A New Vision for the Sports Barn
At Ford Field & River Club, recreation and wellness are essential parts of the member experience. Nestled along Georgia’s coastal lowcountry, the club blends outdoor lifestyle, racquet sports, and community programming into a setting designed for active living.
The club’s fitness center, known as the Sports Barn, had served members well for years. As membership and participation in fitness continued to grow, the club found that it had simply outgrown the space. The equipment was outdated, and leadership saw an opportunity to expand the facility and introduce a more modern training environment.
The vision for the project focused on creating more space, improving the layout and flow, and introducing updated equipment that could support a broader range of workouts. The goal was to transform the Sports Barn into a fitness facility that matched the quality and energy of the rest of the club’s amenities.
A Partner with Perspective
From the outset, the Ford Field & River Club team sought a partner who understood both the fitness industry and the expectations of a private club.
Advantage Sport & Fitness stood out as the right fit for the job due to its strong reputation in fitness facility design and positive testimonials from other country clubs, fostering a collaborative planning process focused on serving members.
Advantage VP of Sales John Marcotte guided the project with deep local and industry knowledge, and the club also drew inspiration from other Advantage projects to help shape the next version of the Sports Barn.
Member-Focused Equipment
In the new Sports Barn, the layout intentionally balances cardio, strength training, and a wide range of workout styles to create a natural flow throughout the facility.
A full lineup of cardio equipment anchors one side of the space, including Precor treadmills, ellipticals, and StairClimbers. With the addition of pieces like the Peloton Bike+ and Row+ with multi-user commercial subscriptions, members have access to instructor-led workouts and interactive training experiences.
Altogether, fourteen cardio stations create a dynamic zone for easing into a workout, building endurance, or integrating cardio into broader routines, all with scenic outdoor views.
The upgraded strength area features Precor Resolute machines, a dual adjustable pulley, and two Precor Discovery Half Racks, supporting versatile free weight training.
This flow offers members more opportunities to progress their routines and explore new exercises with confidence.
"Working with John Marcotte and the Advantage team was a great experience because of their strong communication, and we look forward to continuing to work with them in the future."
Ryan Good
Director of Recreation and Wellness, Ford Field & River Club
Recovery Meets Performance
The new Sports Barn also prioritizes recovery as an essential part of a well-rounded fitness routine. Members have access to a dedicated stretching area, along with a recovery zone featuring Human Touch Perfect Chair Pro chairs, Hyperice massage guns, and Normatec compression boots. Together, these additions support the full training cycle—helping members recover just as intentionally as they train.
A Transformation that Members Feel
The result is a clean, streamlined aesthetic that feels focused and welcoming, enhanced by custom-branded details like the iconic rice sheath logo on dumbbells and bumper plates. The updated Sports Barn delivers a fitness and wellness facility that feels larger, more capable, and more inviting, giving members the freedom to explore new exercises and pursue their goals in a space designed for their needs.
The response has been immediate and overwhelmingly positive. As Ryan Good, Director of Recreation and Wellness at Ford Field & River Club, shared, “Members and staff have been blown away by the transformation of the new Sports Barn. The new space and equipment give our members a comfortable place to work out while trying new exercises that help them reach their fitness goals.”
With Advantage’s guidance shaping the layout, equipment mix, and flow, the facility inspires movement, supports members at every stage of their fitness journey, and elevates the overall club experience.
