Locker Rooms Address Members’ Changing Needs

What was once a utilitarian-focused space has morphed into an amenity with universal appeal.

By Pamela Brill, Contributing Editor

CRAMPED CORNERS, BEGONE—THE dark and dank locker rooms of yesteryear are firmly in the past. What’s taken their place are bright, open floor plans that maximize space and extend purpose beyond changing clothes and refilling water bottles. Enter the new and improved locker room, in which clubs have heavily invested. The results reveal revamped facilities that answer membership’s call for fully stocked spaces for men and women and their guests.

A Modern Makeover

At Radley Run Country Club in West Chester, Pa., a clubhouse renovation incorporated new men’s and ladies’ locker rooms. With a focus on providing membership greater access to key areas of the club, designers set out to create a welcoming space that is both purposeful and practical. “The effort was driven from the perspective of what is essential—not only for today, but for continued long-term success,” says General Manager Michael J. Sofia of the project’s master plan. The new facilities were reopened to members this past June.

Radley Run Country Club

West

Chester, Pa.

Radley Run’s clubhouse design achieved the intended goal of establishing an entry point just off the 18th green with access to the first and 10th tee boxes. “We wanted an area that allowed our members to be comfortable and close to all the action on the golf course,” explains Sofia.

The men’s and ladies’ locker rooms, along with a family restroom and locker room attendant station, take up the entire first floor. The overall look strikes a balance between comfort and sophistication, highlighted by contrasting furnishings and design materials. Wall-towall plush carpeting adorns the locker room floors, while the wet areas feature a light porcelain tile. A mixture of warm woods and neutral colors are balanced out by blue tones in the wet areas. Designers also opted for LED backlit mirrors over the vanities rather than the standard overhead lighting fixtures.

As for the lockers themselves, the original full and half lockers were swapped out for all half lockers, with a reduction in total numbers (men’s dropped from 310 to 278 and women, from 308 to 136). “Though we had an overall decrease, based on the feedback from our members via an internal club survey, we felt that the new design and size would be more tailored to our overall club usage and demand,” notes Sofia.

The contemporary design of the locker rooms complements Radley Run’s other brand-new component, what Sofia dubs as the “crown jewel” of the clubhouse: the 1777 Tavern dining facility. Leather-wrapped plush bar stools and polished oak dining tables carry over the look and feel of the updated facilities and have already earned rave reviews. “The new space is clean, modern and the perfect centerpiece on our expansive campus,” notes Sofia. “Our members deserved a space that they can be proud of, and I believe we have exceeded that expectation.”

FORWARD-THINKING FACILITIES

The decision to upgrade the locker room facilities at Blythefield Country Club in Belmont, Mich., was essentially an open-and-shut case. “This would improve the member experience, reduce ongoing maintenance costs and allow the club to remain competitive in an ever-evolving marketplace,” explains General Manager & COO Andrew Tkach.

Last September, the club unveiled updated locker room facilities as part of an $18 million club-wide renovation that includes a new pro shop, fitness center, indoor golf space, expanded ballroom and meeting spaces and an upgraded kitchen.

To best serve its 325 golf memberships, both rooms added more lockers while reducing their respective footprints. The 4,011-sq.-ft. men’s locker room increased from 313 to 330 full-size lockers, while the 2,328-sq.-ft. ladies’ facility now accommodates 171 full-size lockers—up from 163. (Half-size lockers are also available for guest use.) The

Blythefield Country Club

Belmont, Mich.

refreshed spaces feature a neutral color palette, as evidenced by light gray lockers with aged brass knobs for the ladies and a custom dark brown stain with similar brass finishes in the men’s.

“Ceramic tile, quartz countertops, and high-end brass finishes were incorporated into the design to move away from the traditional all-wood interior found in many country clubs,” adds Tkach.

While Blythefield’s locker rooms have a similar layout—with a soft seating area closest to the entrance and restrooms near the back—the ladies’ locker room has a mirrored makeup station and the men’s locker room has a wall-mounted smart television. Both spaces are outfitted with hydration stations containing bottle fillers, gray faux-grasscloth wallpaper, basketweave tile flooring in the shower stalls and inlaid charcoal gray hexagon tile carpeting between the bathroom vanities.

Designers also decided to play up the locker room’s contemporary vibe. Case in point is the soft seating in the ladies’ area, comprised of blue swivel armchairs and a white oak cocktail table. Just off this area is a wet bar designed with a ceramic herringbone tile backsplash and a quartz countertop. Both spaces are staffed by a locker room manager and fully stocked with such amenities as hairdryers, toiletries and sunscreen.

After an especially busy summer season, Blythefield’s members and guests are singing the praises of the revitalized facilities, including those who attended the recent LPGA Tour event.

The locker room upgrade at Blythefield Country Club added more lockers to both the men’s and women’s facilities, while reducing their respective footprints. The 4,011-sq.-ft. men’s locker room (right) increased from 313 to 330 full-size lockers. Half-size lockers are also available for guest use.

“The surprising result has been the desire by social members to utilize the locker rooms, now that our aquatics, racquets and fitness facilities have been upgraded,” says Tkach. And as the club gears up to host next year’s 10th anniversary event, the locker rooms will be more than ready to welcome back tournament attendees.

Equal Representation

When the men’s locker room at Hillwood Country Club in Nashville, Tenn., was renovated in Fall 2021, updating the ladies’ facility was a natural next step—a project that General Manager/COO J. Todd Heifner, CCM, PGA, believed would further boost its usage.

“Prior to the renovation, the ladies really didn’t use the locker room for more than changing shoes and getting water,” he explains. “The showers were extremely dated with little privacy, so they were never used [either]. The lounge was dark and dated as was the game area.” The newly updated ladies’ locker room, which reopened this past March, has been a true game-changer.

To accommodate a more efficient setup, the number of ladies’ room lockers was reduced, replacing 76 ½ double-stacked units with 10 singletier (full) wood lockers and 34 double-tier (half) lockers. According to Heifner, the original lockers were too narrow and spilled out into the wet areas, hindering their usefulness. By increasing their width to 15 inches, the lockers can accommodate a hat shelf, coat rod, wall hook and shoe shelf, and are designed with a keyless lock.

Stepping through the ladies’ locker room brings members immediately into a carpeted entry, which leads into the lounge, outfitted with card tables and soft seating. An updated kitchenette, complete with tile flooring, wood planked walls, painted wood cabinets and quartz countertops, is stocked with self-serve F&B options that can be brought into the lounge. Adjacent to these gathering spots is the wet area, comprised of an expanded vanity with makeup counter, three private bathroom stalls and two private showers with dry-off areas.

To further brighten the space due to the lack of natural light (the locker rooms are located in the clubhouse’s interior), designers opted for mainly whites, light taupes and light grays, complemented by darker wood tables in the game area and light rose upholstered chairs in the lounge. LED lighting throughout provides additional illumination in all areas.

Achieving a balance between comfortable and sophisticated meshes with the club’s overall culture. “Hillwood is a family-friendly, familiar club where our members come to relax and enjoy without feeling formal or stuffy,” says Heifner, noting the balance between the comfortable lounge and elevated finishes on select furnishings.

With such attention to detail in the new locker room, members are taking full advantage of the enhanced facilities. “Now the lounge/game space is bright and inviting, and the groups that were going upstairs to play bridge or mahjong are now playing down in the locker room,” he says. “The showers are being used and the ladies love the renovated wet areas to clean up after a round of golf.”

To brighten the upgraded women’s locker room at Hillwood Country Club, designers opted for mainly whites, light taupes and light grays, complemented by darker wood tables in the game area and light rose upholstered chairs in the lounge. LED lighting throughout provides additional illumination in all areas.

Summing It Up

> Updated locker rooms not only benefit members, but they are useful for hosting guests during tournaments, swim meets and other special events.

> Reducing the number of lockers can maximize efficiency and make room for other design features.

> Adjoining amenities like lounges and card rooms extend the locker rooms’ usefulness.