The Golf Club at Crown Colony, part of a private community in Ft. Myers, Florida, has announced plans for a significant renovation to its golf course and other amenities.
Members resoundingly approved a $12 million master plan that includes a total renovation of its golf course, which hosted the 2022 LPGA Drive On Championship, 2023 Florida Open and 2023 PGA Tour / Korn Ferry Tour Qualifying. Noted golf course architect Bill Bergin, of Bergin Golf Designs, has prepared plans for upgrading the irrigation and drainage on all 18 holes, as well as other design enhancements to make the course appeal to all levels of golfers. Work will begin in 2026.

"We are elevating both the golf course and member amenities as part of The Golf Club at Crown Colony’s long-range plan," said David Kent, general manager and COO. "Key elements of that plan are continual improvements to keep the club at the top of this highly competitive market. The club is known for its low membership cap of only 260 golf members in a golf-rich geographic area. Limited memberships are available."
Without altering the routing, Bergin still says "everything will be changed." That’s especially true of the bunkers, greens and tees, plus an upgrade to Platinum Paspalum grass throughout. New or relocated tee boxes will let the course play from 4,300 to nearly 7,000 yards.
"Crown Colony is under the radar," said Bergin, "especially as a place to play golf in a beautiful environment. I want to expose all that while creating a course where you’ll have to use your head. We realize people don’t always execute perfectly, but we’ll give them room to play less than perfect golf and still have fun."
Among the most visible changes will be the grass-face bunkers, which will be modified to the grass around them visible. "Typical Florida bunkers are flashed sand and that’s all you see," Bergin said. "I feel there are three forms of art to a bunker — the crest line; the sand line; and the bunker face itself—and how those lines complement one another, their shapes and movement, where there’s grass. These bunkers will stand out."
All 18 greens will be redone with a combination of new locations, new shapes and sizes, and more fairway-cut chipping areas around them. "We don’t overdo putting surfaces. They’ll be challenging and fun without wild contours," Bergin said.
Bergin is especially excited about his redesign of the 10th hole, a short par 4 with water along the right side and a massive area of raised sand that currently makes it all but impossible to see the fairway from the tee.
"Right now, golfers must hit over this blind sand bank, which would be cool if there were room, but there isn’t," he said. "All the trouble on the left is hidden. We’re going to widen the hole and make it visible, exposing the blend of sand and water so golfers can make a choice of where to hit it. It’s going to be a hole that everyone will look forward to playing, high risk but fun with a good chance to score.
“I like it when players recognize the risk on a hole but are so enthralled with the opportunity that they take the challenge. You know the risk, but you can’t help yourself.”
One aspect of the course Bergin will maintain is the "beautiful buffer of wetlands that gives more of a sense of being on a golf course than in a community," he said.
The redesign of the 18th hole moves the fairway closer to the large lake on the left and brings the final green nearer the clubhouse. This will open a large portion of land that will help greatly enlarge the practice area, which will include a double-sided range and short game area. Additionally, land gained back from the 18th hole modification will be the site of a 4,000-square-foot events pavilion and bar overlooking the new 18th green, an entertainment lawn, and bocce courts.
Prior to the renovation, the club will host the 2025 U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Open qualifying play in spring 2025. The course will remain open through the 2025 season. All upgrades are expected to begin in early spring 2026 and should be completed by the end of that year.
THE SOCIAL ASPECT
The 11th and 16th holes at The Royal Dublin GC before and after our recent bunker restoration project.
Photos: Paul O'Byrne / RDGC pic.twitter.com/SdFTHBkH3o
— Clayton, DeVries & Pont (@cdpgolf1) January 11, 2025
CHESTER VALLEY DESIGNING STOUT SHORT COURSE
Chester Valley Golf Club, located in Malvern, Pennsylvania, will open its six-hole short course this summer.
Designed by Jim Nagle, the course had its roots in a masterplan nearly three decades old, when the suburban Philadelphia club had entertained a proposal from Forse Design. Nagle had toiled at Forse Design for 25 years until hanging his own shingle in 2024.
Although that version was never built, the club green-lighted a new version from Nagle and his new firm, Nagle Design Works. Holes range from 50 to 125 yards and construction was completed in December 2024.
"The holes are routed in a counterclockwise fashion, starting at the lowest point and playing uphill before leveling off for holes three through five, and ending with the downhill sixth," Nagle told GolfCourseArchitecture.net. "The course has three bunkerless greens. The greens and surrounds have expansive roll-off areas, creating variety and interest for those missing the green while also allowing for ease of recovery to reinforce the creativity and learning of a deft short game. The bunkers provide challenge but also contain errant shots."
Individual holes and putting surfaces will be characterized by their variety.
"The greens are moderately undulating, with slopes allowing for plenty of hole locations while having enough changes in slope to maintain interest for more experienced golfers and not being too flat to complicate putting for inexperienced players," Nagle said. "The expanse of fine turf allows holes to be played from a variety of angles and distances beyond traditional single-use tees."
A short game area will accompany the short course, both intended to attract beginners.
"Both the six-hole layout and short-game area provide a total learning experience, allowing golfers to hit a multitude of clubs before advancing to the longer 18-hole course," said Nagle, referring to the club’s existing, 6,700-yard championship course. "The layout provides the opportunity to multiple generations, families and golfers of varied abilities to have an enjoyable golf experience together. A future component is a sand or compacted gravel walk path around the course to allow non-golfers to enjoy the property while family or friends play. This may prove to be an opportunity for that person to gain enough interest to pick up the game."
GOING IN REVERSE AT ALBADIA
Al Badia’s reversible, eight-hole short course designed by Robert Trent Jones II has opened in Dubai.
Led by Robert Trent Jones II Golf Course Architects senior architect Mike Gorman, the Jones team created a multiuse space with room for eight formal par 3s, with six separate greens and one double green, but that can also double as a practice range and learning center. Not only can the course be played in reverse, but it employs template-style greens that pay homage to famous counterparts such as the Biarritz, the Dell and the Punchbowl.
"We wanted to incorporate architecturally significant features that not only enhance the playing experience but also allow players to practice elements they might encounter on some of the world’s most renowned courses," Gorman told GolfCourseArchitecture.net. "For example, hole one features a thumbprint green, which adds a fun, strategic dimension while providing a unique opportunity to learn and engage with this classic design element."
Injecting variety into a small space was the intent of going the reversible route.
"The reversible layout was chosen to maximize flexibility and engagement, allowing the course to be played in multiple configurations, keeping it fresh and dynamic," Gorman said. "While there’s an eight-hole scorecard option, the real spirit of the facility is as a ‘choose-your-own-adventure’ short course. Players can decide their next hole based on who won the previous one, creating a more interactive and personalized experience."
The short course at Al Badia follows in the footsteps of a 7,300-yard championship layout that RTJ II designed in 2005. Public until 2017, the championship layout and now its shorter sibling are private.