Key Club manager outlines club investments

When Jeff Mayers took over as the general manager of the Longboat Key Club in late 2012, he made it his goal to expand ways the club reaches visitors and to add its member base.

At the weekly meeting of the Longboat Key Kiwanis Club July 31, Mayers spoke about recent renovations to improve the club, citing hundreds of sod trucks loaded with paspalum grass beginning to make their way to the island.

The grass, grown in southern Georgia, is salt-water tolerant and drought-resistant and is being used to resurface the greens at the Harbourside and Islandside golf courses this summer.

Golf course work also includes:

• The restoration of 12 greens to their original size;

• An upgraded Islandside irrigation system that replaces a 1950s system;

• The reconfiguration and/or removal of certain sand traps;

“Every hole had a green and a sand trap on each side of the green,” Mayers said. “We’re mixing it up.”

The Islandside course reopened in late June. Both the Harbourside Red Hawk and Blue Heron courses are being re-sodded, from tee to green, with paspalum grass. The Harbourside course is expected to reopen in early October.

Mayers said the Key Club is working with golf architect Ron Garl to better use the natural characteristics of the terrain.

Since Ocean Properties purchased the Longboat Key Club in November 2012, it has invested more than $4 million around the property.

Mayers did not disclose costs of this year’s golf course renovation but said monetary club improvements underway “are substantial.”

Last year, Ocean Properties spent approximately $700,000 on golf course renovations, which included newly redesigned tee boxes and fairways, new golf carts and new golf locker rooms.

Ocean Properties also owns Lido Beach Resort, the Lido Key Holiday Inn and the Sandcastle Resort at Lido Beach, among other properties.

Recent Renovations
• Resoddeding all greens with drought-resistant paspalum grass

• Redesign of six greens

• Restoration of 12 greens to their original size

• Upgraded irrigation system

• Reconfiguration and/or removal of certain sand traps

• Renovated pool and spa with a new manicure and pedicure area

• Locker rooms refurbished

• New air conditioner in golf course maintenance building

• Elevated greens

• New golf carts with GPS system and the ability to order meals from the cart and keep up with others’ games

• All boardwalks replaced at beach