BONITA BAY CLUB UNVEILS NEW GOLF ACADEMY
Performance centers offer latest in technology, putting studio, club fitting, fitness studio, repair shop
NAPLES, Fla. (Feb. 29, 2024) — Bonita Bay Club, the largest member-owned golf facility in Florida with five world-class courses, has unveiled two new golf performance centers. The new four-bay Golf Academy features the latest golf instruction technology, including a dedicated 400-square-foot golf fitness space. Additionally, the two-bay Golf Lab has one bay dedicated to club fitting and repair, and a second to a putting studio along with a full-service club repair shop. The facility can build and customize clubs on-site.
“Our goal has been, and continues to be, to give members everything they need here at the club without having to go elsewhere,” said E.J. McDonnell, director of golf, Bonita Bay Club. “Today’s golfers love technology and everything they can learn about the game of golf and their equipment. We like to tout ‘Golf is King’ here and the new performance centers are further proof of that.”
The Golf Academy offers the latest in camera and ground force-plate technology. One bay has a Zen Swing Stage, which offers the ability to tilt in all directions for practicing uneven lies — something McDonnell says is difficult to otherwise both teach and practice. The Academy is equipped with Trackman and Foresight GC Quad launch monitors, while the golf fitness room has Technogym and TRX equipment.
One of the bays in the Golf Lab offers a Zen Putting Stage, which changes undulations for practice, coaching and putter fitting. The second bay is for club fitting of major equipment manufacturers’ clubs.
“We also will use Trackman and Foresight GC Quad launch monitors for club-fitting,” McDonnell said. “The full-service repair and build shop will allow us to do most repairs on site, plus some custom building of clubs.”
McDonnell, currently ranked in the Top 10 of the World Long Drive-Senior Division, has long been familiar with how technology can enhance performance, and understands how that element will help Bonita Bay Club members with their games.
“I use technology at every opportunity to improve my skills and figure out the proper equipment,” he said. “We use both Trackman and GC Quad to work on swing speed, smash factor, ball speed, spin, launch, face, and club angles.”
Another tool to monitor golf fitness is InBody technology, which is to help the Club provide its members with accurate, quick, and non-invasive assessments to assist in the development of fitness and nutrition plans.
The unveiling of the Golf Academy and Golf Lab are just the latest investments in an intensive golf master plan. Last July, Bonita Bay Club upgraded several amenities on both club’s two campuses and is moving forward on extensive upgrades and improvements to its Sabal Course, Naples Clubhouse, and practice facilities.
Bonita Bay Club, which opened in 1985, is recognized as a leading Platinum Club with the finest of member amenities. Two of the Club’s golf courses (Cypress and Sabal) are designed by Tom Fazio, while the other three layouts (Bay Island, Creekside, and Marsh) are Arthur Hills designs.
For more information about Bonita Bay Club, visit bonitabayclub.net.