New Florida Golf Course Highlights Miller's Career

The 30-year-old PGA Class A professional was captain of the Carson-Newman College team, played on the NGA Hooters Tour, won several mini-tour events and was head professional at Heritage Isles in Tampa and Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club in Largo.

"I would say getting the head professional job at River Strand (Golf and Country Club) is a pretty big accomplishment," Miller said. "I'm pretty excited about that."

Miller, who lives in St. Petersburg, has been working primarily out of Stoneybrook Golf Club in Florida in anticipation of the opening of River Strand's first 18 holes in late September or early October.

Another nine holes of the Florida golf course will open early next year. The Arthur Hills-designed course will be open to the public until Lennar Homes sells a sufficient number of residences for River Strand to operate as a private club.

Miller - a graduate of the PGA of America's Professional Golf Management Program - said his main objective is getting the golf course staff "functioning as a unit to make sure the members and guests are getting an outstanding experience that is not available at every Florida golf course.

"I definitely enjoyed being at Bardmoor, but this is an opportunity to be at a new facility that is 27 holes," Miller said. "The fact it is designed by Arthur Hills lends instant credibility, and it's a chance to be in an attractive, upscale environment."

Away from the Florida golf course, Miller was a three-time national racquetball champion, rising to a No. 1 world ranking as a junior.

Ryan Wells Memorial Played On Florida Golf Course

At Innisbrook a Florida golf course last weekend, Matt Cooney, of Gaither High, asserted himself in the second round with 6-under 65 on the Highlands South course for a 137 total and first place in the high school division of the Ryan Wells Memorial.

Zach Sobel, a sophomore at Palm Harbor University finished fifth 71-73--144, followed by teammate Mark Fazzini, tying for ninth (71-78-149).

Taylor Hancock improved the second day with a 70 after opening with a 1-under 71 to win the middle school division over Skycrest teammate Lee McCoy (75-68-143).

Shorecrest School brothers M.J. and Jack Maguire finished third and fourth with 36-hole totals of 144 and 147, respectively.

In the girls' division, encompassing both high school and middle school, Dakoda Dowd, of Palm Harbor, and Cypress Run took a giant step forward winning at age 13 by coming back from an opening round of 77 with a 68 on Sunday for 146.

Dowd, who is homeschooled, defeated last year's co-champions Evan Jensen (148) and Andrea Messer (152), who play for Largo High. They finished third and fourth behind runner-up Whitney Wenglasz (73-74-147) of Oldsmar, who will plays for East Lake High.

Meghan Chapman, of Seminole, was fifth with 155 (78-77).

Fazzini and Dunedin High's Justine Knox were given special Sportsman Awards by Mike Wells, the father of the late Ryan Wells.

Ryan would have been co-captain of the Tarpon golf team this fall.

Acquisition Announced for Florida Golf Course

The Mulligan Society announces the acquisition of the Diamond Players Golf Club located in Clermont, Florida. The cost of the acquisition was not disclosed. Future plans call for extensive renovation of the Florida Golf Course and Clubhouse adjacent to the beautiful community of Summit Greens.

Short-term plans are for a major expansion of the existing kitchen and renovation of the seating areas in the restaurant. A private club is planned for the existing pro shop area. In Phase II the Pro Shop will be expanded, along with new office space, an underground golf cart facility and banquet meeting rooms.

"We have great plans for the property and look forward to working with the wonderful people in the Summit Greens and Clermont communities to bring a first class facility to Central Florida," states Bob Sullivan, General Manager of the project.

Current plans also call for an ATM on site provided by OLD SOUTHERN BANK. The bank was instrumental in acquisition funding and plans to provide financing for future endeavors. "Our team is excited to be a part of the project," comments Sandra W. Jansky, Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of OLD SOUTHERN BANK. "We look forward to building a strong relationship with Bob and his team to add value, as well as growth to the Clermont community and Florida golf courses."

Doral Resort To Add 'Prime Fairway Living' Along Florida Golf Course Blue Monster

The Doral Resort and Spa in Miami has long been known for the Florida golf course Blue Monster and luxury living, pretty much in that order.

The resort is adding something to that luxury component, in the form of new luxury resort hotel condominiums, known as The Blue. Construction is already underway, with the first phase expected to be finished by late summer in 2007.

The first phase includes 64 units. The final project calls for a total of 240 condos, which are expected to be built in two years.

Already, half the "prime fairway living" units have been sold, "based primarily on buyers understanding the value of the location ... " said Jerry Kaufman, managing member of The Blue's development.

All the condos will be built around the 12th and 13th fairways of the Florida golf course, one of five courses at the resort. The Blue Monster has hosted a PGA Tour event for the last 40 years and is the third-oldest stop on tour. But, the Ford Championship at Doral will not be on the schedule after this year.

In its place will be the World Golf Championship, scheduled for March 22-25 in 2007. The WGC features the top 50 players from the official world golf rankings along with the top finishers on the money list of six tours: the PGA, European, Australian, Japan, Asian and South Africa.

The Blue Monster was originally designed by Dick Wilson and later restored by Raymond Floyd. Its 18th hole is one of the most recognizable finishing holes on the tour.

The Kaufman Organization, which has five developments planned or underway in south Florida, is the builder.

Prices for the condos range from $500,000 to $1.5 million. Each unit will have streamlined interiors, hardwood floors and a temporary decor designed with "light hues and natural undertones," according to the builders.

Room amenities are to include 42-inch plasma televisions with surround-sound, high-speed Internet access, integrated state-of-the-art phone system and a computerized lighting/air conditioning and heat system.

Kitchens will include granite countertops and Italian-styled cabinets. Bathrooms will be built with marble floors, granite countertops and over-sized marble showers with frameless glass doors.

Owners and guests will have use of the clubhouse with its fully-equipped fitness center and restaurant, pool area with private cabanas, poolside massage, business center, lobby bar, in-room chef upon request, library and concierge service.

Owners at The Blue will also be granted access to Doral's five Florida golf courses, restaurants and lounges. The resort's other courses include the Great White, designed by three-time Doral winner Greg Norman, with more than 200 Scottish-style bunkers, and the Gold, Red and Silver courses.

Doral is a Marriott resort, sitting on 650 acres, with 90,000 square feet of meeting and conference space. Marriott officials said they said to spend $10 million in the next few years in renovations to the courses.

Walton Street Capital, LLC Announces The Acquisition Of Florida's PGA National Resort & Spa

Palm Beach Gardens, FL – Walton Street Capital, LLC announced today the acquisition of PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida from E. Llwyd Ecclestone, original owner and developer of the 2,348-acre resort and golf club.

Walton Street’s operating partners, SCS Advisors, Inc and Century Golf Partners will oversee the operations of the Florida resort and golf respectively, including the 339-room resort featuring 9 restaurants and lounges and a 34,000 square foot conference wing, the 40,000 square foot Spa, 33,000 square foot Health & Racquet Club with 19 tennis courts, 5 master-designed golf courses, Golf Digest Academy and the Members Club.

Jeff Quicksilver, principal at Walton Street Capital commented, “PGA National Resort represents a unique opportunity for us in this phase of the investment cycle. With new development costs being what they are, the chance to acquire and redevelop an existing asset and unlock its true potential is very appealing. We congratulate Mr. Ecclestone for developing such a great property and we are anxious to build on that solid foundation going forward.”

Frank Calaguire, principal at SCS summarized the company’s position stating, “PGA National is a classic example of an irreplaceable asset with all the right pieces that is ripe for repositioning. We plan to enhance the value of the asset through strategic capital investments, engaged leadership, operational excellence and proven revenue generation initiatives. With the help of Century Golf Partners, we are intent on making PGA National one of the best destination golf resorts in the country.” Walton Street plans to invest in excess of $25 million over the next 12-24 months to renovate and enhance the banquet and meeting facilities, restaurants and lounges, lobby, members clubhouse, health and racquet club, spa and pool experience.

Walton Street also announced the appointment of Joel Paige as Vice-President and Managing Director of PGA National Resort. Paige will begin his tenure Monday, August 21st with complete oversight responsibilities for resort and golf operations. Paige’s extensive experience with Doral Golf Resort & Spa, Jim McLean Enterprises and PGA Tour events, in tandem with his strong leadership, operations and strategic planning skills, weighed heavily in the decision. “I am very excited about this extraordinary opportunity; I believe it is truly a perfect fit for all parties involved. Having been in this marketplace for as long as I have, in both the hospitality and the golf arenas, no one knows better than I the value of the PGA brand combined with the resort’s legendary history of professional tournament play. With a new PGA tournament and the planned capital investment there is no question that we will be able to successfully take PGA National to the next level.”

The golf facilities in combination with the fact that PGA National is now home to the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic represented a significant business opportunity for Century Golf Partners as well. Formed by former ClubCorp president Jim Hinckley and created for the purpose of acquiring and managing country clubs and golf courses, Century Golf is in partnership with Walton Street. Together they have acquired two portfolios consisting of 34 golf courses across Texas and the northeastern U.S. “For many years I have known and respected the unique positioning of PGA National, both as a resort with an immense golf heritage and as a facility with tremendous potential,” said Hinckley, “I feel truly honored to be a part of the next chapter in it’s history. The Honda Classic is going to be significant for the resort, the guest’s golf experience and the private membership here.”

The Partners

Walton Street Capital, LLC (“Walton Street”) is a Chicago-based real estate investment firm that in partnership with SCS Advisors, Inc, a hotel investment firm, has acquired and developed in excess of $1.5 billion in hotel assets. In the last nine years, the two companies have acquired and developed 20 properties with a total of 8,000 rooms including Four Seasons Milan, Four Seasons Scottsdale at Troon North, Ritz Carlton Pentagon City, Sheraton Universal, Westin Oaks & Galleria, Radisson Resort Orlando, Four Seasons Sydney and Renaissance-managed properties: Esmeralda, The Vinoy, The Mayflower and Renaissance Chicago. Walton Street is currently in the process of investing for Walton Street Real Estate Fund V, L.P., a discretionary real estate fund with $1.5 billion of available equity commitments, including PGA National Resort & Spa. To date, Walton Street has invested over $1.8 billion of equity in real estate transactions with a gross asset cost of approximately $6.0 billion.

Century Golf Partners is a golf investment company created for the purpose of acquiring and managing country clubs, daily fee golf courses and golf resorts throughout the U.S. The Company owns 38 golf courses that it acquired in partnership with Walton Street Capital, and with the addition of PGA National, manages an additional 12 golf courses for 3rd party owners. Century's portfolio of owned and managed golf courses is expected to generate approximately $150 million in total revenues during 2006. The Company is led by former ClubCorp president Jim Hinckley, Greg Adair, and former ClubCorp executives Ken Story and Larry Galloway. The senior management team has worked together for over 20 years and is comprised of industry veterans who have operated over 500 golf courses.

Latest Upscale Florida Golf Course Will Open Its Doors Soon

Say you don't know Jack Nicklaus well enough to play The Concession? Lack the connections to finagle a tee time at The Founders Golf Club? Unable to secure a big enough loan to pull off the Ritz-Carlton/Members Golf Club weekend double?

Don't despair. A chance to act the well-heeled big shot - at least for several months - is coming your way.

Barring unforeseen delays, the latest addition to the Florida's collection of upscale courses will open within the next four to six weeks.

And although the Arthur Hills-designed River Strand Golf and Country Club will eventually be as exclusive as the above-named playgrounds, plans are for it to be open to the public until Lennar Homes meets its target of new-home sales - at which point access will be limited to members.

According to Homes' new home consultant Maria Amundson, the community will include about 1,800 residences, including luxury condominiums. Given the fluctuating market, how fast they sell is anyone's guess.

River Strand will also feature tennis courts and a Mediterranean-style clubhouse offering fine dining, a full-fitness center, swimming pool and billiard room.

Located north of Stoneybrook Golf Club (also designed by Hills) in the East Manatee community of Heritage Harbour, River Strand will consist of 27 holes upon completion.

Course superintendent Steve Rodriguez said the first 18 should open by the end of September, followed by the unveiling of the other nine holes in January or February. Many holes will offer spectacular, scenic views of Manatee River tributaries.

Rodriguez is confident there will be no delays leading to the initial opening.

"The grassing started in January, and it is 98 percent grown in. Now, it is just a matter of putting up markers, signage and a temporary (pro shop) facility," he said.

Florida Golf Course Divers Seek `White Gold,' May Find Snapping Turtles

If you're a duffer or a hacker, Stephen Martinez is making a living from your mistakes. Martinez dives the water hazards on Florida's golf courses to retrieve stray balls, known by divers as ``pearls'' or ``white gold.'' Occasionally, an alligator gets in the way.

In his neoprene dive suit, flippers and mask, Martinez looks out of place among golfers in checkered slacks and spikes on this 90-degree day. He prepares to waddle into the lake that runs the length of the Addison Reserve golf course in Delray Beach. A nightmare for many golfers who hook their shots, the murky lake is a gold mine for divers.

``The golf ball divers probably have the weirdest jobs on golf courses,'' said Dave Youpa, manager of Southern California's Industry Hills course. ``They come in during the day while people are playing their rounds. It's funny because often you just see bubbles in the ponds, and you're like, `What the heck?'''

Many divers are approached with comments like ``Nice golf outfit'' or ``Hey, if you find Titleists, they're all mine,'' said Paul Lovelace, owner of Golf Ball Paul's, a golf ball retrieval and resale company in Kansas City, Missouri.

Lovelace, a former oil-rig diver, has been in the golf ball diving business for 23 years. Martinez, a recreational diver with an interest in marine science, stumbled into his current profession 15 years ago. They say the money is good if you're willing to put up with occupational hazards that include bites from snapping turtles, attacks from alligators and attitudes from territorial otters or beavers.

A snapping turtle punctured the glass of Martinez's mask with its beak a few months ago. ``Without my mask, I would have lost my nose,'' he said. ``I've learned not to touch.''

Divers can earn about 8 cents a ball and usually recover an average of 3,000 to 5,000 a day. Lovelace, who subcontracts with other divers to help retrieve balls on about 250 courses across the U.S. Midwest, expects to sell about 4 million reclaimed balls this year, almost double last year's haul.

Independent divers or contractors like Golf Ball Paul's usually pay courses a fee to get permission to dive in their ponds. In other cases, the courses pay divers by the ball and resell them in their own shops for about half the price they cost new or use them for their driving ranges. A Titleist Pro V1 golf ball, a high-quality model that's popular for its accuracy and control, costs about $4 new. Americans spent $885 million on new golf balls in 2002, according to the National Golf Foundation.

Although golf ball diving can be lucrative, it's a demanding occupation. The job requires five to eight hours spent in zero- visibility waters that are often polluted with fertilizers and littered with sharp clamshells and bottle shards.

``It was hard to get used to not seeing anything,'' Lovelace said. ``The visibility is nil, and that made me feel pretty claustrophobic at first. You are basically just feeling your way around.''

There's another reason the ponds are called water hazards: Sometimes they're inhabited by toothy critters who don't appreciate visitors.

``It's scary when you are grabbing something that isn't a golf ball,'' Lovelace said.

Martinez agrees. Three minutes into a dive at the Links of Boynton Beach in Florida last April, he felt a tug on his tank.

``First I was thinking turtle or catfish, but then I knew by the strength of the jerk,'' recalled Martinez, a subcontractor for Birdie Golf in Pompano Beach, Florida, who dives about 15 courses for the company. ``I went to grab my knife from my right leg, but my left hand was exposed. That's when she bit.''

The next he knew, Martinez was being pulled by an 8-foot female alligator toward the center of the lake.

``This is what you always think about,'' Martinez said. ``Do not freeze up, do not lock up. I need to get to the front of her head.''

Martinez fought to gain a position at the front of the gator's head and started to punch the animal.

``When I was in front of her, while my left hand was still in her mouth -- I felt her tongue, it was the strangest thing -- I started to punch her. She was a tough cookie. After about 20 punches she finally let go.''

Martinez darted to the surface and yelled for help while swimming to the edge of the lake. Startled golfers heard him and raced to pull him out. He had 12 puncture wounds from the attack. The alligator fared worse: She was caught and killed.

``I got cocky,'' Martinez said. ``If you keep getting away with it, you think you're almost bulletproof. Today I surface more often to look around. When somebody told me that there are gators on a course, I thought `money' because many divers wouldn't go there.''

For divers, the best hidden treasures are golf clubs hurled by their frustrated owners into the ponds that can range in depths from a shallow few feet to the occasional 70 feet.

``It's irregular to not find clubs,'' said Lovelace, who puts new grips on them for resale.

Rick Batista, owner of Rick's Golf Balls in Los Angeles, owns about 10,000 clubs collected over the past 20 years, many found in ponds. The walls of his garage are covered from floor to ceiling with racks of clubs, some of which have the original wooden heads. Batista didn't know finding golf balls was going to be a lifelong venture when he first searched for them at age 8, skimming nearby golf course lakes on his surfboard.

Fortunately for the divers, duffers rarely attempt to retrieve their possessions on their own. There are exceptions.

During one of his jobs, Martinez witnessed an exasperated golfer throw his entire bag of clubs into a lake.

``What he realized when he stomped back to the car was that his car keys were in the bag,'' Martinez said. ``He got soaking wet when he waded into the pond trying to get the bag out, but he couldn't get it. So I helped him out.''

Boca Country Club Ranked Top Of Its Kind In Florida

Boca West Country Club has continually held a top ranking within Florida. Now, the rest of America knows it.

The 36-year-old Boca West was recently listed as 2006's number one residential country club in the United States by Club Leaders Forum (CLF), a national publication that ranks leading private clubs in different categories every three years.

A new category for CLF, "residential" indicates communities that include golf facilities. 10 clubs were named altogether under this heading.

In addition, Boca West was ranked as the top country club in Florida-the ninth year it has achieved such a feat-and number seven among the 40 best clubs across the nation.

Jay DiPietro, president and general manager of Boca West, expressed his happiness with the CLF results.

"This is an extraordinary achievement for the club and everyone involved with it," DiPietro said. "We're all very proud."

Beginning in 1997, CLF has built its rankings through surveying over 6,000 club managers and presidents about what makes each facility special.

CLF's questions cover the areas of tradition and heritage, quality of membership, amenities, governance, and professional management and staff.

According to CLF officials, Boca West is part of the top three percent of all private country clubs in terms of excellence.

"What is even more remarkable is the fact that Boca West is also at the apex of all clubs in size, revenues and complexity," wrote John Sibbald, publisher of CLF, in a letter he sent to Boca West that announced the current rankings.

Developed in 1971 by Arvida Corporation, the 1,400-acre Boca West features four championship courses, over 30 tennis courts, a sport pavilion and a fitness center among its amenities.

Approximately 900 people are employed by Boca West at the height of the season.

"I believe we have the finest staff of any club in the country," DiPietro said. "We're also known as one of the top places of employment in the area."

The club has undergone numerous changes over the years, including a $40 million expansion and renovation program completed in 1997 that involved more than 210,000 square feet of additions and improvements.

Boca West is currently embarking upon another $36 million expansion that will cover the reconstruction of two golf courses, updating both the sports pavilion and fitness center, and building a new 62,000-square-foot spa.

"We obviously have accomplished a lot and will continue to do so," DiPietro said. "Being honored again by CLF proves it."

Council To Weigh Plans For Florida Golf Course

The city council on Aug. 17 will consider preliminary plans for 310 homes on the former Port Malabar Country Club Golf Course.

The planning and zoning board on Wednesday voted 5-1 in favor, overruling the objections of neighbors. Board member Adam Hill voted no.

"Everybody hates to see the Florida golf course go," said Bob Williams, vice chairman of the board. "It's a tough issue. I've played the course over the years."

Neighbors said they won't give up the fight.

"It's just the beginning. We don't want homeowners to become discouraged," said Russ Wood, president of the Port Malabar Country Club Community Association.

Among concerns cited by neighbors:

Drainage, because the new homes would be built higher than those surrounding the course.

Traffic congestion

Arsenic in the soil that could become airborne during construction

Private water wells and an artesian pond

Reduced home values

The loss of valuable trees

Environmental concerns and habitat loss

The board continued discussion from its July meeting, because of questions that couldn't be answered by Jack Spira, a local attorney representing the new owners.

In June 2004, the course was sold to Palm Bay Greens LLC. The Florida golf course closed the following year. In February, the clubhouse was torn down and the pool filled in.

Charles Madge has fought home construction on the course for more than a year. He said it would reduce the beauty of the area.

"Many people are bitter," Madge said.

Spira said the residents want open land, but they don't want to pay for it. He said the landowner is entitled to develop the site if he follows zoning and code requirements.

"We've agreed to all the conditions imposed by city staff," he said.

Conditions include an environmental impact study, efforts to save trees, traffic modifications and another access through an agreement with Villas of Island Green.

Spira has met with residents. Developers offered to dig trenches through golf cart paths to direct water into ponds in exchange for resident support of the project.

"It's very frustrating," Spira said. "I thought we had an agreement, but I guess the people with drainage problems have other agendas."

Golfers Buy New Combination of Vacation Home and Real Estate On Florida golf Course

There is a new type of golf vacation home that golf enthusiasts are buying. This new type of golf vacation home is the combination of a golf vacation residence, a luxury resort hotel, a luxury condominium, and a real estate investment property.

"This is a new lifestyle concept combining the luxury, service, and amenities of a world-class hotel with the ownership benefits of a high-end condominium. This new real estate approach is ideal as a second or third vacation home, or a premier golf vacation residence," says Mr. Kevin D. Wright, a South Florida Realtor and Licensed Mortgage Broker. "Sometimes you will hear this concept described as hotel condominium, condominium hotel, or condotel."

An owner of a resort hotel condominium enjoys all of the benefits of owning a home. An owner of a resort hotel condominium has the ability to re-sell their condominium unit in the open market. The owner pays real estate taxes, maintenance fees, and the usual insurances. Under certain circumstances, these typical payments could represent tax deductions. Obviously one would consult a tax specialist for specifics concern tax deductions. Mr. Wright added, "Some buyers may find that purchasing a resort hotel condominium can be an excellent vehicle for 1031 tax deferred exchanges. We have the resources to put something like this together."

As an owner of a resort hotel condominium, each owner has the option of allowing their unit to be placed in a rental management program when they are not using their golf vacation residence. The golfers like this part because it can lower the carrying costs of their vacation home. When their home is not in use, a resort hotel condominium could generate hotel income. "One should never leave an asset under-utilized. This is the part that attracts many golfers. Many golfers use it as a second or third vacation home that doubles as a real estate investment. Generally speaking the net revenue, after expenses, generated from the rental of an owner's suite is paid directly to the owner by the hotel management company," says Mr. Wright.

Golf enthusiasts around the world have recently discovered two major resort hotel condominiums located in tropical South Florida. One project is located in the Miami, Florida area and the other project is located in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area. Both of these resort hotel condominiums' primary focus is on golf.

The resort hotel condominium located in the Miami area offers five championship golf courses. As an owner of this particular golf vacation residence, one would have access to preferred tee times on all five championship golf courses. This includes the golf course featured in major golf tours. This particular golf course has recently become part of a major golf championship series. Mr. Wright added, "It is already renowned for its fabled champions and electrifying tournaments."

The Miami area resort hotel condominium also offers a world-renowned golf school. Golfers around the world consider this particular golfing school to be one of the leading golf schools in America.

The Miami area resort hotel condominium is the first and only luxury resort condominium ever to be developed along the fairways of a legendary golf course. A popular golf digest ranks one of the golf courses at this South Florida location as one of the top golf courses in Florida. A popular golf magazine identifies the 18th hole on this golf course as being one of the top 100 holes in the world.

After a golfer buys a resort hotel condominium at this particular Miami area location, they will discover how to receive complimentary tickets to a major golf tour event.

The resort hotel condominium located in the Fort Lauderdale, Florida area offers two championship golf courses. The golf courses feature signature waterfalls, beautiful vistas, and challenging greens. There is even a resident golf concierge available. For the true golf aficionado that prefers Fort Lauderdale, there are six additional high-level courses in the area.

The two major resort hotel condominiums located in tropical South Florida differ in pricing. The purchase of one of these resort hotel condominiums can be financed. Much like a conventional, residential condominium purchase, the lender's decision to make the loan will be based on the creditworthiness of the individual purchaser and the value of the residence being purchased. Mr. Wright added, "Not all lender's understand or provide funds for the purchase of resort hotel condominiums. One may wish to use current banking relationships and find that rates are unacceptable or the property type is unacceptable. As a Licensed Mortgage Broker, we have established relationships with two lenders that specialize in resort hotel condominiums."

Golfers are viewing the purchase of a resort hotel condominium as an investment in a lifestyle. "We hear stories of resort hotel condominium buyers bragging about their new purchase. They are making their friends, relatives, and co-workers jealous. They get pampered existence, the whole package. It's more than golf," says Mr. Wright. “There are still a few luxury suites available for purchase at both locations. Please contact us for current pricing, developer incentives, full-color brochures, or to arrange a private viewing.”

Florida Golf Course, Isleworth Getting New Practice Area

One of the most sought-after amenities at a Florida golf course is the practice area, and when the membership includes more than a dozen PGA Tour players, it's even more important.

So Isleworth Country Club in Windermere, Fla., has begun the construction of what may be the world's most comprehensive practice facility, with different types of turf and bunkers to simulate play at other venues, and a short-game area with a number of fairway and greenside bunkers of varying types.

Kurt Kuebler, general manager, said Tiger Woods, Mark O'Meara, Darren Clarke, Stuart Appleby, Robert Allenby, Charles Howell III, Lee Janzen and other Tour players who live at Isleworth normally spend more time at the range than on the golf course. That's why the new practice area, being designed by Steve Smyers, will replicate the conditions and shot values, found on the course.

"At Florida Tour events, golfers are playing mostly on Tifeagle Bermudagrass. But if you're practicing for play elsewhere, you may want to practice on those other turfgrasses to see how the ball is going to react," Kuebler said.

According to Florida golf course superintendent Steve MacLeod, the practice area is going to involve a little bit of turf maintenance magic as well. "We're talking about having a bentgrass green and a bit of fairway that would allow them to prepare for the kinds of shots they'd see in Great Britain," he said. The practice bunkers will have different bunker sand, and obviously different depths of sand, as well as different designs, to allow them to practice for events in other parts of the world."

Regarding the difficulty of maintaining different types of turf in an area that gets 70 inches of rain a year, Macleod said, "It will be a little bit of theater. I'd say it's like managing test plots. It will be interesting to see what we can do with them. It might mean a few more labor hours, and we'll definitely have to manage our irrigation carefully."

At the end of August, several of the tour pro members will be at home and the team will get their input on the Florida golf course project.

Sabal Point a Florida Golf Course Could Shrink Golf Course

Changes are likely at the closed Sabal Point Country Club as the property's new owner is expected to follow a national trend of trading Florida golf courses for more moneymaking development.

Officials of REGem Management told residents this week that they are considering revamping the golf course to make it shorter, more affordable and easier to play -- qualities they say have made courses such as Winter Pines and Dubsdread popular and successful.

At the same time, they would develop some of the land to help pay for the course's million-dollar makeover and bolster the venture's overall viability. Just what might be built, however, remains unclear.

For many years, golf courses throughout the country and especially in Central Florida have struggled as the number of rounds being played has dropped. Last year was the first since 1945 that the number of golf courses nationwide decreased compared with the previous year, according to a National Golf Foundation report. The number of golf courses closing has grown from 32 in 2001 to 93 last year, according to the report.

Sabal Point's tentative development plans mirror a trend toward converting troubled golf-course properties -- either partially or wholly -- into more profitable uses, such as residential or commercial developments.

Of the courses that closed last year, more than half were turned into residential or commercial ventures.

Sabal Point residents say they need more details about what might be built in their community before they'll get behind any changes.

"In Sabal Point, the golf course runs through the interior of the community," said Wayne Hunicke, president of the largest homeowners association. "So residents here will want to know more about what's planned before they can support it."

The new owner says the old model cannot survive in the current market.

"They want us to realize that just re-opening the club is just a repeat of something that hasn't worked," Hunicke said. "Everybody now knows the course is in pretty bad shape. I think most people will be willing to consider adjustments that won't affect their lives or their views."

Sabal Point was one of three Florida golf courses taken over by Banc of America Strategic Solutions last year and put on the market.

About two miles way from Sabal Point, some residents of Wekiva Springs are facing a similar situation -- plans for building 48 new town houses on nearly 5 acres at the Wekiva Springs Golf Club. Owners of the Florida golf course want to add the two-story units around the clubhouse and along the 16th fairway.

This project -- which would be built on an undeveloped, wooded lot -- is scheduled to go before the Seminole County Planning and Zoning Commission next week. Some residents say they don't want more dense development in the community and have been meeting ahead of the P&Z meeting.The proposal would require amending the master plan for the Wekiva Planned Unit Development, a blueprint for the 1,022-acre golf-course community approved 30 years ago. That blueprint requires 255 acres to remain as open space. There are currently 260 acres of open space, just enough to allow the project. The project's 48 town houses, however, would put the development over its limit of 3,137 dwelling units.

Florida Golf Course's Closing Hits Close To Home

Barbara Ogle knows exactly how the people who live next to The Golf Club in Cape Coral feel.

A mortgage broker who lives along Bonita Springs Golf and Country Club, Ogle has headed an informal committee that for the past year has tried — with limited success — to keep homes from being built on part of the course.

"When we bought this home, this neighborhood was marketed as (having an) 18-hole professional golf course," Ogle said. "And the people that bought lots on the golf course paid a premium to be on the Florida golf course."

With the course, which closed June 2, sitting in limbo for at least a year now, Ogle said property values have been affected. Some owners along the course have lowered asking prices for their homes by nearly $100,000, Ogle said, while other homes have sat on the market for nearly a year.

"Some of it is market adjustment," Ogle said of the flattening real estate market. "And some of it is because of the uncertainty of what's going to be outside of your backdoor."

That same uncertainty threatens not only residents next to The Golf Club — which will close Monday for what owners say is due to repeated financial losses — but potentially thousands of other homeowners throughout Southwest Florida.

As with the Bonita Springs and Cape Coral Florida courses, Riviera Golf Club in Naples also closed this year and faces potential development.

All three Florida golf courses represent what experts say could be a growing trend — that is, going from fairways and greens to foundations and wallboard.

According to the Jupiter-based National Golf Foundation, more golf courses closed nationwide in the first half of this year than opened.

There were 65 closures and 57.5 openings — measured in 18-hole equivalents — according to the foundation's Mid-Year Golf Course Development Update. The report predicts similar year-end results.

Florida, which has more golf courses than any other state, is contributing to the trend. In the first half of the year, nine golf courses closed statewide while eight and a half 18-hole equivalents opened.

"It's a real hard time right now," said Dave Smith, owner of S&S Golf Management in Fort Myers, which oversees about 10 golf course communities in Southwest Florida.

Increased costs for labor, fuel, fertilizer, insurance and other items have made golf less profitable while land becomes more valuable.

Rampant course construction in the past decade combined with stagnant numbers playing the game also has contributed to a glut of courses.

"Rounds of golf (nationwide) in 2005 were less than they were in 2000," said Joey Garon, vice president of operations for The Bonita Bay Group, developer of five gated golf course communities in Lee and Collier counties.

"What's amazing about that? In that time, you've had well over 1,000 golf courses built. You have less people buying groceries and you have 1,000 new Albertson's. Something's got to give."

Dennis Hillier, an attorney with more than 30 years' experience designing club membership programs for developers, said the trend is known as "decommissioning of golf courses."

"If they don't work financially, then the owners (have) got to look at other options," said Hillier, who is based in Boca Raton with Greenberg Traurig. "We think this will accelerate over the next 10 years as the market deals with the oversupply of golf courses."

The greatest immediate threat appears to be to courses with similar characteristics to The Golf Club, Bonita Springs Golf & Country Club and Riviera Golf Club.

All are relatively old for this area — built in the 1960s and '70s — and are owned by individuals or private owners independent from the homeowners around the courses.

Matt Noble, with the Lee County planning department, estimated more than a dozen golf courses in Lee County fit that description.

"That risk is there on some of these courses for the people around them that have no interest (ownership) in the land," Noble said.

Zoning changes would be required before most courses could be converted into residential developments, but that's not an impassible hurdle, Noble said.

"You have to be found to be compatible with the surrounding land uses, and your impacts have to be addressed," Noble said. "It's something that would have to be viewed on a case-by-case basis, but more residential (zoning) in a residential environment, those are typically compatible uses."

Florida golf courses in newer communities may be better protected in deeds and other documents from future conversions. But they aren't necessarily guaranteed to remain golf courses in perpetuity.

"There never is any protection, to my knowledge, that says this must be maintained as a golf course to eternity," said Bonita Bay's Garon, who has worked in golf and club management for 24 years.

"Nobody ever plans, 'Fifteen years down the road, this might be the case,' " Garon said. "(But) you never know down the road. Land might become so valuable it would happen."

As with the possible developments at The Golf Club, Bonita Springs Golf & Country Club and Riviera Golf Club, that could lead to more community protest and threatened legal action.

"Every case is different," Hillier said. "The only way they're really going to win is there's something in the chain of title (telling) you there's going to be a golf course there in perpetuity."

Residents along Bonita Springs Golf & Country Club already have learned that the hard way.

"Pretty soon there won't be any open space left in Florida," Ogle said. "It will all be homes and condos that are left on the market and reduced in price. There has to be some quality of life that is left here, and it cannot be all gated community without Florida golf courses."