While challenges are inevitable, renovating an outdoor pool space can pay big dividends.
By Pamela Brill, Contributing Editor
As an integral part of the club and resort experience, pools offer members and guests the perfect opportunity to cap off a hot day on the golf course, or for young families to spend some quality time in one secure location. But with long-term usage comes the wear and tear that eventually calls for a complete renovation—with some pools requiring more work than others.
Whether it’s a renovation to a dated facility, a new addition to a campus-sized setting or a complete overhaul prompted by the devastation of Mother Nature, outdoor pool renovations present their own set of challenges. But when executed carefully and completely, the end result can prompt more people to spend more time getting their fun in the sun at the club—and to bring plenty of family and friends with them.
SUMMING IT UP
- Outdoor pools offer universal appeal for members of all ages, from seasoned golfers to young families.
- Working with the property’s landscape—and not against it—will produce a design that reflects a club’s signature style.
- Adhering to safety and Federal standards is a necessary part of any design or renovation project.
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When Mike Hatch took over ownership of the Brandermill Country Club four years ago, he was well aware that the Midlothian, Va., club’s pool was in dire need of repair. “Having gotten to know the membership, it was apparent that the swimming pool and surroundings were a constant negative when attracting new members and retaining existing ones,” explains Hatch, who also serves as the club’s General Manager. “The pool was 30 years old, and the landscaping was poor at best.”
Brandermill Country Club
Midlothian, Va.
“We found out on average, our members brought four or five guests a year to the club, so we wanted to take advantage of this and increase guest play.”
—Mike Hatch,
General Manager and Owner
After calling an all-member meeting, Hatch announced that the club would need to raise $300,000 to complete a pool refurbishment (as the owner, he was willing to invest $75,000 of his own money). He then assembled a small advisory committee to brainstorm how to raise funds, and performed an analysis of Brandermill’s membership. “We found that on average, our members brought four or five guests a year to the club, so we wanted to take advantage of this,” notes Hatch. “We also realized that a large number of the elder members wanted a lasting memory of their membership at the club.”
Austin, Texas“We wanted this to be a self-sufficient area with the latest and greatest in cabana services, including a locker room and a full kitchen.”
—Steve Termeer,
General Manager
By putting together a handful of fundraising initiatives, including a Cocktails for a Cause event with food and beverages on every golf course hole, along with auction items donated by members, the club generated nearly $35,000 from one day alone, and eventually amassed $225,000 internally. “It was amazing to generate that type of revenue,” says Hatch of his enthusiastic member community. With the necessary funds in hand, the renovation was set for last February, to be completed in time for Memorial Day 2012.
For starters, the overgrown surrounding area was cleared and trees were removed to open up the space and provide more warmth and sunlight. Maintaining the existing footprint, the pool’s original entryway, with a four-foot dropoff, was enhanced with two sets of stairs, creating easy access points for getting in and out of the water. The original baby pool was updated with a separate filtration system and surrounded by fencing, to comply with safety regulations. “We brought everything up to code,” says Hatch.
A new wooden deck with seating for 28 patrons now elevates the outdoor clubhouse dining experience. This design enhancement has already paid for itself, according to Hatch—the club saw an increase of over $40,000 in food and beverage sales last summer alone.
This boost in revenue was also carried over to Brandermill’s overall membership, which has experienced an increase in its junior executives and families. “Sales really picked up when people saw what we had done,” says Hatch; member accolades included expressions of approval such as “sunny,” “airy” and “well thought-out,” he reports.
Brandermill’s new pool (see photos, pg. 22) has garnered so much attention, Hatch says, members from a neighboring club five miles down the road now opt for this new facility over their own. “We are an entry-level private club now with a niche-market, private country club pool,” says Hatch. “We are appealing to all ages.”
Untapped Resource
For the University of Texas Golf Club in Austin, Texas, a pool concept that was a number of years in the making will make its debut this spring. “We had discussed the possibility of a pool for years,” explains General Manager Steve Termeer, “but this was the time to take advantage of the opportunity to do it.” Because the developer of the property already owned a 16-acre parcel of land, discussions were put in place to obtain that site and begin building. Once the paperwork was signed and a budget of $1.66 million was set, a six-month construction project got underway.
AS CLUBS DRAW UP PLANS for new pool facilities, they must also take changing laws into account affecting accessibility. New federal regulations by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) now stipulate that all existing pools must have permanent lifts to accommodate handicapped users. The law, which went into effect this past January 31st, requires that pool operators must:
- Provide at least one means of entry (pool lift or sloped entry) that is readily achievable. Pools with 300 linear feet or more of wall must have a pool lift or entry, plus one additional means of entry which can be one of the following: pool lift; sloped entry; transfer system; transfer wall; or pool stairs.
- Have the pool lift out in position and ready for use during all hours the pool is open.
- Each body of water (e.g. pools, spas) must have a separate means of entry.
- Pool lifts must be attached to the pool deck or apron in some manner, unless it is not readily achievable to affix them.
- If a pool was not opened to the public as of January 31, access is not required until the pool is opened.
In Arizona, resort properties have been taking the necessary steps to ensure their compliance. According to Azcentral.com, the following facilities noted the corresponding number of lifts on their premises:
JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort & Spa: 11 Arizona Biltmore: 10
Westin Kierland Resort & Spa: 7
JW Marriott Desert Ridge: 11
Arizona Biltmore: 10 (awaiting city permit approval to complete installation)
Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak: 6
Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs: 7
Montelucia Resort & Spa: 7
Rumson (N.J.) Country Club is also undergoing plans to comply with ADA regulations for its new pool complex. “Our architects assured us that we complied,” says General Manager Michael Kurtas. Handicap access ramps, handicap bathroom facilities and a lift for handicap access to the pool have all been incorporated into the club’s new pool and poolhouse facilities, which are scheduled to open later this summer.
To embrace the club’s connection with the university, the 4,300-sq. ft. pool will feature a sunbathing deck in the shape of a burnt-orange Texas Longhorn (see rendering, pg. 24). But the hilly Texas countryside also posed a unique geographic challenge. “We are basically built on the side of a severe slope,” describes Termeer. “We had to design a cantilevered deck and pool on piers.”
A volleyball well provides a source of additional recreation, while zero-entry for both the main pool and a covered kiddie pool provide easy access into and out of the water. Close proximity (about 700 yards) to the clubhouse necessitated a full-service design. “We wanted this to be a self-sufficient area with the latest and greatest in cabana services, including a locker room and a full kitchen,” adds Termeer. To accommodate an uptick in usage during the summer season, the club plans to offer valet service for its members.
Rumson Country Club
Rumson, N.J.
“We needed to elevate the pool 15 feet above sea level, so it will now sit on pilings that make the pool a unique
structure, because of its coastal location.”
—Michael Kurtas,
General Manager
With excitement building for the Memorial Day opening, Termeer expects the club to gain 50 new social members as a result of the pool. The pool will also help the club continue its transition from a golf club to a full-amenity country club (it is also building a new tennis facility that will open this year).
“We will still keep our charter name, since golf is our number-one asset,” says Termeer. But the allure of a luxurious resort-style pool in a country-club setting is bound to make swimming a close second.
“Design” by Mother Nature
Sometimes, even the best-laid plans don’t work out, for reasons beyond one’s control. For Rumson (N.J.) Country Club, the story begins back in 2007, when the membership voted to update the club’s original pool and seasonal clubhouse. “The existing facility was from 1972, and we realized it was time to replace it,” explains General Manager Michael Kurtas.
After meeting members’ approval, the club’s Board moved forward with the project, only to be derailed by requirements for building on a coastal area—a process that Kurtas describes as “onerous.” Given the club’s location on the northern New Jersey shore, alongside the Shrewsbury River, strict building codes had to be adhered to that inevitably slowed down the project. Then, when the 2008 recession had a hard effect on many members who work on Wall Street and in New York’s financial district, the club’s renovation was put on hold.
When the economy finally stabilized, Kurtas decided it was a good time to reintroduce the renovation project to Rumson’s membership. Last year, he had an extensive brochure drawn up detailing the reasons for a massive renovation. “The pool has outlived its expected life span, and much of the structural wood framing is cracked and otherwise weakened,” it read. “To illustrate the high cost of continuing to patch the existing structure, we spent over $35,000 last spring to install a new pool liner to make it usable for the summer.”
Setting a total budget of $7.5 million to cover the cost of a new pool, poolhouse, kitchen upgrade and building floor plan improvements—$750,000 of which was designated for pool replacement—the proposal was met with overwhelming acceptance by the club’s Board last September. But then, about a month later, Superstorm Sandy struck the Northeast, completely demolishing the existing seasonal clubhouse, as well as a 40-foot wet-slip marina and the swimming pool complex. “Much damage was also sustained to our golf course, and we had 150 downed trees on the property,” adds Kurtas.
Mike Hatch, owner and General Manager of Brandermill CC, invested $75,000 of his own money toward the club’s $300,000 outdoor pool project. Members pitched in to help raise the rest, with nearly $35,000 generated in one day of fundraising.
With that, renovating Rumson CC became a necessity, and construction was put on the fast track—but not without further revisions to the existing blueprints. The original design anticipated a separate wading pool for kids, but when new state regulations required fencing around the pool and decking area, there was not enough square footage to accommodate those changes. Instead, one of the step areas would have to be converted into a wading pool as part of the main pool.
New post-Sandy FEMA regulations stipulated additional changes to the main pool. “We needed to elevate the pool 15 feet above sea level, so it will now sit on pilings that make the pool a unique structure, because of its coastal location,” explains Kurtas. The 25-meter competitive swimming pool is currently in the foundation phase and is expected to be open by the end of August. (The club’s social building, complete with waterfront dining, will follow in the fall.)
However, the storm also helped expedite plans and teach Kurtas a lesson about supply and demand. “Because we already had plans in place from before the storm, we were able to jump into the fast lane for materials and labor before they went through the roof,” he notes.
For example, Kurtas points to the exotic hardwood decking typically used to build boardwalks and docks. “It’s normally hard to get, and now with everyone rebuilding, it’s even harder to come by,” he says. “We were able to get our hands on it before demand drove up the cost.”
Kurtas is also learning how to best accommodate his members during this transitional stage. The club’s Junior Activities camp, which normally encompasses swimming, fishing and other water activities, will have a different focus this summer. “The program will be modified significantly, and our main clubhouse will have a tent,” he adds.
But rather than have this temporary displacement disturb the momentum, Kurtas sees Rumson’s upcoming changes as an opportunity.
“Our younger membership, who also belonged to beach clubs in Seabright [N.J.], will now also be without a beach club,” he notes of the neighboring community that felt the brunt of some of Sandy’s biggest blows. “It’s more important for us to be filling a void.”
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