History of Grey Oaks

As Grey Oaks approached its 30th anniversary, General Manager Don Emery commissioned Tom Neill, president of Private Club Historical, to create a display and exhibit, as well as a history book and video commemorating three decades of the Club’s activity and growth.

Since the Club was founded by Judy Sproul, a direct descendant of Barron Collier, at one time Florida’s largest landowner and the primary developer of the state’s Southwestern region during the 1920s, the Club’s history intermingles with the history of Collier, Naples and, of course, Florida’s greatest natural resource, the Everglades.

With all this considered, Tom decided to display Grey Oaks’ story in a timeline consisting of a collection of words and richly colorful graphics arranged chronologically and showcased down the hallway leading into the East Clubhouse Golf Shop. “We felt that a historical display of this type would really enrich our member experience,” said Don Emery. “It draws people into the clubhouse, of course, but it also gives everyone a real sense of what makes the Club and community so special.”

Emery further notes: “Lots of clubs have historical items on display, celebrating various aspects of their heritage. We wanted to integrate all of ours into a timeline to tell the complete story of Grey Oaks in an engaging fashion - and also illustrate parts of our history that many people may not have even known we had. This is vital not only for the member experience as previously mentioned, but also to educate and build pride in our culture with the staff.”

Tom Neill shares: “The importance of the chronological approach we used is it draws viewers into the entirety of a club’s narrative, creating a much greater appreciation of what makes a club unique. This approach also allows a club to provide a complete story, one which often produces long-lost (or overlooked) pieces of history and allows a club to highlight changes, improvements and upcoming events that are going to define its future.”

We encourage you to view the history exhibit in what is now termed the “History Hallway” to learn about our storied past and what’s in store for the future.

Be on the look-out for a series of videos taken at this year’s Original’s Ball which contain interviews with several of our long-time members. Memories from the early years are shared as well as how Grey Oaks has evolved over time. Central themes of the videos also include the members’ sense of community and fellowship at the Club and how they are “living their best lives at Grey Oaks!”

SHADES OF VIBRANT blue WITH POPS OF lavender AND pink ARE THE PROMINENT

COLORS IN THE GOLF SHOP’S SPRING AND SUMMER APPAREL COLLECTIONS.