The Deer Lake Athletic Club offers area residents a friendly environment to stay fit all year long.
Included in the building located at the intersection of Dixie Highway and White Lake Road are eight indoor tennis courts, three outdoor tennis courts, three racquetball courts, two wallyball courts, aerobics and yoga area, cardio circuit room, indoor pool, outdoor pool, steam and dry saunas and a children’s care center.
The club, which was started by Forrest and Jacqui Milzow in 1973, has grown with the community and tailored itself to whatever is popular at the time.
“When we first started racquetball was very popular but since its popularity has decreased,” Jacqui said. “We took four of the rooms we had for racquetball and turned them into a cardio workout room and a weight room. We have up to date equipment so our members can do multiple exercises.”
Deer Lake Athletic Club offers personal training sessions where a person can receive the benefits of working one-on-one with a personal trainer and establishing a serious fitness routine. Sessions last anywhere from 35 minutes to one hour depending on each individual’s level of fitness. You will be taught correct form and techniques.
The club also offers classes in tennis, swimming and aerobics.
However, you do not need to be a member to enjoy other parts of the Deer Lake Athletic Club including the Back Court Restaurant.
The Back Court is a casual, comfortable place with its own relaxed space, serving fine food with a friendly smile. It offers lunch and dinner specials, a children’s menu and has a full service bar.
Don’t miss out on experiencing their outstanding food. Everything is prepared from scratch, from the soups, to the nachos, to the fine entrees and desserts. Prime Rib is their featured item on Friday and Saturday along with a wide selection of delicious entrees available on the frequently changing menu. There is a patio where you can enjoy your meal if the weather is cooperating.
The restaurant offers live entertainment Wednesday through Saturday. So, get a group of friends together, or come by yourself – you will be welcomed by the staff and customers.
You also don’t have to be a member to take advantage of the fantastic banquet facilities Deer Lake Athletic Club has to offer. There are three rooms perfect for weddings, meetings, conferences or any social gathering. The rooms can accommodate a get together of anywhere from 25 to 350 people.
“All anyone has to do is give us a call and we can provide them all the information about the rooms. They have great atmosphere,” Jacqui said.
The Deer Lake Athletic Club prides itself on fostering a friendly atmosphere that feels like family. They do this by having quality employees who are able to help all customers with anything in the building. Deer Lake Athletic Club has a staff of more than 100.
“The people don’t work for me, they work with me,” Jacqui said. “We like to provide a neighborhood feeling for our members. We want to make sure everybody feels comfortable at the club.”
The Deer Lake Athletic Club is located at 6167 White Lake Road. Their phone number is (248) 625-8686, while their fax number is (248) 625-5350. You can also visit them on the Internet at www.deerlakeathleticclub.com.
Deer Lake Athletic Club
Over the past 30 years Deer Lake Athletic Club has been a jewel in the Clarkston community. Never one to rest on its laurels, Deer Lake is shining brighter as a spring and summer season filled with new programs and activities for the whole family approaches.
‘We want to generate activity all year long,? founder and owner, Forrest Milzow said. ‘People enjoy more activities than just tennis. We’ve expanded to include a much larger audience.?
Since the club first opened its doors in 1976, Deer Lake’s facilities have been tailored to the needs of the Clarkston community.
‘We are a bedroom community on the move and that’s what we are catering to,? Milzow said. ‘We’ve designed all of our programs around families.?
With a loyal staff, many of whom have been with the club for years, Deer Lake prides itself on not only being one of the largest employers in the township but also being an active participant in the community.
‘What makes us unique from other clubs in the area is Deer Lake has been family owned and operated since the beginning. We take great pride in that. We have a loyal staff which has been with us for years and they know our members. You are not just a face walking in the door, you are part of the family here,? club consultant, Terri Bendes said.
Deer Lake’s commitment to health goes past a superficial level, offerings like the Health Fair, which runs from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on March 18, is a perfect example of how the club seeks to better the community as a whole. You do not need to be a member at Deer Lake to register to attend the Health Fair.
‘It all ties back into health and fitness. When you educate people about health, they take an interest in being healthier. By hosting the Health Fair we can provide some things that people probably wouldn’t just go and have done,? Bendes said.
A few of the on-site exams at the Heath Fair are body composition, hearing and bone density screenings. Some of the topics covered by professionals on the day include: metabolism, osteoporosis, childhood obesity, weight training as well as many other general health issues.
Showing off one of Deer Lake’s crown jewels, Dan Houston, the club’s clinical exercise specialist, will discuss the benefits of his field of expertise at the Health Fair. He is one of only five people in the state of Michigan certified in the field of clinical exercise.
‘It all ties into the philosophy of the club. That’s why we are here, we want people to be healthier,? Bendes said.
The commitment to making health and fitness easy for their members extends past special events such as the Health Expo.
Working with Dan Houston, Deer Lake’s chefs have developed a new lite menu which offers meals that range from 400 to 500 calories that delight the mouth as they sate the appetite.
‘It’s a menu that you don’t walk away hungry from,? Milzow said.
This summer, while parents enjoy a sumptuous meal in the Back Court Restaurant or Bullwinkles, children will have as much fun as they can handle on their plate.
Starting the week after school lets out for summer vacation, Deer Lake’s all-day summer fun and specialty camps feature week-long immersions in tennis, cheerleading, lacrosse, football, soccer, junior Olympics, karate, hip-hop dance and more.
‘The summer camps free the parents up to catch up on whatever they have to do, knowing that their children are in a safe environment with lots of healthy and fun activities to choose from,? Forrest Milzow said.
With Deer Lake’s trained and experienced staff, children are under constant supervision, allowing parents to enjoy the finer pleasures in life, such as relaxing by the club’s two new pools.
To ensure that while enjoying their time at Deer Lake their members are never out of the loop, the entire club features free wireless internet access.
‘What we hope is that with our summer programs, people stop by and see the club, enjoy being here, and decide to join us year round,? Bendes said.
With old favorites like expert tennis advice and new state-of-the-art programs, such as the women’s only circuit training and studio cycling rooms, Deer Lake stays on the cusp of athletic training without alienating any of their longtime members.
For the perfect test drive of what Deer Lake has to offer, summertime memberships are available. The club also takes care to thank current members just for passing a good word down the line with the referral reward program.
To join today or register for the Health Fair or summer camps call Deer Lake Athletic Club at 248-625-8686 or stop by 6167 White Lake Road for a tour of the facility.