Dick Wilson hired to design the golf course
Three area landowners (Joe Povia, George Allen & Donald Bass) agree to donate 164.8 acres of farmland just south of Radio Beam Road (Cypress Lake Drive). Renowned golf course architect, Louis Sibbett “Dick” Wilson*, was hired to design the golf course.
Golf course architect Arthur Hills is retained
Golf course architect Arthur Hills is retained to develop a long-range renovation plan for the golf course. Economic conditions prevent plan from being executed.
Membership Continues to Grow
The club has grown to 279 Founder members and 340 golfing members overall. Annual dues are $3,000 and the stock price is set at $17,500.
Golf course architect Chip Powell is hired
Golf course architect Chip Powell is hired for a greens renovation project which was successfully completed in the summer of 1995 with the course reopening in October.
Pool Gets Closed & Demolished
The club membership has grown to 363 golf members. Several club projects are approved and completed including improvements to the snack bar and patio, the addition of two new clay tennis courts and an extensive golf course drainage program. The pool was closed and demolished.
Golf course architect Ron Garl is retained
Golf course architect Ron Garl is retained to do a complete renovation of the golf course and practice facilities which are successfully completed in the summer of 2001. Ron introduces some modern design elements and addresses long-standing drainage issues in the first full renovation of the golf course.
Industry- Wide Recession Hits Club
Recession grips the country and the golf industry is hit especially hard triggering a decade long trend of more clubs closing then opening and sees several local clubs shutter their doors permanently.
Club elects Scott Fischer President
Mr. Fischer is elected president of the Club and hires Ed Rodgers as COO. The Club introduces a 10-year strategic plan to improve the club and restore membership. The prolonged recession has seen membership levels drop to 242 golf members and the stock price reduced to $7,500. Bryce Koch is hired as Golf Course Superintendent.
Club introduces new membership and marketing program
Club introduces a new membership program and initiates a strategy to reposition the club from a ‘Country Club’ to a ‘Golf Club’ in the southwest Florida market. Practice facilities are expanded and the final hard courts are converted to Har-Tru clay courts. Terry See hired as Tennis professional.
The transition to a ‘Golf Club’ begins
New membership program adds 75 golf members in the first year and establishes new parameters for membership cap of 495 players versus 360 memberships. Sports (Tennis) membership grows by 100 and establishes cap of 150. Clubhouse interior gets refreshed.
Improvements continue...
Golf staging area and surrounds are renovated. New environmental building added at Golf Maintenance. Ron Leatherwood retires as golf professional after 35 years of service. Jon Pazdera hired as Director of Golf. Club assumes the merchandise program and adopts the “Mill River Plan” as a member amenity.
Growth continues...
Club reaches 450 Golf members and Sports membership of 150. Improvements to the club continue with renovations to the Men’s Card Room, Patio, Bar, Grill Room and Snack Bar.
The beat goes on...
Club improvement continues with new entry signage, tennis facility upgrades and a renovation of the Ladies Card Room. Terry See retires and Alex Hermeto hired as Tennis Professional. The stock price is $7,500.
Club retains golf course architect Ron Forse
Club retains golf course architect Ron Forse to restore the course to original Dick Wilson design concepts. Mr. Forse has restored a number of Dick Wilson designs including Top 100 Pine Tree Golf Club in Boynton Beach, FL and Hole-in-the Wall Club in Naples, FL.
Renovation successfully completed in summer of 2017.
Hurricane Irma inflicts major damage to landscaping and delays reopening of course.
Brian Hart hired as Membership Marketing Director.
Cypress Lake Golf Club
The Club celebrates the 60th anniversary and finalizes the transition by officially changing the club name from Cypress Lake Country Club to Cypress Lake Golf Club. The stock price is $12,000.
Covid & Cypress Lake
The club is well positioned and flourishes after COVID. Membership is capped and now has a “Wait List” for membership. Practice facilities receive another upgrade. Golf course begins “natural area” enhancement program. The stock price is $15,000.
Sustainability
Club continues to flourish. Enhancements to the clubhouse begin the planning process. Golf course completes the second phase of “natural area” enhancements. The stock price is $25,000.
A Drive for Excellence
Membership votes for significant golf course improvements that include a total bunker renovation, expansion of tee surfaces, and major renovation of the lakes and canal system for the summer of 2025. Membership approves the construction of a new short-game practice facility in the summer of 2026 under the direction of Ron Forse. Chase Price is hired as Tennis Professional.
