Naples Golf News

NAPLES - Hindsight is a luxury, but today it’s clear that the real estate downturn now sucking the life from the U.S. golf industry actually began in the first quarter of 2006 — coinciding almost exactly with ground-breaking at the Tournament Players Club at Treviso Bay in Naples, Fla.

However, Treviso Bay, the latest from architect Arthur Hills, hasn’t merely pressed on. Treviso’s owners, VK Development Corp., have invested approximately $215 million in the project to date. Homebuilders at Treviso Bay have invested some $65 million in the construction of model, spec and custom homes. With the real estate world crashing down around its ears, one builder nearly doubled its land holdings at Treviso Bay during 2008.

On the golf course, a few feet can be the difference between finding a hazard and landing in a safe spot with a good angle to attack the pin, and club selection is often an integral component in reducing distances to the cup if you're able to find the putting surface.

GreenFinder Golf GPS , a system that utilizes already-exisiting global positioning systems on your iPhone or Blackberry to calculate the distance from the golfer to various targets on the course, is a simple, convenient and affordable way to improve your golf game by having the right club in your hand and the information necessary to make the right play.

The McGladrey Team Championship, the first nationwide grassroots best-ball amateur championship conducted by The PGA of America, will mark its third year with a new title, the launch of registration on its Web site, an enhancement to its format and a third consecutive return for the National Championship at Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort.

The National Championship, featuring 41 four-member Section champion teams, will compete Oct. 26-28, 2009, at renowned Pinehurst (N.C.) Resort. The 2009 season will formally open with Special Olympics as the Official Charity of The McGladrey Team Championship.

The Tournament of Charities began in 1979 to raise funds for the Vince Smith Center, more commonly know to us as Southwest Florida Addiction Services. In 1979, only a handful of Club Golf Professionals participated and raised $1,200. Today we have five approved charities, which include The Vince Smith Center, PGA Art Soderholm Scholarship Fund, Junior Golf, Florida Gulf Coast University Men’s and Women’s Golf Program and the PGA/PGM Program at F.G.C.U.

This event has grown faithfully over the years due the continued support of the local golf communities and their PGA Professionals. The 2005 Tournament of Charities, through the participation of 17 club golf professionals raised more than $70,000. Now in its 28th year, the Tournament of Charities event has raised over $1,300,000 for our local charities. We are committed to continuing our tradition of supporting the Southwest Florida community.

Lely Resort has been named one of Golf World’s Top 50 golf facilities in the publication's inaugural "Readers Choice Awards" that was released in early 2009.

Lely Resort offers Collier County’s premier golfing amenities. With three championship golf courses and two spectacular golf clubhouses, Lely Resort offers 54 holes of truly fabulous golf, including The Classics course by Gary Player, the Flamingo Island course by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. and The Mustang course by Lee Trevino.

ESTERO, Fla. - PGA Tour player Stewart Cink, ranked No. 16 worldwide and tenth in 2008 on the PGA Tour money list, took in not just one, but two rounds of golf at Old Corkscrew Golf Club last week.

In town with family for a youth hockey tournament being held at Germain Arena, Cink checked out Old Corkscrew between games. He played his first round with some of the hockey dads on Monday, December 29 and liked it so much he brought family back and played a second round on the 31st. 

Marriot Golf, one of the world’s premier golf operators, recently announced The Rookery at Marco, located in Naples, Florida, as the Marriott Golf Property of the Year. This award is based on performance excellence for current and previous years in various categories such as golf sales, round improvements, program development, personnel development and leadership, and more.

The Rookery’s recently renovated clubhouse expansion has been recognized as one of the top clubhouse remodeling projects in the country, serving as a finalist in Golf Inc.’s 2007 clubhouse renovations and remodeling awards. The renovation of the clubhouse included a member-only restaurant and lounge, member’s locker rooms, private boardroom and much more. 

PGA Professional Kevin Kuehl has been named the 2008 Assistant of the Year for the South Florida PGA. Kevin is recognized for his overall performance as an assistant through his willingness to accept responsibility, and through his promotion of the game and the overall image of the PGA of America.

A PGA member since 2006, Kevin’s involvement within the Association, South Florida PGA Section and the Southwest Chapter has continued to grow since he joined the Foxfire Country Club (Naples) staff full time in 2003. He is currently the first assistant at Foxfire, where he is responsible for the 27-hole facilities’ tournament operations, as well as assisting with the daily golf operations. He also conducts 40-50 golf clinics throughout the year, coordinates weekly league play, and supervises and trains the seasonal staff, all of which ultimately enable him to create and sustain a very professional and enjoyable atmosphere for Foxfire’s members and guests.

For the second straight year, PGA Professional Jeff Nixon has been named the 2008 PGA President’s Plaque recipient for the South Florida PGA. The award recognizes the professional who has made extraordinary contributions and achievement in the area of player development.

Elected to PGA Membership in 2005, Cape Coral native Jeff Nixon picked up the game at the age of 10, which he parlayed into a playing career at Edison Community College. Along the way, Jeff noticed he had a strong desire to teach the game and found himself a niche in the industry. He has been employed at Del Tura Golf & Country Club in several capacities since 1995 and is currently the PGA Director of Golf.

PGA Professional Dan Gawronski has been named the 2008 Golf Professional of the Year for the South Florida PGA. As the highest honor a PGA Professional can receive, Dan is recognized for his overall performance, level of service to the Association, leadership, image, and the ability to inspire fellow professionals and promote the game of golf.

Elected to PGA membership in 1999, Dan’s career path did not immediately lead him to the golf industry, but his love for the game made the transition from a college playing career at Loyola College in Maryland to a position as first assistant at Audubon Country Club in Naples a seamless one, and he never looked back. Following a four-year stint at Audubon Country Club (’95-’99), Dan became the first assistant at The Club at Olde Cypress (’99-’03), from which he moved on to his current role as the Head PGA Professional at The Club at Grandezza in Estero, where he has been employed for the past five years.