Gold’s Gym

I attended this gym for years, and please, unless you’re a rampaging jerk, go elsewhere.
General issues: Car break-​ins are rampant here, to the point where there is almost always broken glass on the pavement. I got lucky once and came back to a lock partially cut through. This location is right in the middle of a triad of office parks and kiddy-​corner to a strip mall, so to say this place is packed before, after, and over lunch hour of the standard workday is an understatement. This includes the pool, which closes a firm hour before the rest of the gym. At least half of the classes are only on when most people are working (8am-​5pm), and the last classes end at 8:30pm. Things in the locker room (generally plumbing or electrical issues) are continuously non– or semi-​functional, and ALL maintenance is done during open hours, which means the women’s locker room has been completely out-​of-​service plenty of times. The pool is a joke, is too hot, and it STINKS. It has a «schedule» which is never followed — they allow people to water walk/​jazzercise/​do whatever in any lane no matter who is already using it, schedule kid’s swim lessons whenever parent’s want, and they allow families to take up all the lap lanes at any time. Also, this and the Liverpool location are a «franchise» Gold’s, which means this is a private local gym that flies the Gold’s banner, your corporate Gold’s account does not apply here, and corporate Gold’s will not respond to you or help you in any way.
Now as for my more personal view, this place was okay when I was just going for Zumba, cardio equipment, and weights. However, I got hurt, and had to take a few months off from the gym while attending PT. They told me that I needed to swim to continue my PT, to strengthen and get better. So I started swimming here, and it was okay for the first few months — I went in at an off time and wait my turn for a lane. Well, one day, a younger guy jumped in the lane without saying anything, and grabbed me by the shoulder and waist and shoved me! I immediately stood up, and the lifeguard just shrugged and asked what I wanted him to do. I then tried to kindly bring up the fact that I have a disability and need people to stay out of my personal space to the staff, that I don’t kick straight and don’t want to hit someone by accident — I’m used to running on a track and focusing on my workout, I’m not okay with people flailing around inches away from me, the lane is only as wide as my arms! Nope, the staff just refused — the «pool coordinator» Katrina was in particular very verbally abusive and even told me to my face that she «didn’t believe I had a disability» even though I walk with a clear limp. I did everything in my power to try to avoid inconveniencing anyone — I was able to come in at off-​hours and often had the pool to myself, and leave when it’s gets busy anyway, but even once I learned to share, the male swimmers and staff only got more abusive.
It’s not so bad if people appropriately let you know they’re getting in the lane, but they just jump right in to deliberately scare you. If they ask if you mind sharing and you DARE to respond that you’d prefer not, I had men old enough to be my father screaming at me that «YOU HAVE TO!!». I even had a few cases where younger men (under 35) jumped into the lane without saying anything, just started swimming, and deliberately hit me. The last time it happened, he made sure to do Fly, and beat me so hard I had bruises on my forearm, ribs, and shin. Once I found out which way was up again, I of course screamed at the abuser, that he wasn’t going to sit there and beat on me to force me out of the lane! He actually mouthed off at me that I should’ve gotten out and not been in his way (I was in the lane long before him!), and the lifeguard was LAUGHING. The abuser went over to the next lane, mouthing off about how I was a «crazy b*tch», and the guy promptly told him that you can’t do Fly while sharing a lane, and he wasn’t going to beat on him either! The staff refused to say or do ANYTHING to this abuser, and in retrospect, I’m ashamed of myself for not calling the police for fear of sounding stupid.
They are sexually inappropriate as well. For example, it’s one thing when guys go to the beach to go look at women, but it’s another thing when they go to this pool, and there’s only one woman in the pool, and they stare at her for her whole workout. When women go to complain, desk staff tells them to point the guy out to the lifeguard, but they leave less than a minute after the woman leaves, and the lifeguard then claims they didn’t see anything, even though they have cameras over the pool. I tried wearing a large towel, but the guys shouted that they could «see everything when I swam anyway.» All of this occurred IN FRONT OF THE STAFF. So, unless you’re an abusive jerk, go elsewhere! Other gyms care about safety and their members, and I don’t have these problems elsewhere!

I recently signed up for Gold’s 7 day trial pass and wow, this place really is great. From the start of my experience the staff was outstanding– the girls at the front desk were super professional and have really nailed the customer service thing. On day one of my trial I walked right in, signed the paperwork, got a quick tour and list of the classes, and then was given free reign to work out. They have truly perfected the balance of providing customer service and being attentive without being overly involved in what you are trying to do. On my second visit I was asked to sit down with Liz to go over the pricing for memberships. She explained the current promotion that they had that was ending that day and encouraged me to sign up if I was interested because it was such a good deal, but she was not super pushy or obnoxious about it– I find that most gyms nonstop try to pressure you into signing up from the second that you walk through the door, but Gold’s was DEFINITELY not like this. They give you the facts and let the facility and staff speak for themselves. How refreshing! I worked out mostly in the main cardio/​weight area, and it was kept clean and well stocked. I liked the big whiteboard on the wall for people to write down any comments/​problems they encountered– it seems like Gold’s actually cares what their customers think and works to make you happy. Gold’s was a little bit more expensive than the other gyms in the area that I am looking at, but it seems like this is pretty well justified by the quality of their services and the quantity of classes they offer. I plan on going to sign up for a membership this week. Thanks for the great experience so far!

Cristina P. really nailed it on the head with her praise of Roger as a personal trainer. When I lived in Syracuse, Gold’s was my gym, and Roger was my trainer. His informed and patient approach, and his ability to work with people like me with no fitness history to define and achieve their goals, was exactly what I needed. After I moved out of the area I tried to find a replacement trainer who was half as good, and never did find one.
The gym itself is great value for the money, with cardio machines, classes, a pool, and a complete (if a bit cramped) weight area. Every time I’m back in the Syracuse area, I get a guest pass, and it’s like being home again.

Roger Markell, Master Trainer is the Best !
At 47 years old and 250 pounds, impulse led me to Roger Markell, the trainer for my weight loss challenge team. I had no explicit goals. I just wanted to lose some weight. Even though I had a skinny past, that past was never fit and as I sat more, worked longer hours, fasted all day so I could eat a big dinner with my family, my only exercise a daily walk with my dog — the weight packed on.
6 weeks into my weight loss challenge, I lost about 30 pounds and began to realize what I might be able to do if I committed to a true lifestyle change.
At that time I began to work with Roger Markell twice a week. The results have amazed me. In 6 months, I lost over 90 pounds with more than 30 inches gone from various body parts. From huffing and puffing up a flight of stairs, I now walk up multiple flights without losing my breadth. I can push more than my weight with my legs, do 10+ ‘guy’ push-​ups, jog around that track without getting a stich in my side, and am valiantly working to do pull ups!
When I started, everything hurt: my knees, hips, back, etc. I was taking Tylenol to help reduce the ache to sleep. Now, I still ache but it is muscle ache and I don’t need assistance to sleep.
Roger helped me to eat more nutritiously, providing real examples of how to eat those 6 meals through a jam packed work day. Always concerned about my health and well-​being, he works to maximize my work out benefit while keeping me injury free. Roger helps me to stay accountable to myself.
When the sweat drips into my eyes and puddles on the track, Roger’s humor cheers me on. His confidence that I can accomplish what he asks gives me the confidence I need to keep going.
I’ve now been with Roger for 2 years. I have a maintained my weight loss and fitness. As a team, we worked to get my body fit. As a team, we work to keep my body fit.

This is a great gym on wide waters Parkway. They offer a lot of amenities including: large amount of cardio equipment tons of free weights as well as Nautical machines. They have tennis courts, squash courts, an aerobics studio, a cross training «yard», and a cycling studio.
They offer personal training, but it’s kind of expensive. Overall it’s a great gym to belong to and gold’s has additional services for kids and families too.