Golds Crofton, MD: From Movie House to Movie Star Factory
Written: Nov 03 '01 (Updated Nov 03 '01)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: New, Bright, Great Staff, Mega Services. Marketed to Normal people
Cons: No Towel Service, Could use an 80s dance music tape
The Bottom Line: Gyms can be intimidating, but Golds Crofton understands their biggest market is the Body For Life Crowd.
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| mikebilt's Full Review: Gold's Gym |
The new Gold’s Gym in Crofton is just great. But before I go over the specifics, let’s review some the thing you should look for when joining a gym.
1. You must make the commitment. Without it, save your money or keep collecting that Home Shopping Club junk.
2. It must be convenient. If you don’t pass it on you way to or from work, it isn’t convenient. Getting there is half the battle and if the club is two miles past your house, you’re not going to go.
3. Know why you’re going. Weight loss, muscle building, watching the eye candy. All good reasons, after all I’m into all three.
4. Services. Do they have childcare, trainers at a reasonable cost, Aerobics classes, special events? Is the equipment new and well maintained?
5. Attitude. To me, this is make or break. I’ve worked out in exclusively gay gyms that were more like bars and (why do these always seem to out of town) sex clubs. I’ve worked out in hotel gyms where the management was a contract service focused only on making a buck. I’ve worked out in gyms so annoying suburban and dumb muscle headed I just ran screaming to the nearest leather bar. If you don’t feel comfortable, you won’t go.
6. Price. Frankly, I just don’t like the way most clubs (IE: Bally’s) try to lock you in for life or have more complications than a cell phone contract about ending your membership. Make sure it’s affordable enough to maintain if you loose your job….after all, you’ll need some where to hang out and the gym is a much better choice than a bar before noon.
Let’s remember something about health clubs in general. Anyone with half a brain knows 35+ is the largest age group available for health club memberships. Until you graduate college you got the school gym for free or close to it. If you’re a muscle head, you are not going to change gyms without a good reason. If you’re overweight and getting the guilt messages from the media and your doctor, You are the PRIME candidate for joining a gym.
After all, Bill Philips and that Body for Life book has been on the best sellers list longer than Bruce Springsteen has been singing about going down to the river with Mary. And Gold’s knows that, caters to this market, meaning they cater to you. Especially at the new Crofton location.
So How Does Gold’s Crofton Measure Up?
Location For me, and the majority of DC bound suburbanites, it’s right on the main drag of Route 301.
Services They renovated the place from a four movie multiplex into a two-level facility chock full of everything you want and need without going over the top. For a long time, gyms felt they had to look like a set from Logan’s Run to be hip and cool. Neon is NOT lighting for gym. Gold’s Crofton is bright, airy and not over the top. There are several different types of circuit machines in addition to the pro-forma free weights. There is not shortage and it’s not crowded. Moms—need a babysitter? They got a fully staffed service. Ladies---prefer not to work out with the guys? They got Lady Golds, your own separate room fully stocked and specially monitored. Training for an AIDS ride? They got a ton of cycling classes. Look Great in Lycra? Tons of aerobics and body sculpting classes. Not to mention: Treadmills and Stairmasters and Personal Trainers; OH MY!
Attitude Like I said, they know who is coming here and why. You’ll find a full EAS shop in the front of the gym. They run the Body for Life philosophy into the ground. Why? Because it works. So you’ll find some annoying motivational talk here when you’re not in the mood for it, but aside from that, the staff is professional and upbeat. Sometimes a little too perky, but better that then looking they think they are wall paper in a bar. The members are pretty much your basic mix of Anne Arundel, Maryland suburbanites. Some rednecks, mostly people who moved out this way so they could afford a house, a few hard core body builders to look at.
Price They are pretty competitive, though I cannot give you a current amount. There is generally a trial membership and then the semi-hard sell. Frankly, if you have the commitment, it won’t be much a hard sell; you’ll be ready. Some of the sales staff are more sales people then you might feel comfortable with, but that is their job. I have not booked a personal trainer session, but I understand they are competitive. I have seen the trainers on the floor with members and they look like they know what they are doing and are encouraging without being too drill sergeant like. I joined when they first opened so I got a preview rate. Membership fees are automatically billed to a credit card or checking account.
Extra Value There is an on-the physical therapy practice for when you hurt yourself. They also have a masseuse and access to a chiropractor. There is tanning as well.
What’s not to like? Well Golds don’t have towel service. You have to bring your own. No big whoop, but I do wish they had towels for purchase for when you forget a towel and you’re on your way to a job interview. The showers and locker rooms are basic, you don’t need more, but if you’re looking for a SPA experience, then Golds isn’t for you. They could also do better with the music mix on the PA system….it repeats every hour on the hour it seems. I bring my own. It seems strange they don't have an 80s music tape going when most of their customers were in college and into music then.
Gold’s Gyms are franchises. They are owned by local (usually) businessmen who are genuinely interested in fitness. A guy who is into fitness and customer service runs gold’s Crofton. It’s a great combination and a great success for me. It’s on my 40-list to look better than I have before and since I have made the commitment (though Pizza does seem to get in the way too much), I have found a comfortable and motivating atmosphere to work on my goals.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mikebilt
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Reviews written: 46
Trusted by: 6 members
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