I have been a member here for a few years and would recommend that if you are looking for a gym, look elsewhere, such as Planet Fitness or Waverly Oaks Athletic Club. This place is affordable for the area, but the fitness area is lacking. They have the basics and some machines, but the area is not maintained, and things often go unfixed for many months at a time. It is clear that the club makes all of its money from the Tennis and Pool centers and caters to those areas. On one occasion, one of the cable machines was broken, and a member took the part home to weld it back together, knowing that management was never going to fix it. On another occasion, the hammstring curl was broken and out of order for more than 8 months. There is a sauna and steamroom in the men's lockerroom that have not been turned back on since the pandemic. Overall, the fitness area is serviceable but dated. The positive is that there is a small group of members, so there is almost always space available. The membership is very nice and welcoming for the most part; there is one unstable person who slams equipment, and management has not held him accountable. read more

We have to enter this club because my daughter is a swim student. Aside from having awfully outdated dusty ugly facilities, the staff and manager specifically is very rude, doesn't greet you and they were both rude to us and my husband who is a member questioning his membership when we went to say hi to him. In the waiting area apparently you are not allowed to actually wait. It was a jail type of treatment. I wish the swim academy will move. It's painful going there each time. read more

Was a member at the WAC for almost a year. Pretty much what others have said here is spot on. The machines and floors at the gym are super dirty. A couple of the courts have bumps and valleys. The tennis director, Lou XXX didn't make you feel welcome to say the least. read more

Like TVs ALWAYS tuned to Fox News and remotes hidden so you can't change the channel? ‍ Like people (a lot of them police) with far right slogans and symbols on their t-shirts never cleaning equipment after they sweat all over it? ‍ Like hearing loud, one-way cell phone conversations for the duration of your workout? ‍ Like staff who stare at you dead-eyed when you say "Hello" or "Have a nice day?" ‍ Like broken fans, sweltering temperatures, and lights that shut off while you're working out? ‍ Like attention-seeking men grunting while they slam weights on the ground and take pictures of themselves? ‍ Like these same men spitting in the water fountains? ‍ Like cramped, foul-smelling bathrooms with toilets that regularly overflow and empty soap dispensers? If so, this is the gym for you! read more

Waltham Athletic Club - Sweat-showered machines that neither members nor staff clean. The walls are similarly covered. ‍ - Gyms Near Me - Waltham, Massachusetts

Nice big club with friendly front desk staff, not cheap and questionable quality of the tennis courts. The downfall is that the tennis court surfaces. Some courts aren't flat. Most courts have cracks and dead spots. Clearly, the facility is "experienced". Time to redo the tennis court surfaces. read more

We had a terrible experience there, the tennis director was very rude to us and very unfriendly. I have been to many clubs around the world and that was by far the worst tennis experience in my entire tennis career!!!! read more

Wow how this place has gone downhill. This is more a tennis club but they have ok workout systems. The treadmills cannot connect to the TV's anymore. The TV doesn't seem to be able to change the channel. The place is looking old and grungy. The tennis courts have not been updated in over 10 years. 2 of the 7 courts are unplayable for matches due to warping of the floors. Prices are going up everytime I go. Then for good measure NO hot water for over a month + and no signs saying no hot water. 10 years ago I said the staff was odd but nice. Now they don't seem to care. No sauna for years. The list goes on. read more

I dropped my membership at WAC because the staff is rude, unprofessional & incompetent. One of the courts is severely defective, with hills & valleys because the building site is on wetlands & it's beginning to sink. Another problem at WAC is they double bill or charge the wrong member for another member's fees. Trying to get their billing mistakes corrected drags on for months. One time I signed up for a doubles round robin but not enough players participated which left me without a partner. They didn't have a pro available to step in & fill the open spot or rotate matchups so I bowed out & requested a refund. The club manager said I was obligated to play Canadian doubles & refused to give a refund. Evidently, WAC doesn't understand when a member has a bad experience which isn't resolved by their staff, the member will usually tell 6-10 people about it & encourage others to go elsewhere. Legitimate complaints that are handled well could result in new referrals & give them an opportunity to improve. For every complaint WAC receives, there are many more they'll never hear about because members leave and join other clubs. WAC has become a joke among the tennis community in the Waltham area. Decide for yourself. read more

Believe the other reviews. The tennis director was awful to me and my young daughter. Like really awful. I Have a feeling this is likely the same dude other people have been mentioning. read more

Called and booked a class; was confirmed. Showed up and I was apparently on the "wait list." somehow being confirmed for a class means nothing. Waited ten minutes after the class start time and finally just went onto the court. Instructor was rude and indignant to my being there, acted like I was a dipshit for being on the court, even though I had paid for the class. Really solid experience overall. read more

If you're thinking of getting your child to take a swimming lesson with any of the talented freelance swim-teachers who use this facility - THINK TWICE and use a different facility with a pool. Downstairs needs MAJOR repair and renovation as there are things leaking, moldy, dirty, not working, etc. Please note that yo and your kid(s) you will NOT be able to use the large dressing room with all the facilities (a bathroom, changing rooms, lockers and drinking water.) Instead you'll have to use the "family" dressing rooms down the hall which are a horrendous! There is only one bathroom (1), and three (3) dressing rooms, out of which only one is not scary to use with kids (it has shower curtain/door, shower head does not strip your kids skin off, a bench, and a hair dryer). If you consider that any swim class, unless private, will have up to 10 kids in it, you will have to have some skills to grab the right room at the right time. In terms of staff, I did not see anyone cleaning, ever. I did, however, see employees walking around and sitting around and talking. Very disappointing to see such disregard for their place of work and for comfort and safety of their patrons. I'll try to post picture I took while waiting, read more

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My main complaint is that WAC told me I need to cancel my membership the previous month before the next billing cycle. I canceled my subscription on oct 13 and what they ended up doing is bill me forNovember as well. This is plain theft and this is their policy so if you join make sure to cancel TWO months in advance, I joined WAC last winter to play tennis and work out at the gym. The tennis portion was fun but had big issues. The instructors were very passive and didn't teach you anything unless you took a private lesson. They just facilitated some games between the participants. To get into a class you had to log in at midnight to try and grab a spot which was inconvenient. The gym part was quiet and is good for my needs albeit outdated. We had to constantly remind the staff to tell people to put their masks on in Tennis and at the gym throughout last year and the pandemic when masks were mandatory. This was very unpleasant. read more

I have never seen a club with worse staff in my life. If the front desk gets busy, they just hang up on you over and over. If you ever complain about anything, they brush you off. Clinics are worthless. Even the round robin is badly run. The bathrooms are dirty. It's run by a family and they don't seem to care what customers think or how they're treated. I think it only stays in business because there's no competition right now in the vicinity. read more

If I give this club ZERO stars! Worst tennis club! Management is a disgrace, rude and disrespectful to the members. It might be local and cheap but not worth the price. They don't care about their members they just want your money. Last winter one of the courts had no heat for two months, and refused to get it fixed. They also didn't care that there were sheets of metal on the court. The manager at the front desk is rude and so is the general manager. They don't care about you or how you feel about something. The owner of the club should be ashamed how the workers at this club treat customers. read more

Management has gone downhill over the past several years. Current general manager is a joke. Actually cancelled a person's membership because the member called the Board of Health after 5 days of no hot water in the men's room. Tennis courts continue to deteriorate with slopes and dips that could actually hurt someone. No heat on the courts during the winter is consistent year after year. Soon the money making machine will screech to a halt. Drive further and pay a little more for a nice club! read more

The WAC is an old-school independent tennis/health club, and as such, it's a breath of fresh air, compared to the Globo-Gym kinds of places that seem to be everywhere. Memberships are very affordable (I pay $40 per month), and they ask that you give one month's notice if you intend to cancel. If you have ever tried to get out of a membership at a chain gym, even after your contract was up, you probably know what a nightmare it can be. I sincerely doubt this will ever be an issue with a place this small and that is independently owned. Overall, membership is a great deal for me, especially considering they have both a pool, and a sauna included (compare their rates to any other place with a pool). It is primarily a tennis club, which you pay extra for, but if you just want to work out, do some swimming, and occasionally enjoy the sauna (an amazing plus in the winter), then you can't go wrong here. They also have friendly (read: no-pressure) personal trainers available, and different kinds of classes, including pilates, TRX, yoga, etc. The place is clean, and despite some of the weight room equipment being a little old, everything is kept in good working order. The weight room here is nowhere near the size of a giant gym, but it is still rare that I have to wait to use anything, or change my workout because I can't get on the machine I want, even during busy after-work hours. The weight rooms have two squat racks (one cage, one power rack), three benches (flat, incline, and decline), plenty of dumbbells, free weights, bars, cable machines, smith machine, etc, and a good variety of Nautilus machines. There are also plenty of mats, balls, bands, steps, and other equipment for mostly any kind of workout you have in mind. There are also a couple of racquet ball courts downstairs, in addition to the tennis courts. Because it is a small gym, people get to know one another easily, by sight, if not by name, which makes sharing the space more pleasant all around. The crowd is a mix of older people, who mostly play tennis and work out a little, and some Bentley students who use the weights and treadmills. One thing this place definitely does not have is attitude, which is very appealing. As of this writing, the WAC is in the midst of a little makeover. They are installing new carpet, replacing fixtures, and generally sprucing the place up. Someone posted a negative review a few months back with complaints about these very things, so I thought it was worth mentioning. read more

After hearing some horror stories about the WOW! fitness centers, I stopped by Waltham Athletic Center to get a vibe for the place. One of the managers, Bill, gave me a tour of the facilities, told me about their tennis programs, personal trainers, all that jazz...when I told him I was still looking around, he said "No problem, we'll be here"...talk about low-pressure sales! I gotta say, that's one of the reasons I ended up joining: I didn't feel like it was just a company out to get my money. I pretty much just there for the cardio and weight equipment, so I can't vouch for the tennis/pool/yoga/etc. I usually come right after work (around 6pm), which is usually "peak" times at other gyms, and there's never a line to get on one of the machines. The facility itself seems a little "80's", but the equipment's fairly new and the staff is always willing to help you out with whatever you need. I'm paying $40 a month and loving every minute of it. read more

Another perfect example of you-get-what-you-pay-for. This place is a typical no-frills (what's with me and the hyphens today?) gym. It's actually mostly a tennis place, but my company offers a discount here so I tried it out. Since most people are going to play tennis, getting a spot on the equipment is never a problem. There are enough bikes, treadmills & ellipticals to go around, and they also have some other random cardio pieces there too. Major thumbs ups to --- the fact that they have a pool (rare find at the cheap-o gyms), the seperate abs/smaller free weight room, large parking lot, the hot tub, the sauna, THE PRICE!! Thumbs-Down Awards for --- the ick-factor of the locker rooms (not awful, but still..), the person who always sets the TV on Fox News or King of Queens, the ancient-factor of some of the equipment. Overall...you get what you pay for! read more

I've been a member of this gym for about a year now and I have to say it's worth every penny. There's no other place where you can get a basic gym stuff plus a pool plus tennis in the area. The facilities are nothing to write home about (locker rooms not the plushest, equipment definitely 80's era, and there are occasional ceiling leaks), but at least they're clean. The biggest draw is the price. I got in at $40/mo and I think it's an awesome deal. There are some drawbacks, but they're so hilarious that I tend to ignore the old dudes blasting FOX news, adorable kindergarten Chinese dance troupe practices (Angels, I will eat you up you are so cute!), and classes of personal trainers-in-training. Still, the price is good, staff is friendly, and so are the patrons. It makes going to the gym that much easier. read more

They have improved sign your kids for match play. Their monday programs are great and have really good kids coming to play but more participation is needed. The kids are playing good and it is a good place to meet and play with different players to improve. Its a good initiative read more

I just joined this gym from Planet Fitness. The Cardio and weights are outdated, but it isnt crowded or stinky like PLanet Fitness was. I love the types of classes available. I took a spinning class and it was great! They have a variety of classes offered each day during the week so you can mix up your exercise routine There was no pressure to join and I have no complaints. Good variety, good price read more

I do not recommend this gym. For $60/month, you're looking at a dingy gym that does not provide a solid selection of equipment. Plus, there are a lot of small children there that can interfere with your work out. Why pay for this price when other places provide a better value for $10/month? read more

I have been a member of WAC for 5 years, and I couldn't imagine being a member of any other athletic club. The staff is always friendly and helpful. The facility provides a clean, friendly, and easy going atmosphere. The gym is never too full, which is good for me because I am coming of an injury. The pool, hot tub and steam room are always available at all times of day, which is a huge plus for me. I highly suggest WAC to anyone looking for a all-in-one health club membership. It has everything you need and is very fairly priced without having lengthy contacts. read more

Decent gym. Lots of equipment so you can do whatever you would like, but not too many multiples of lifting gear, so you might wait for a bench or whatever it is. Oddly the gym was super emtpy in the winter, and is currently busier in the summer, so maybe I'd have more freedom in the winter time. The equipment is generally hit or miss. It's not brand new, but most of it works. There's a broken treadmill that has been out of commission since I joined, but there are enough that it's not a problem. The facility is generally old but well maintained. They have a steam room and sauna, as well as a hot tub. The pool is clean but it's short of a full 25 yards. Still, being able to swim WHENEVER I want to is much nicer than having to wait for swim practice to get over and sharing a lane. The sales tactic was also noticeably low-pressure. Check it out...want to join? OK here's the deal. No contracts, no membership fee. So far we've been super pleased, though I wish things were a bit newer. read more

am taking classes in the swimming pool of Wlatham Club. During this winter the pool and locker room were not heated rather often. The water is very cold and room temperature is well beyond normal. Last time this happened on 02/23/2021. The instructors told me that they can't fix the heating system themselves. It seem though administration does not care about this prolem. I am afraid that under these curcumstances I might catch a cold. And even worse COVID-19, as a result of a weak immune system. Please infom administration that they need to repair their heating system ASAP. D read more

Club is ok but the equipment could use updating and repair. It's ok for tennis but the remainder of the gym is sub par for the price point. I wouldn't recommend unless all you want is the tennis read more

I'm specifically responding to the comments made by the two ladies on 7/23/17. I am an active member of a local well-known Asian organization that has been a client of WAC for 12 years. Over these years, we have had over a thousands students and parents who have used WAC facility weekly during the school year. We have been very happy with the WAC for its quality and professional services including facility and staff support. All club management staff including Ms. Pat Murphy has always treated us professionally, respectfully and fairly. I believe other large Asian groups at WAC today (e.g., tennis, swim, and dance groups) would agreement with me here. I was not present when the "incident" and the exchanges took place between the parties at WAC. However, alleging it "obviously bear prejudice and discrimination to our Asian people" was simply absurd and false. WAC is a private club that has its membership, usage, and, security policies for the safety and benefits of all paying customers. There must be a clear violation of the club rules and policy that was not respected by these ladies. read more

Not actually a bad club. I only use the pool and it's always clean, with a jacuzzi on the side. As of the end of 2019 the locker rooms and showers are pretty clean. It's just old and it's not as big or new as BSC. Don't set your expectations too high and you'll love it. read more

Never sign up your kids fur the tennis program. They achieve nothing, 5 coaches talking between themselves is always the case.No one pays attention to the kids. The coaches are more than incompetent and teach nothing. What you pay fur a 2 hours where the kids are doing anything they want while the coaches are sitting down or looking the other direction not even speaking to the kids. If I could I will give this place a 0 rating. It's the biggest waste of children's tome and parents money read more

I was in a bad car accident early in the year which caused me to be home, basically disabled and eating... A LOT. By the time I got the medical "go ahead" I had gained 60 lbs. Horrifying. Nervous about working out again and seriously not wanting to work out with muscle headed jerks, I came here. I spoke to Pat on the phone and she was super nice. She told me to come in and see her and get a tour. I went in and met her - can I just say she is one of the most genuine people I have met, ever?! She's awesome. She showed me around and I was sold. I have been working out there for a little less than a week, and I am very happy. Nice equipment, plenty of space and parking. I've already lost 2 lbs! I am greeted every time I walk in and I feel like my goals matter. Low pressure but room to be a super fit lady! I feel at home here and I'm actually happy to wake up and go. It's super close to my home and my work so I have no excuse. The pool is clean, the locker rooms are spotless (even the showers) and the other clients are all friendly; mostly middle aged. You don't have to wait for a machine - even at 5-6 PM (basically unheard of) and it's just a great atmosphere. I am confident I chose the right gym for me. No 'roided up jerks here :) read more

Works for me who has been a member for several years. Offers all that I need for cardio,weights,pool,sauna,hot tub and it is clean. Tamara P's review(2016) was negative because her kids could not use the adult dressing room.I appreciate that kids are not in the large /changing locker rooms.They should be in a family,supervised area. read more

An update to a review from four years ago: I decided to give the club another chance as the location is convenient and they offer several competitive team tennis opportunities. This time I was greeted by some very friendly tennis membership administrators who answered my questions. There are many 4.0+ players at the club so good competition is possible. Booking courts can be tricky as they're often reserved for clinics or other tennis programs. The court surfaces are a bit inconsistent though. 2 courts have level, solid surfaces while the other four are softer with a few even sounding hollow underneath. The cost is lower than neighboring competitors and it feels more like a tennis oriented club than a club that has tennis. read more

I have been going for three months and have never waited for a machine or the dumbbells I need to use. The locker rooms are very clean. My only criticism is I do wish they would change it from FOXNews to something less controversial. read more

This is one of the cleanest most organized gyms I have been to. There is always staff wiping or cleaning. There is a wonderfully comfortable atmosphere there. Kick ass steam room. read more

I have been commuting to Waltham for business for the last 10 weeks and have a month to month membership at WAC. Everyone at the club is friendly and helpful. I take the classes after work and have a great time. I would recommend WAC to anyone. read more

In regards to the tennis facilities, I would say this is a great place! The courts look really nice. If you are looking for a gym, I would go elsewhere. The gym is totally outdated. I find the Waltham YMCA (right up the street) a lot nicer and much more worth the price for our family! If you think of working here, I would not!! I found coverage for my group fitness class for my maternity leave and was told I would be able to have my class back after my maternity leave was over. However, when I called after having my baby I was told that I couldn't have my class back. When I addressed this with management they acted like they didn't understand what a maternity leave was and he was very rude. Honestly, unless you are looking to play tennis, I would steer clear of this place. That being said, I hear there are other places nearby that have great tennis facilities. I would have given this less stars if they didn't have the tennis facilities that they do. read more

I love the swimming pool here. people are friendly. equipments are not new, but clean. Wonderful value for this price!

You get what you pay for--in the case of the WAC, you get one the few remaining local community gyms with all the facilities a gym should have (pool and jacuzzi included) at half the price of BSC. While it may be more expensive than the ~$20/mo franchise gyms, I happily pay extra to workout at my own pace in an environment that is never overcrowded and free of big egos. Since it's a local gym you might have a 30-something Average Joe on the bench to your right, an 80-something walking slower than you thought humanly possible on the treadmill to your left, a Tiger Mom lifting more than you ever will on the squat rack, and a handful of token Millennials spending more time on their phones than actually working out. The WAC is the kind of place where you don't need to flex your abs, think about what you're going to wear, or how you look when you struggle on one of the new machines. Sure, the equipment isn't state-of-the-art, but it doesn't need to be. You don't go to the WAC to be be wowed; you go because you want to exercise and feel comfortable in the skin you're in. read more

This place should be embarrassed of them selves, the quality of the gym is ridiculous. I had called to get some information because I was interested in joining until I found out Half the amenities in the women's room are not working. when I asked when they would be fixed because I'm looking for a gym with the steam room they informed me they have no plans to repair it so in return I asked well since the women don't have the same amenities as the men do is it cheaper for a woman to join this club in which they responded NO. How is that fair? I find it absolutely unprofessional to have the amenities in the men's room work perfectly fine but when it comes to the women's area half of it is not working. I think as a health club they should be embarrassed to inform the customer and the members that they will have no plans to repair the broken steam room. when I asked well shouldn't women get a cheaper rate in which there response back with a no I laughed and hung up, do your self a favor as a woman don't join this gym. read more

I just joined WAC a month ago, and I have been very impressed. When I went in to look around and ask about membership options, the manager (Bill) came out and gave me a nice tour of the facilities, and then gave me a free trial day. VERY low pressure, and I was able to come in, spend as much time as I wanted trying out all the equipment, and then decide whether I wanted to join. After taking my trial day, I informed them that I would join. The manager waived my enrollment fee, and started me off on a $45/month rate for three months before bumping me up to $65 a month (they want to give you a chance to see if you'll use it enough before charging full price). I mostly go there for the pool, and although it isn't the prettiest thing you'll ever see, they do keep it very clean. It is cleaned three times a week, and every time I have been there somebody has been checking the water quality. Although I haven't personally spent much time talking to the staff, they are all very friendly and have been very helpful when I need anything. The only reason I give WAC a 4 star rating rather than a five is just the general appearance of the place and the old equipment. You definitely don't get that "squeaky clean" feeling when you walk in the door (or even when you look at it from the outside.) The only other complaint I have is that one Saturday I arrived therer at 8:20 and they were already closed (closing time is 9:00 on Saturday). I know that "hours are subject to change", but come on I'm paying good money and when you say you'll be open I expect you to be open. Oh well. read more