Cruiser Club refurbished under new ownership

Mike Clarke focused on bringing it to its original glory, By Rose Sgarlato SPARTA — Sometimes all it takes is the right person for the job. Mike Clarke, the newest owner of Lake Mohawk’s Cruiser Club is hoping to be just that. His business experience of leading a multi-billion dollar company, coupled with his eternal passion for the pool club, may be just the right formula for success. After a two-year period of the property being on and off the market and its future unknown, Clarke acquired Lake Mohawk’s Cruiser Club in early May. In the short time since then he has made major renovations and improvements that affect all areas of the club. Driving by, the brightly colored new umbrellas and chairs, abundant flowers and landscaping overhaul are visible, as are the completely renovated tennis courts. Stepping inside the club, there is even more: remodeled restrooms, refurbished pool and snack bar (with a new cook) along with a major paint job to the entire facility. Envisioning the future But it’s not only the visible differences that Clark is focused on. He wants to bring it back to its original glory. “It is a privilege to be here. There isn’t another place in the county that can compare to this. I want this to be a place that people want to come to and where there is respect for each other.” His other objective is simple. “I just want to keep the kids busy and give the parents a break.” His connection and loyalty stems from his own childhood memories. While spending summers on Lake Hopatcong, the Clarke’s would visit friends who lived on Lake Mohawk. Often his mother would tell stories about how she swam competitively at the Cruiser Club in the 1940s. Even his brother Art, now head of the North Jersey State Park Lifeguards, took his original lifeguard test there when he was 15 years old. Long-time member Twenty-two years ago when Clarke started his own family and moved to Sparta, he joined the Cruiser and has been a member ever since. His then two-year old son learned how to swim at the club and won his first competition at eight. “My kids and my wife lived here in the summers and would come everyday. It is the perfect family pool setting with ping-pong, basketball, wiffle ball, a kid’s playground and the option to play tennis also,” he said. Clarke has never had an interest in competitive swimming, his two children’s participation in the sport has led him to be a board member of the Cruiser Club Swim team as well as head official and referee for every home meet for the past 15 years. With this, he has become a big fan of head swim coach David Leshnower and the teaching of the sport to all ages. But still it never crossed his mind to buy the place. How it happened “Rumors were flying in March about what was happening with the club. A meeting was arranged with the previous owners, and the board chose me to go,” said Clarke. “The previous owner wanted out and said the only way it will open is if it’s sold to someone who cares.” Clarke assessed the matter and figured out what he could do. “I did it all by myself. I never had a plan — I had it all in my head. Because of my background and financial condition, I was able to talk to the bank and do a deal quickly.” At 56, Clarke had the good fortune to retire from a public company. “I have worked for 35 years, commuted 60 miles a day, always traveling and working for other people. Now I am here and I love it — this is all in the realm of what I have done. I am an active manager who knows what’s going on,” he said. He jokes that of the approximate 20,000 people living in Sparta, 19,999 were supportive of his decision and one opposed — his wife Carol. But despite her reaction, she has put her designer touches on it with choosing all the new furniture and paint color. Along with her help, Clarke is also grateful to his contractor team, landscape architect and installers who he gives credit to for getting a lot done in a short period of time. The tennis part of it And it is not about just restoring the physical plant. Clarke is very keen on bringing back the tennis enthusiasts and has hired pro Anne Lyons as Director of Tennis Operations to help revitalize that end. Plus he has given her the ammunition with restored clay courts and surroundings and three additional courts that have been re-done behind the pool. “Lakeside Tennis has been opened since May 15, and there are almost 100 members now; a year ago, there were less than 10,” said Clarke. Lakeside Tennis memberships are offered alone or can be combined with a pool membership. “The Cruiser Club is back,” said a friend and long-time member to which Clarke responds with a grin: “That is the highest compliment someone can pay me.” The Cruiser Club is at 600 East Shore Trail, 973-729-2598, for membership information, www.cruiserswim.com.