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Fort Myers Beach Golf Club
Course getting up to par
Owners of club at Fort Myers Beach invest in revitalization
By Dick Hogan
Originally posted in the News Press on January 19, 2006
Photo by: Adithya Sambamurthy/news-press.com
Dennis Grout of Fort Myers Beach follows his swing at the Bay Beach Golf Club on Wednesday. Chip Durpo, the new owner of the club, has been renovating the course since Nov. 14. "The golf course is the best it's been since it opened," said Grout, who has been playing there for the past 17 years with his wife Bernice.
Bay Beach Golf Club, a landmark on Fort Myers Beach for more than 30 years, has a new name, a new owner and a new look.
Georgia-based businessman Chip Durpo and his father, Clark Durpo, purchased the golf course recently from Bay Beach Golf Club Inc. The 18-hole executive course's new name is Fort Myers Beach Golf Club.
"It had not been in the best of shape when we acquired it," Chip Durpo said — in particular, a lot of damage was done during Hurricane Charley in 2004.
But now, he said, "The fairways are nice. It's quite a playable course."
Frank Willis, 66, who lives next to the golf course, said he likes the changes. "They're certainly beginning to spend more money on the course. I think the people who play are pretty impressed."
Tom Myers, who with his wife, Fran, owns the Red Coconut RV Resort on the Beach, said he likes what's been done. "For awhile after the storms it got in pretty bad shape. Hopefully another storm won't hit and undo all their work."
Chip Durpo said he'll spend more than a million dollars spiffing up the golf course, which was built in 1973.
His long-term plans call for possibly building a restaurant, lounge and fitness center, "really turning it into a full-fledged country club."
The course is semi-private, meaning that it has a membership but also is open to the public. That will continue, Durpo said.
Dave Ramage of RE/MAX Realty Team represented the buyer and Jayne Lumley of Coldwell Banker represented the seller.
D.J. Petruccelli, president of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce, said the course is the only one on Estero Island and is a draw for tourists. "Sometimes we get people who want to stay on the Beach and then golf here" but don't want to fight the traffic to get to mainland courses.
"It's one of the amenities we have to offer on the Beach," he said. "It does keep people coming here."
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