THE SCHAUMBURG GOLF CLUB 401 North Roselle Road in Schaumburg, just minutes from Woodfield Mall. The simulators are open, the golf course outside will be opening before too long. Stay tuned for details on opening day. So book a tee time at Schaumburggolf.com or call the pro shop at (847)-885-9000 #ChandlersChophouse
THE GOG BLOG by RORY SPEARS, Director of Content and Creation for Golfers on Golf. Follow Rory on Twitter @GogBlogGuy or connect on LinkedIn and Facebook.
Welcome to the Bonita Bay Club, one of Florida’s largest golf clubs.
TOP PRIVATE CLUBS these days keep getting better. They make improvements for the enjoyment of their members and guests.
THE BONITA BAY CLUB in Bonita Springs Florida and it’s second campus in Naples, are one such facility.
The clubs west campus in Bonita Springs, home to three Arthur Hills championship golf courses. Took a solid punch from Hurricane Ian last fall but things are quickly getting back to normal.
Tom Marzoff Senior Design Associate take a group of recent guests through the changes and upgrades to the Cypress Course.
The process to do so, has been well done, which is what happens when a club pulls together to make things right. Bonita Bay is one of those clubs. Spend any amount of time on either of the clubs campus locations, and it’s easy to see why operations have returned to top manner so quickly.
But it wasn’t just club and it’s golf courses that had clean up to do. Their were members who had plenty of damage to their homes, or cars that ended up under water in their garages.
The par 5-4th hole on the clubs renovated Cypress Course.
One of the club five courses the Cypress course was just reopening from renovation, when Ian arrived.
But with some recently added 450 drainage catch basins, the course didn’t take long to dry out. Tom Fazio’s senior design associate Tom Marzoff’s work was tested, and stood up to the best punch Ian could throw. The Cypress course along with the other Fazio designed Sabal course, are in Naples. The 36-hole campus sits more inland off the gulf waters.
Marzoff’s work was about getting the golf course up to speed, making it play faster and firmer with fairways raised 18 inches.
The par-3 5th hole on the Cypress course.
The bunker liners were redone and USGA Bermuda greens were built. With run off collection areas around the greens.
Green complexes, look more like Augusta National than South Florida. The bunkers have some Augusta feel in them as well.
But there won’t be any confusion about the look, because the Cypress Course is surrounded by Palm trees and not Pine trees.
The par-4 9th hole on the Cypress Course.
Around the greens-the complexes are referred to as a “low-mow” collection area’s.
As a result the mowing patterns are different than many other Florida courses.
But make no mistake about it, once the golfer gets out on the golf course the feeling and style resembles that other famous golf course.
Green complexes around the golf course-give the players options to create shots. As seen here on the par-3 11th hole.
Marzoff then built seven sets of tee boxes, so the Cypress Course is playable for all skill levels.
The back yardage is 7,437 yards, with the front tees set at 4,583 yards. Par is 72.
Some Florida golf courses can have to much water, or too much sand.
But on the Cypress Course the mix is perfect, golfers won’t feel overwhelmed by too much water or sand. The Cypress Course is simply a straight forward design, that leaves the golf course right in front of the golfer. What you see is what you get, golfers can’t ask for more than that.
CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with Tom Fazio design Senior Design Associate Tom Marzoff.
The par-3 8th hole on the Original Marsh design, has both a water carry and sand traps to avoid.
Bonita Bay’s east campus is home to three Arthur Hills golf courses. The Marsh, Creekside and Bay Island.
But in late January the club was using a combined layout of multiple courses, to complete an 18 hole course. The current course open on the East campus, is the original Marsh layout.
By mid-February to early March, two of the courses were to be back and fully operational, but some areas affected by salt water are still being restored.
EJ McDonnell is the Bonita Bay Clubs Director of Golf, he has worked at the club for over 20 years.
EJ McDonnell, Bonita Bays Director of Golf says the club is in the middle of a 5-year plan to upgrade the clubs five golf courses. Those upgrades to the clubs practice facilities, including the short game areas and putting greens.
McDonnell says, “The clubs board of directors is forward thinking, and always is looking to improve the club. Bonita Bay is such an exciting place, even after all the years I have been here. I still look forward to coming to work at the club every day.”
McDonnell says the days of the membership mostly leaving in the summer are over, more and more members now stay year round. McDonnell and staff make sure the pro shop is full in summer. There are more members that are becoming year round. The club now has over 2,000 members and there is a waiting list to join, but with five golf courses there are no issues getting out to play golf (when all five courses are up and operational).
CLICK HERE to hear the full interview with Bonita Bay Director of Golf EJ McDonnell.
While golf is the mainstay at the Bonita Bay Club, there are plenty of other options and activities for the members to take part in. There are numerous food and beverage options, from lite snacks up to fine dining. The Sunday brunch is among the best you will find at any club. It includes plenty of options and a full Omelet station.
So for more information please visit Bonitabayclub.net.