By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Photo/Nancy Brumback
Marlborough—Wayside Athletic Club became the new name for the Wayside Racquet & Swim Club in May, following an ownership change just over a year ago.
The name change better reflects that we are a full-service athletic facility, offering much more than the tennis and swimming reflected in the old name,” said Darren McLaughlin, general manager. And, he added with a laugh, “people never got the old name right.”
There’s a new logo and a website, www.waysideathleticclub.com, scheduled to launch on Aug. 30. All new signage has been approved for the club, which has been a fixture in the community since 1979.
“Our tagline to accompany the new name is ‘building a stronger community’,” he added. “We are very excited to bring the club to the next level under new management.”
One of the first steps as Wayside moves forward will be a renovation of the lobby and café area and the women’s locker room facilities.
There’s also a stronger emphasis on the competitive tennis program for adults and children in keeping with the new ownership’s roots in the tennis world. The club has added seasonal tennis-only memberships to the list of membership options.
“Our tennis program had room for growth,” McLaughlin said, “and we saw an increase in team participation over the past winter months for one of our best indoor seasons ever.”
Wayside offered seven women’s Dorothy Bruno Hills (DBH) tennis teams, the competitive daytime league for women, and five teams in the Central Massachusetts Indoor Tennis League—two men’s and three women’s teams—which practice on week nights and compete on Saturdays.
This spring, Wayside fielded seven U.S. Tennis Association teams playing in men’s and women’s singles and doubles competitions.
In addition, the elite junior program, the All Seasons Tennis Academy, has been expanded. It offers teams, competitive clinics and lessons for kids from age 5 through high school, operating year round.
Ron Parlman is Wayside’s tennis director, and Bill Hamilton runs the All Seasons Tennis Academy.
McLaughlin noted the facility’s fitness program is also very strong, with personal training and youth fitness training, boot camps, group classes, stationary cycling, and full use of the fitness facilities for individual workouts. “The youth fitness program starts at age 10 and is aimed at preventing sports injuries.”
Zumba and Aqua Zumba classes are popular, and Wayside features Aqua Zumba party nights with socializing after the pool workout.
Other popular programs at the club include racquetball, pickleball, and swimming in an outdoor pool in the summer and indoor pool year round. The club sponsors youth swim teams during the school year.
Wayside Athletic Club continues its commitment to the community. The facility hosts post-prom all-nighters, and sponsors two 5K road races, for the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce scholarship fund and for the Greater Marlborough Programs Inc.’s benefit for Special Olympians. In the spring, the club holds the Marlborough Lions’ Club triathlon. Other charitable events include Red Cross blood drives and participation in Pedal to End Cancer.
The Wayside Athletic Club is located at 80 Broadmeadow St. in Marlborough. To find out more about available programs, visit www.waysideathleticclub.com, or call 508-481-1797 for information or to arrange a tour of the facility.
