Fitness Center and Movement Studio

The Grove, a private, gated community, offers a club lifestyle that is second to none. An abundance of resort-style amenities, exciting country club activities and events, thoughtful member services, meticulous course conditions, and fellow members who embrace genuine southern hospitality combine to make The Grove the #1 selling private club community in the Nashville area. Highlight of offerings at The Grove: Signature Golf There are many benefits to joining a private golf club. Not only is it a great place to meet and socialize with other Members, make connections, and participate in Member events and tournaments, but there is also the added benefit of being able to play more rounds as there are fewer people than on public courses, preferred tee times, and access to superb course conditions and facilities. The best private golf course in Nashville can be found at The Grove. The Grove's 18-hole Greg Norman Signature course, his first and only Signature course in Middle Tennessee, is the crown jewel of golf in Williamson County. No other course has held three professional golf tournaments, each revered as spectacular. As host to multiple tour events, the course stays in tournament conditions year-round. Featuring Zoysia fairways and Bermuda Greens, the course spans 7,300 yards long from its championship tees and threads seamlessly through the natural rolling landscape. The course is both challenging and enjoyable for all skill levels. In addition to hosting professional tournaments such as the Simmons Bank Open Korn Ferry Tour and the 2024 LIV Golf Nashville tournament, The Grove offers a robust golf-centric activity calendar that includes member tournaments, leagues, activities and clinics for all ages. The Grove's golf team consists of highly skilled golf professionals who offer a series of golf instruction designed for all ages and skill levels. Whether you are a scratch, mid-handicap, or just beginning to play the game, we can teach you the skills needed to succeed. Examples of member events and clinics: Ladies Scramble & Luncheon Couples Nine and Wine Junior Golf After School Clinics Men’s Evening Leagues Wee Tees Golf Clinics Ladies Get Golf Ready Junior Golf Club Championship Men’s Member-Guest Event "Great facility. Challenging but fun layout, Conditions were outstanding." GolfDigest.com Social Calendar Being a private club member has the added benefit of an active social life with like-minded individuals.  The Grove prides itself on offering our Members a thoughtful, fun, inspiring, and robust social calendar. In addition to seasonal parties and golf events, you will find the social calendar packed with exciting, curated events and experiences, such as Live Music Weekends, Wine Dinners, Kids Programs, and a host of sports-related events featuring Pickleball and Tennis. Annual Events include: Easter Brunch & Egg Hunt Independence Day Celebration with Fireworks, Live Music, and Community Cook-out Memorial Day Celebration Labor Day Celebration & Last Splash Doggie Luau Fall Festival Brunch with Santa Professional Fitness Training Another benefit of club membership is access to professional fitness and wellness programs. The Grove has brought together a team of certified, highly experienced fitness trainers dedicated to helping members achieve their personal fitness goals. A happy, healthier, and stronger you are the central focus of our fitness program at The Grove. Through personal fitness training, nutrition planning, sports training and rehab, and private or group classes, our professional trainers will be at your side to keep you motivated, focused, and committed to a customized program based on your goals and individual needs. Golf and tennis-specific conditioning are also available to improve your game and reduce the risk of injury. The Fitness Center is equipped to meet all our members' training needs, from young athletes to seniors interested in staying active. Personal training experts, paired with the industry's latest in strength equipment, free weights, and cardiovascular machines, means maintaining a healthy lifestyle is easier when you live at The Grove. A Sample of Group Classes: AquaFit Cardio Strength TRX Racquet Sports Variety is the spice of life. A club membership comes with many options for maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle. The Grove is home to a thriving year-round organized tennis and pickleball program. Members can enjoy lessons, leagues, tournaments, and social events.  Our certified, professional training staff offers programming designed for juniors, women, and men of all skill levels and ages juniors, and emphasizes social, family, and fun for all Club Members. Popular leagues include Ladies Interclub and Intraclub, as well as NALTA. Dining Another advantage of living in a private club community is access to various dining options outside your door. From fine dining at The Manor House, casual fare at The Bridge Bar, dining alfresco at The Trellis Grille, to the Smokehouse Pavilion for a delicious bite on the course during play. Whatever you are in the mood for, our culinary experts serve thoughtfully prepared, seasonally inspired, and locally sourced options that are sure to please. In addition, Members enjoy themed dining events, weekly specials, Sunday Brunch, and a host of food and wine pairing events. Specialty Services and Shops Within the gated community of The Grove is a host of Member-only shops and specialty services. Not only are there pro shops for Racquet Sports and Golf, each outfitted with the latest gear and equipment, but there is also a General Store where household essentials, convenience items, take & Bake meals, and eclectic artisan finds are available for members shopping experience. The Grove is also home to Rosemary Spa, a full-service day spa offering Members the convenience of an extensive menu of skin care services, plus nail, brows, and lash services. The Rosemary boutique features spa-at-home products and the luxurious Yon-Ka skincare product line to extend and enhance your spa experience and the effectiveness of your beauty care routine. The Rosemary Spa is a shining example of the commitment to superior luxury and service The Grove provides its Members. "Being a working mother of two young boys, I have never found the time to take care of myself. Now that this option is right in my backyard, it is much easier to make a reality." The Grove provides its Members with the best private club membership experience in Nashville.  The combination of a top-ranked private golf course, the most comprehensive amenity offering in Middle Tennessee, a plethora of children's programming and activities, parks, trails, and open space, proximity to local conveniences, and the top-rated school district in Williamson County, make The Grove the best place to raise a family outside of Nashville. We invite you to experience The Grove's luxury new home community for yourself. Discover why our amenities, highest-rated private golf club, and spectacular custom homes by the area's most-respected custom home builders resulted in The Grove being awarded the people's choice winner for best neighborhood in Williamson County and the perennial #1 selling private club community in the Nashville area. Learn more about why The Grove is the best community for families: More about our Club Lifestyle Resort Pools Equestrian Fishing Discovery Kids Club Trails & Parks Testimonials: What our Members are saying.

“We are here for all levels of tennis and pickleball players. Whatever your goal is, a cardio workout to working on your game to those looking for competitive play, we have the flexibility to create a custom program to suit your needs.”  - Geoff Browne, Director of Racquet Sports The Racquet Sports Program at The Grove is ever growing and evolving, emphasizing social, family, and fun for all members. Programming is designed for juniors, women, and men—all skill levels and ages, from true beginners to seasoned veterans. Our Racquet Sports Program features: Four lighted Plexicushion tennis courts and four standalone Pickleball courts. Ball machines for solo practice: Tennis, Pickleball Robust junior and adult social activity calendar Private Instruction: private lessons, private groups Adult Classes: New Beginners, Intermediate, Fast Friday Tennis, Men's Clinic, Team Practices Ladies Interclub and Intraclub leagues: NALTA, USTA Men’s Intraclub Tennis League Pickleball: instruction, open play, intraclub league, interclub matches and club tournaments Full-equipped Racquet Shop Certified, professional tennis staff Junior Tennis Junior tennis classes are offered based on a progression teaching method that incorporates modified tennis balls, racquets, nets, and courts to scale down the game to better suit learning at different ages and levels. This approach allows younger players to enjoy rallies and learn fundamentals much quicker, making progression to a full court much easier. Weekly Juniors classes include Minions (3-4), Red Hots (5-7), Orange Crush (8-10), Green Machine (11-12) and Elite (Middle School Team) Junior tennis also offers several social events throughout the year, providing a great place for kids to get a low-pressure, fun intro to the sport. Tennis activities are often paired with other non-tennis events, such as Kids Night Out, for a more casual way to enjoy the sport. This is a perfect segway into kid’s clinics and Summer Camps. In Summer, juniors of all ages and skill levels have plenty of opportunities to learn the game or perfect their skills. Daily skills clinics and weekly camps, including swimming, are offered to give Grove kids plenty of ways to play the day away! Adult Tennis  In addition to classes for beginning tennis players, there is a diverse offering of fitness, competition, and social play opportunities.  Private and group instruction is offered for all skill levels, based on need and desired objective. Intraclub and interclub competitive ladies programming is available for all skill levels through NALTA (Nashville Adult Ladies Tennis Association) and the USTA (United States Tennis Association) tennis leagues. Both are great ways to improve your game, meet other players in the area, and compete against other national area clubs. NALTA leagues play a seven-week season in the spring and fall, which overlaps with the USTA. Fast Friday: Get a great cardio workout while playing fun tennis points! Tennis Fit is a high-intensity class consisting of drills and fast point play with constant movement. The class will also help you improve your reaction time, defensive skills, court positioning and tennis footwork. Ladies Team Practices focus on specific shots and situations for doubles play. Technical and tactical components for each shot are covered, followed by point play practice emphasizing applying the shot to doubles situations. A written review is emailed to players after each class. A variety of social play opportunities are offered. Enjoy mixers and open play. Social play events are always a lot of fun and a great way to meet people. A growing focus for racquet sports is men’s programming. Currently, there is a men’s night that offers comprehensive instruction with a cardio element. Stay tuned for new offerings and programming, there's more exciting activities coming. Pickleball Pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in America, has hit The Grove. Social, beginner and competitive programming is geared toward adults, with all play held at The Gathering Place. The intraclub league, “The Grove Team Pickleball League,” completed its first full calendar season, with the next season already underway. Seasons run Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall, including 6 weeks of play and a 2-week playoff. Co-ed matches are made up of men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. Rotating partner leagues: men’s and women’s doubles. Social Mixers with adult beverages Open Social Play events run throughout the year. Join us at the Bridge Bar during Taco Tuesday! Private lessons and private group instruction based on need. Pickleball camps: Camps run 2 to 3 days with Grove Pro Geoff Browne instruction and a guest pickleball teaching pro. Camps provide comprehensive, dedicated training and instruction. Pro Shop Full-Service Racquet Sports Shop (ability to custom order any item and any brand) Tennis racquets & Pickleball paddles Ladies apparel - Sofi Bella, Lucky In Love, Tasc 24-hour Racquet Repair Service - stringing, gripping, racquet matching Accessories - ball, overgrips, Grove logo hats, and visors For questions or suggestions: [email protected] Geoff Browne, USPTA, PTR, IPTPA, PPR, MRT Director of Racquet Sports   [email protected] Federico Mas, USPTA, PTR Assistant Director of Racquet Sports Racquet Sports: 615-368-3964   Tennis Shop Hours: Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 6pm | Sunday 12pm – 5pm

A happy, healthier, and stronger you are the central focus of our fitness program at The Grove. Fitness Services offered at The Grove are designed to meet the training needs of all our members, from dedicated athletes to those simply looking to stay active. Through personal fitness training, nutrition plans, sports training and rehab, and private or group instruction, our professional trainers can create a customized program based on your interests and individual needs. From our state-of-the-art fitness facility, Sports Centre and Movement Studio, to picturesque outdoor venues, Members enjoy numerous opportunities to stay active and fit. FITNESS SCREENING PROGRAMS To help get you on your way, our fitness professionals offer several screening programs aimed at helping you improve your overall fitness goals or golf game. Golf and tennis-specific conditioning are also available to not only improve your play but reduce the risk of injury at the same time. FUNCTIONAL MOVEMENT SCREEN - A Functional Movement Screen tests seven fundamental movement patterns that are key to identifying your movement quality. The process provides a reliable baseline for actionable and effective steps to improve your performance and recovery. Training programs based on your results can be tailored to improve your body to meet your needs and goals. T.P.I. GOLF PHYSICAL ASSESSMENT - Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) is the global leader when it comes to the study of how the human body functions in relation to the golf swing. TPI has extensively studied thousands of golfers, from pros to casuals, since its inception in 2003. No other organization even comes close when it comes to the volume and quality of its data. TPI has proven that the most efficient golf swing can only be achieved by a properly functioning body and how physical limitations can negatively affect the quality of a golf swing, and how performing a golf swing that is incompatible with your body can lead to injury. Coach Jim Cotta has been T.P.I. Certified for over ten years and has performed thousands of T.P.I. Physical Assessments. In less than an hour, Coach Cotta can identify the areas that you need to work on for a better, more efficient golf swing. GROUP FITNESS CLASSES Group Fitness classes are an excellent way to get in or stay in great shape. Our fitness classes are designed to offer members structure, motivation, variety, and expert instruction to achieve a well-rounded fitness program. Classes are offered year-round and vary based on time of year. During warmer months, many classes take advantage of our outdoor club spaces and pools. Join us for classes such as: CARDIO STRENGTH 30/30 - A metabolism-boosting workout utilizing multiple joint movements and full body exercises performed at a high intensity. It incorporates strength and cardio moves that tone muscles and burns calories. These workouts move quickly, and the exercises are constantly changing. TRX TRAINING - TRX is a suspension training device that uses bodyweight exercises to develop strength, balance, flexibility as well as joint and muscular stability. PILATES - Pilates is a total body workout that will leave you feeling lifted, longer, stronger, more flexible, toned, and balanced with better body alignment and posture. Each member uses a unique wearable resistance/assistance harness that functions as a Reformer machine.  YOGA THERAPY - Therapeutic Yoga offers a slow, gentle, and intentional approach to postures. Class begins with a focus on connecting to the breath and transitions into connecting the breath with movement. A Therapeutic Deep Stretch class will reduce aches and pains, prevent injuries, enhance athletic performance, increase flexibility and relieve tension. GOLF FITNESS-FOCUSED TRAINING Primary offered during the winter months, our Golf Fitness-focused programs are designed to help our members stay fit and active while maintaining their golf skills throughout the off season. WOMEN’S GOLF FITNESS - Focused on enhancing skills such as power, agility, balance, strength, and cardio, to make you a better golfer while also improving your overall physical fitness! The class includes a modified TPI screen at the beginning and end of each 4-week series. JUNIOR GOLF FITNESS - Designed to help junior golfers enhance skills such as power, agility, balance, strength, and cardio. Just golf alone won’t allow your junior golfer to develop into the best golf athlete that they can be; these classes focus on exercise and training that is key to building their skills. TYE4 GOLF GROUP FITNESS - TYE4 Golf is a total body workout that will leave you feeling lifted, longer, stronger, more flexible, toned, and balanced with better body alignment and posture.  These exercises will strengthen your back and core, allowing you to play golf pain-free with more range of motion creating a fluid swing. Each member will use a unique wearable resistance/assistance harness that functions as a Reformer machine.  This class can accommodate all levels of fitness. Our professional staff is ready to help you achieve your goals. Contact our staff to learn more. Jim Cotta [email protected] Kim Whittaker [email protected]

Group Exercise Tips by Jim Cotta Now that summer is here, many people are hitting the gym in the hope of losing a few pounds before the annual family beach trip. You walk inside a health club with your head held high and look around the room: rows of treadmills, complicated machinery, and various free weights. Where do you even start? The good news is that we have all been here before. And while exercising alone works for some people, the majority of us need a more structured setting like a group class to achieve desired results. Group exercise classes are a great way to receive proper instruction, gain motivation from others and step out of your comfort zone. With so many choices, it can be overwhelming to identify the right class to reach your fitness goals. Here’s a look at four of the most popular types of workouts. Zumba: This South American-inspired aerobic dance class boasts an estimated 4 million enthusiasts and 25,000 instructors in 40 countries. Zumba classes provide a social and upbeat environment for participants looking to lose weight and improve coordination and balance. An average person can burn up to 370 calories in one class. Yoga: As one of the world’s oldest forms of exercise, yoga offers many benefits, including increased flexibility and strength, muscular endurance, better posture, and mental focus. Many of our tennis players and golfers at The Grove regularly participate in our yoga classes to improve their flexibility, which significantly enhances their game. There are different types of yoga classes available: Hatha: Slow-paced with basic poses Vinyasa: Often referred to as flow yoga and features a lot of movement Hot Yoga: The classroom temperature is set very high, which allows for deeper stretches Restorative: A meditative practice where poses are held for greater lengths of time TRX: TRX suspension is a portable training device that can be attached to any anchor point on a wall or door. This total body training system uses your body weight for resistance and is great for all fitness levels. Most of the training exercises are done in the standing position, which burns more calories and keeps your core constantly engaged. TRX suspension is my favorite workout device due to the range of motion and fitness goals you can accomplish. Water Exercise/Aerobics: Water aerobics is an alternative form of training and exercise that is ideal for individuals with injuries, muscle and joint pain. Water lessens the gravitational pull on the body so that a person can exercise longer in water without the extra stress on muscles or joints. As the strength and conditioning coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, I used water training with my injured players. They were able to stay in cardiovascular shape and often came back to the court healthier once their injuries had fully healed. At The Grove, we have two beautiful pools where we offer water conditioning classes for members to train at a high level while also enjoying the outdoors. The examples above represent only a small portion of the types of classes available at many gyms across the country. This month, I encourage you to take advantage of the group classes available at your own fitness facility or a nearby yoga or Zumba studio. Just remember to talk to your trainer, a doctor or gym personnel if you are unsure about a particular type of class. Jim Cotta is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the NSCA and a certified golf fitness instructor with Titleist Performance Institute. He was the head strength coach for the Los Angeles Lakers through 2004. Jim is now the fitness director at The Grove, a residential community in Williamson County. Read the article in the Williamson Herald

Jim Cotta, The Grove's Fitness Director Jim Cotta has a degree in Exercise Science from Springfield College and has been a certified Strength Coach through the N.S.C.A for 27 years. His career started as a strength and conditioning coach at the college level working at the University of Texas and at U.N.L.V. where he worked with many male and female athletes from a variety sports. In 1997 Jim became the first Head Strength & Conditioning Coach for the Los Angeles Lakers working with athletes such as Shaquille O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, Karl Malone, and more. During his time with the Lakers they won three NBA Championships and Shaquille O'Neal became the league MVP. Following his time with the Lakers Jim has continued to work with basketball players, NFL football players and golfers. Currently Jim is the Fitness Director at The Grove Club and works primarily with amateur and professional golfers of all ages. He is a Titleist Performance Institute certified golf trainer and is also certified FMS Level 1. “Jim Cotta is one of the best strength coaches I’ve had the pleasure to work with during my 19 year NBA career.  He makes working out fun, functional, and knows how to motivate people.  During my years with the Los Angeles Lakers, Jim was an integral part of us winning 3 NBA World Championships, and helped me in achieving 3 NBA Finals MVP’s, and the 2000 NBA Most Valuable Player award. Recently Jim helped me transform my body and I dropped close to 40 lbs. in getting ready for a “Shirt Off” competition against Charles Barkley on TNT’s Inside The NBA.  Jim’s knowledge of exercise, injuries, nutrition, and motivation is what makes him one of the very best in his field.” - Shaquille O’Neal Learn more about Fitness at The Grove, HERE

By: The Grove's Fitness Director, Jim Cotta If running even 1 mile sounds intimidating, follow this simple plan to rock out your first 5K and be ready for the Honor the Fallen race on May 11.  This is a 6-week beginners program if you want to work your way up gradually to be able to run a 5K, which is 3.1 miles.  Make sure to perform the 5 min warm up at the beginning of each workout.  Allow a day off in between each workout, for example, perform workouts #1,#2, and #3 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday or Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. Week 1 Day #1 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 1 min / Walk 1 min – a total of 20 minutes Day #2 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 1 min / Walk 1 min – a total of 20 minutes Day #3 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 1 min / Walk 1 min – a total of 20 minutes Week 2 Day #1 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 2 min / Walk 2 min – a total of 24 minutes Day #2 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 2 min / Walk 2 min – a total of 24 minutes Day #3 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog ½ mile (non-stop if possible)                    Jog 1 min / Walk 1 min – a total of 14 minutes Week 3 Day #1 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 3 min / Walk 2 min – a total of 30 minutes Day #2 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 3 min / Walk 2 min – a total of 30 minutes Day #3 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 1 mile (non-stop if possible)                    Jog 1 min / Walk 1 min – a total of 16 minutes Week 4 Day #1 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 4 min / Walk 1 min – a total of 30 minutes Day #2 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 4 min / Walk 1 min – a total of 30 minutes Day #3 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 1.5 miles (non-stop if possible)                    Jog 1 min / Walk 1 min – a total of 20 minutes Week 5 Day #1 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 4 min / Walk 1 min – a total of 36 minutes Day #2 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 5 min / Walk 1 min – a total of 36 minutes Day #3 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 2.0 miles (non-stop if possible)                    Jog 1 min / Walk 1 min – a total of 20 minutes Week 6 Day #1 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog ½ mile / Walk 1 min – repeat 4 times Day #2 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 1 mile / Walk 2 min – repeat 2 times Day #3 -      warm up 5 min. walk                     Jog 2.5 miles (non-stop if possible)                    Jog 1 min / Walk 1 min – total of 10 minutes To sign up for the Honor the Fallen Race on May 11: Click HERE 

Jim Cotta, The Grove's fitness director shares some of his professional advice on how to stick with a fitness routine. Here's what he had to say: Set Realistic Goals Make them short term goals and ones that are achievable so that you can get a win under your belt. Get Very Specific Instead of your goal being to get in better shape, get specific and say,"I’m going to lose 10 lbs in 3 months, or lose 5% body fat in 3 months." Have a Plan Once you decide upon a goal, you need to have a detailed plan on paper to help get you there. Set up a meeting our trainers if you need some help in this area. Make One Food Resolution Again, make this a short term resolution like no bread for 2 months, no alcohol for a month, or no soda for 3 months. Put Event on your Calendar The event could be a walk, 5k, half marathon, bike ride, etc. Or something like a vacation to the beach where you will be in your swimsuit. Something that will keep you accountable and motivated. Place a Wager with a Friend Bet your friend that you can lose more weight or body fat over a certain amount time. Join a Workout Class Nothing better than having others around you to keep you motivated. Author: Jim Cotta – Fitness Director (More about Jim HERE)

Jim Cotta traveled to Carlsbad, CA to attend the World Golf Fitness Summit by Titleist Performance Institute.  At this Summit, many fantastic lectures were given by some of the best strength coaches, golf instructors, physical therapists, doctors, nutritionists, and sports psychologists today.  Here is a brief summary of some of the lectures Jim had the privilege of experiencing. The Summit was kicked off by a very inspirational speech given by legendary football coach Dick Vermeil (former coach of the Eagles, Rams, Chiefs) The theme of his talk was “The Art of Coaching” which can be applied to all aspects of your life and how to be a leader. Some of his key points to being a great coach or leader are 1) make sure people know you care 2) lead by example 3) positive attitude & appreciation 4) have a plan 5) bring Energy 6) build relationships 7) be trustworthy and have integrity.  Now all of these ideas are things that we’ve probably heard before, but I believe Coach Vermeil really did live by these principles and is why he was so successful at every team he coached. Dave Phillips the co-founder of Titleist Performance Institute gave a talk on what the latest and greatest is in the technology world and gave me some great insight as to what can be useful for me and golf instructors and what is not.  We have recently seen that there are a lot of devices and gadgets out there that can give us a lot of information, but the real question should be what do we do with that information?  What truly is useful and what things just add to the confusion? Martin Hall, a golf teacher and has a show currently on the Golf Channel, gave a lecture about how important the hands and wrists are in the full golf swing. “He gave me some great insight to things that I can work on with my clients in the weight room,” says Jim. Tom House, a trainer who is probably the best in the world at working with athletes with shoulder issues and at increasing swing velocity, lectured on the training protocols he uses with professional baseball, football, and golfers.  I have already incorporated some of these protocols with my clients here at The Grove and are seeing positive results. Dr. Greg Rose, co-founder of Titleist Performance Institute, gave a very informative talk about back injuries in golf and how, as trainers and therapists, we can get people out of back pain and back to moving their bodies correctly again.  So many of us compensate when we have any sort of back injury, and he stressed the importance of getting out of those compensations before getting back into any activity, and especially the golf swing. Tom Pernice Jr. and his swing coach James Sieckmann presented a great short-game clinic on chipping.  James Sieckmann showed us some really interesting kinematic sequencing information of the best chippers in the game, and I was intrigued that it is actually the exact opposite of the full swing.  He also pointed out how important lower body stability is in the short game and that you should be working on that stability in your client’s fitness program as a trainer.

Golf courses are closing across the country as fewer and fewer people seem to have the time, money and patience to play the game, but across the Nashville region, golf communities are thriving. Doug Herman isn’t surprised. His company, Legend Homes, builds custom homes in Westhaven, the golf community in Franklin, and in the Grove, Middle Tennessee’s newest golf community located in southern Williamson County. “Not everyone plays golf, but they love the environment. It’s a lifestyle choice,” said Herman. Taylor Walker agrees. Even when he doesn’t have time to play the 18-hole course just steps from his door, his family enjoys the resort-style amenities at Foxland Harbor on the shores of Old Hickory Lake in Gallatin. “Even if you don’t play golf, it’s more walkable than your average neighborhood,” said Walker, who manages the Hendersonville branch of Wilson Bank & Trust. More than just golf In fact, the majority of homeowners in the region’s golf communities seem to be there for the lifestyle, not just the golf. Those communities include Westhaven, the Grove and the Governors Club in Williamson County, Foxland Harbor and neighboring Fairvue Plantation in Gallatin, and Five Oaks Golf & Country Club in Wilson County. In Robertson County, Milam Builders offers homes in the gated Pebble Brook community. Only 35 to 40 percent of the residents of a typical golf community actually play the game. That holds true at the Grove where, despite the community’s premier golf course, most residents are there for other reasons. Those include the pool, tennis and social activities at the clubhouse, said Mark Enderle, a partner in Terra Verde, the company developing the community. The Grove will have 820 custom homes when it is complete. More than 50 have been completed so far. The community is in College Grove near State Route 840. “These communities get labeled as golf communities, but they’re really lifestyle communities,” said Enderle. “You make your decision how to spend your leisure time. Our residents spend it where they live.” Stories about golf’s demise have persisted for years, he said. Time magazine, for example, reported that sales of golf equipment are down and more courses are closing than opening. Reasons include busy schedules that don’t allow for hours swinging a club at a little ball, the expense and the difficulty of learning the game. None of that affects golf communities, said Enderle. “They’ve been writing golf’s obituary for years,” he said. Compared to Atlanta and other cities, Nashville is “seriously under-golfed,” he said, with few opportunities to live along a course. “I’m looking for 800 people, really 400 people, who want to play golf.” A ‘safe haven’ The Governors Club, the gated and guarded community in Brentwood, offers golf, a full social calendar and something else — a “safe haven” for families, said general manager Jim Fitzsimmons. “It’s priceless. Your kids are safe,” he said. “Being inside your world here is comforting.” Regent Homes President David McGowan noticed that even non-golfers are interested in living in a golf community. Regent builds homes in Westhaven in Franklin. “A lot of people move here for the environment of the course, the green space,” he said. Goodall Homes Realtor Todd Reynolds said living in a golf community helps residents make the most of their free time even if they don’t play the game. The company built the Foxland Harbor home where Taylor Walker and his wife, Katherine Walker, live. It also builds in Fairvue Plantation. After moving back to Middle Tennessee, the Walkers didn’t want to buy a home in an ordinary subdivision. Instead, they were looking for “something a little different,” said Taylor Walker. At Foxland Harbor, they can walk to the clubhouse for social activities, dinner in the restaurant or to watch a game on television, he said. That convenience is the true advantage of golf communities, said Reynolds. “You’d make the assumption that most residents are golfers, but fewer and fewer are golfers. Golf communities attract people who like the lifestyle,” he said. “People don’t have time to relax. Here, it’s at their back door all the time.” Read the article as posted on The Tennessean

As summer comes to a close, it is time to get our minds and bodies back into a regular routine. This month I want to focus on women’s health by highlighting key fitness goals to get you ready for fall. There are many types of exercises available these days – from yoga and Pilates to kickboxing and Zumba. I firmly believe, however, that the most important exercise for women who want to see significant results and fight the effects of aging is strength training. This can include squats, pullups, pulldowns, lunges and pushups. The goal of strength training is to build muscle. A little bit of extra muscle will act like a furnace and burn body fat while you rest. If you practice yoga or run every day, you might lose some weight; but I highly doubt you will decrease your body fat very much. You will see a change in your body, however, by lifting weights and eating healthy. Remember: You never want to lose muscle, which is a side effect of consuming too few calories or overextending your cardiovascular training. Women gain many benefits from strength training, including increased metabolism and bone and joint strength, improvement in balance, posture and cholesterol, and stress reduction. Here at The Grove, we offer high-intensity personal training and Total Resistance Exercise (TRX) classes, which increase your heart rate and burn calories. If you really want to transform your body, I challenge you to dedicate at least three days per week to strength training workouts. Don’t forget: If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you. Jim Cotta is a certified strength and conditioning specialist with the NSCA and a certified golf fitness instructor with Titleist Performance Institute. He was the head strength coach for the Los Angeles Lakers through 2004. Jim is now the fitness director at The Grove.