For years, Members heading to the gym at RSGC would make their way to the first floor of the Main Clubhouse, above the Front Office and near the Multipurpose Hall. Today, the journey looks rather different.
Since June, the Club’s gym has occupied a new home at the former Fairway Restaurant, above The Rotunda — a significantly larger space overlooking the golf course, swimming pool and tennis courts. The relocation is more than a change of address. It represents a rethink of how the Club’s fitness facilities are positioned and how Members use them.
WHY MOVE THE GYM?
Planning for the new facility centred on bringing the Club’s non-golf sporting and fitness activities closer together. With the swimming pool and sports courts already located within the same general area, relocating the gym to the former Fairway Restaurant creates a more natural hub for fitness, recreation and wet sports activities.
The location also allows Members heading for a workout to access the fitness facilities without having to pass through the main Clubhouse areas, while the elevated setting offers views across the golf course, swimming pool and tennis courts
Most importantly, there was room to create a better gym. At approximately 5,855 square feet, the new facility is almost twice the size of its predecessor, providing considerably more room for equipment, movement and exercise.
FROM FAIRWAY RESTAURANT TO FITNESS FACILITY
Work on transforming the former Fairway Restaurant began in early March 2026, with upgrading works completed in early June. Throughout the renovation period, Members continued to use the existing gym at its original location, avoiding the need for an interim facility.
The physical relocation began on 8 June, when equipment from the existing gym was moved to the new premises. Installation and testing followed before the new gym welcomed Members for its soft opening on 12 June 2026. Rather than simply transferring the previous arrangement into a larger room, the new gym was planned around dedicated exercise zones.
The layout comprises separate areas for cardiovascular exercise, strength and machine training, and free weights and exercise, creating clearer spaces for different types of workouts and improving movement between equipment.
The concept was developed with input from the Club’s main gym equipment supplier, Technogym, and gym operator, Pinnacle Fitness, with the Sports Department working alongside the project architect on the layout, functionality and overall design.
MORE SPACE, BETTER TRAINING
One of the most noticeable differences is the amount of space available. The larger floor area has allowed greater spacing between machines and significantly expanded the free-weight and exercise areas. It also increases the gym’s capacity during busier periods without making the space feel congested.
The cardio section takes advantage of the new location, with views towards the golf course, swimming pool, tennis courts and the upcoming Annex Building. Existing equipment that remained in good working condition was retained and transferred from the former gym, while equipment that had reached the end of its useful life or was damaged was replaced.
A total of 11 new pieces of equipment have been purchased as part of the upgrade. These include new cardiovascular, strengthtraining and free-weight equipment, together with three new treadmills. Some of the equipment was installed during the relocation, while the remaining items are expected to arrive in September.
Among the new additions are Technogym group cycles, dual adjustable pulley and strengthtraining machines, as well as an expanded free-weight set. The result is not an entirely new inventory, but a considered combination of retained equipment that continues to perform well and new equipment introduced where replacement or improvement was needed.
MORE THAN A GYM
The facility continues to support fitness services provided by Pinnacle Fitness, including personal training, fitness testing, TPI Mobility Screen and Junior Strength and Conditioning programmes.
Another development is also taking shape nearby. The former card room has been converted to accommodate a planned physiotherapy facility, which will further complement the Club’s fitness and sporting services. The Sports Department is currently completing its final assessment of the proposed service, with commencement targeted for late 2026 or early 2027.
The gym remains open daily from 7.00 am to 10.00 pm, exclusively for Members. The relocation was undertaken with the support of the Sports and Sports Projects SubCommittee 2025/26, together with the Sports Department and the various parties involved in planning and delivering the new facility.
For Members who knew the old gym above the Front Office, the difference is immediately apparent: almost twice the space, clearer training zones, upgraded equipment and a location that places fitness alongside many of the Club’s other recreational facilities. The equipment may be familiar in places, but the experience around it has changed. And that, ultimately, was the purpose of the move.
