Design Notes

Tom Marzolf reopens Sabal at Bonita Bay

Olazabal Design charts a new course for coastal Bahrain; Craig & Coyne get to work on South Dakota’s Lazy J.

Bonita Bay Club’s Naples campus has unveiled its most recent upgrades, and a series of master plan improvements are now complete.

Following the reopening of the renovated Sabal golf course on Dec. 2 and the completely rebuilt clubhouse, the prestigious southwest Florida private club continues its ongoing quest for excellence.

Since 2022, the club has renovated two courses and the 14-acre golf practice facility, built two new golf performance centers and replaced the Naples clubhouse.

Naples Morning Drone-07.jpg
Aerial view of the Sabal and Cypress courses' closing holes, along with the new clubhouse, at Bonita Bay Club’s Naples, Florida, campus.

The Sabal course underwent a $16.5 million renovation that touched on all golf features, from drainage to greens. Led by Fazio Design senior associate Tom Marzolf, the renovation took 16 months to complete. In 2022, Bonita Bay Club concluded a renovation on the Cypress golf course, also located on the Naples campus.

Bordering on a wildlife preserve, Sabal is a member-friendly golf course featuring five par 5s and five par 3s, offering a different playing experience than the Cypress course. Renovated in 2022, the Cypress course was recognized as Renovation of the Year (Private Club category) by Golf Inc.

Marzolf completed the recent work on the Sabal course in conjunction with builder Glase Golf. Fazio Design, spearheaded by Tom Fazio and Marzolf, opened Sabal in 1998. Marzolf and Glase Golf dug new lakes to create sufficient fill to raise the golf course by more than a foot and a half to improve the drainage. The team also installed 450 catch basins with intricate French drain lines to further assist drainage in the playable areas.

The Sabal course is home to multiple large lakes and protected wetlands that house a variety of wildlife. Among the fauna are Florida panthers, wading birds, alligators, deer, wild turkeys and black bears.

"The Sabal course is a short and sporty fun challenge that has become a member favorite at Bonita Bay Club," Marzolf said.

The newly rebuilt Naples clubhouse, carried out by D. Garrett Construction and AM Design Group, now features a sleek, open design with expansive glass walls offering handsome vistas of the surrounding landscapes and the 18th holes of the Cypress and Sabal courses. The expansive views of the two finishing golf holes were achieved with a 17-degree rotation of the clubhouse.

"The recent renovation of the golf courses and the new clubhouse put an exclamation mark on the investments the club has made to enhance the Naples campus," said Fred Fung, Bonita Bay Club’s CEO and general manager. "It is all about maximizing our members’ experiences and enjoyment levels. We are confident these dramatic upgrades have accomplished these goals."

THE SOCIAL ASPECT

OLAZABAL DESIGN BEGINS WORK IN BAHRAIN
Al Areen Holding Company, a leading real estate developer in the Kingdom of Bahrain, has enlisted Olazabal Design to create an 18-hole championship golf course on the west coast of Bahrain.

Olazabal Design is the golf course design company of two-time Masters champion and Ryder Cup legend Jose Maria Olazabal. The company’s notable work includes the new Olympic and Hills courses at Costa Navarino in Greece, the Education City Golf Club in Qatar, and Royal Sevilla Golf in Spain.

Al Areen Holding’s selection of Olazabal Design aligns with its strong commitment to transforming the Al Areen masterplan into a premier tourist destination.

Spanning 346 acres, the golf course will be characterized by meticulous architectural design and breathtaking scenery not far from the Persian Gulf. Dr. Ahlam Zainal, CEO of Al Areen Holding Company, said: "This development represents a significant step toward our vision of establishing Al Areen as a distinguished tourism and residential destination, enhancing Bahrain’s status as a global tourism hotspot.

"This golf course will add another dimension of luxury to the Al Areen project, complementing an exceptional residential and sports tourism experience. We anticipate that this course will attract more tourists and residents, thereby bolstering economic growth in the area.”

Matthias Nemes, managing partner of Olazabal Design, echoed Zainal.

"We are proud to collaborate with Al Areen Holding Company on this exceptional project," he said. "The land’s natural beauty is simply breathtaking and we could not be more excited to design a top international golf course on this extraordinary terrain. Our intention is to honor the neighboring wildlife reserve and let its serenity serve as inspiration for our design. We are confident that the golf course will add significant value to the Al Areen development and provide unforgettable experiences for guests."    

The Al Areen masterplan calls for the destination to accommodate residential, hospitality, entertainment and business development, including a township of 25,000 people. The project is distinguished by its proximity to Al Areen Wildlife Park and Natural Reserve in the southern region of the Kingdom of Bahrain, as well as landmarks such as Beyon Al Dana Amphitheatre and the Bahrain International Circuit, which is used for Formula One racing.

LAZY J SPORTING CLUB TAKES SHAPE IN SOUTH DAKOTA
Craig & Coyne, a design firm comprised of Colton Craig and Tom Coyne, has teamed with Landscapes Unlimited to begin work on the Lazy J Sporting Club course in Ideal, South Dakota. Currently home to the Lazy J Grand Lodge, the new 7,216-yard, par-72 course will be part of the property’s rebrand into a private destination club. Expected opening date is summer 2027.

Lazy J Grand Lodge has long been an elite getaway for sportsmen who fancy pheasant hunting with professional guides, dogs, sporting clays and rifle-shooting all part of the experience. Landscapes Unlimited is managing planning, development and construction, and Landscapes Golf Management is overseeing pre-opening activities.

"The Jorgensen family is world-class in everything it does, and we expect the new golf course to meet the same standards," Landscapes Golf Management president Tom Everett said. "With significantly growing participation in golf and hunting, and the premium caliber of Lazy J Sporting Club at large, members will absolutely love their experiences time and again."

Rolling hills, dramatic ravines and exciting elevation changes will characterize the layout, which is blessed with an abundance of natural features conducive to golf.

"This is without a doubt the most extraordinary land we’ve had the privilege of working on," Craig told GolfCourseArchitecture.net. "A dynamic waterway, Thunder Creek, runs through the site, and the way the golf course interacts with this natural feature will offer a thrilling and visually captivating experience. We refer to the terrain as being in the ‘Goldilocks zone,’ — not too dramatic, but just dramatic enough. The land is naturally conducive to walkable golf, and we anticipate minimal earthwork will be required, allowing us to preserve the natural charm and features. Our goal is to create a course that feels like it’s always belonged there, utilizing the land’s inherent beauty and challenge."

Owned by the Jorgensen family, Lazy J sits on 20,000 acres in south central South Dakota. The ranch dates back 115 years and five generations of Jorgensen family ownership that created the beef cattle breeding business and seed stock provider of blank angus bulls.

"Adding golf to our successful hunting operation allows us to expand our audience through agritourism," said Cody Jorgensen, chief livestock officer of Jorgensen Land and Cattle. "This is our opportunity to educate members and their guests where the nation’s food is produced, and we take this responsibility seriously."


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