• ·         Outdoor Pool Café & Bar: A new culinary destination that overlooks the pool and golf course, offering seating for 108 people. A “grab-and-go” option will allow golfers to pick up quick food and beverage items and continue with their rounds.
• ·         Lakeview Lounge: Expanded indoor and outdoor casual dining options offer seating for 156 guests with a large oval bar as the focal point of the vaulted ceiling casual area.
• ·         Main Dining Room and Four Seasons Room: Renovated fine dining spaces expand indoor seating to 168 patrons.

The project was celebrated at a semi-formal event held in the newly renovated clubhouse and featured dinner, dancing, fireworks, a magician and plaque dedication, commemorating the completion of renovations and the committee that worked to lead the success of the project.

The massive undertaking is rare in the bundled golf and country club industry, according to Countryside General Manager Joe Smith. Coming in within budget is even more rare. When asked how often a project of this magnitude stays within budget, Smith responded, “Never. It’s so rare that I can’t even remember when a club was able to brag about that. It came in within budget, and that’s a testament to the collaboration and great work of the Renovation Oversight Committee led by long-time resident Mike MacDonald, architect, civil engineer and general contractor.”

Walter Crawford, of Heatherwood Construction, the project’s general contractor, also commented on the budget, “The only way to deliver a major renovation under budget is through meticulous planning, disciplined execution and strong leadership. Countryside’s leadership remained unwavering in their commitment to the budget from pre-planning through Certificate of Occupancy, and that consistency was a driving force behind the project’s financial success.”

When Countryside’s leadership began envisioning “Countryside 2.0” nearly five years ago, the thought was to build an amenity package to rival what the high-end communities are doing in Naples and east of Immokalee Road toward Ave Maria. With the new renovations, community members and homeowners are now staying closer to home. They don't have to go downtown to fight the restaurant crowds because they can find what they need at Countryside.

Michael Herrera, president of Blueshore Engineering, the engineering firm on “Countryside 2.0,” said this project sets the standard for other clubs of this type and size in our area.

“With experience on more than 40 clubhouse and amenity projects, Blueshore Engineering has witnessed a wide range of transformations,” Herrera said. “Still, the evolution of this club – from what it was to what it has become – is the most remarkable in our portfolio. For a club at this membership tier, the return on investment is unmatched. It now defines the standard for its category.”

In 2022, Smith and the committee launched a detailed schedule of focus groups and proof-of-concept meetings   to communicate to the club’s membership that a renovation of this magnitude was warranted and would greatly enhance the appeal of the club and the community for its current and future members.

“We have over 1,000 homeowners, all living within different means,” Smith said. “We had to take all of that into consideration when we were asking them to contribute to this vast project. We had to make sure they saw value in what we were doing and that we were doing this for them.”

The project’s architect, David Humphrey, of Humphrey Rosal Architects, summed up the renovations well, stating, “The physical transformation that took place from fragmented, contrived spaces, with low ceilings and the inability to respond functionally to the multiple demands of the clubhouse life, to a rebirth of wide-open spaces, high ceilings, a priority of views to the surrounding beauty, a floor plan that can entertain multiple types of functions simultaneously, is one of the most dramatic that we have ever experienced in 40 years. It is a tribute to the vision, planning and execution of the club members and management, and their interaction with the professional team throughout the process.”

For more information about Countryside Golf & Country Club visit www.countrysidegcc.net or call 239-353-1780.

About Countryside Golf & Country Club

Countryside Golf & Country Club is a resident-owned gated golf community with 1,133 residential units, including 221 detached single-family homes. The private community rests among hundreds of tropical Florida trees and a tranquil 70-par, 18-hole Arthur Hills-designed golf course with attractive lakes and beautiful landscaping to provide members with a variety of competitive levels. The golf course underwent a massive redesign in 2019 by renowned architect Kipp Schulties. Countryside is a financially sound country club. There is no membership initiation fee. For more information, visit www.countrysidegcc.net or call 239-353-1780.