Creating a better community
I am working at a new country club that has a nice gym (cardio and strength equip, group x, spin, yoga, personal trainers), spa, golf course, tennis, and dining. I’d like to introduce some new programs to develop a community among the members and to generate some extra revenue. I have a few ideas already in mind but would love to hear about success from other clubs.
Another couple of specialty revenue events that I’ve seen are daddy / daughter dance and an outdoor luau by our pool. Both for an extra fee. The only drawback was that on the days they have their luaus and wine tasting evenings, members who haven’t paid for those services don’t have access to that area. It’s about finding the right balance so you can attract revenue at times that won’t tick off the base membership.
It sounds like you have a unique opportunity to create a autonomous fitness culture. I recommend developing fitness events that the community can train for and hold at the CC. 5Ks, obstacle courses, team fitness challenge competitions, pair with local charities for fund raisers linked to a fitness activity, etc.
And have a lot of fun with the members and the events.
I really like Natalie’s idea of a fitness equipment swap.
Another thing that I’ve noticed at a large club where I exercise is a book club. That brings together people away from their exercise area of interest and so they can meet other people they wouldn’t normally see in the area where they like to hang out.
It would be awesome to get input from the club’s members if you could. SurveyMonkey or Google Forms would allow you to send out a survey asking about program interest. If you have some type of email or contact list through the club, this becomes even easier to do. I suppose you could always go with an old school method and post some type of announcement in a bulletin, mailer, or flyer as well. It’s always better to ask first and even if you don’t get a big response, maybe you get a general direction. Good luck!
