Southwest Florida golf column: West Bay Club reopens after renovation

West Bay Club in Estero celebrated its grand reopening with a gala last Saturday.

The renovation was $4 million, and was done by architects Dana Fry and Jason Straka. 

Course renovations included enhancing green complexes, rebuilding and repositioning bunkers, improving the course’s drainage system and re-grassing the course with new turf grass. West Bay’s original 18-hole golf course opened in 1999 and was designed by Pete and P.B. Dye. In April 2018, the club began the extensive project.

The member-owned private golf club and community is located on 868 acres adjacent to Estero Bay and bordering 500 acres of nature preserve and wetlands. Troon Privé, the private club operations division of Troon, manages the award-winning club and community association.

More:Southwest Florida golf column: Area hosting several USGA, FSGA events this year

More:Southwest Florida golf column: Yuengling Open set for March 2-3 at Fort Myers Country Club

More ace stories: Glenn Stec played Quail Village on Jan. 9 and aced the 110-yard No. 6 with an 8-iron. Two days later, Stec made another -- this time on the course's 95-yard No. 2 with a 9-iron. Stec had different playing partners on each ace.

Diana Zaharoff of The Hideaway Country Club in Fort Myers sent an email that she made a hole-in-one on Jan. 4 -- her birthday -- from 91 yards with an 8-iron on No. 2. It was her first. When she got finished, Zaharoff found out that her friend and neighbor Steve Sladek also made an ace, on the course's ninth hole.

Michigan State Golf Outing: The  Alumni Club of Michigan State University is sponsoring the 11th annual Spartan Pride golf outing and dinner on Monday, Feb. 11 at the Verandah Club in Fort Myers. 

This year's event will feature head football coach Mark Dantonio, athletic director Bill Beekman and men's golf coach Casey Lubahn.  The golf event is a four-person scramble format, with prizes for winners by category.  The event raises donations to the Endowed Scholarship Fund of Southwest Florida Spartans. 

Online registration can be made at: https://2019spartanpride.eventbrite.com.

For information, contact Laura Colville at: 517-505-6720, or email golfout@comcast.net.

QBE Shootout Shark Passes: The Shark Pass, which includes 70 discounted vouchers to 10 area courses, is now discounted to $75. The vouchers are good from May 1 through Oct. 31 of this year.

Courses are — Tiburón, Hammock Bay, Kensington, Naples Grande, Pelican's Nest, Raptor Bay, The Rookery, The Quarry, The Strand, and Stonebridge.

Go to qbeshootout.com.

PGA Quarter Century Championship: Jeff Raimer of West Bay Club in Estero finished tied for 14th in the under-50 to age 64 division at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie on Jan. 9-10. Raimer shot 75-73/148.

Durland Golf School: The Naples Grande school has openings for a three-day/full-day school from March 6 to 8. Golf schools are based on a 3 to 1 student to teacher ratio with all instruction conducted by Mark Durland, Director of Instruction. Contact Durland at mark@durlandgolf.com or 784-2208.

Sara Dickson also will be doing a AimPoint Green Reading Clinic on Tuesday, Feb. 19, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., with the cost $175 per person. Contact Dickson at saradickson213@gmail.com or call (401) 837-5830.

Impact Zone Golf:  The headquarters' simulator remains open to the public for rounds of golf from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at $75 per hour; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., private or group instruction, starting at $135 per person; Private or group instruction is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at Tiburón Golf Club or at the headquarters, starting hourly at $135 per person; Juniors —  Ages 7-18, eight-week rolling enrollment, Discover Golf is new Junior Program, Classes Monday-Friday, 4 to 6 p.m. and Saturdays 10 a.m.-noon. Session also from 4:30 to 6 p.m. All classes at Tiburón;  Ages 3-6, Saturdays 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.; Ladies Golf with Ellen Ceresko — 2-day school, Feb. 9-10, March 9-10; Ladies Seasonal Weekly Program, Tuesdays 8:30 to 10 a.m., Wednesdays 10 to 11:30 a.m., Sundays 10 to 11:30 a.m., Matches every other Thursday after 3 p.m.; Half-Day Short-Game Schools, Jan. 19 and Feb. 16, 9 a.m. to noon; Weekly Ladies Clinics, Jan. 7-April 1, Mondays, 10 to 10:45 a.m.; Better Putting School with Bernard Sheridan, Feb. 3, March 3, April 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Signature School with Bobby Clampett, Feb. 23-24, March 23-24, April 27-28, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. standard, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. VIP.

Call 236-5536 for more information or to register.

To submit an item, send an email to ghardwig@naplesnews.com.

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A rundown of other activities and events follows:

PROFESSIONAL

Chubb Classic

Info: Tickets are on sale for the Chubb Classic, Naples' PGA Tour Champions event held Feb. 11-17 at The Classics Country Club at Lely Resort.

General admission tickets, Taste of SW Florida tickets, Legends Lounge tickets and parking passes are among those available for purchase.

General admission tickets include general grounds access to the Chubb Classic. Daily tickets are $15 per ticket and valid any one day, Tuesday through Sunday. Weekly tickets are $30 per ticket and valid all week, Tuesday through Sunday.

Taste of SW Florida tickets include upgraded access to a two-day food festival held in conjunction with the Chubb Classic on Friday and Saturday of tournament week, Feb. 15-16. Event attendees will be invited to sample menu items prepared by the best SW Florida restaurants. Local and national craft beer, wine and spirits will be available for guests 21 and over.

Each ticket includes access to the Taste of SW Florida as well as daily grounds access to the Chubb Classic on the selected day. Daily tickets to Taste of SW Florida are $40 per ticket and valid any one day, Friday or Saturday.

The Legends Lounge is an open-air hospitality suite overlooking No. 18 green. Guests have access to private restrooms, a full buffet and unlimited access to a full bar. Each ticket also includes daily grounds access to the Chubb Classic on the selected day. A daily ticket to the Legends Lounge is $150 per ticket valid any one day, Friday through Sunday. This upgraded experience also includes VIP parking at the Chubb Classic’s Legends Lot.

Chubb Classic parking passes are also available for purchase. Daily general parking is available for $5. Spectators can also obtain weekly general parking for $20. 

Tickets are limited and sold on a first-come, first-serve basis. To purchase tickets, visit www.chubbclassic.com/tickets.

Volunteer registration is also open. Tournament officials also announced a holiday discount, making the price for registration only $65 until Jan. 1. Responsibilities range from marshals and standard bearers to transportation and assisting the media. During registration, volunteers can select the committee they would like to volunteer for as well as the shifts they would like.

The Volunteer Package includes an official tournament golf shirt and outerwear piece, a tournament visor or ball cap, one Volunteer badge valid for grounds access all week as well as parking for Tournament week, four complimentary weekly grounds passes (valid all week, Tuesday through Sunday) and complimentary meals for each day worked.

Contact: chubbclassic.com, 593-3900

Yuengling Open

Info: At Fort Myers Country Club on Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3. The defending champion is Eric Steger, who shot an 8-under a 132 last year to edge Cypress Lake High School graduate Daniel Mazziotta and Bishop Verot grad Chase Marinell. Two-time champion Derek Lamely, a former FGCU golfer, was fourth. Free admission and parking, and spectators are permitted to walk the fairways with the players. The purse is $31,000, with the winner receiving $10,000. The pro qualifier will be Tuesday, Feb. 26.

Contact: Rich Lamb at (239) 321-7488.

JUNIORS

Alico Family Golf

Contact: Kraig@alicofamilygolf.com or Trey@alicofamilygolf.com

The First Tee of Naples/Collier

Info: Winter program registration is open.  Registration closes Jan. 9. The first week of the program is Jan. 14-19, and it goes through the week of Feb. 25-28. The cost is $70. PLAYer Programs — Ages 7 and up, Vasari, Tuesdays, 4 to 5:30 p.m.; Esplanade, Wednesdays, 4:30 to 6 p.m.; Cypress Woods, Wednesdays, 4 to 5:30 p.m.; Valencia, Thursdays, 4:30 to 6 p.m. PAR Programs — Ages 9 and up, Tiburón, Tuesdays, 4:30 to 6 p.m.; Esplanade, Wednesdays, 4:30 to 6 p.m.; Royal Palm on Thursdays, 4:30 to 6 p.m. Birdie Programs — Ages 11 and up, Tiburón, Mondays, 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Eagle Program — Ages 13 and up, Golf Club of the Everglades, Thursdays, 4 to 5:30 p.m. ACE Program — Ages 14 and up, Golf Club of the Everglades, Thursdays, 4 to 5:30 p.m. Teen programs at Royal Palm, Thursdays 4:30 to 6 p.m. Home school at Quality Inn & Suites Golf Resort, Tuesdays, 12:30 to 2 p.m. Register at TheFirstTeeNaplesCollier.org/Register.

Contact: thefirstteenaplescollier.org, Derek Clemmensen at 331-1800 or tftnaplesleederek@yahoo.com.

Junior Golf Performance Academy

Info: At Quail Creek Country Club. After-School JGPA Group Program (August 2018 - May 2019). Monday-Friday, 12 group sessions to choose from (Enrollment open for 120 juniors, very limited availability). $150-$400/month, Private coaching also available.

Contact: Call or text JGPA Academy Director Spencer Graham at (561) 339-4688, or email infoJGPA@gmail.com.

LPGA Girls Golf

Contact: Janie Huling at janiegolfpro@embarqmail.com or 239-390-1619.

AREA ORGANIZATIONS

Alico Family Golf Center

Info: Get Golf Ready classes. Cost $150 for five-session series, noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays or Saturdays, coached by Jeremy Wells and Kraig Feighery. The 1-hour lessons are for total beginners and golfers with 10 or fewer golf course experiences.

Contact: 334-4653 or alicofamilygolf.com, www.alicofamilygolf.com/pga-hope/

LPGA Amateur Golf Association

Info: The Southwest Florida Chapter of the LPGA Amateur Golf Association, formally the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) was formed as a Naples chapter in 1999 with ladies primarily in the Naples area. The association is now the Southwest Florida Chapter, and members stretch all the way from Marco Island to Naples to Fort Myers and Cape Coral.

Contact: PresidentLPGAAmateursSWFL@gmail.com; GolfEventsLPGAAmateursSWFL@gmail.com

Southwest Amateur Series

Info: Men’s circuit through the Florida State Golf Association features 36-hole individual competitions, with $130 entry fees.

Contact: fsga.org

Valencia Leagues

Info: Men’s league Saturdays at 8 a.m.; ladies league Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Contact: 352-0777, ValenciaGolfandCountryClub.com

World Golfers Amateur Tour-Southwest Florida

Info: $189 per year.

Contact: wgatusa.com or email Jim Stockman at jim@worldgolfersusa.com

INSTRUCTION, ETC.

Alico Family Golf Center: Thursday Ladies Class, 9 to 10 a.m., $25 per person with golf instructor Debbie Keim (508) 737-3004, deb@alicofamilygolf.com. Keim has 25 years of experience and was head professional at Paul Harney Golf Course in Falmouth, Massachusetts, for the past four years. Lesson rates are $60 for 30 minutes, $100 for an hour, $160 for 3-pack of 30 minutes, $275 for 3-pack of 60 minutes, or $20 additional person lesson. Contact Kraig Feighery at kraig@alicofamilygolf.com or 231-2036 or 334-4653.

APEX Golf: State-of-the-art training studio combining the skills of a golf pro and a physical therapist to improve the body and golf swing. The studio has a high-definition golf simulator, a K-Vest golf swing analyzer, video, and strength and flexibility testing software. APEX offers a free 30-minute analysis of the body and swing. Call 337-2739.

Rodney Bungartz Lessons: At Arrowhead Golf Club. Call 348-5929.

Jon Butler Golf: Offering 2- and 4-day golf schools, short game schools, clinics, private lessons and on-course playing lessons. Call 239-821-8447, jonbutlergolf@gmail.com, www.jonbutlergolf.com

Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools: New home at Raptor Bay Golf Club in Bonita Springs. Full and half-day schools are offered. Instructional packages are one, two or three days. All instruction is by appointment only. Private instruction and playing lessons also available. More than 35 years of instructional experience. Call 482-0900 or visit www.golfdoctorusa.com.

John Carroll Lessons: Former Club Pelican Bay professional John Carroll is at Talis Park Golf Club in North Naples. Carroll was at Pelican Bay for 29 years. He is available for instruction Tuesdays through Saturdays. To make an appointment, call 597-3561 or 860-8470.

Dennis Clark Lessons: Clark, a PGA Master Professional and director of the Dennis Clark Golf Academy at the Marriott Marco Island Resort and Spa, works with developing juniors interested in furthering their careers to the collegiate level. Clark has helped several young men and women with scholarship recognition and go on to professional careers. He works with both advanced and new players, in either group or one-on-one sessions. All lessons and clinics are by appointment. Call 777-6043 or visit dennisclarkgolf.com.

Concierge Service of Naples: An off-site service free of charge to the customer. The service can make tee times year-round at private country clubs in Southwest Florida up to 60 days in advance. The fee is the normal guest rate, and golfers are not required to play with a member. Call 285-7457.

Coral Isle Golf Center: The teaching center on Collier Boulevard on the way to Marco Island has a weekly clinic schedule — Tuesdays, ladies; Thursdays, men; Saturdays, mixed. There is a short-game class Fridays, with advanced sign-up required. All start at 10 a.m. Call 732-6900.

Wayne Dahlstrom Golf Academy: Dahlstrom is conducting short-game clinics from 9 to 10 a.m. Fridays at Lakewood Country Club (775-0765) and Wednesdays at Riviera Country Club (774-2011) for $20 per person. The class is limited to six participants. Private and semiprivate full swing lessons also are available. Call Dahlstrom at 370-1047 or email wd.top100@gmail.com.

Mike Dopslaff Instruction: PGA professional Mike Dopslaff, a four-time Southwest Florida PGA Player of the Year, provides instruction. Individual, group lessons at San Carlos Golf Club. Emailgolfslaff@aol.com.

Gail Graham Golf: Gail Graham is a two-time LPGA Tour winner with over 35 years of golf experience. Game improvement programs for all ages and skill levels. Individual and Group Lessons. Clinics. Corporate events. Visit gailgrahamgolf.com, follow on Facebook (Gail Graham Golf) and Instagram (gailgrahamgolf).

Golf Academy at The Strand: A new golf academy is under way at The Strand in North Naples and is also open to the public in addition to members. J.C. Anderson is the new director of instruction for the academy. Anderson is a former PGA Tour player, who played in six major championships and made over 100 cuts in PGA Tour-sanctioned events. He has been the director of instruction previously in clubs in Dallas and St. Louis, and a previous Player of the Year in both PGA sections, and has worked with junior golfers. To contact Anderson, call (636) 577-9554 or email jcanderson@pga.com.

The Golf Institute: Club fitting program includes evaluation based on series of tests, including frequency check and lie and loft angle. Putting evaluations also are available. Call 643-5895.

Phil Grear instruction: At Forest Glen. Call 354-1898 or 595-1120.

Spencer Graham: The Director of Instruction at Quail Creek Country Club (Guests Welcome) Rates are $225/Adults, $175/Juniors for a 1-hour Private Coaching Session. 3, 6 & 10 Hour Packages Are Available, Golf Course Playing Sessions Encouraged. Contact: Call or Text Spencer Graham at (561) 339-4688, or Email: grahamJGPA@gmail.com.

David Leadbetter Golf Academy: At LaPlaya Beach & Golf Club. Leadbetter is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. Academy programs include three-day golf schools and players’ schools, and a one-day mini-school. Private instruction and playing lessons also are available. Call 592-1444.

Dan Lockhart: Lessons at Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers. Lockhart can have lessons with the general public, even though Fiddlesticks is a private club. Rates are $135 for a 1-hour private lesson, $625 for a 5-hour lesson program or $1,150 for a 10-hour lesson program that includes a 9-hole playing lesson. Email dan44gt@pga.com.

Mediterra Golf School: Contact director of instruction Adam Bazalgette at adamb@clubmediterra.com or go to www.adambgolf.com.

Dennis Meyer’s Golf School: Moved to Hibiscus Golf Club. Offering golf schools, lessons, clinics. Private lessons available. Call 565-5954 or email foredjm@aol.com.

Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club: Clinics and private instruction. Call 435-2475 for more information.  

Naples Grande Golf Schools: Email mark@durlandgolf.com or call 784-2208.

On the Course Tee Times: Naples-based concierge service that partners with over two dozen public, semiprivate and private golf clubs across Southwest Florida. Specializes in arranging times on courses at discounted rates, and access to several private, members-only clubs. No service or membership fees charged. Call 690-6077.

Tom Patri Golf School: At Esplanade.  Patri is a former South Florida Teacher of the Year and Met (N.Y.) PGA Teacher of the Year. Available to all skill levels, and juniors. Private instruction by the hour, half and full day sessions also. Short game specialist. Visit www.tompatri.com or email tpatri@mindspring.com. 

Jim Sowerwine: The director of instruction at Pelican’s Nest Golf Club in Bonita Springs has been consistently voted as one of Florida’s top instructors by his peers by Golf Digest Magazine. Sowerwine has been voted “Top 10 Golf Professionals of Naples” by Gulfshore Life Magazine, and developed the Inside Approach Swing Trainer, awarded the No. 1 swing trainer two consecutive years by Golf Digest Magazine. Sowerwine offers private lessons, group instruction and playing lessons, and also specializes in short-game instruction. Contact him at jimsowerwine@gmail.com, 239-272-9631 or visit www.sowerwinegolf.com.

The Strand Academy: The new academy, under director of instruction J.C. Anderson, will have a Get Golf Ready clinic, open to everyone, on Saturdays that started Oct. 20, at 9 a.m. The cost is $20 per person and space is limited. Call The Strand golf shop at 239-592-9944 or Anderson at 636-577-9554 to sign up.

Jim Suttie Academy at TwinEagles: Former National PGA Teacher of the Year, and is rated in the Top 50 Teachers by Golf Digest, and Top 100 Teachers in America by Golf Magazine. Instruction available to TwinEagles members and the general public at high-tech indoor/outdoor training center at TwinEagles Club. Call 1-800-765-3838 to schedule a lesson or to inquire about programs.