Some clubs are upping the game when it comes to children. They’re moving from being “family friendly” to family focused. Here’s a look at two clubs that have created a special, safe atmosphere in which young families can play together.
In 2008, the Glenmoor Country Club board of directors took a bold step to assure that its club had a vibrant future in the Denver region, authorizing an $8 million remodel of the club facilities. Today, Glenmoor Country Club is at capacity thanks to family friendly amenities that attracted a whole new demographic to the club.
“The board and staff understood that we needed to serve families with young children better,” says Teri Ramirez, membership director. “We remodeled the entire interior with modern finishes, which drew a lot of young families. We also added a gorgeous indoor play area. Since 2011, we’ve had a flood of younger families joining.”
Ramirez says that she now sees many clubs doing what her board of directors recognized in 2008.
“We’re definitely at the front of a growing trend among country clubs to serve families better.”
One of the most popular new amenities at Glenmoor Country Club is the indoor soft playground, created by PLAYTIME, LLC.
“The indoor play area is just one of the ways that we sealed the deal on being the family club in our region,” says Ramirez.
Todd Kreinbrink, PLAYTIME’s marketing specialist, says that Glenmoor Country Club wanted to serve children of all ages when it created its new playground.
“We created a custom, soft play area for the club’s youngest children, but Teri also wanted to serve older children, so we added interactive game consoles,” says Kreinbrink. “PlayTouch is a state-of-the-art, interactive gaming console that supports high-definition, three-dimensional (HD/3D) play.”
Kreinbrink adds that safety is critical for clubs like Glenmoor that want to offer a safe play experience. Flooring installments are soft, squishy and can even kill bacteria and reduce fungi, helping families stay healthy during flu season and year round.
“The play area is now one of the first rooms that I show families when I give tours,” says Ramirez. “It’s been a really great addition and I believe we’re the only club in Denver with a play area like this.”
Location, Location, Location
Ramirez says that the play area is located near the club’s restaurant so parents can let their children play as they wait for food, providing a much more relaxing dining experience for everyone.
“Parents absolutely love it,” says Ramirez. “Why would they go to any other restaurant if their kids can eat with them and then go play while the parents finish dining in peace?”
Also, Ramirez explains, the play area provides year-round entertainment.
“We work hard to offer family activities year-round, even after the pool closes down for the summer,” says Ramirez, adding, “We are at capacity right now, which is unusual compared to most clubs in the United States. We had a head start in 2008 when we made families our focus.”
Newtown Athletic Club Sees Memberships Skyrocket with New Play Area
A newly renovated “Kids Club” has reenergized the Newton Athletic Club (NAC), located in Newtown, Penna. “Over the past two months, we’ve had about 150 new family memberships, which is a ton,” says Carrie Krieger, Kids Club director at NAC.
“Every day, we get two to three tours through the new Kids Club and people love it. Parents are pretty impressed.”
The Newtown Athletic Club includes over 100,000 square feet of fitness, café, spa and pool facilities. It also includes a huge resort-style outdoor swimming pool.
Last summer, Krieger says that she began touring other fitness facilities to see what the competition offered for childcare. The NAC’s existing Kids Club hadn’t been renovated in years and she wanted to “wow” her members.
Krieger visited Horsham Athletic Club, a sister facility, and saw the indoor play equipment.
“I really liked what I saw,” says Krieger. “I like that the pieces aren’t hard plastic. They’re squishy and colorful.”
Custom-designed carpeting is another way to keep children safe and entertained.
“The carpet has a foam layer underneath, so it’s very padded, but it also matches the ‘creek side’ theme of the play,” she says, explaining that the carpet shows a creek running among the soft play elements, which include a bridge, fish, hollow log, lily pad and a frog.
Krieger says Kids Club attendance has doubled since last year and she’s thrilled.
“We want to provide an experience that kids don’t want to leave,” she says. “I think we’ve succeeded.”
Katie Ballman is the marketing specialist at PLAYTIME, LLC. She can be reached at [email protected] Learn more about PLAYTIME, LLC at www.playtime.com.