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.