By Len Ziehm
Nearly every golf course in southern Florida was impacted by Hurricane Ian last September. Bonita Bay Club, near Naples, long recognized as one of the state’s premier facilities, felt Ian’s wrath.
Bonita Bay, Florida’s largest private club, has five golf courses spread over two campuses that are 10 miles apart. The crowned jewel, the Cypress Course, re-opened after a 14-month renovation in October even though the damage from Hurricane Ian was relatively minor.
Two courses, Cypress and Sabal are at the Naples location with the other three, Creekside, Marsh and Bay Island in Bonita Springs, which was harder hit by the hurricane. The trio there are Arthur Hills designs created between 1985 and 1994.
The Tom Fazio Design Group created Cypress and Sabal in the late 1990s, with Cypress opening in 1997.
Not only does Bonita Bay have five courses, it has everything else that might entice a prospective club member and there is a long waiting list to join.
“It took about a year to do the Cypress renovation, but we needed three years of planning,’’ said Paul Fissel, Bonita Bay’s greens committee chairman. “Both of our courses there needed refurbishing to bring them up to a more modern era. Tom Marzolf and his team delivered exactly what he said he would — a golf course that plays firm and fast in conditions now that normally are soft and wet.’’
Tom Marzolf, a senior associate of the Tom Fazio team since 1983, directed the effort. Marzolf was well qualified, having done work on such nationally known courses as Oakmont, Merion, Winged Foot, Firestone, Oak Hill and Riviera.
At Cypress the entire course was raised by 12-18 inches to improve drainage. Six new lakes were created and four more expanded, resulting in 200,000 cubic yards of earth being spread over the property.
The fairways were widened, and new catch basins added. Perforated pipe was laid underground to steer water away from playable areas and the tee placements were increased from five to seven per hole. One tee was added in front of the previous front set and another was added behind what had been the tips.
“We wanted the course to play shorter (to accommodate older players), plus the (Florida) section pros play a lot of their events there so we picked up yardage for the back tees,’’ said Marzolf.
The course can play as short as 4,500 yards, or up to 7,500 yards from the back tees.
“From a club professional’s perspective we have a course that is championship-ready” said E.J. McDonnell, Bonita Bay’s director of golf.
“Our members enjoy the variety of playing options afforded by having five courses,’’ said Paul Nussbaum, chairman of Bonita Bay’s board of directors. “Cypress remains our most competitive but – with seven sets of tees –our golfers will find the right challenge for their games.’’
The number of bunkers was reduced from 70 to 50, but now more are in play, plus the new bunkers add an Augusta look and feel.
The greens and surrounds were re-designed, resulting in more challenging options to get the ball to the flagstick. Putting from off the green may now be more popular than chipping.
Work at Cypress created an exciting new layout at great expense to the membership. However, Bonita Bay’s other courses are already slated for major renovations, according to the club’s Golf Master Plan. Creekside will get special attention in 2023 and Sabal in 2024.
Among many projects discussed and pending approval are performance centers for both Marsh and Creekside and a renewed clubhouse at Naples.
