Source: The Stuart News/Port St. Lucie News (Stuart, Fla.)
Having been bruised by hurricanes Jeanne and Frances, three Treasure Coast golf courses now await the onslaught of the Florida High School Athletic Association Golf Finals.
The PGA Golf Club, The Saints Golf Course and Fairwinds Golf Club will play host to the boys and girls team and individual championships today today and Wednesday.
Golf directors from the venues all say their courses are in excellent shape.
Debris and downed trees from the storms have been removed. The PGA Golf Club is fully operational, as is Fairwinds.
The Saints -- site of the Class 2A girls tournament -- was forced to close its pro shop and inside dining room, but golf manager Joe Venturo said the City of Port St. Lucie came up with a contingency plan.
The pro shop is now operating out of a trailer, and food from a limited menu will be served on the screened patio adjacent to the clubhouse.
"The course is in great shape," Venturo said. "We had to remove some trees and there's some healing left. We cut the greens lower and we're getting nothing but compliments on the course."
Fairwinds will play host to the 2A boys.
"Everything is up and running -- restaurant, snack bar and our administrative offices," said Tim Coolican, Fairwinds director of golf.
"The course is actually in unbelievable shape right now."
Coolican praised the Fairwinds maintenance staff, which is led by superintendent Chris Gamble. A bunker restoration project is not complete, Coolican said, but he said the bunkers are in playable shape.
PGA Golf Club will play host to both Class 1A tournaments. The boys will play on the South Course, the girls on the Dye Course.
Bud Taylor, director of golf at PGA, is confident his courses are ready for the state tournament. PGA played host to the National Senior Club Professional Championship two weeks ago and the National Assistant Professional Championship last week.
"We've been able to gear the golf courses up for those tournaments that are equally as important as the high school tournament," Taylor said. "We're just glad to be a small part of such a great event for the high school golfers in the state."
PGA suffered no structural damage from either hurricane. The clubhouse, pro shop and restaurant are fully operational, Taylor said.