The ribbon cutting on March 30 will be part of the Fort Myers, Fla. club’s 40th anniversary celebration. The expansion and remodel project upgraded a bar and grille, added a new kitchen, expanded indoor and outdoor dining areas, and added meeting rooms for community events.
Southwest Florida Clubs’ “Big Bucks Spending” is Highlighted
In 2017 alone, $1 billion was spent in capital renovations to Florida clubs, and the pace shows no sign of subsiding, as properties focus on restaurant, fitness, tennis, pool, spa and entertainment projects to complement their golf offers. Where 80 percent of homebuyers in Florida developments signed up to be golf members in the 1990s,…
Bonita Bay Club Offers Nonresident Full Golf Memberships
The Bonita Springs, Fla. property in now accepting applications for the category, which is being made available in a limited number for the first time in many years. Membership rates are scheduled to increase in January. Bonita Bay Club in Bonita Springs, Fla. announced that it recently opened a limited number of full golf memberships for…
Renamed Gateway G&CC Expanding Amenities Under New Ownership
The formerly golf-centric property in Fort Myers, Fla., which was bought from the members for $5 million by Donald Garrett in March and is being renamed The Club at Gateway, is adding a wellness center, resort-style pool, bocce and pickleball courts and expanded dining and banquet space to complement its Tom Fazio course. “We thought…
The Forest CC Kicks Off $7.9M Renovation
The Fort Myers, Fla., property’s 40,000-sq. ft. clubhouse will feature a contemporary design throughout, with an upgraded bar and grille, expanded indoor and outdoor dining area, state-of-the-art kitchen, additional meeting rooms, fitness center, and aerobics studio. The Forest Country Club in Fort Myers, Fla., has announced groundbreaking on the $7.9 million clubhouse renovation and expansion…
From Top Gun to Top Chef
After four years in the Air Force that included flying combat missions during two tours in Afghanistan, Ryan Daniels has brought a new sense of teamwork and an attention to detail to the kitchens of Fiddlesticks CC. Along Florida’s Southwest Coast lies Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers. Fiddlesticks is a residential community featuring a…
Coffee-Crusted Venison Loin
Coffee-Crusted Venison Loin with Crispy Polenta, Chicory and Chocolate Venison Jus Submitted by Ryan Daniels, Executive Chef, Fiddlesticks Country Club, Fort Myers, Fla. Yield: 4 servings Ingredients 4 6-oz. venison loin For the Coffee Crust: 3 tbsp. coffee grounds 1 tbsp. light brown sugar 1 ½ tsp. garlic powder ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper ½ tsp.…
Gator-Python Battle Doesn’t Deter Florida Golfers
Play backed up on the 10th hole at The Golf Club at Fiddler’s Creek in Naples, Fla. after golfers encountered an alligator and Burmese python locked in a struggle at the edge of a water hazard, with the snake twisted around the gator but the python’s head in the gator’s mouth. The animals stayed that way motionless for four hours as golfers played through after taking pictures. One man traveled from Iowa to play the course after seeing photos of the encounter on another player’s Facebook post. The gator eventually dragged the snake into the water.
Club Benchmarking Acquires Club Capital Planners, Names Butler CEO
The Boston, Mass.-based provider of business-intelligence tools and services for the club industry will now offer a capital reserve planning service under the banner, “Capital Reserve Studies powered by Club Benchmarking.” The addition of the new division “advances our mission of delivering insight that helps clubs make informed financial decisions,” said Jim Butler, CCM, the former CEO of Grey Oaks CC who became Club Benchmarking’s new Chief Executive Officer in November.
Fort Myers (Fla.) CC Celebrates Centennial
The club is one of 15 that turned 100 in 2017, eight of which, including Fort Myers CC, have golf courses designed by Donald Ross. “People who don’t know golf history don’t know how special it is to be 100,” said Rich Lamb, who has been the club’s Director of Golf for 40 years. “There’s a few exceptions but most of those courses are up north; there’s not many down south.”
Rising to the Occasion
Not surprisingly, the reports that we’re getting from Texas and Florida clubs just weeks after Harvey and Irma hit are already more about progress than pain.
South Carolina, Florida Courses Up and Running After Hurricane Irma
While most golf properties are now open or reopening within the next week, the front nine and pump house are submerged in saltwater at Country Club of Charleston (S.C.), while TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., saw 18 inches of rain and 200 downed trees, and Worthington Golf Club in Bonita Springs, Fla., is 60%…
Barona Creek GC Equipment Manager Wins Top Technician Award
Blas Huezo of the Lakeside, Calif. club’s staff has been selected as the 2017 recipient of the Most Valuable Technician Award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, after being nominated by Barona Creek’s Superintendent, Sandy Clark, CGCS. Kurt Lading from Indian Hills Country Club and Trent Manning from Ansley Golf Club were also finalists for 2017 recognition.
Giving Seniors More Moments
Recognizing that the older generations won’t be able to play 18 holes on a full-length course forever, many clubs are expanding their range of recreational options offered to seniors, to greatly enhance the appeal for them to remain active, dues-paying members.
The Forest CC Plans $7.9M Expansion
The Fort Myers, Fla., property will break ground on the project in April 2018, with completion expected in the beginning on 2019. The project will expand the current clubhouse by 6,000 sq. ft. and include outdoor dining areas and an aerobics/wellness room adjacent to the fitness center. Construction plans have been approved at The Forest…