Southwest Florida golf: Quail Creek one year out from 2017 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur

Greg Hardwig, greg.hardwig@naplesnews.com; 239-263-4767
United States Golf Association Championship Manager Sarah Dusman, left, and Championship Director Rachel Sadowski survey the golf course at Quail Creek Country Club in North Naples on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016.  Preparations have begun for the country club to host the 2017 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur in October 2017.

Four years ago, Kevin Leo stood on the first tee at Quail Creek Country Club and had tears in his eyes. After 32 years away, he was back at the club he helped give birth to.

But now, the golf course superintendent is helping manage a rebirth for the club -- and Collier County -- getting it ready to host the 2017 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship from Oct. 7-12. The tournament for female amateurs age 25 and older will be the first ever contested in Collier County.

Leo was at Quail Creek in high school in 1981 when the Arthur Hills layout started getting built.

"I came here to work with the contractor (Jim Glase) ... we did clearing, excavation and grassing," Leo said Thursday as representatives of the USGA wrapped up a site visit. "That's when I fell in love with it. I want to do this. This is too much fun. 

"Full circle, to be here 32 years later, is crazy."

Groundskeeping crew members add dry sand to condition the 18th green of the golf course at Quail Creek Country Club in North Naples on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016.  Preparations have begun for the country club to host the 2017 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur in October 2017.

Leo has worked with Arnold Palmer at Adios Golf Club in Coconut Creek, Ken Venturi at Eagle Creek, and at Quail West, The Strand, Grandezza, Olde Cypress and Miromar Lakes in Southwest Florida, as well as a stint in the Bahamas.

Now he's digging into Quail Creek, which hadn't had much change since its opening. Both the Creek and Quail courses were renovated in 2013 and 2014, and Leo has overseen some changes that have coincided with getting it all ready for the USGA. 

Championship director Rachel Sadowski and championship manager Sarah Dusman toured what will be the "tournament course" -- combining the back nines of the Quail and the Creek.

"The great thing about this visit is we're at the year-out point," Sadowski said. "I'm getting to see the likely conditions that we're going to face at the championship next year. ... I can experience and feel it, and I can make the changes based on that."

The rough has been set at 1 3/4 inches, and Sadowski indicated she planned on getting the green speed quickened.

"The course is in fantastic shape," she said.

Quail Creek general manager Don Hunter is overseeing everything, including the logistics, which is the main part of the club's responsibility outside of having the course ready. There are 13 committees, ranging from transportation to parking to hospitality. Volunteer registration should open at the end of the month on Quail Creek's website. There's also a players' dinner to prepare for that will have a guest speaker. Hunter and Leo were part of a contingent from Quail Creek to visit this year's Women's Mid-Amateur at The Kahkwa Club in Erie, Pennsylvania, from Sept. 10-15.

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"It was fun to see that and great to see how they set everything up -- for volunteers and spectators," Hunter said.

They also got a bit of what the feel for the 2017 championship will be like. It's not a huge spectator event. And the golfers are paying their own way to participate.

"We're not going to have 10,000 people here," Leo said. "It's going to be more purists. ... We're trying to market golf, kind of show off Naples' best-kept secret, kind of show off some of the changes we've made. We want a challenge."

"The amateur championships are nothing but pure golf. There's no bells and whistles. It's all about the golfer."

United States Golf Association Championship Director Rachel Sadowski inspects the rough along a putting green at Quail Creek Country Club in North Naples on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016.  Preparations have begun for the country club to host the 2017 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur in October 2017.

Part of the club's challenge is not only getting it ready for both the Women's Mid-Am, but also kind of reinvigorating it. Roughly 35 acres of turf has been eliminated, again not just for the Women's Mid-Am, but to give the courses a cleaner, more visual look. Non-paved cartpaths have been added on some holes to increase pace of play and accessibility. Some trees have been taken out of clusters of them, allowing for more playability. And they've found ways to add a little distance.

"We wanted to give a little more color, contrast, elevation, interest," Leo said. "This was one of the longest courses when it opened. Now it's the shortest."

Sadowski and Dusman will be back again in the spring and summer to go over some final details and make sure any questions are answered before next October.

"It's going to be a much stronger golf course," Sadowski said of the use of the two back nines. "It's got much more options in terms of what the yardages you want to play for the championship. I think it sets up for the most successful championship we can have using the two back nines."

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So far, Sadowski has enjoyed working with Quail Creek.

"It's been phenomenal," she said. "You can tell how quickly the club has received the USGA being here. ... They got to experience our championship a month ago. There was a buzz around the 2017 championship among the players. They're very excited coming to Naples, of course, the destination and the location. (Quail Creek) wants to make sure it's successful for all of the players that are spending their time and money to come and play in the championship, making sure it's a good experience for them."

United States Golf Association Championship Director Rachel Sadowski hits a golf ball from a sand trap while surveying the course at Quail Creek Country Club in North Naples on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016. Preparations have begun for the country club to host the 2017 U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur in October 2017.

And getting to see the rebirth of Leo's baby.

"It was a fun ride," Leo said of his experience at other clubs. "It was great. Those places are all fantastic communities. But I got the opportunity to come back here."

To be a part of Quail Creek and history -- Collier's first-ever USGA event.