PLATINUM CLUBS OF AMERICA
1 | Universal Recognition
Universally known as a premier club with pristine surroundings and modern facilities, Grey Oaks attracts members from all over the United States and the world. Awards bestowed upon the Club include:
• Achieving Platinum Club status from Club Leaders Forum. Rising up the ranks from #136 (2019-2020) to #119 (2021-2022) to #112 (2023-2024).
• Received "Facility Manager of the Year" honors in 2023 in Florida and nationally from the United States Professional Tennis Association for the Club's racquets expansion project;
• Named the Best Private Club in America by Golf America;
• Listed as a Top 100 Golf Community by Travel + Leisure magazine;
• Estuary Course named Florida’s “Golf Course of the Year” by the National Golf Course Association;
• Winning Sand Dollar Awards for Best Club Video Production, Best Newsletter, and Best Clubhouse Interior Design - Pool Cafe.
Industry Recognition
This year, Grey Oaks has been featured in numerous industry publications, including on the covers of Golf Kitchen and Club Management magazines, as well as in articles for Club+Resort Business. Amenities include three championship golf courses, a 30,000-square-foot state-of-the-art fitness and wellness center, two clubhouses, tennis, pickleball, bocce, and a resort-style pool. Very progressive governing boards, committees and management have ensured the Club is an industry leader with its modern technology and facilities while at the same time holding onto its traditions and core values as a premier social club.
Grey Oaks is proud to be a Platinum Club of America member.
2 | Excellence in Amenities & Facilities
GOLF
Grey Oaks' legendary golf experience includes three championship golf courses: the Pine, the Palm and the Estuary; as well as a state-of-the-art Golf Performance Center.
Practice Facilities Include:
• Performance Center
• Two Driving Ranges
• On-Site Club Fitting and Club Repair
• Nearly Twenty PGA Professionals on Staff
• The Best in Golf Technology Featuring V1 Professional, TrackMan, Flight Scope, K-VEST, Sam Putt Lab and Putting Platform
• NEW! InRange® Radar Technology with Two Outdoor and Four Indoor Hitting Bays. Grey Oaks is only the second club in the United States to offer this type of facility and technology for its membership.
• NEW! Short Game Practice Areas designed by leading golf architect Andrew Green.
The Golf Courses
The Pine
In November 2023, Grey Oaks unveiled its newly renovated $15 million Pine Course which received rave reviews from club members and industry professionals.
The course was redesigned by Andrew Green, renowned golf course restoration specialist and industry-leading golf architect. In addition to Grey Oaks' Pine Course, Andrew's recent design work includes the East Course at Oak Hill Country Club, host the 2023 PGA Championship, and Congressional Country Club's Blue Course, host of several upcoming PGA Championships, including the 2037 Ryder Cup.
The Palm
Complementing the Pine Course on our East Campus is the Palm Course. Its sparkling water reflects the image of coconut palms swaying in the breeze, coalesced with white coquina sands, challenging greens and spacious fairways creating a majestic tropical oasis. You will be sure to spot birds, fish, and otters in the lakes as you make your way around the course. The Palm was redesigned in 2018 by Tim Liddy.
The Estuary
The third addition to Grey Oaks' golf course offerings is The Estuary, originally designed by Bob Cupp and redesigned in 2017 by Tim Liddy. Variations in fairway width and size of the greens, creative bunker design, and scenic landscaping within the beautiful nature preserve are among the outstanding characteristics of this truly inspirational course.
DINING
Members of Grey Oaks indulge in an exclusive dining experience like no other with spectacularly designed menus featuring fresh, local ingredients and rotating seasonal items. With four beautifully appointed restaurants, members can choose from a formal intimate setting, to casual and al fresco dining with breathtaking views. Our venues also serve as the perfect setting for catering special occasions and celebrations.
To complement our exquisite dining menus, the Club offers over 600 selections of the finest and rarest wines carefully curated by Victor Valdivia, our Head Sommelier. His expertise has garnered great attention, earning him his own feature piece "Inside The Process Of Wine Expert Victor Valdivia" in Naples' magazine Gulfshore Life.
In addition, Grey Oaks' culinary department boasts an internationallyacclaimed Certified Master Chef, Derin Moore, who is one of only 65 Certified Master Chefs in the United States. This designation is the highest level of certification available from the American Culinary Federation. Derin is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York.
Chef Moore was recently featured in a cover story for Golf Kitchen magazine entitled "A Master Chef Shaping Culinary Careers at Grey Oaks." The expansive article highlighted Derin's illustrious career and the importance mentoring played in it both as a mentee and mentor. Several pictoral layouts beautifully captured his culinary talents and many of his menus were shared with the readers.
We are very fortunate to have such a talented and credentialed chef, such as Derin, leading our award-winning culinary team.
The Pool Café
Beautifully appointed indoor/outdoor bar and upscale casual restaurant set beside our resort-style pool. Enjoy scratch cooking for daily lunch and dinner.
Estuary
This refined venue features an intimate indoor dining experience, paired with al fresco dining, all while enjoying expansive views of the beautiful Estuary Golf Course.
The Point Grille
Traditional club setting for featured dining and events with beautiful views of both our Pine and Palm Golf Courses.
Main Dining Room
Our exquisite ballroom overlooking the Pine Course presents the perfect setting for Grey Oaks members' most cherished weddings, galas, themed events and holidays.
WELLNESS
Active, healthy living at its best! Members reach their personal health and wellness goals inside our 30,000 square-foot Wellness Center, featuring an extensive range of offerings.
Conveniently scheduled fitness classes, including yoga, barre, spin, pilates, boxing, strength and conditioning are available to all members in one of our f-our studios.
In addition, we offer a full menu of massages, facials, and holistic wellness therapy treatments in our private spa.
Amenities
• Main Studio, Yoga Studio, Functional Training Studio, Pilates Reformer Studio and Private Pilates Studio
• Over Fifty Group Fitness Classes Per Week
• Personal Trainers
• Power Plate, Precor, Proteus, Peloton, TRX and Biometric Machines
• Cardio Fitness Floor and Weight Room
• Four Spa Treatment Rooms & Relaxation Suite
• On-Site Physical Therapy
• Wellness Therapy Services with Neuro Modulation, Brain Tap, Sedona, Stimawell, Polychromatic Light Therapy, AO Biofeedback and Pulsed Electro Magnetic Frequency
• Smoothie Cafe with Healthy Food Items, Recovery Shakes and Supplements
Wellness Center Enhancement Project
During the summer, over $1 million of enhancements were made to the Wellness Center to elevate the member experience. New state-of-the-art equipment from Proteus, Precor, Peloton, Watson (dumbbells) and Life Fitness was installed as well as new vulcanized composition rubber flooring. The overall layout of the Wellness Center was reconfigured into active zones for free weights/plate-loaded machines, cardio, selectorized strength, Power Plate, Peloton bikes, and stretching/recovery. This new layout improved the flow, visibility and functionality of the space.
RACQUETS
Whether you are a seasoned pro, tournament enthusiast, eager novice, or somewhere in between, our world-class tennis and pickleball programs offer something for all racquet sport lovers.
Our passionate, professional staff is always excited to provide our members with instruction to help them better their games. We offer plenty of opportunity for competition at all levels, with lots of fun and socializing mixed in, including tournament and team play. Whether our members are looking for an invigorating challenge or friendly competition, our Racquets Center is the perfect gathering place for avid tennis and pickleball players.
The Club recently spent $1 million adding eight new pickleball courts and two new HarTru tennis courts, bringing the total to ten tennis courts. These additions offer more availability for instruction and social play. Construction is currently underway for a new Racquets Pavilion space offering a covered viewing area and seating for soical events. Our racquets program also includes the following:
• World-Class USPTA Tennis & Pickleball Professionals
• USTA & Interclub Leagues
• Team Tennis & Pickleball Clinics
• Tennis & Pickleball Cardio Clinics
• Theme Days and Social Events
• Tennis & Pickleball Professional Exhibitions
Currently, our Director of Racquets serves as president of the USPTA's Florida Chapter. He and our team of certified racquets professionals are very involved in industry associations and continuing education opportunities with the goal of bringing best practices back to Grey Oaks Country Club and its membership.
SPORTS
Grey Oaks' sport and recreational program offers something for everyone in the family!
This sprawling facility features the following amenities:
• Three 32-meter swimming lap lanes in a resort-style pool
• Cabanas and poolside food and beverage service
• Aquatic classes
• Basketball court
• Children's playground
• Bocce ball league and social play
Speaking of bocce, our program is booming with over 500 members participating in leagues throughout the year and three reigning Naples Area Bocce Championship teams!
3 | Caliber of Staff & Professional Service Levels
Grey Oaks takes enormous pride in the talent and professionalism of its staff of approximately 300 individuals. With a mindset of hiring those who possess the Club's core values, when such individuals join Grey Oaks they become part of a family that mentors and encourages individual and professional growth. Starting with Jim Jewell, our original director of golf who is now our pro emeritus, Grey Oaks has always had a strong history of commitment to the Professional Golf Association of America. We have PGA professionals working in every capacity of our golf operation, from our senior director of golf to our instructional staff, starters, rangers and bag drop supervisors. Their commitment to continuing education and growing the game is a priority for the Club. Similarly, Grey Oaks has an equallly strong commitment to the United States Professional Tennis Association with seven certified USPTA members on our racquets staff. Awards and industry recognition abound within our various departments. Our executive chef, Derin Moore, CMC, was a member of the United States Culinary Olympic Team from 1992-2000 and won 13 international medals in world competitions. While our golf instruction staff is best in class having won numerous regional and national awards, including Golf Range Association of America's Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional, National Club Fitter of the Year and Ping/Callaway Top 100 Fitter. In 2023, General Manager Don Emery received "Facility Manager of the Year" honors from the United States Professional Tennis Association for the Club's racquets expansion project.
Currently, four of our leadership team members have completed CMAA BMI education classes in pursuit of their CCM designations. General Manager Don Emery has his CCM and CCE designations, and Jerrod Tumbleson, our Director of Operations, completed the FLCMAA Private Club Management Certificate Program.
Our team members also hold positions on various industryrelated boards, such as Northstar Technology's Advisory Board and Collier County Parks & Recreation Advisory Board. Mike Curran, our Director of Racquets, currently serves as president of the USPTA's Florida Chapter. Grey Oaks team members continue their professional growth by attending industry conferences, seminars and classes with the goal of learning ways to provide best in class experiences for our members and their guests.
4 | Engagement & Commitment of Membership
Following the example set by Club founder and philanthropist Judy Sproul and her family, Grey Oaks members have generously donated their time and contributions to a number of local outreach programs such as Habitat for Humanity, Harry Chapin Food Bank, Pathways Early Childhood Center of Immokalee, Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, NCH Blood Drive, Meals of Hope, Abused Women's Shelter, STARability Foundation, Toys for Tots, and many others.
As a way to give back to employees, club members initiated the Grey Oaks Philanthropy Fund in 2017. The Fund consists of a Scholarship Fund and a Caring Fund, one dedicated to support the educational and personal development endeavors of Grey Oaks team members and their dependents, and the other to provide occasional emergency support to team members facing short–term dilemmas.
In February 2023, the Philanthropy Committee established the Philanthropy Fund to effectively manage the overwhelming contributions received from our dedicated membership in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. This feeder fund was introduced to facilitate the strategic allocation of donations, ensuring their optimal use to address the evolving needs of Grey Oaks employees. Overall, Grey Oaks members have generously donated over $1,750,000 to the Fund since its inception.
Club Founder Judy Sproul, granddaughter of Barron Collier, and her three daughters: Julie, Katie & Jennifer.
Grey Oaks Member volunteering at a Habitat for Humanity Build Day.
School supply donations were made to Pathways Early Education Center
Members participated in a 5K Fun Run which benefitted the STARability Foundation.
food
For over a decade, Grey Oaks members have built houses for Habitat for Humanity.
As leaders and entrepreneurs, Grey Oaks members have also helped bring awareness and business opportunities to Southwest Florida, and Naples in particular. They continue to make an impact at their club and within their community.
of Immokalee.
Our table was full with
items for Harry Chapin Food Bank.
5 |Governance & Prudent Fiscal Management
As a member-owned Club, our Board of Directors is a strategic leadership body that has delegated all operating procedures to our GM/CEO and senior management team. Grey Oaks’ culture reflects the Club’s commitment to embrace prudent fiscal management and strategic governance practices.
The foundation of Grey Oaks Country Club’s powerful governance model can be found in its solid and modern set of bylaws and club rules which are reviewed by management and the Governance Committee on a yearly basis. In addition, an accountability matrix is used to assign specific responsibilities to various branches of the club, including management, members, committees and the Board of Directors.
Annually, the Board of Directors sets priorities and the General Manager sets goals to deliver the Club’s overall strategic plan. These documents naturally flow into yearly work plans which are developed by the staff and club leaders. Job descriptions further clarify roles and responsibilities of committee members. These roles are reinforced through committee charters which are found in the bylaws and outline the differences between Governing Committees and Advisory Committees. Orientation meetings are also held for all committee members.
From an operational perspective, annual budgets are created by the department heads, reviewed by the CFO and GM, and presented multiple times to the Finance Committee who then recommends the annual and capital budgets to the Board of Directors for approval. Aspirational capital is addressed on a five-year basis with larger plans brought forward by management and the Strategic Planning Committee to the membership for approval. These long-term strategic capital plans help keep the Club relevant to an ever changing demographic of membership as well as on the cutting edge of industry changes and trends.
6 | Adapting To Changing Times
Inrange® Radar Golf Technology & GO Play Pavilion
Grey Oaks continues to be at the forefront of creativity and innovation for its members’ experiences. The latest in that regard is Inrange technology at the South Driving Range. This technology and the Club's outdoor pavilion space were recently featured in a cover story for the May/June 2024 issue of CMAA's Club Management magazine.
Inrange offers players both an entertainment-focused experience with the Inrange+™ multiplayer gaming and virtual course offering and technologically-aided practice sessions for more experienced players with Inrange & the Inrange App.
The pavilion space features two outdoor and four indoor hitting bays, each with radar technology. Multiple radar sensors are spread throughout the range. Each sensor tracks the flight of the ball within its field of view. The system identifies which bay the ball was hit from and relays data to that bay's logged in device.
The Club's leadership team is constantly looking for ways to enhance the member experience and to stay ahead of the demand for the most advanced amenities and technology.
Overall, the InRange Suites, branded as GO Play, serve as Grey Oaks’ version of golf entertainment with a covered seating area for dining and special events.
Purchasing Bellavista Apartments for Workforce Housing
Grey Oaks is in the process of acquiring Bellavista at Vanderbilt Way, a new apartment complex, to address the housing needs of its seasonal H-2B employees and other staff. The acquisition, which is scheduled to close in December 2024, reflects the Club's commitment to supporting its staff and solidifies its position as an employer of choice in the competitive hospitality market of Naples and the surrounding areas.
The decision to purchase Bellavista underscores the foresight of the Grey Oaks membership, who recognized the importance of providing adequate housing for its workforce. We are proud to lead the way in fostering a supportive work environment with the added security of guaranteed housing availability. With the region experiencing rising real estate and housing costs with limited availability, Grey Oaks saw an opportunity to secure long-term financial benefits by investing in a physical asset rather than renting in an increasingly competitive market.
Bellavista offers 48 units, primarily comprising twobedroom residences with some three-bedroom options. This strategic acquisition not only meets the immediate housing needs of the Club’s seasonal staff but also positions Grey Oaks as a pioneer in addressing workforce housing challenges in the region and private club industry.
We are committed to delivering an unparalleled member experience, which is largely shaped by our employees. We believe in investing in our Grey Oaks employees and providing them with the resources they need to thrive.
In addition to competing against other private clubs for seasonal talent, Grey Oaks also faces competition from luxury hotels and resorts in Naples that have high seasonal hiring needs. By investing in workforce housing, Grey Oaks aims to attract and retain top talent, further enhancing its reputation as a premier employer in the hospitality industry.
7 | Overall Experience
Grey Oaks is vibrant… Grey Oaks is adventurous… Grey Oaks is living at its finest!
Grey Oaks Country Club is a place to call home where over 2,400 members enjoy an active and healthy lifestyle. Along with the award-winning golf courses, expansive racquets complex, state-of-the-art wellness center, indoor/outdoor dining options, and luxurious spa amenities, members enjoy a busy social calendar with over 1,000 special events planned each year.
Our head sommelier leverages his relationships with winemakers from around the world to host exquisite, one-of-akind wine dinners sure to please even the most discerning palates. Those members desiring intellectual pursuits can attend our distinguished speaker and lifelong learning lectures with guests ranging from historians and scientists to novelists and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies.
In addition to Grey Oaks’ events, amenities and facilities, one must not forgot the breathtaking grounds of the Club. As you drive over the keystone bridge and onto the club property, you are met with a nature lover’s dream of flora and fauna. Birding tours are held for members on a regular basis and the ecosystem is very much preserved through conservation programs.
At Grey Oaks, we enrich the lives of our members by providing a welcoming environment, resort-style amenities, social opportunities and premium service… all presented in a beautiful setting with central access to Naples and all it has to offer. Our members and staff create a community that is active, fun, engaged, and strengthened through meaningful, lasting friendships.
Grey Oaks - Live your best life!
Grey Oaks is honored to have been recognized previously by Club Leaders Forum as a Platinum Club, as it is the premier benchmark of excellence in the industry.
We thank you for all you do for the private club industry and appreciate your consideration in the selection process for 2025-2026.
Our goal is to break into the top 100 clubs in the country. Your top 100 vote helps us achieve this goal. Thank you for your consideration.