Tiger Point Golf Club not for sale
Golf Course
Amid rumors that Meadowbrook Golf Group, owners of Tiger Point Golf and Country Club, are selling its 36hole facility, officials for the company say although work to restore the facility is slow going, but is being done.
"We've heard the rumors that we're selling Tiger Point, but I can assure you that Meadowbrook has no intention of doing so," said V.P. of Operations Gary Leathers. The Orlando area-based company manages nine golf courses in the state, four being in Northwest Florida.
According to Leathers, $6 million has been spent restoring Tiger Point along with Hidden Creek and Scenic Hills to prehurricane status. He explains that with work going on with the company's five Central Florida courses that were also damaged from recent active hurricane seasons, Meadowbrook is not leaving members and residents in the dark.
"We have actively been in communication with all members of the club, many of those who are part of the Tiger Point Homeowners' Association," said Leathers. "Our plan is to fully restore both golf courses."
Leathers said the plans to fully rebuild, enhance and enlarge the country club are in the final stages and work should begin soon.
"I suspect by this time next year, Tiger Point Country Club will be completely renovated and improved," said Leathers.
Tiger Point, which originally opened up in the 1960s and named Santa Rosa Shores County Club added a Championship course in the early 1980s, thus creating two courses that served the needs of both the members as well as those who played more competitively. Hurricane Ivan heavily damaged the West Course in 2004 just after being redesigned by local golf designer Jerry Pate.
"It was back to the drawing board with our architects," said Tiger Point general manager Aaron Williams. According to Williams, a redesign like that for a course is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so it was frustrating having to assess the damage just several years after the redesign was completed.
The Tiger Point clubhouse which boasted a number of amenities including a full-service restaurant for members, banquet area and pro shop is feeling the blow of its closing.
"I get two to five phone calls a day for wedding receptions," said Williams. However, Williams assures those who utilize the facility that the wait will be worth it.
"The view of the water and the course from the clubhouse are incredible. Having the clubhouse open will also be a service to the community so they won't have to drive all the way to Pensacola or Destin for a wedding reception," said Williams.
Residents of Tiger Point are showing concern with the overall progress made to the course.
"The overall sense of everything is that the condition of the course has been on a gradual decline," said Gerald Seely. Seely, who has been living in Tiger Point since 1988, said his view of the course and clubhouse are some of his favorite amenities.
"I'm happy to be living there. I guess the bottom line is I used to come home in the evening and sit on the pool deck and look over the course. I would occasionally walk up to the clubhouse to watch the sunset. My hope is that is they are looking at continuing cleaning things up."
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