The New Year is here and with it comes opportunity, change, and potential! Estero Country Club is excited to begin the restoration of our golf course.

Estero Country Club’s golf course superintendent T.J. Shine will be working closely with the project and keeping members and guests updated on our Facebook page.

The golf course restoration, scheduled for this summer, is an opportunity to revitalize the golf course and make some much needed improvements.

The original golf course architect, Gordon Lewis, has put together a plan to update the course without changing or compromising the existing layout that is widely considered some of his best work. The renovation work will touch all 18 holes in addition to the practice area, driving range and clubhouse grounds.

The greens renovation will be the key component to the project. Removing the existing putting surface and underlying soil will give the greens and rootzone a fresh start. Certain greens will be shifted slightly, and the undulations softened to allow for additional pin locations.

The type of grass on the greens will not change, Tif-Eagle Bermudagrass has been a staple in Southwest Florida for nearly 20 years and continues to outperform its competition. Celebration Bermudagrass will be used on the tees, fairways, collars and approaches while Bimini Bermudagrass has been chosen for the rough. These grass varieties are able to handle everyday stresses such as drought, heat, wear and pests far greater than their predecessors.

Bunkers will be re-contoured and in some cases moved or even eliminated. A new sand will be installed that provides a better ball lie while in the hazard.

Other improvements that will be made include:

  • Improved drainage
  • Firm landing areas
  • Leveled and expanded tee boxes
  • Cart path repairs
  • New seawall on hole #16

New landscaping will be done throughout the course including trees, native and ornamental plants and annual flowers. The clubhouse grounds will also receive a facelift with new irrigation being installed throughout as well as new landscaping and grass.

The clubhouse landscape plan will be more of a formal design as opposed to the golf course maintaining a natural but beautiful look throughout.

A groundbreaking gold shovel ceremony for the golf course restoration is scheduled for Monday, March 12 at 9am.