Florida company buys Old Corkscrew Golf Club, names national golf president

The Jack Nicklaus gem is one of the best you can play in Florida.

The Hoffmann Family of Companies took a full swing into golf Friday, buying Estero’s Old Corkscrew Golf Club and also naming Iain Mossman as president of the Hoffmann National Golf Division.

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.”

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“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/

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Watch: Gator interrupts mom watching son play in college golf tournament

Kristen O’Brien was trying to watch her son Michael in a tournament at Old Corkscrew Golf Club. But something else wanted a look, too.

ESTERO, Fla. — Kristen O’Brien was trying to watch her son Michael, who plays for the Florida Golf Coast University men’s golf team, in a tournament at Old Corkscrew Golf Club on Monday.

But something else wanted a look, too.

O’Brien captured video of an alligator crossing in front her cart during the tournament, which started Monday and concludes Tuesday for the Eagles, who have their highest-ever Golfstat ranking at No. 69.

“I’m just trying to watch my kid hit a golf ball around a few holes,” she commented on Twitter with the video.

The gator crosses the cart path on its way to a nearby lake without stopping.

“Don’t get closer, please,” she says to her husband, Michael, who is driving the cart. “Why are you getting closer?”

“‘Cause he’s going away from us,” he said. “He doesn’t want anything to do with us.”

O’Brien’s son is a graduate transfer from Saint Joseph’s in Philadelphia.

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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.