Chapter Three

Locker Development and Management

          This chapter is the cornerstone upon which this book is built. Not only because it's at the very heart of what this tome is about, but also because it is the longest and most detailed of the entire book.

Locker Room Development

          A warning to experienced Locker Room Managers: the first part of this chapter was written for Developers, General Managers, or Managers of Clubhouse Services who have locker rooms on the drawing board. You may want to skim the next few pages and start reading in earnest again at the subheading, "Miscellaneous Locker Assignment Issues."
          If your clubhouse is well underway then you've made your choices as to the type of lockers you want. You'll also have decided how many lockers you'll need, the size and lay out of each, the type of locker access you'll use, whether you'll use name plates and/or numbers on the lockers, and what the lockers are made out of. If you're still in the planning stages there are some options to consider. They are outlined below, starting with types of lockers.

Types of Lockers

1. Shoe Lockers-semi-private and even some high-end private clubs provide their members with lockers just large enough to hold a couple pairs of shoes. This is done to conserve space so that it can be put into bathroom facilities and/or to save on the cost of equipping the club with full-fledged lockers. Some clubs simply do not see the need to spend a great deal of money on this amenity.

2. Half Lockers-half lockers are sometimes used at a semi-private or private club with a significant membership, usually in the hundreds on the men and women's sides. Though half lockers, they are usually big enough to hang suits and pants in and can hold 3-6 pairs of shoes, depending on shelving. Half lockers may also be used as "day lockers" only. I did consulting at a new local country club that had about 80 lockers in the men's locker room, despite the fact that they would eventually have a membership of 300-400. Instead of putting in enough lockers for all the members, they installed less than 100 lockers that can only be used daily.

          From a financial and managerial standpoint I would recommend against day lockers. For one, if you are going to have a membership in the hundreds you are giving up a lot of revenue by going this route. We have almost 660 half lockers total at our club and inside of two years have rented 360+. The club charges $125.00 a year and $62.50 for 6 months. And with the exception of a half dozen members, all are rented at the annual rate. You can do the math, but it's obvious it pays to put in enough lockers to accommodate your members.

          The second concern is managerial. If I had a few hundred members and only day lockers to work with, keys would be changing hands constantly as member came and went. Some members might keep their keys if they were playing a couple days in a row, further complicating matters.

3. Full Lockers-the full locker is the locker of choice for the majority of the most exclusive clubs. It allows the member to hang any item of clothing, provides space for a half dozen shoes, and even allows for storage of extra golf clubs (and entire sets, including golf bags-if members at some clubs can get away with it).

4. Full Lockers/Half Lockers-some clubs provide their members with full and half lockers in the same room. Those who have more items can choose full, while those with only a pair or two of shoes can take half lockers. At the Arizona Biltmore Country Club, the majority of the men's 144 lockers were full with 10-15 half size. It is usually customary to charge more for the former and less for the latter.

Types of Locker Access

          These days there are two ways of providing members with security as it relates to their lockers. The first is via a combination lock, while the other is providing a lock that can be opened with a key. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

Combination Locks-Getting Dialed In or Punched Out

          Combination Locks were the type we had on our lockers at the Arizona Biltmore Country Club. It consists of a dial with numbers on it. To open the locker you dial three numbers-usually right-left-right-stopping at an arrow on the top edge of the dial while passing the middle number once. The locker is then open, or can be opened by pulling on a latch. A number of other combination locks are available including those that use buttons instead of a dial.
          Overall, the combination lock provides a good measure of security for members because only they know the combination to their locker. Of course, the Locker Room Manager should have two books with all the combinations in it-one in the shoe room and one locked away in a safe or other secure location. He should also have a master key along with a spare that allows him to get into all men and women's lockers.

          Advantages: as noted, members feel secure because only they know the combination to their lockers. Members that are gone for an extended period of time may forget their combinations, but they can be looked up quickly and the member is usually set for the season. Most members have used a combination lock at one time in their lives and are usually familiar with how they work. Simply put, if a member loses a combination, it doesn't cost a penny to replace it. It's a breeze to assign lockers with combinations. All the member has to do is pick out a locker and the Manager writes down the combo and gives it to him.
         Disadvantages: for the high-end private club and/or exclusive resort with a golf club, combination locks may not be aesthetically pleasing. In fact, they often remind people of locker rooms in dingy athletic clubs or gyms. Although 10-20 years is a long time, I've found that when members use them frequently over a number of years they can wear out and need replacement. Installing combination locks on wooden lockers adds to the expense of the locker room as well. If your club has or is going to have a large elderly membership, they may not be able to see the small marks and numbers on a traditional combination dial. Therefore, the Locker Room Manager may end up opening lockers for many of the members, taking time away from other duties.

To Key or Not to Key? That is the Question

          Sorry, couldn't help but put a slight twist on a tired cliché. I arrived at The Country Club at DC Ranch to find men's and women's locker rooms that were more than double the size of the facilities at Biltmore Country Club. Instead of combinations The Country Club had made the choice to go with keys, and not just one per oak locker. Inside every

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