Looking for a new gym? You've come to the right spot—the comprehensive guide to the Bay Club. We compiled all of our expert knowledge on this page, just for you. We'll give you everything you need to know about this popular gym chain.
Looking for a new gym? You've come to the right spot—the comprehensive guide to the Bay Club. We compiled all of our expert knowledge on this page, just for you. We'll give you everything you need to know about this popular gym chain.
This luxury fitness "chain" in the Bay Area is what most folks would refer to as a country club. We only call it a "chain" because of their multiple gyms (22) scattered throughout California. They're definitely upscale too, with:
And there are of course, many—and we mean many more amenities we haven't even listed.
Bay Club was founded in 1977 in San Francisco, California. The current CEO is Matthew Stevens. The headquarters is located in San Francisco, California.
While the exact times will differ for every location, the most common opening hours we've seen from Bay Club are:
The total amount of locations we're tracking from this fitness chain.
Room for activities! Average square footage of their gyms.
How much you can expect to pay for the entry-level membership every month
We love the absolutely ridiculous amount of amenities available across their upscale locations. It's a true, all-you-can-want fitness option, especially if cost is no issue.
Resort and country-club amenities and services. We love the upscale, exclusive vibe from Bay Club.
A huge selection of racquet sports, including tennis, pickleball and racquetball. Don't forget about their classes and tournaments!
Multiple pools, aquatic activities, saunas, steams and spa rooms. Fans of rejuvenation, relaxation and all water-related activities have to look at Bay Club as a great option.
While Bay Club's total offerings are off the charts, we can still name a few things we'd like to see from this upscale gym.
There were ultra clear pricing options for memberships. That starts with a base membership starting cost on their website. Let's be clear: you do have the option to build and price your membership online, but it's buried after a bunch of clicks on their site.
Adding to our pricing comments above: we do wish their plans were more affordable. Just a base membership for a single adult in the Bay Area: $430 a month with $250 initiation fee.
They expanded their footprint outside of California. It may not be in their plans, but we think Bay Club would do great if they expand.
Bay Club is a boutique, luxury gym chain—much more a country/golf club. If you're open to spending a few hundred a month, you'll get your money's worth with the endless list of amenities. A single monthly adult membership is around $430 to $575/month (in the San Francisco Bay Area). Adding your child aged under 12 will run you around $400, and a teenager about $450.
Don't forget about the one-time initiation fee that can range from $500 to $2500 (or more).
Why are these memberships much more expensive than your typical gym? You also get exclusive access to tennis, squash and golf. Bay Club gives complementary access to childcare, too.
The most expensive membership we priced was the Club West Gold, which provides full access to all Bay Club locations. You'll also get complimentary childcare where they provide it, amongst other things. As of November 2023, that membership is $405 a month with $2500 initiation.
We all have different bodies, different goals and different fitness journeys. Some gyms may fit a person better than others. So who would enjoy this gym most?
Who owns the Bay Club?
Does Bay Club San Francisco have parking?
What happened to the San Francisco tennis club?
Who is the CEO of Bay Club?
Is Bay Club Buying Crow Canyon Country Club?
Free weights, strength machines and cardio equipment.
Nothing like the hot heat to warm muscles up.
An extra early or real late workout—your choice.
Stretch, sleds, bodyweight or box jumps. The turf area is the place to be.
Relieve pain post workout or soothe sore muscles.
Gym Pricing Tiers Explained
There are 3-4 main pricing tiers that nearly all gyms across the country fall into. Generally, higher prices = more amenities and services.
$10 - $25 /month — Value
$15 - $30 /month — High Value Low Price
$25 - $65 Monthly — Mid-Tier
$65 and up — Boutique/Specialty/Luxury
"Is this gym worth it?"
Use our guides to help inform and educate what a gym can offer your fitness lifestyle. Only you can truly decide if a gym is worth it!
The Bay Club is a fantastic gym and country club. One one hand, it would be wrong to categorize this gym solely on their pure fitness amenities and abilities. On another, its wise to acknowledge that all the other services offered place it into a different class—meaning its hard to compare to other more traditional gyms on our site.
With pricing that at times can be 30x your most inexpensive membership ($9.99 month), you can clearly see we must judge it differently. Even the higher initiation fee price points ($250 to $2500!) are sky high vs other gyms.
Nonetheless, many members love the Bay Club, and we suspect it's worth it to them if:
These three questions should guide most folks into (or out of) Bay Club, because they speak to the main differences compared to traditional gyms.
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