By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Marlborough – Wayside Racquet & Swim Club offers a complete range of fitness and recreational programs from Aquatics to Zumba.
For those interested in competitive sports, the club sponsors tennis and racquetball leagues for adults and children and a swim team for kids ages 5 to 18.
There are group classes for all ages and ability levels, personal trainers available for individual and small group training sessions, and summer programs for the kids. And, of course, members can follow their own schedule, working out in the fitness room, swimming laps in the pool or enjoying a game of tennis or racquetball.
“The beauty of this club is there's so much in one facility. We'se not just a gym or a pool,” said Darren McLaughlin, general manager of Wayside Racquet, which has been serving members at its location in eastern Marlborough since 1979.
The club is just finishing major renovations of the shower facilities for both men and women, and sprucing up the lobby and lounge area is on the drawing board.
“We had a great summer season with our camp programs, and I's looking forward to the tennis members returning for the indoor season,” he said. Wayside offers indoor courts all year and covers its outdoor courts with a bubble for winter play.
Core stability training – strengthening the muscles around the spine – is becoming an increasingly popular activity at the club, either in one-on-one training or in small group sessions, McLaughlin said. This training uses bands, medicine balls, ropes and other equipment.
Svaroopa yoga, a medium-intensity yoga program focusing on spinal stretching, is also popular. The eight-week classes are available on Monday and Thursday evenings and Friday mornings.
In group exercise, “Zumba is king,” McLaughlin said with a laugh. The popular workout sessions combine simple dance steps set to Latin music with aerobic and fitness interval training for a workout with a strong dose of fun. Children can get in on the act with ZumbaKids sessions for ages 6 to 13. For senior members, Zumba Gold provides an activity level geared to their needs.
Wayside's extensive tennis program for adults and kids includes both group and private lessons. Those looking for a purely social game can sign up for mixed play, round robins, and early bird, weeknight and weekend groups.
The club also fields teams in many competitive programs, including USTA junior teams in the 14-and-under and 18-and-under age groups, and adult teams in the Central Massachusetts Indoor Tennis League and the Dorothy Bruno Hills (DBH) Tennis League.
Wayside features a range of group classes and workouts for its older members, such as aerobics and water fitness and round-robin tennis. Senior centers in Marlborough, Hudson and Southborough have contracts with the club to hold classes for their members at the Wayside facility.
“There is also a strong social climate for seniors here,” McLaughlin said. “We see ourselves as a community within the community.”
Seniors – and members generally – can get together with friends in the comfortable lobby area or enjoy a beer and watch a game in the lounge.
The club hosts competitive community fundraising events in Marlborough each year – the Forrest Memorial 5K Walk-Run coming up Sunday, Sept. 18, to benefit Greater Marlborough Programs, Inc.; the Lions Club triathlon each May; and the Wayside 5K Fun Run in June which benefits the Marlborough Regional Chamber of Commerce scholarship fund.
Membership can be tailored to individual needs. There's a summer-only membership for families interested in the outdoor pool, children's splash pool and summer kids’ programs. There are pool memberships, fitness memberships, tennis and racquetball memberships, and combinations, with rates for adults, couples, families, seniors and students. The club has a complimentary one-week membership to try out the facilities.
“We encourage people to come and tour the facility,” McLaughlin said. “We want you to see what we have to offer.”
To find out more about programs at Wayside Racquet & Swim Club, check the club's website, www.wayside.net, or call the membership office at 508-481-1797 to arrange a visit. The club is located at 80 Broadmeadow St. in Marlborough.