By: Kinda Hamami
Many people have joined Rolling Hills since the announcement of the Bay Club’s takeover,
as they promise changes to the club, which has appealed to many members.
Rolling Hills Club, a family-owned country club, has recently passed the reins to the Bay Club, invoking many mixed reviews from members and staff alike. With increased membership and facility changes, many members are questioning whether to stay, while others believe that Rolling Hills will benefit from the changes the Bay Club promises to bring.
Rolling Hills Country Club has been in the Novato community since 1998, and was bought by Rob and Martha Domont in 2010. Rolling Hills attracted many people because of its family values and love for the community. Members and employees are able to participate in fitness classes, use the spa and yoga center, put their kids in after-school care programs, and more. Now with the Bay Club integration, there are promises for change that many members and employees are questioning.
“I think that a part of the community aspect of Rolling Hills has dampened a little with this change. It’s kind of fading just because they’re more of a larger company,” San Marin junior and swim instructor Hanna Thoms said.
The Bay Club integration was originally introduced in July 2023, with the Domonts leaving to be closer to their family. Many employees and members were confident in the switch and excited to see what the Bay Club would bring to Rolling Hills.
“I was optimistic, I thought that they had a lot of experience so it could be a good thing, but I was just kind of waiting to see what kind of changes they would make,” Thoms said.
The integration of the Bay Club has caught many eyes, like those of San Marin junior Joel Zelda, a member who recently paid for a new membership upon hearing about the integration.
“We were first members back when I was in third grade, with the original owners, and it seemed kind of run down. We dropped our membership a while ago and we just became members back in the fall when Bay Club took over,” Zelda said.
The Bay Club is currently working on two phases of renovation. Phase one consists of renovating both the upper and lower deck pool (one of which is currently in the works), pickleball courts, and the outdoor workout space. Phase two will consist of upgrading and refurbishing the entire building. As a result of these changes, the Rolling Hills membership has increased by $20 for a single plan, $40 for a couple plan, and $80 for a family plan.
While the future of Rolling Hills is unknown, many are hopeful for what the Bay Club plans to offer.
“We’ve had a lot of new members come in since they found out Bay Club took over. Most people are staying because they want to see these awesome upgrades that are going to be happening,” Group Fitness Director Alice Demushkin Dow said.
