South Lyon, MI Health and Fitness

Fitness 19's founders launched their first family-oriented gyms in 2003, hoping to splash the exercising experience with local flavor and familiarity. Life Fitness cardio machines—including treadmills and ellipticals—unite with strength-training machines and free weights to help members to build leaner physiques as certified personal trainers patrol the deep-red-carpeted workout area. The expert staff can also guide clients through yoga, martial arts, and weight loss–centric personal-training sessions. Every location also hosts a kids' room, where youngsters can craft macaroni kettlebells under the supervision of a full-time staff member.

Spinergy Fitness's RealRyder cycles replicate the calorie-burning benefits of riding on the open roadways. The stationary bikes add upper-body and core strengthening to the lower-body workouts generally found in spin routines by leaning from side to side in much the same way a real bicycle does, especially when it's trying to escape from a bike rack. A high-definition projection system adds to the simulated outdoor experience. A jumbo screen floods with scenic routes from Napa Valley and Colorado National Park as a high-fidelity sound system blasts a motivating soundtrack and lends the whole enterprise a cinematic air.

For the husband-and-wife team Keith Taylor and Erin Sullivan-Taylor, working out isn't just for looking good in a swimsuit. The high stresses of Keith's former role working with emotionally and mentally impaired children triggered his rapid weight gain, leaving him weighing more than 400 pounds. Separately, Erin struggled with depression while dealing with the loss of her late husband. At different times and for different reasons, they both turned to exercise to overcome their obstacles—Keith shedding more than 200 pounds through spinning, and Erin noticing significant changes in her mood and attitude through yoga and Pilates.

When they met, they inspired each other to fully dedicate themselves to their shared passion of helping others lead healthy and stress-free lives, opening their own studio, Fusion Pilates and Yoga. With the aid of a team of Pilates and yoga instructors, the pair offers more than 50 classes each week—including yoga, Pilates, and spinning—to help students of all experience levels achieve their health and wellness goals in a judgment-free atmosphere.

Before founding World Sports Fitness, Pierre F. Mouele routinely went toe-to-head in the ring, earning a kickboxing championship title. Finally, he hung up his gloves and retired his cactus-covered shoes so that he could use his boxing training to whip people into shape. Today, he puts his clients and classes through the same demanding conditioning regimen that prepared him to lay out his opponents.

His students cut swathes of muscle pummeling red, black, and blue punching bags in Shotokan karate and self-defense classes. Alternatively, clients heft weights and toss heavy balls during strength-conditioning courses, which help them sculpt a fighter's body without any of the impact exercises associated with traditional boxing training, such as getting constantly punched.

Blue and red padded squares glow underfoot in the vast gym, unused punching bags standing in neat ranks to the side of the space. Above them hang tidied rows of flags, representing the many nations and organizations from which World Sports Fitness draws its curriculum.

At Hartland Glen Golf Course, players delight in the myriad challenges presented by two 18-hole championship courses. The older North Course wastes no time in showcasing its difficult design, as the second hole is guarded by four sand bunkers and a mischievous water hazard that has been an outspoken advocate for swimming floaties for four decades. The South Course has a slightly shorter layout that demands precise shots with tight, tree-lined fairways.

Players can work on their form at the practice chipping area and two putting greens or at the all-grass driving range. Professional instructors can improve swing mechanics during private and group lessons, and the staff at the club’s pro shop stands ready to arm players with the latest gear from top brands such as Nike, Titleist, and Wilson. After rounds of golf or flagstick javelin, golfers can refuel with casual grill food and libations at the clubhouse restaurant.

North Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,287 yards
• Course rating of 67.6
• Slope rating of 107
• See the scorecard

South Course at a Glance:

• 18-hole, par 72 course
• Length of 6,030 yards
• Course rating of 67.8
• Slope rating of 114
• See the scorecard