In the Beginning

It was another of those comfortable, familiar old golf courses in the area that had basically served its time.

Founded in the 1980s by a family called Boyne, hence the name Boyne South Golf Club, it was situated somewhat out of the way — about five miles on the East Trail beyond Collier Boulevard on the way to Miami.

But, it had its clientele, largely in the form of locals and visitors who enjoyed the relatively low rates as well as an ego-boosting level of difficulty because of few water hazards and minimal placement of bunkers.

In return, players had to put up with sloshing down some fairways after even moderate downpours, and once the 18 holes were done, the amenities were what you might call sparse.

Four years ago, at the height of the building boom, a private developer took over the entire property, which included a housing community.

He renamed it Naples South Golf & Country Club, announced plans to rebuild the course and decided to go private.

Ripping up the course occurred quickly, but the infamous, flipper-fueled real estate crash that followed would eventually gouge deep into the dreams of many a developer, including private country club developers, and indeed the one at Naples South.

Enter a buyer for the course, Galardi Enterprises, and a new general manager with a vision of what to do to make it viable.

His name was Chris Matyn. He was young, visionary and determined.

Matyn, who had extensive experience at the helm of upscale country clubs, most recently in Tallahassee, linked with the new developer of the course towards the end of 2005.

He was on-site by March 2006, and remembers it as not much more than a moonscape. His office was the old driving range building.

Naturally, in his mind was the downturn.

“For an upstart club in one of the worst-affected areas, in a bad economy, and that upstart based on real estate, was challenging,” Matyn says, “so the only way to come at it was with total commitment.

“Memberships in private clubs were taking a beating, perhaps the worst beating in the country,” he says. We were to be private, but when those plans were laid, it was at the height of the boom.”

The Changes, the Result

Adhering to the design of renowned course architect, Gordie Lewis, the new Eagle Lakes Golf Club opened in November 2006.

“It was probably a bit premature,” Matyn says, “but such is the seasonal market that we went ahead.”

Applying his inherent fiscal responsibility, he initially made do with just three staff members, himself, PGA professional Phil Grear and long-serving superintendent Scott Ryan.

“We were running carts, pouring beers, anything we could,” Matyn says.

March 2007 came and the club took on more of a professional feel, with a big, luxurious clubhouse, bar, pro-shop and

dining room.

“Our biggest double-edged sword,” Matyn says, “was that people would get on the phone and say: ‘Is this the old Boyne South?’, and we’d tell them yes, it’s on the old site, but it’s several notches nicer than any previous incarnation on this property.”

What players would discover, he explained, would be a recognizable front nine holes, but a totally different back nine.

Vacant residential lots available on the back nine create certain sections of the course to look a little barren at the moment, Matyn admits, but he says once houses are established down the line, that will change.

Matyn believes his trump card is pricing that is a little more than courses like Hibiscus Golf Club and Golden Gate Golf Club, but a lot less than “amenity rich” clubs such as nearby Hammock Bay and the three-course Lely Resort, situated at the U.S. 41 and Collier Boulevard triangle.

Recent price examples were $79 before noon in November and December, (with post-noon and post-2 p.m. rates of $59 and $39), January rates at $89, $69 and $39, and high seasonal rates in February and March of $109, $89 and $59.

Next year, however, Matyn sees winter rates fluctuating between $79 through $99, and

no higher.

In addition, he wants to limit confusion about different rates for different starting times by sticking to one rate up until 2 p.m. and one thereafter.

Also, summer rates will drop substantially like all other clubs in the area that offer rounds between $25 and $35 on average.

After about 16 months at the helm, Matyn says the club is performing satisfactorily, and is on the right track.

“We think history will judge this past year a weak tourist season, but we did OK,” he says. “We think three to five years out, this will be a profitable business that enjoys a singular spot for a value-oriented superior club compared with clubs that cost 75 to 100 dollars more for a round.”

Tour de fours (and threes, and fives)

Consistent with a laid-back personality and matching golfing philosophy, Eagle Lakes’ head professional Phil Grear speaks matter-of-factly during a tour of the course.

Avoiding superlatives and gushing promo-speak, he lets a couple of regular golfers dish out the kudos.

“It’s difficult, but it’s a great course,” says Skyles Calhoun, who shoots in the 70s and 80s along with buddies Larry Pace and Ray Michelin.’

“The greens are extremely fast, but true, and there’s a lot of water, but it’s a fair course,” Calhoun says. “If you’re not hitting well, though, it eats you up,” adds Pace.

Grear particularly likes the course’s second hole, a water-protected, dog-leg left he says gives one a choice to either trim by hitting long, or opting for a shorter iron drive and a longer approach shot.

As with all other local clubs, he says, irrigation is an issue, but that the greens — courtesy of perfectionist superintendent Scott Ryan — remain immaculate at all times.

Some might comment on the openness of the course, but Grear points out that additional landscaping is ongoing.

“Also,” he says, “there are lots of undulations on the fairways, so the course is not nearly as flat as it was.

The overall attraction of playing the course, he says, is the need for an assortment of club choices to score well.

“And,” he adds, “You need a good short game because the greens are not huge. So, often you’re not putting but chipping.”

About a Round

Hoo boy. Player Calhoun’s observations about lots of water ring in your ears as you embark on a round to see for yourself.

Almost all the way through from hole number two, water comes into play, and it’s a case of either be swashbuckling or exercising good course management.

Many’s the time, for example, you think you’ll thread the needle and avoid what appears to be a minor water hazard to the left or right, but many’s the time, too, that you’ll regret it.

On the front nine, the ominous third par 3 (about 200 yards from tee number two) is as daunting as it was in the old days, except that the fairway has been mercifully widened to accommodate stray shots that used to be out of bounds.

On the right remains a body of water that is more than ready to gulp your shot, so anything straight is welcome. On the green is naturally a chest-pumping bonus.

On the back nine, the sneaky water hazards continue to tease one’s club choice, but repeat play should make that a lot easier because there are many holes where lay-ups are far more sensible.

Matyn’s and Grear’s observations about the quick greens are spot-on, so first-time visitors are bound to over-hit in the beginning, but soon learn to compensate.

An overall impression of the landscaping is indeed that the back nine is fairly sparse, but rows of young fichus trees at the 16th hole, for example, give promise that a couple of years down the line the course is bound to be as pretty as anything comparable.

In the meantime, the course itself is in great shape, and is both challenging and rewarding depending on which of five tee boxes one chooses.

The all-important 19th hole, incidentally, is the cherry on top, remembering that the clubhouse was originally construed as a private facility.