They’ve seen bears before in the area but apparently not this large.
Some turkeys tried to steal a few headlines at the U.S. Open over the weekend, but in Florida it was a bigger, furrier creature that garnered some attention on a golf course – proving that Jack Nicklaus isn’t the only bear to live in the Sunshine State.
A large black bear took a stroll through a Naples, Florida, golf community Sunday. No one was threatened, but the size of the bear did startle residents in the area of the The Club at the Strand.
The club’s general manager, Elvis Gooden Sr., told Fox 13 News in Naples “that size bear I would expect to see at the zoo, not roaming our community, especially during the daytime.”
Ross McGee, who works at the golf club, also spotted the bear and took video, which he posted on Facebook.
McGee says he saw the bear climb a fence then cross a street before going up a driveway. He stayed in his golf cart while he shot the video.
Bears have been seen in the area before, according to the club’s post on Facebook, but this one appears to be one of the biggest that’s come around.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says black bears are the only type of bear that is found in Florida. They have become fairly common on the outskirts of many municipalities, especially as home construction encroaches on previously wild areas.
Everything you need to know for the final round in Naples, Florida.
It’s one of the final events on the 2021 golf calendar schedule and the field of 12 teams is ready for the final round in Naples, Florida, for the QBE Shootout at Tiburon Golf Club.
Each day of the tournament has consisted of a different format. The betting favorites coming into the week, Billy Horschel and Sam Burns, caught fire during a second-round shooting a 10-under 62 — just one shot worse than the scramble score the pair posted the day before. Unbelievable.
Also, 18-hole leaders Marc Leishman and Jason Day continued fine play on Saturday, signing for an 8-under 64. They’ll tee off Sunday with a three-shot lead.
Sunday’s action will consist of a best-ball format. All times listed are ET.
9:45 a.m.
Ryan Palmer/Matt Jones
Hudson Swafford/Brian Harman
10:00 a.m.
Ian Poulter/Charles Howell III
Brandt Snedeker/K.H. Lee
10:15 a.m.
Will Zalatoris/Sean O’Hair
Kevin Kisner/Max Homa
10:30 a.m.
Bubba Watson/Lexi Thompson
Graeme McDowell/Corey Conners
10:45 a.m.
Matt Kuchar/Harris English
Kevin Na/Jason Kokrak
11:00 a.m.
Marc Leishman/Jason Day
Billy Horschel/Sam Burns
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Format
First round: scramble. Each player hits a drive and the best drive is selected. From there, each player plays a second shot and the best shot is selected again. The process is repeated until the ball is holed out.
Second round: modified alternate shot. Each player hits a drive and the best drive is selected. Whichever player’s drive is not selected hits the second shot and so on until the ball is holed.
Final round: four-ball. Each player plays his/her own ball till it’s holed out. The player with the lowest score earns the team score for that hole.
TV information
Sunday, December 11
TV
Golf Channel: 12-2 p.m. ET NBC: 2-4 p.m. ET
We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.
Everything you need to know for the second round in Naples, Florida.
It’s one of the final events on the 2021 golf calendar schedule and the field of 12 teams is in Naples, Florida, for the QBE Shootout at Tiburon Golf Club.
Each day of the tournament will consist of a different format, as the pairs played a scramble on Friday. Defending champions Matt Kuchar and Harris English, looking for their fourth title in seven years as partners, played well posting an opening-round 57, and are tied for second at 15 under. Marc Leishman and Jason Day opened with a 56 and lead at 16 under heading into the weekend.
Saturday’s action will consist of a modified alternate shot format. All times listed are ET.
11:25 a.m.
Will Zalatoris/Sean O’Hair
Brandt Snedeker/K.H. Lee
11:37 a.m.
Ian Poulter/Charles Howell III
Billy Horschel/Sam Burns
11:49 a.m.
Ryan Palmer/Matt Jones
Kevin Kisner/Max Homa
12:01 p.m.
Bubba Watson/Lexi Thompson
Hudson Swafford/Brian Harman
12:13 p.m.
Matt Kuchar/Harris English
Kevin Na/Jason Kokrak
12:25 p.m.
Marc Leishman/Jason Day
Graeme McDowell/Corey Conners
[vertical-gallery id=778185800]
Format
First round: scramble. Each player hits a drive and the best drive is selected. From there, each player plays a second shot and the best shot is selected again. The process is repeated until the ball is holed out.
Second round: modified alternate shot. Each player hits a drive and the best drive is selected. Whichever player’s drive is not selected hits the second shot and so on until the ball is holed.
Final round: four-ball. Each player plays his/her own ball till it’s holed out. The player with the lowest score earns the team score for that hole.
TV information
Saturday, December 10
TV
Golf Channel: 1-3 p.m. ET NBC: 3-5 p.m. ET
Sunday, December 11
TV
Golf Channel: 12-2 p.m. ET NBC: 2-4 p.m. ET
We recommend interesting sports viewing and streaming opportunities. If you sign up to a service by clicking one of the links, we may earn a referral fee.
“I just want to make sure we do what’s right for the future.”
After months of negotiations, an independent land trust is close to striking an agreement to enforce a conservation easement on a cherished golf course in Naples.
The easement is designed to protect the former Naples Beach Hotel’s golf course from commercial development in “perpetuity,” or forever. At least, a chunk of it.
An agreement between the North American Land Trust and The Athens Group could go before City Council for a final vote on Dec. 13.
“We do look forward to the conclusion of the easement,” said Naples Mayor Teresa Heitmann, after getting an update on the talks at a City Council meeting Monday.
Her fellow councilors agreed.
“I for one am ready to see a document that I can review, ask questions about and hopefully approve as quickly as possible,” said Councilman Ray Christman.
Benefit seen in having third party involved
The Athens Group agreed to the easement as part of City Council’s approval of its ambitious redevelopment plans for the 125-acre hotel property back in 2019.
An older aerial view of The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, which closed in May after being sold to The Athens Group, which is redeveloping the property. An independent land trust is close to striking an agreement to enforce a conservation easement on a cherished golf course in Naples. Courtesy of The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club.
City Council at the time chose not to involve a third party in the accord, although the developer seemed open to the idea.
The current City Council sees it differently, viewing the land trust’s involvement as a way to put more teeth into its easement agreement, which has yet to be implemented or signed.
While the city would have enforcement powers with its easement, the trust would add an extra layer, with monitoring and penalties for violations.
The city tapped Ausley McMullen, a Tallahassee-based law firm, to spearhead the negotiations between The Athens Group and the North American Land Trust in early April.
The law firm’s CEO told City Council talks got off to a slow start, as The Athens Group turned its attention to finalizing the purchase of the landmark hotel property, off Gulf Shore Boulevard in Naples. The sale closed on Oct. 14.
The property fetched more than $362 million in what one real estate observer described as a “monster deal.”
An old aerial view of The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, which is closing after 75 years on Sunday, May 23, 2021, after being sold to The Athens Group, which is redeveloping the property. Courtesy of The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club.
Negotiations between The Athens Group and the trust gained steam over the summer, as the closing on the property appeared imminent — after a months-long delay in the sale caused by a legal challenge involving a neighbor, who contends he’s entitled to have more say in the redevelopment plans.
“The talks have continued uninterrupted since the North American Land Trust was brought into the process by the city and their special counsel,” said Jay Newman, the developer’s chief operating officer, in a statement.
Legal challenge yet to be decided
While the legal challenge still looms in Collier Circuit Court, The Athens Group has characterized the suit as frivolous and argued it should be dismissed.
A conservation agreement with the land trust is entirely voluntary on the developer’s part.
In the last update to City Council, Ken Hart, chairman, and CEO of Ausley McMullen, said the proposed legal document was on its “fourth or fifth draft,” with full participation and cooperation from the trust and the developer.
“We are pretty far along,” he said.
Hart shared some of The Athens Group’s concerns about the actual language of the document, particularly when it comes to the penalties for violations of the easement restrictions.
The developer’s concerns were spelled out in greater detail during a previous update to City Council a few weeks ago.
The Athens Group has argued that future violations may be out of its control, such as in the case of condemnation by a government agency, or another legal action, George Asimos, the trust’s attorney, explained.
If the easement should ever be undone by any legal action, the land trust wants to receive any economic benefits derived from the reversal — to spend on other conservation projects. The language is standard and purposeful in all of the trust’s agreements, designed to dissuade future conversion of protected lands for development, by ensuring there’s no windfall to current or future owners, Asimos said.
Such protective language is particularly important in this instance, in such a desirable place as Naples, he said.
“I view this a little like Central Park in New York,” Asimos said. “If you were able to develop it 20, 30, 50 years from now, it would be very, very valuable. This increases the incentive of anyone to attempt to undermine, or change it.”
He added that in no way did he think The Athens Group would ever seek to undermine the agreement, but there’s always a concern when it comes to future ownership, or legal challenges.
The Athens Group has also raised concerns about its financial obligations to the trust if violations are discovered or suspected, Asimos said.
Rarely do owners who enter into agreements with the trust violate their development restrictions, he said, but there’s always a concern about changes in ownership.
North American Land Trust no stranger to conservation easements
The North American Land Trust holds more than 550 conservation easements in 23 states, including Florida, protecting more than 133,000 acres of privately-owned land.
In the case of the Naples golf course, the trust would not hold the easement, but help the city manage it, reviewing the property at least once a year for compliance.
While there have been questions and disputes over how much of the existing 104 acres of open or green space must or will be preserved on the property, or how the golf course might be altered in the future, the trust has not taken up any of those issues.
“The use restrictions we think are within your bailiwick,” Hart told City Council.
When it received its development approvals, The Athens Group agreed to sign the easement before the city’s issuance of a certificate of occupancy for the first “principal” structure in its redevelopment project, most likely the first condo building.
In a statement, Newman stressed the secondary agreement it’s negotiating with the trust isn’t required to proceed with its redevelopment plans, but reflects its desire to be a good partner with the city.
“The granting of this conservation easement is not required by our entitlements and is strictly voluntary on our part to promote a mutually beneficial working relationship with the city, and to provide further assurances to the community that our recreation and open space will remain as such,” he said.
Developer’s plans include five-star resort with ‘best-in-class’ condos
The developer plans to raze the beach hotel and build a five-star 216-room resort with “best-in-class” residential condos along both sides of Gulf Shore Boulevard North. Plans call for up to 185 homes.
The Athens Group has secured an agreement with Four Seasons to operate the smaller, but more upscale resort that will replace the storied waterfront hotel that opened in 1946 — at 851 Gulf Shore Blvd. N.
The easement became a hot-button issue earlier this year when The Athens Group started publicly sharing the possibility of shrinking the 18-hole golf course to 10 holes and creating new recreational activities on open, green space, including an instructional school for golf.
After hearing so much opposition to those potential changes from the community, the developer tabled them, with no plans to alter the championship golf course in the works at this time.
City Council has acknowledged the negotiations have taken longer than expected, but has expressed the importance of getting the agreement with the trust right, rather than trying to rush it.
In the council’s discussions, Vice Mayor Terry Hutchison said: “I just want to make sure we do what’s right for the future.”
As for the agreement itself, he said: “Of course, it’s only as good as what’s in it. So the details really matter.”
Bickerton on her first ace(s): “I never thought I’d get it.”
Liz Bickerton is 74 and had never made a hole-in-one. It was on her bucket list, though.
“I never thought I’d get it,” she said.
On Nov. 17, Bickerton put two in that bucket.
The Eagle Creek Golf & Country Club member was playing at Cedar Hammock, and made two aces in the same round.
“I’m still shaking my head,” Bickerton said Monday. “I get all of these messages, and I’m like ‘Did that really happen?'”
Bickerton is from Canada, just outside Toronto, but has been at Eagle Creek for 18 years. She and her husband, Brian, began coming down to Southwest Florida to visit Bickerton’s parents, and then ended up getting their own place.
Bickerton and her group of Sue Anthony, Adele Reynolds and Cynthia Torokvei, all friends, started on the back nine. They were playing Cedar Hammock as part of a reciprocal since Eagle Creek has been undergoing a renovation, but is scheduled to reopen soon.
Bickerton had played Cedar Hammock maybe one other time, but not recently. When the group got to No. 14, an 80-yard par 3 and their fifth hole of the day, Bickerton pulled out a 7-iron and looked at the green.
“I don’t hit a long ball, but I’m always straight,” she said. “This is kind of in my wheelhouse.”
Bickerton hit the ball and went onto the green and started rolling.
“Wait a minute. Watch it!” her playing partners said.
And it rolled into the cup.
“We all kind of jumped around,” she said, adding people in the townhouses nearby who were watching started applauding.
Bickerton called her husband, who was playing a round at Royal Palm, to let him know. At first, he didn’t believe her.
“You did not,” he said.
“I did too,” she said.
The group continued their round and came around to another par-3, the 88-yard No. 4. This one was over water. Bickerton already had taken the ball she used to make her first ace out of play, and wasn’t optimistic what was going to happen on this hole.
“I kind of kissed the ball goodbye because I figured it’d go in the water,” she said.
Bickerton pulled out her trusty 11-wood, though, and hit the shot. The ball got over the water and began rolling on the green.
“It can’t be, it can’t be,” her playing partners said.
Then it dropped in the hole.
She called her husband again to say she made another one.
“I know, you already told me,” he said.
“No, I had another one,” she said.
Her husband has had two.
“He’s mad because I caught him,” she said with a chuckle.
Bickerton said a few days later, one of her playing partners was catching a flight, and was sitting next to a man at the airport who mentioned that his group was playing behind this woman who had made two holes-in-one.
Check out the loaded field for December’s event in Naples.
Steve Stricker will get an early look at Tiburón Golf Club before defending the Chubb Classic. But Lexi Thompson will already have had one.
Stricker, the victorious 2021 U.S. Ryder Cup captain, will be focused on a team again, this time with whomever he’s paired with in the QBE Shootout, the unofficial PGA Tour event founded and hosted by Greg Norman, from Dec. 8-12.
And after a one-year hiatus, LPGA star Lexi Thompson returns. She couldn’t play last year due to the Shootout conflicting with the U.S. Women’s Open. Thompson had played the previous four years. She was paired with Sean O’Hair, who is in the field this year, in 2019. Thompson has qualified for the CME Group Tour Championship at Tiburón from Nov. 15-21.
Norman announced the Shootout field Tuesday for the 21st edition in Naples, Florida, and 33rd overall. Tickets already are on sale.
“We are so excited to have the fans,” Norman said in a release. “The collection of players assembled to compete is very strong and includes rising stars, major champions and PGA Tour winners who will deliver an exciting three days of team competition for our global television audience and a first-class hospitality experience for our pro-am partners. More importantly, we will continue to raise charitable funds and awareness for CureSearch for Children’s Cancer and other worthy causes.”
Stricker, who sold his home in Naples earlier this year, won’t get to play the Black Course, the site of February’s PGA Tour Champions Chubb Classic that he won in April. The Shootout, as well as the upcoming CME Group Tour Championship, are both on the club’s Gold Course.
Stricker will be joined by one of his players, Harris English, who also won the Shootout last year with Matt Kuchar. European Ryder Cup players Ian Poulter and Lee Westwood are also in the field.
The field will feature 13 of the top-50 ranked players in the world including No. 15 English, No. 19 Sam Burns, No. 20, Billy Horschel, No. 28 Kevin Na, No. 29 Jason Kokrak, No. 33 Max Homa, No. 35 Corey Conners, No. 36 Marc Leishman, No. 37 Westwood, No. 40 Kevin Kisner, No. 41 Ryan Palmer, No. 49 Brian Harman, and No. 50 Poulter.
English and Kuchar were dominant last year, winning by nine strokes. The duo also won in 2013, 2014 and 2016, and finished second in 2015.
Ten players competing for the Shootout’s $3.6 million purse combined for fourteen (14) victories during the 2020-21 season and the recent start of the 2021-22 season. English won twice during that stretch, as did Burns, Kokrak and Homa. Hudson Swafford, Na, Horschel, K.H. Lee, Leishman and Kisner were all individual winners.
Collectively, the 24 players have accumulated 109 career PGA Tour victories and 11 LPGA titles.
Some familiar faces also are back, including two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson (fifth consecutive appearance and seventh overall), former major champion Graeme McDowell (ninth appearance), former major champion and world No. 1 Jason Day (third appearance), Palmer and Harold Varner III (fourth for each).
Westwood is making his first appearance since 2013.
Brandt Snedeker, O’Hair, English, Kuchar, Day, Poulter, and Harman are all former Shootout champions in the field.
Four players — Burns, Homa, Lee and Swafford — will be competing in the Shootout for the first time.
Golf Channel will broadcast Friday’s first-round competition live from noon to 4 p.m. Over the weekend, the final two rounds will feature live coverage on both Golf Channel and NBC. Saturday’s coverage will begin from 1 to 3 p.m. on Golf Channel then switching to NBC from 3 to 5 p.m. The final round will air on Golf Channel from noon to 2 p.m., and on NBC from 2 to 4 p.m.
The QBE Shootout will once again feature a scramble format during the first round, a modified alternate shot format on Saturday and a final-round better ball on Sunday.
CureSearch for Children’s Cancer will continue to be the tournament’s primary charitable beneficiary. Since 1989, the Shootout has raised more than $15 million for charitable causes.
“We are proud to support the QBE Shootout and I’m thrilled about this year’s player field,” said Todd Jones, CEO of QBE North America. “Once again, this world-class event will offer three days of exciting, competitive golf, while contributing to charities that make important contributions to the community.”
The moves come on the heels of the Naples-based company acquiring Old Collier Golf Club, and the announcement of building a 12-hole course in Augusta, Missouri.
Mossman is a former South Florida PGA Section Professional of the Year, and has ties to Southwest Florida. He worked at Pelican’s Nest in Bonita Springs and Gateway Golf Club in Fort Myers, and was general manager at Old Collier from 2007 until earlier this year when he left to oversee construction and management of Aurora International Golf Club in the Caribbean for nine months. The native of Scotland also was at Piping Rock Golf Club of New York for 11 years, and at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert, California.
The 14th hole at Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course was purchased by the Hoffmann Group of Companies on Friday. Submitted.
“I’ve known Iain for many years,” said David Hoffmann, the founder of Hoffmann Family of Companies, in a release. “He’s well respected by the members and community and will do a phenomenal job in the national position overseeing our golf courses.”
“I’m honored to be joining the Hoffmann Family of Companies and excited about their vision for the Golf Division,” Mossman said in the release. “The Hoffmann golf courses and clubs are outstanding and best in their class.”
Hoffmann Family of Cos. has snatched up an array of local businesses, including the Hertz Arena, the Florida Everblades hockey team, Naples Princess Cruises, and Naples Transportation & Tours.
According to the release, Mossman will focus on development, operations, staffing, food & beverage, and membership programs.
Old Corkscrew was designed by Jack Nicklaus, and was originally called The Retreat before the economic downturn stopped it before it was fully built. Tom Fazio designed Old Collier, and Rees Jones will design the 12-hole course in Missouri, giving the Hoffmann company three big-name architects. The Missouri golf course is part of a $125 million investment to turn the location into a wine destination.
The seventh hole at Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course was purchased by the Hoffmann Group of Companies on Friday. Submitted.
“We are thrilled that David Hoffmann will be the new owner of Old Corkscrew Golf Club,” Old Corkscrew majority owner Phil Anderson said in a release. “David has a successful history of buying great assets and taking them to the next level.
“We appreciate David’s commitment to and investment in Southwest Florida and look forward to Old Corkscrew joining the Hoffman Group of Companies.”
“It’s a great addition to our golf portfolio and a beautiful course,” Hoffmann said. “The undulating greens are known to be fast-paced and challenging. It truly is one of the best courses out there.”
No. 8 at Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course was purchased by the Hoffmann Group of Companies on Friday. Submitted.
The Hoffmann Family of Companies operates 36 companies in Florida, and employs 2,500, the majority in Southwest Florida. It has over 240 total operations worldwide and 6,000 employees.
Greg Hardwig is a sports reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. Follow him on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter: @NDN_Ghardwig, email him at ghardwig@naplesnews.com. Support local journalism with this special subscription offer at https://cm.naplesnews.com/specialoffer/
Like Bellmary, Moore was a target of Marcus Freeman and cornerbacks coach Mike Mickens. Both players also will join the Irish for the 2022 season. To have this coaching duo make this kind of progress this quickly is nothing short of amazing, and it only can help.
The Irish had to battle with a plethora of schools to land Moore. They included Alabama, Stanford, Florida State, Florida, Auburn, Tennessee, South Carolina, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, Louisville, Miami, Virginia Tech, Virginia, Michigan State, Michigan, Nebraska, Mississippi State, Iowa State and Vanderbilt.
Remember the Florida man who made three aces in five days? Well he made another hole-in-one.
James Wolklin did it again. And then he spread the wealth of his ace-ness to others.
Wolklin, 68, made his 12th career hole-in-one — two months after making three of them in five days — on Easter Sunday at Heritage Bay Golf & Country Club in Naples, Florida. He used an 8-iron on the 142-yard No. 6. His wife, Cheryl, and Bob and Catherine Balser witnessed it.
“How crazy?” Wolkin said Tuesday. “Just doing a couples golf, Easter Sunday, and luckily enough it comes another hole that I didn’t have yet — each one’s been on another hole.
“Good shot, right-to-left draw, but it bounced a little bit left of the pin. Then the undulation of the green brought it back right, and right into the hole. It was just another big roar. People can’t believe it.”
It’s his fourth at Heritage Bay, and as he said, all four are on different holes. From Feb. 12-16, he aced No. 13 on the Cypress Course, No. 21 on the Oak Course, and No. 26 on the Oak Course on the 27-hole layout.
“Now everybody rubs my shoulders or rubs my clubs for luck,” Wolklin said. “One guy rubbed my shoulder, and he makes a hole-in-one the next day.”
Last Monday, Wolklin visited Doreen Formale and she asked if he was the “ace guy.” He said he was. The next day, Formale made one on No. 6 at Heritage Bay.
Then last Wednesday, Wolklin was playing with Tim Johnson, and he gave him some words of encouragement on No. 8.
“I said ‘Let’s see you knock this in,'” Wolklin told him.
Johnson promptly knocked it in the hole for an ace.
Wolklin said four people he’s encountered have gone on to make one.
The Chubb Classic in Naples, Florida, to be first televised event on the Black, as other events have been played on the club’s Gold Course.
NAPLES, Fla. – Instead of going for the Gold, tour golfers are betting on the Black this week at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort.
The PGA Tour Champions’ Chubb Classic presented by SERVPRO will be played on the club’s Black Course, the first time it has been used for a tour event. The Gold Course, the original of the two Greg Norman layouts, has been used for every QBE Shootout since 2001, and also for the LPGA Tour’s CME Group Tour Championship since 2013.
“Tiburón is proud to host three professional events in Naples,” Tiburón Golf Club general manager Kevin DeDonato said. “This could not be done without the hard work and dedication of our entire team. Putting our facility on the national stage three times in the last five months is quite an honor and we could not do this without the great support of our partners at Troon, Wasserman, Eiger, Ritz, and many others.
“We look forward to great success with this PGA Tour Champions event and are excited to once again showcase Naples and our facility.”
Tiburón had 27 holes, then an additional nine were added, with the Black Course opening in 2002, four years after the Gold. The fourth nine joined with the old South Course to become the Black Course. The North and West became the Gold Course.
The fourth nine holes actually split up part of what was originally the South Course. The first seven holes of the Black are the same as the first seven of the old South. Then the next nine holes are all new, with players finishing up on the final two holes of the old South.
“The Black Course is every bit as good as the Gold, and we are fortunate enough to have two championship courses that our members and guests can enjoy,” DeDonato said.
“It’s a pretty exciting opportunity for Tiburón,” Black Course superintendent Ryan Sherbert said. “Myself and the crew are really excited to show off the product that we’re able to provide here.”
Tiburón’s Black Course in Naples, Florida (Courtesy of Dave Sansom)
It underwent a massive renovation in 2018, undergoing extensive greens, turf, irrigation and bunker renovations. Green surrounds and approaches were reconfigured and also regrassed with Celebration Bermuda grass. Greens are TifEagle Bermuda.
“This is a little bit tougher course,” said Sherbert, who has been at Tiburón for 10 years and the Black Course superintendent for five. “We tried to make it a little more player friendly, moving some of the tees so they had a better view of the fairways, making bunkers smaller and adding some rough.”
“The Black presents some different challenges than the Gold with tighter tee shots and a cut of rough on the perimeter of each hole,” DeDonato said. “Each hole is demanding, and I believe that the course will be a true test for the Champions Tour players to enjoy.”
Sherbert, who is originally from Colorado and grew up in Minnesota before coming to Southwest Florida, has enjoyed working with the PGA Tour Champions to get the course set up.
“Working alongside the rules officials has provided some opportunity and insight,” he said. “It’s just been nice.”
Sherbert and the crew – there are 45 who work both courses – have been doing some tidying up of the Black to get it ready for tour golf and TV.
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“We still had some (Hurricane) Irma cleanup on the edges of the fairways so we’ve been working on that, trimming here and there, where play might go,” he said. “Other than that, it’s kind of normal setup for what we hope to provide day-to-day for a PGA-level course. There’s definitely a lot more attention to detail.”
All of that work will be before the eyes of a national cable television audience starting Friday.
“It’s going to be neat to be able to see it with the crew,” Sherbert said. “We’ll be there in the afternoon watching.
“I’ll probably be speechless. Just seeing their reactions will be cool.”
