., agrees. “When Buck Streich [Valley CC’s GM] and I look for new equipment, we look for reliability, reputation of the company/product line, whether or not they are good-looking machines, and their ease of use.”
Cardio Equipment, Piece by Piece
As a long-time staple in fitness facilities, cardiovascular equipment is inviting to all levels of exercisers for one main reason: ease of use. Because most cardio machines simulate everyday activities, such as walking, climbing stairs or riding a bicycle, even the most novice exercisers feel comfortable using them.
“You need to consider your population,” says Sheryl Beauregard, Fitness Director at Starmount Forest Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. “That will affect the type of equipment, especially for cardio, that you buy. For example, with older populations it’s important to have machines that are easy to slip into, like a bike you don’t have to swing a leg over to ride. You also need to be mindful of the technology on the equipment; it shouldn’t be overly complicated.”
When The Golf Club at Magnolia Landing purchased cardio equipment, it made sure to include on-unit televisions (above). “Members don’t have to search for a remote control and they can watch what they want,” says Jim Whitmore, General Manager . |
Technology continues to enhance cardio equipment offerings. Today, most machines incorporate computers and software that let users get feedback about their exercise sessions (calories burned, distance traveled, time exercised, etc.) and to select various workout options, such as interval-type programs (e.g., Hill and Random) that range in difficulty throughout an exercise session. Some cardio machines include interactive heart rate programs that change resistance automatically to keep exercisers within their target heart rate zones for safe, effective training. Others include personal televisions.
“It is helpful to have different pieces of cardio equipment with the same software and user interface, so members don’t have to re-learn how to program a treadmill once they’ve already figured out how to program a bike,” says Jim Whitmore, General Manager of The Golf Club at Magnolia Landing in North Fort Myers, Fla. This is especially important at Magnolia Landing, where a new, 5,000-sq. ft. building was recently renovated to become an unstaffed member fitness facility, “because there isn’t always staff on site to explain how to use the machines,” Whitmore notes.
Despite the multitude of programs available, boredom is still a common complaint among cardio exercisers. Accordingly, variety is a key factor in equipment selection.
“Even the most basic fitness facility should take a ‘one of each’ approach, to include at least one piece of equipment from each of the major cardio equipment categories,” says Starmount Forest’s Beauregard. Those categories include treadmills, stationary bikes, stair climbers and elliptical or cross-training machines. Additional equipment to consider, if space and budget permit, include rowers, cross-country ski machines and rock climbing walls.
Weight Machines vs. Free Weights
There is an ongoing debate regarding free weights vs. machines for strength training. While each can help build strength, there are definite pros and cons, depending on your population. Thus, determining what form of strength equipment is best for your property may take a little work.
“Variable resistance machines are especially good for members who are new to strength training or working out alone,” says Beauregard. “While machines can be a viable option for serious weight training, they are best for novice, senior and recreational athletes.”
For rehabilitating athletic injuries like “golf shoulder” or “tennis elbow,” variable resistance machines are also preferred, she adds, to provide a more controlled motion and to specifically isolate certain muscle groups. These types of machines also allow members to track their progress.
“Free weights promote quicker strength gains, and they require more balance and coordination than do the weight machines,” says Brian Wasser, Head Pro and Membership Director at The Golf Club at Magnolia Landing. “Free weights recruit more muscle groups than variable resistance machines, which tend to only isolate specific muscles.”
Free weights are also much less expensive than most of the machines that work similar muscle groups. Additionally, they have a much smaller footprint—an important consideration for properties where space for fitness centers is at a premium.
“Exercise balls are fantastic tools to help members get in shape,” says Beauregard. “There are tons of low-impact ways to use these low-cost, versatile pieces of equipment.” |
“Younger members tend to use the free weights more often,” Beauregard notes. “They can perform a complete strength- training routine with a few dumbbells, and a little imagination. That keeps things fresh.”
Functional Training Equipment
Fitness fads come and go, but every now and then, a trend comes along that makes sense. One such trend focuses on core strength and functional training, which involves strengthening the torso for better workouts and less injuries with a series of balls, bands, mats and bars.
“Exercise balls and bands are fantastic tools to get in shape, gain muscular and core strength, lessen back pain, correct posture, stretch muscles and, in general, improve health,” says Beauregard. “There are tons of low-impact ways to use these low-cost, versatile pieces of equipment.”
“Functional strength training is becoming more popular because it is so practical,” adds Valley CC’s Montgomery. “This type of training is an ideal way to help maximize sports performance. You can work every part of the body several ways with each of these pieces. We use exercise balls, balance disks, core boards and fitness balls for almost every exercise we do, to improve core strength, balance and proprioception.”
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