Superintendent Kevin Leo helps improve Florida course

Quail Creek Country Club in Naples, Fla., has announced the completion a multi-million dollar renovation project. The club started renovations in June 2013, focusing on both golf course upgrades, expansion of the club’s Greenside Grille, two new bocce courts and a new sports lounge.
 
“The renovations to the Creek and Quail Courses took good golf courses designed by Arthur Hills and beautified and modernized them,” director of golf Mike Dero said. 

Hills was on site to approve the changes, but the inspiration came from Kevin F. Leo, golf course superintendent. “Kevin took his 25 years of experience as a golf course builder and tweaked every bunker, tee box and green complex that could be improved,” Dero said.

The project resulted in 36 holes that are more eye appealing and more playable. Textures and colors were added in front of a majority of tee boxes, framing the hole for the expert and novice golfer alike. The result is terrific turf condition from tee to green framed by sand, pine straw and foliage that enhances the feel for each hole.

Phase one renovations of Creek Course included:
-- A completely updated irrigation systems, with state-of-the art Toro sprinkler heads
-- New Celebration grass for tees, rough and fairways
-- TifEagle Bermudagrass for greens
-- An increase in playable, native areas through the Course to reduce the amount of water, fertilizer and maintenance required
-- Greens restored to their original sizes
-- Bunkers restored to their original sizes

Phase two, which mirrored phase one, was a complete renovation to the 18-hole Quail Course.
Phase three included the addition of a sports lounge adjacent to the tennis pro shop and two bocce courts.
 
“The completion of renovations has created a ‘Best in Class’ experience for members and re-established a base for continued growth in a very competitive country club market,” said Robert P. Magrann, president of the club’s board of directors. “We are especially pleased with the progress and potential.”

Financing for the two-year project was provided by Stonegate Bank of Naples, Fla.