By Guest Blogger Emery B.
As the school year draws to a close each May, one of our family’s favorite things is the opening of the pool, which to us marks the official start of summer. What started as a summertime tradition when we joined Westwood Swim and Tennis Club more than seven years ago has now become a nearly year-round part of our family’s life.
We joined Westwood just after moving back to Winston-Salem when our kids were relatively young (our son was 2 years old and daughter was 5 years old). Joining Westwood was a great way to reconnect with old friends and meet lots of new ones.
There’s something for everyone at the Westwood Swim & Tennis Club. Since its founding more than half a century ago, Westwood has become a popular swim and tennis destination for families. Located on a beautiful, convenient site in the heart of western Winston-Salem just off Country Club road, the Westwood Club offers tennis, swimming, a playground, a shelter area, a fitness room and clubhouse event space. My family uses just about all of it.
The main six-lane, 25-yard pool features two diving boards, a dedicated lane for swimming laps and varying depths to accommodate swimmers of all levels. The pool area also includes a separate shallow pool for infants and toddlers and a full-service snack bar (more on that later). Westwood also offers swim lessons to beginners of all ages. My kids (daughter now age 12 and son age 9) love swim team and have been participating on it for years. In addition, Westwood offers masters level swim coaching for adults as well as early morning time to swim laps.
For any parent, having your young toddler learn to swim is a big deal. My son learned to swim at Westwood. The lifeguard staff offer private swim lessons at very reasonable prices and do a great job teaching beginner swimming fundamentals. Then swim team really helps kids develop confidence and improve their mastery of various strokes.
Tennis anyone? Westwood’s tennis facilities include eight outdoor clay courts and illumination for nighttime play. Westwood also offers tennis professionals to assist a wide range of tennis players—everyone from beginner to advanced. My son plays tennis twice a week taking lessons and clinics from one of the best tennis instructors in Winston-Salem. I’ve been able to enjoy playing in inner-club and USTA tennis leagues. You’ll find that Westwood is great for the beginner tennis player and allows lots of opportunities for the competitive tennis player.
The Westwood Club offers much more than great swimming and tennis, including special youth events, yoga classes, tennis camps, holiday celebrations and other special events. The clubhouse also is available for meetings, wedding receptions, birthday parties and more! We’ve enjoyed lots of social events put on by the club throughout the year. We love to meet friends for a casual dinner at the pool in the summer—the kids can play and the adults can kick back and relax!
There is a nice, well equipped exercise room that my husband often uses that is complete with weights and a variety of exercise equipment. And did I mention the snack bar? We’re so fortunate that the Olive Tree provides our food service… so that means great Greek foods such as gyros, chicken souvlaki, and fresh hummus and pita as well as favorites such as burgers and salads along with the candy, frozen treats and cold beverages for kids and adults alike.
Right now, Westwood is offering special incentives to new members for a limited time that feature no 2017 annual membership dues—a savings of at least $875, depending on family size—and deferred initiation fee payment.
And for those who haven’t been to Westwood since last summer are in for a surprise. Westwood has added some new furniture to the pool area and painted the entire pool deck. It looks great. If you are interested in membership, I encourage you to call the club manager Jill Bowman at (336) 768-9599 or manager@westwoodclub.org for a personal tour of Westwood.
Kickoff the Season Party
This Saturday, April 29, there is a special “Kickoff the Season Party” for members and prospective members. It is from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Westwood Clubhouse featuring barbecue from award-winning Smokey Daze. R.S.V.P. to manager@westwoodclub.org.
Join the Westwood Swim & Tennis Club
If you would like to become a member of Westwood, please call (336) 768-9599, email manager@westwoodclub.org, visit the club at 265 Harper Street or go to WestwoodClub.org.
*Sponsored by Westwood Swim and Tennis Club
