June 28, 2023

This paid piece is sponsored by GreatLIFE Golf & Fitness. 

Most GreatLIFE members using their membership at 6 a.m. are working out in a gym.

Chad Mickelson is logging onto his laptop where his GreatLIFE Awaken group is waiting.

“It’s a little different every day, which is fun. You just have the early morning accountability aspect to get out of bed and get rolling because a group is counting on you to be there,” he said.

“The positive energy, the positive start to the morning has been huge.”

The hourlong daily group includes yoga instruction, meditations and journaling – and it has connected Mickelson with a community of like-minded people.

“It’s a motivational app with real people,” he laughed. “It’s real people sharing struggles and wins.”

It wasn’t what originally prompted him to become a member, but like many aspects of his GreatLIFE experience, it has been an unexpected benefit.

“I joke that I think I was literally first in line to sign up when GreatLIFE started,” said Mickelson, an avid golfer who loved the idea of unlimited rounds at an affordable monthly rate.

“I don’t like big crowds when I golf, so when I heard they were branching out to Dell Rapids and Central Valley, I thought it was a great opportunity,” he said.

“I probably golf three times a week now, and we have a family membership, so my son and I golf together. I golf by myself once a week and with friends, so different types of golf several times a week. We’ll go as far as Worthington. The food there is some of the best around too – it’s really a hidden gem.”

 When his son, Levi, decided to take up bowling in high school, unlimited rounds at GreatLIFE Suburban Lanes became a huge plus.

“I’ve pulled him into more golf, and he’s pulled me into bowling,” Mickelson said. “And my daughter, Sadie, goes to Performance Center in our neighborhood, so it’s been great.”

For his own fitness, he enjoys a swim at Woodlake Athletic Club.

 As a remote worker in financial services, the community created by GreatLIFE and the flexibility of membership is a win-win.

“There are just so many things to do with a membership,” he said. “There are so many discounts. I try and keep up with them, and they do a good job communicating all the benefits. And while golf has really taken off as an industry, I still like the small-town aspect of it, and GreatLIFE provides that for sure.”

To his point, GreatLIFE members enjoy unlimited golf at 16 courses, including many in smaller communities, and even fitness-only members can golf for free on Mondays and Tuesdays at Central Valley and Rocky Run.

“I know GreatLIFE’s mission is to really bring in a family element, and I think they do a great job of that,” Mickelson said. “We’ve done Canaries games on discount nights and volunteered for golf tournaments together. What they promote makes it easy to get out and spend time with your family.”

Ready to become part of the GreatLIFE community yourself? Click here to learn more about membership.