Palm-Aire club adds pavilion, moves green

PALM-AIRE — In the mind of Palm-Aire Country Club Board President Ed Kornberger, the Palm-Aire Country Club’s newest addition is a hole-in-one.

As Kornberger looks toward the place where the Palm-Aire Country Club’s putting green used to be, he sees more than freshly laid sod, brick pavers and a new pavilion.

He says the new pavilion area speaks to a larger issue: the uniqueness of the Palm-Aire Country Club (see sidebar, right).

“This is what we do,” said Kornberger, who has been a member of four other country clubs. “It’s quite unique. When people come to visit and they look for a club to join, there are more prestigious clubs, but they are not as unique socially.”

In the case of the pavilion, Kornberger notes that the club and board wanted to make the change, but members didn’t have to support it. But, they rallied behind the entire idea.

They donated $100,000 toward the project, which also relocated the club’s putting green closer to the course.

“The key is, in this instance, it’s something we wanted to do,” Kornberger said.

The club planted the new putting green in June, but had to let the grass fill in before opening it for public use last month.

Once the green opened, it created a blank canvas at the old site.

After considering alternative uses for the parcel, including a flagpole, a garden area and a large sitting area, among others, the board selected a gazebo.

Club staff designed the area with potential uses in mind. A paver walkway leading to the structure creates a perfect venue for weddings and other special celebrations.

The grassy area surrounding the pavilion can seat about 200 people.

Kornberger said the pavilion already has been well utilized and eight weddings already are slated to use the structure for ceremonies or photos.

Although the pavilion has been standing for about a month, the club still is working on finishing the project — adding landscaping, painting 25 paved parking spots for golf carts and completing other finishing touches.

Unique culture
Palm-Aire Country Club Board President Ed Kornberger said two moments helped define the cultural shift at the club: when members rallied behind an employee who was battling cancer about eight years ago and raised $80,000 for him and his family, and again three years ago when the club dedicated the driving range to resident Gus Andreone in celebration of his 100th birthday.

Two years ago, the club rallied around a dishwasher, who only speaks Spanish, after he lost his home in a fire. Club members donated clothes, toys for his granddaughter, $10,000 in cash and found a him a place to live.

“I just think that’s really cool,” Kornberger.

BY THE NUMBERS
$100,000 - Palm-Aire Country Club member donations.

200 - Capacity for the new pavilion area for weddings and special events.

25 - Golf cart parking spaces the project adds.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].