Greystone to unveil new fitness facility in September

Published 5:01 pm Friday, August 21, 2015

Christy Thompson, fitness director at Greystone Golf and Country Club, will continue to oversee daily activities in the club's new fitness facility, which is set to open in mid- to late September. (Reporter Photo/Emily Sparacino)

Christy Thompson, fitness director at Greystone Golf and Country Club, will continue to oversee daily activities in the club’s new fitness facility, which is set to open in mid- to late September. (Reporter Photo/Emily Sparacino)

By EMILY SPARACINO / Staff Writer

HOOVER – Greystone Golf and Country Club members will have access to a more spacious fitness and wellness facility in September.

As part of an ongoing expansion project at Greystone, the new, 4,000-square-foot facility will feature a variety of fitness equipment, a group fitness room, separate male and female treatment rooms, an assortment of health products for sale and indoor and outdoor lounge areas.

“Currently, the fitness facility is about 1,200 square feet,” Fitness Director Christy Thompson said. “We’re expanding to 4,000 square feet. We’re adding a 1,000-square-foot group fitness room, where we will teach spin, barre, yoga, pilates and Muscle Worx. There’s a little bit of everything.”

The facility will include over 20 pieces of cardio equipment with strength training and free weight machines, Thompson said.

Among the machines will be a Life Fitness Synrgy360, which will help users with functional movement needed for sports such as tennis and golf, she said.

The group fitness room will allow nearly 40 classes to be offered each week, and it will be equipped with Fitness On Demand, a virtual fitness program with about 2,000 classes that can stream through a 55-inch television.

Whenever a class isn’t taking place, groups or individuals can use the program on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We’ve never had a group fitness room,” Thompson said. “I thought it would be a fantastic amenity for the members here.”

Thompson said the facility will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to increase access to members.

“It’s a sleek design,” Thompson said. “It’s got the industrial look with the country club feel.”

The facility will also have an onsite childcare center and services families can utilize while at the facility.

The original fitness facility opened in May 2004.

“The club is very excited about this,” Thompson said. “We’re finally doing it, which is fantastic. It’s very exciting for members and future members.”

The facility is part of a complete renovation of the Founders Clubhouse basement. A restaurant and upgraded kitchen will be added.

Other facets of the overall project – the Golf Operations Center, Founders Plaza and Golf Performance Center, which all opened in March – fit into large-scale preparations for Greystone to host the 2016 Regions Tradition golf tournament.