I've belonged to most of the athletic clubs on the west side of town over the years. This is by far the best of the full-service ones. It is well-maintained and does a wonderful job of responding to a diverse population's needs. Complaints that are irrelevant or opposed to the needs of the rest of the membership are treated respectfully. Outliers feeling free to tell the management to accommodate their own personal desires as if the club belonged exclusively to them speaks volumes about how personal this club feels: vibes of a family reunion without a drunk uncle and his entitled wife. read more

Swell sucks. I've complained about people talking during aqua aerobics class 4 times now, and the club just does not care. From Jeremiah (asst mgr) to front desk guy to Eric (general mgr), none of them care or follow through. Eric said he was going to come to class every day for a week and read the rules to the class (which include no talking during class), and start kicking people out of the pool if they were talking. He didn't show up once. All he did was post the rules on the locker room door, which at least makes it easier to turn to someone in the pool and say "there's no talking during class." I wrote Eric a second email regarding the issue and he said "you've got to be patient. It takes time for things to change." Not good enough. I'm extremely disappointed in Swell and in Eric Geeb, the general manager. Edited to add: I mentioned to Eric that I did enjoy my training session with Danny and Eric offered to comp my next session with Danny in return for my disappointment over Aqua aerobics. I thought that was very nice of Eric. read more

I love this club! It is extremely family friendly, with extraordinarily kind staff & clean/sanitary space, both indoors and outdoors. Management is highly responsive & cares about member experiences. The outdoor workout space is incredible and the group fitness instructors provide higher quality instruction than at many other gyms. Secondary benefits include: yummy food, member events that are family-friendly, high quality and offered at a reasonable cost. Their parties are my favorite to attend by far. The pool is overcrowded during summer months, but there are plenty of alternate activities at the club to make up for this. COAC is our home away from home. read more

Not enough can be said about the incredible staff at COAC. Members are treated so well by everyone. Jeremiah is incredible. Any time questions came up, Jeremiah was quick and fair in his response. If anyone reading this has had issues with COAC, email Jeremiah; he will resolve your issues in a fair manner and help come to a resolution. read more

To quote another review "Kid kid pool is disgustingly hot, 89" My 8 year old doesn't even want to use the family pool (neither do I) because of it. I've heard the same from other members. A few degrees lower would really make a big difference. When I politely asked their GM to please, simply poll members to get feedback on this subject, he just wasn't open to hear what customers today are saying, indicating he knew better about what members want. So even though we live less than a mile from the club, we're exploring other options. What a bummer the pool is the number one reason for a family to use this club in summer, but it's just that...a bummer. read more

I like this club and been visiting a couple of months. It has a nice pool for adults, a separate pool for kids, I also like their jacuzzi. But! Systematic problems with beyond meat because it's always not available. There is also a critical shortage of umbrellas for sunbeds and for me it's very important not to get sunburned. Please get more umbrellas for your guests! read more

Swell - Cathedral Oaks Athletic Club. Also need more umbrellas - Gyms Near Me - Goleta, California

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It was okay, but the employees could be nicer and more professional. I heard and my multitued of friends that also go to this club heard the employees saying multiple bad words that were not fun to hear. Like really you should know not to swear okay. Okay. - Francis. read more

I attended this club for about 10 years ..it is great place to be. Very nice professional staff .. Great facility..everyone can find many different things ""to do" here . Remodel few years ago .. Place to have exercise..play ..visit with friends..have complimentary coffee and tea. And you can even have delish snack and lunch.. I highly recommend it. Happy to be there . read more

Great place to swim. Families enjoy sitting around kids pool and having dinner. Very active pickle ball and tennis groups. Staff is friendly and very hard working. read more

We liked the club during Covid - it was nice to have an option. But we couldn't have guests for well over a year and then fees went up and now it's close to $400 a month for a basic 4 person family membership without the tennis portion! We just had to cancel our membership. The pool is constantly filled with little kids (and we appreciate there are families who use it) but there are so many toys and people throwing balls it makes it hard to be in there - it's nice during the day if you can go at off hours when everyone else is working. The jacuzzi is always kind of funky as well, they removed the surrounding plants so the sun just scorches you in the afternoon and the adult one is often filled with kids. The food is mediocre at best. We complained about a couple of super important issues that were never addressed. The cleaners do a nice job in the locker rooms and the upstairs gym is great when it's not crowded! But for our purposes, a cheaper gym is a better option. read more

I was a loyal member for over 20 years, but finally had to end membership when the single membership price was jacked up. Over the years, the quality and diversity of group classes has gone way down and it always seems like there's some "maintenance" problem that they're dealing with. Unlike other clubs, COAC ("SWELL") does not have any kind of senior rate, nor do they have ANYTHING social going on in the summer!! I also had constant issues with their billing system, as they send out a "receipt" only to let you know if you have a late fee. It took forever for management to get back to me about my inquiries into billing issues. The guest fees and "policy" made it impossible to bring children and friends and the prices are ridiculous. I finally decided I'd had enough--which is really a shame as it used to be so much friendlier and management was much more approachable and easy to reach. I am grateful for the friendships I made at the club over the years and I will miss friends who are still hanging in there. read more

It's hard to rate this club. I mean for starters, this is not exactly the crown gem area of Goleta. Dull, blah CA 1960s ranch houses. And there is no other game in town out there so from that perspective, it's fabulous. Pro's: 1. Huge 2. Two pools. 80 is top temp of lap pool. Kid kid pool is disgustingly hot, 89. But that's good for elderly and babies. 3. Full-service cafe with good prices. Goleta health dept not unmitigated a****** like power-hungry pinkos in SB. I despise local government here. Planning commission absolute TOP of my s*** list. Goleta not as plagued by this so their cafe not shut down. 4. Tennis. 5. Tons of kid programs. Tennis. Swimming. Fitness. Con's 1. Locker room pathetically dated. 2. Useless showers with no pressure. 3. Rocky sandy area around pool. Yuck. Need flip flops 4. Useless jets in jacuzzi 5. Closes too early 6. Needs a makeover 7. Not the fancy Pilates offerings and classes more limited It's a family club, shlumpy and a bit dumpy but nothing a few hundred grand wouldn't fix. read more

Horrible experience. We are from out of town. We called and asked if we could buy a day pass. They said yes. So this morning we drove 20 mins to the club from our hotel. We arrived and Lisa at the front desk said they don't do Day passes and on top of that she was incredibly rude. Two members offered for us to be their guests and she told them they could not do that even though they had guest privileges. We said multiple times that we would pay any necessary fees. She spoke rudely to us, accused us of lying about calling the previous day, made rude faces at us and was even rude to one of the members who offered to have us as guests. Have never experienced someone as rude as Lisa. Not sure why she is in a customer service role. read more

Yes I experienced a rude altercation with Bullies at the pool. It was not only discriminatory bias with built in lies and I was not given any opportunity for fair compromise. Many members feel management is unfriendly and unresponsive. If you are looking for a friendly alternative I recommend Goleta Valley Athletic Club. read more

Have been a member for years, and have been very happy with it, but lately maintenance has been cut back. If you're thinking of joining - think again unless they decide to regularly clean the pool tiles between waterline & deck. (This goes for both pools!) There is dark crud on the tiles that never was there w. former maintenance regime. Bad enough you can write in it...really gross. read more

Been a memeber ever since I can remember! I love this place so much I come like 3-5 times a week to get a good work out in! The pools are great! Locker rooms are always clean, actually the place is always spotless! Friendly staff, great classes to take! My new fav is Zumba!!! So much fun! Great place for kids and adults!!! A+ read more

Swell - Gyms Near Me - Goleta, California

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Hard to give a 5-star...so here's a 4. Positives -- opens at 5:30AM; many tennis courts; year-round heated pools. Negatives -- there aren't tons of aerobics classes; restaurant menu/provider) has turned over several times; there are always at least several broken machines (usually the earphone connection, but also other issues). read more

They have great equipment and great training options including a pool and "outdoor" gym (under a tent). The facilities are well maintained and the staff is friendly. My only hesitation to getting the word out is that the place could get overwhelmed with people, right now the vibe is perfect... people are cooperative and friendly as we share weights or machines. The staff greets us on every visit. Very rarely is a machine out of commission. Sometimes a workout are hasn't been put back together after a class or a member leaves weights out. I recommend COAC highly if you like a family friendly club for training, swimming, or tennis. Dry heat sauna or a steam sauna adds a great finish to the workout. read more

I just called about a one-month family membership and it costs $525 for one month. And that doesn't even include use of tennis courts! Shame on them for trying to take advantage of Goleta families who do not have access to pools during COVID. I'm sure it is nice, but that is so expensive and cost-prohibitive for all but the most elite families in town. read more

This club membership is such a rip off. $255/month for a family of 4 and they no longer allow members to bring guests during peak months. Supposedly this is what the members asked for, well they didn't ask me. And they won't give out guest passes. $30/adult and $15/kid for guests from May1-Nov.1. Conveniently they put this policy into effect after we signed up for a year. The lady had assured me I could drop the kids off the membership in the colder months and just bring them as guests when I wanted to(up to 3 times a month). But now I'd have to pay every time I brought them or add them back in. More cons: the pool is frequently closed due to diaper accidents. The chlorine hurts my kids eyes and hair so much they are scared to swim here. Very limited classes offered. Only 1 or 2 decent spin instructors. read more

I would think twice before signing up at this club. I rarely ever write bad reviews but I'm afraid I'll need to for this one. MEMBERSHIP: This club, in comparison offers very little in regards to variety of classes and community. They have a pool, decent yoga and spin classes, but lacking in cardio: No Zumba, U-Jam, Kick-boxing, etc. Tennis is available if you can get a court. COSTS: very high in comparison for the little you get as a family compared to golds gym or the SB YMCA. Most members with kids said the pool was their motivation for staying here. *KIDS CLUB- clean and safe, but you have to call ahead and reserve a space... not as convenient as other gyms where you just walk your kids in. CONTRACT: Be aware of what type of contract(!) you are signing. There are daily, 1 month, 3 month, and 1 year options. Lose your job right after signing up and know your monthly fees will bounce? My experience was unfortunate in that 1 week after signing up, we lost our job and they just didn't care. The front desk referred me to Rosie, who was kind but powerless, she then informed me they will let the card bounce every month for 12 months until they they got their money. After my husband spoke to the manager, there was a hardship option but it still was very complicated and left us with very little options. *For a supposedly high-end club, we just expected a little more kindness, the staff to be a little bit more knowledgeable, and the options for freezing the account and cancelling to be a bit more human-friendly. read more

We joined this club about a year and a half ago and are completely thrilled. I love the choices between swimming, cardio classes, spinning, yoga, or working out on my own. They have a great outside room with lots of other equipment as well. I don't do tennis, but it is always busy. Kids Club seems popular, too. I love the other amenities as well, including cafe food to order and eat at the pool, spa, steam room, clean showers and locker rooms, pickle ball with free equipment, and more. The staff is always great: warm, welcoming, responsive, and engaging. I've never had any problems or concerns with any staff member, and my questions are always answered. General Manager Eric sends out timely emails with special events or announcements, which I too appreciate. Highly recommend! read more

I take my daughter here for swim lessons and we love this club! The instructors are great and the atmosphere is comfortable, making it enjoyable for us both. I order a yummy lunch from the cafe and relax while watching her 30 minute lesson. The manager, Eric Geeb, is attentive and has always been very responsive to my calls and emails. The staff is also friendly and helpful. The facilities are well maintained and obviously recently upgraded. Most family friendly club in town, I highly recommend. read more

This club has everything you need! A great staff, two large swimming pools, tons of tennis courts and a great gym! I always feel welcome and enjoy every minute of getting healthy! read more

Best summer party for the kids in the area with Eric Geeb, Jeremiah Nix and Jake Nelson leading the management team. We are lucky to have such a wonderful club in Goleta. read more

What a great place to swim, and exercise. Then a steam bath or Jacuzzi to finish your workout.

The new tennis pro and director, Jake Nelson, is the best pro this club has ever had. His teaching techniques are SUPERB, he has a great personality, and has helped make tennis fun for me again. I have never taken consistent lessons but am now. He is the only pro who has actually been able to improve my technique and strategies...an almost impossible task! I see the younger kids this summer having a great time on the courts with Jake and his staff which is the most important thing! The club has redone all of the courts, (4 clay and 6 hard courts) have new covered benches, and have a great patio area. If you have not come to the club, it is time for you to check it out again and join the fun! read more

About the Junior Tennis Program: Is there a business manager or supervisor for the new head coach, Jake? Can anyone move his lazy bulky butt to help out his coaches during class? All parents are talking about this issue, and it really looks and feels awful when coach Peter (an excellent hardworking coach) has 6 to 9 kids on average all to himself. He handles it all right and the kids have fun, but it isn't right or ethical. Coach Jake evades being present other than for hitting foam balls with a friend, chatting with the pool girls, or at the occasional brief meeting with a new parent (i.e. he could be setting a good example and making a difference coaching a kid or two at a time and give them some private attention). It's a pity since he was recently hired to improve this program, among other things. He (and the club) is so lucky to be working with ethical and great coaches like Pete, Alexei, and Rick. Please remember this is not free either; there is a lot of money invested from parents and members, and this type of quality is not what's highlighted when signing up. The club should be paying closer attention. read more

We were in the market to join a club and took the time to check this one out. The young man who handles membership was lovely but that's the way it should be. The problem was that it kind of ended there. On our tour, he pointed out the GM sitting in his office eating lunch for all to see. It's pretty obvious that we were potential members but the GM didn't lift a muscle to try and say hello to us. We passed his office no less than 4 times over the course of 45 minutes and he waved but we were obviously interrupting him while he was on his smartphone. When we returned and visited on our own with a pass they provided us, it was beyond relaxed, way too relaxed. We walked right past the front desk and nobody asked us a thing. While there, we talked to some members and their reviews were not exactly glowing. It seemed like everything was closed pretty early and inconsistent. Sorry but not worth our time. I realize an accident took place in the pool some years ago which should be one heck of a wake up call for things to be tight and better than anywhere else. There is new ownership and management now but just because the new owner has done some renovations is not enough. The GM needs some customer service training and if he won't come out of his office that's probably why the staff is so laid back and not engaged with the members. read more

Super facility with excellent management and tennis instruction. I have belonged to COAC for over 20 years, and it is now better than ever. Significant improvements have been made to the pool deck, weight room, and the tennis courts. The tennis pro is excellent; patient and challenging both. Jake's instruction has been pivotal to my tennis improvement and thus, enjoyment. He is great with beginners and experienced players alike. The Clay courts allow for less wear and tear to my lower extremities, allowing for more time playing. Eric's leadership results in the facility functioning better than ever. read more

I love this club. Do not expect cabanas by the pool or Bacara locker rooms. If you are OK with that and you have kids, then this is your club. Personally I think this is the best family club in town. They have great swimming and tennis programs for kids, and they have a kids club day care so you can work out. The staff are great - ex-professional athletes training you, excellent caregivers in the kids club, pleasant and accommodating management and staff, good food at the cafe, etc. They throw big, fun parties throughout the year with the focus on kids and I think that encourages a sense of community. Our summer pretty much revolves around swimming at the club and then having a glass of wine on the tennis deck while the kids eat dinner. It's a great family club and for the price, it can not be beat. read more

I'm a visitor from out of town and I wanted a place to swim for a week. I was glad to be able to join, even though it was expensive at the short term rate; I was dealing with some challenging family requirements and honestly I didn't care that much as I really needed the outlet. However I did notice that my swimming times seemed faster than I thought they should have been given how hard I thought I was working. I noticed another comment above that the lap pool is a little shy of "regulation" (I guess this means 25 yards). I actually snuck in a little "ball-o-twine" pool measurement and came up with 75' = 25 yards, e.g. correct. It wasn't super accurate, but if the pool is short, I don't think it is short by much: less than 1 yard conservatively, probably less than 1 foot. I'd love to know the accurate measurement. The markings are confusing (the "middle" marker is not in the middle). Perhaps I just don't want to let go of my ego-blast and find out that my personal swimming record was in fact just a normal workout, and I would love to know that if it is indeed the case, but for the moment, it looks like the pool length is ok and I was just suhmoking-hot when I came down to sea-level (I dunno). I do find it a little objectionable that no one at the front desk can actually answer the question "how long is your pool" and that there are no markings on the pool itself. That is actually pretty damn lame. read more

Great place for families, so much more than just a gym and pool, a place to meet friends, get your sweat on, have a quick meal and a beer and plus has super nice staff. read more

They DO have new management and owners. And what do you think they learned from the debacle of 2005, under the previous ownership? To have the safest environment possible. There is nowhere better for families. It's funny to read these comments from people....who don't live in the area and have probably never set foot in this Club. They heard something on the Today show and decided they better get involved. Bottom line--when a tragedy happens and reveals major problems, a business can go two ways: 1) CYA all the way, hope it blows over, or 2) Correct every flaw and redouble efforts to be perfect. Cathedral Oaks definitely chose the second route. Don't take my word for it, and certainly don't take the word of someone in Victorville. Go try it! read more

Management does not know what members want. All the prices in the club have gone up, but the quality of staff and service has gone down. Some of our best staff members have been laid off, resigned, or did not get paid. I agree with the review below, regarding the crazy spending in landscaping and really terrible furniture. The family feeling of this club is gone. Staff is gone. Now all you have is a corporate nonsense: "Swell", the name sounds bad even for surfers, what a joke. The only good thing about joining the club (I hope you dont) is the members. There are tons of cool people around that have been going here for many years. Dont get locked into a contract, they will try to trick you giving you all this "free" stuff, also tennis lessons are the most expensive in town at $75 for members. You can go to other much better clubs and get better lessons for a better price. It is very sad to see the "transformation" that this club has gone through, has a weird feeling to it. read more

Cathedral oaks has the best pool in town for families. It's also heated all winter long when the beach is too cold. The gym is medium sized and I rarely, if ever, have to wait for equipment. The outdoor tent is also a great spot for fresh air lifting. Love this place. Lots of great family evenings spent here. read more

I've been a member at COAC for 12 years, and it is not nearly as good as it once was. When we joined, they had rowing machines, stairmasters, and an excellent set of Cybex machines and free weight gear. They used to serve beer for fifty cents a pint at Friday Happy Hour, and those were social highlights every week. Now the rowing machines and stairmasters are gone, replaced by elliptical trainers. The Cybex machines have been replaced by Matrix gear of lower quality, and worst of all, the excellent free weight racks and bars have been replaced by very poorly designed Matrix stuff. All gloss and big curvy tubes, but difficult and downright unsafe to use. And beers are now $3.50. Why bother? Not a single member was asked about anything, as far as I know. This is a club where one experiment after another flops. Ask about the snack shop upgrade to the fancy cafe, now kaput. If you go through and like what you see, go ahead and join. It'll be different in a year or two. read more

Our family loves COAC. We are there every day to work out, play tennis, spin, personal train, get massages, swim, hang out with friends, etc. The kids love to go to the Kids Club and tennis clinics. The staff is friendly and helpful and it feels like a real community gathering place. If I had to pick something that needs improvement, it's the aesthetics of the locker rooms - could be spruced up - but with newly resurfaced tennis courts and a gym renovated in the past year, they are making great progress. read more

The warm pool should have a lane for folks who like warm better and for those who can't get a lane in the lap pool. Doing that would keep the kids from jumping in right on top of people who only want to do some water aerobics. There is already a lane for swim lessons so why not one more ? read more

I tell everyone about the club! I love it! I love the classes! Especially yoga with Daniel! I love the pools! So beautiful in the foothills! The birds, flowers and trees are amazing! The staff is so nice! It's a spa day for me everyday! It's been the best life choice for my health and happiness I've ever made! I love it! read more