Governors Club has found the recipe for a 51.5% spike in pool cover counts, and it starts with a $20,000 transformation of a restroom canopy.
By launching The Bunker, the Chapel Hill, N.C., club has moved beyond basic concessions to deliver a full-service bar experience that keeps members engaged long after their swim. The move represents a strategic shift toward elevated casual cuisine and handcrafted cocktails in an outdoor setting.
Beyond the Pool Grill
The Bunker is a full-service outdoor bar supported by the club’s existing Pool Grill operation, according to Stormy Flinchum, CCM, Clubhouse Manager of Governors Club.
Members can enjoy handcrafted cocktails, frozen drinks, local craft beers, wine, canned cocktails, and a full selection of non-alcoholic beverages.
Food is ordered directly from the club’s Pool Grill, which offers a menu focused on elevated casual cuisine.
“We offer burgers, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, fresh salads, appetizers, and family-friendly favorites,” says Flinchum. “Our goal was to deliver resort-quality food and beverage in a relaxed outdoor setting while maintaining the level of quality our members expect throughout Governors Club.”
Throughout May, the club experienced a 51.5% increase in cover counts compared to the previous year.
“This wasn’t simply a food and beverage project,” he says. “It was the result of maintenance, wellness, aquatics, operations, leadership, marketing, and our frontline staff working toward the same vision of enhancing the member experience.”
Flinchum says the increase goes hand in hand with the club’s goal of maximizing a pre-existing space and creating a place where members genuinely want to spend time.
“Rather than everyone remaining at their lounge chairs throughout the day, members now gather around the bar, strike up conversations, watch sporting events, enjoy live music, and spend time with friends and neighbors,” he says.
Built by the Team That Uses It
Flinchum says The Bunker is a great example of cross-department collaboration.
During the one-month construction period, Flinchum intentionally involved the employees who would work in the space, believing they often have the best ideas for how it should function.
Input from bartenders, supervisors and service staff helped the club create a bar that functions operationally, not just aesthetically.
“Their recommendations influenced everything from refrigeration placement and storage organization to speed rails, equipment layout, and the service flow between the Pool Grill and The Bunker,” he says. “Those may seem like small details, but when you’re serving hundreds of members during a busy summer weekend, every step saved translates into faster service and a better member experience.”
A New Hub for Member Engagement
Member feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, according to Flinchum, with members embracing The Bunker as a new social hub around the pool.
“Members have commented on everything from the atmosphere and convenience to the quality of service and how much the addition enhances the overall pool experience,” he says.
One subtle design decision also helped reshape members’ perception of the space.
By visually separating The Bunker from the building’s restroom, the club transformed what had once been known as “the bathroom building” into its own destination.
“This project reinforced something we’ve always believed: If you build it, they will come,” says Flinchum. “Members value spaces that encourage connection. Great food and drinks are important, but what members remember most are the conversations, relationships and experiences they share with family and friends.”
