Article from the Sun Sentinnel Newspaper, February 24, 2010

By Marci Shatzman mshatzman@tribune.com

Boca Raton, FL  -  It may still look like a construction site from Lyons Road, but the long-awaited improvements at the county's Southwinds Golf Public Course in West Boca are almost finished and ready for their close-up.

The roof is on the new, 8,000-square-foot Key West-style clubhouse, and the building awaits a patio, according to Paul Connell, head of golf operations for the county's Parks and Recreation Department. Some 5,300 square feet is inside space, he said.

There are spots on the face for artistic tile work, reflecting wildlife on the nearly 136-acre, 18-hole course at 19557 Lyons Road, across from Century Village. It has now earned a certification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, thanks to golf course superintendent Peter Arvanitis. There's even a butterfly garden.

The course is ready for a rebirth, with a fleet of 80 new electric golf carts, and they're looking at a late April clubhouse opening, Connell said.

The original 1980 clubhouse was part of Century Village when the county bought the course, but it had to be demolished after hurricane roof and then sprinkler damage. Plans not to go ahead with a scheduled $575,225 update were made exactly four years ago in March 2006, according to a Sun Sentinel report.

The pro shop and offices moved into the storage room, said general manager Sharon Painter, and there are trailers on the property. But not having an indoor spot for lunch or a drink has discouraged some players.

"We're busy in season but it did have an effect in the summer. There's no place for leagues [to socialize] because we have no clubhouse," said Painter, with JCD Sports Group, a management company based in Delray Beach that has run the course for the county since 1994.

So why has this taken so long?

"It took us time to get approvals and demolish the building in the fall of 2006," Connell said. "The design contract was approved in August 2007."  The design work cost $230,000 and took a year. The construction contract went out to bid and was approved in April 2009, he said. Ocean Gate General Contractors based in Stuart got the nod. It cost $1.3 million to build, and Connell said the county was pleased it came in at that price. "We're getting $1.5 million from insurance and FEMA will pay the balance," he said. The tile work is costing $24,000 and is being done by EarthArtists Clay Studio.

The new clubhouse will have a pro shop, a bar and snack bar serving sandwiches. Painter expects them to have a barbecue, and people can rent the space out for parties. The management company will run it.

Players are looking forward to having their clubhouse back, but the course is the reason they come. Michael Sinrich plays when he's here on vacation, this time with his son Zach, 17. "My father used to play this course," he said. "It's challenging, but not too challenging."