You get what you pay for

Many people who play racquetball have more than one membership. I used to have three up until not that long ago. I have belonged to many rat gyms(musclehead) when I was younger ,and have had the pleasure of visiting the Atlantic club which is probably that nicest I have been to. I currentlly belong to the chain of LA fitnesses and the Club at Woodbridge. My last blog about clubs was from the perspective of a board member and their effect on tournaments. I am going to change caps and be the player today. I would like to start with my "home" club,The Club. I will try to give a days experience of each club. When you enter the club you are greeted by a friendly staffer,scan your card and (with an annual membership)ask you if you would like one or two towels for your work out.You then head down to the racquetball courts where the four glass wall courts appear.Everyone greets you like an episode of cheers,trash talk and all. You see the players and you know it will be a challenging night ahead of you. If it does get busy their are five additional side courts also bringing it to a total of nine. You drop your gear and sit on the individual captain like chairs or spread out on the couch style seats. When the courts are turned on early in the morning it is set up that the AC or heat goes on automatically with them. Near by their are two soda machines,and a snack machine in the galley like kitchen with a refrigerator,microwave,toaster oven and ice machine for the players.When finished playing plastic bags on rolls are provided for your wet clothing. It is time to head down to the showers now. A wide open shower with about 18 shower heads with great water pressure. Heading out of the shower you have an array of mouthwash,hair gel,lotion,and deoderant.Dry off and head up stairs to a full service restaurant with seating for about 40,I might add the food is excellent order the "AL".While waiting for your food there are two computers where you may surf the web or if Bobby and his crew is there,a shot of Patron'.That is an average day.In addition The Club is the most generous club Probably in the country.It is a family run club.They help the community with so many charitable functions it is hard to know where to begin.They are always giving back to the players such as summer reward program and outdoor parties with Elvis.In addition to signing a one year contract you receive free child care(all day mon - fri and sat 8 -12).The clubs membership runs around 75 dollars a month . Now we have LA Fitness. A huge conglomerate of approx 400 clubs nationwide.You can use almost all of them except for two Staten Island and Manhatten. You enter the club and are immediately hit with a desk where I feel ike you are passed through like cattle for there are probably people already on your tail(no towel,boo hoo) You walk into a club that is usually packed and work your way to the five glass courts.The courts are very well taken care of just as the whole club is. You walk in not really sure of who will be coming. You plop your equiptment on the floor and sit on one of four wooden benches. You hope that the courts are cool because the design does not allow for free air flow,also the courts are panel so once the humidity gets trapped it is a death sentence. If it is a league night there is only one challenge court,where you can have a mob in front of you. Even on the regular days courts are hard to come by. There is a nice but limited Cafe style restaurant right by the courts. Instuctors are constanly passing by with their clients doing lunges and such really limiting your space to hang out and watch the matches. Time to head to the showers now.They should call them trickles not showers,I can pee harder. Though not a small locker room it always seems a little crowded due to the amount of members. Time to go home.Membership is about 35 dollars a month. Do you want to be catered to or treated like a cattle,your call. Jon "Hit Smarter not Harder"