Heritage Palms - Sepetmber 2024

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Between The Palms

Post Cards

Lee County Women’s Tennis Leagues 2024-25

The Lee County Women’s Tennis Leagues will be starting soon. Heritage Palms will be fielding seven rated teams: Dynamo, 4.0-, 3.5, 3.5-, 3.0, and two 3.0- teams, plus five Senior teams: Platinum, Cobalt, Copper, Nickle, and Steel, which gives us a total of twelve.

Each team averages 12-14 players per roster. Matches are set to begin in October. We’ve also made arrangements with the League Scheduler to avoid any double matches by scheduling more matches away for the first two months of league. This will help our court situation as the pickleball project has been delayed.

At the end of last season, when the individual ratings came out, Chad Dwyer and I worked diligently with all the captains to organize the structure and rosters of our teams for the 2024-25 season. The captains did the hard work of

2024 Member Survey Results

The Board of Directors sent out its annual Operations Survey to HP members in May, 2024 through Club Benchmarking, a gated community and country club analytics company. This is the fourth year they have administered the survey for HP. Working with them, we can see how we, as a Club, compare to others in our industry. The survey is basically a “Report Card” from our members on how we are operating the Club. Members tell us what we are doing well, where we need to improve, and if we are living up to our Mission Statement, “To Provide members and guests extraordinary experiences in a safe environment and at a reasonable cost.”

Similar to previous years, we had an amazing survey response. Club Benchmarking captured 1,717 surveys from 2,726 members, producing a 62% response rate of the total population. Based on the number of responses captured, we can be 99% confident that the results represent the greater membership with a 1.8% margin of error. On average, clubs tend to receive about a 50% response rate.

What did we discover about HP this year? Members feel it’s a wonderful place to live! Overall, 97% of our members are satisfied with their experience. HP’s mean satisfaction score is 6.27 out of 7 (up from 6.13 in 2023), and is well above the industry benchmark of 5.85. 6.27 is the highest overall satisfaction score we have received since Club Benchmarking started administering our survey in 2020. Also, best-of-class clubs have over 35% of members selecting “strongly agree” they are satisfied, and HP has well surpassed that at 45.8%.

One tool Club Benchmarking uses is a Net Promoter Score, a management tool used by companies of all sizes to measure client/brand loyalty. As an example, how likely are you to recommend Heritage Palms to your friends and family?

HP has a Net Promoter Score of 74.2, which is consistent with last year’s result. On average, research shows that the average club has a Net Promoter Score of 39. Bestin-class clubs have Net Promoter Scores over 60. This score is highly influenced by the high satisfaction scores throughout the survey. This is the 5th highest score in the Club Benchmarking database!

To view the detailed 2024 Member Survey or the 2024 Executive Summary, go to https://www.hpgcc.com/My Heritage Palms/Documents/ Survey Results.

confirming their rosters and registering their teams early in the summer. We’ll be making adjustments, as needed, along with possible additions to the rosters, as the season approaches.

If you are interested in getting involved in league play, please call the Tennis Pro Shop for more details: 239-3360430.

We’re excited that our LCWTL teams are in good shape, and are looking forward to a successful and fun season!!

Ladies’ Reciprocal at Windstar

Post Cards on page 3
On Wednesday, July 17, our Director of Instruction, Heather Angell, took eleven HP ladies to Windstar on Naples Bay to play a summer reciprocal.
Back row (L-R): Tammy Snell, Heather Angell, Holly Osler, Bev Bailey, Shirlee Firebaugh, Jane Jones, and Peggi Erickson.
Front row (L-R): Barb Barlow, Jamie Unger, Pat Johnson, Kathy Hazard, and Melanie Roetting.
From Diane Jansen: During a visit to Cincinnati in June, my husband, Mike, and I met several Heritage Palms friends for dinner at Stillmeadow Country Club. It was great to see everyone!
L -R: Don & Carol Kindt, Bob & Sara Bloom, Ray & Louise Phillips,Lee & Carol Kortz, Bud & Patty Tibbits, Mike & Diane Jansen, and Jim & Margie Mayer.
From Debbie Edwards: Twelve ladies from the Chicago suburbs met at Village Links Golf Club in Glen Ellyn, IL in July for an HP summer reunion. It was a fun day, with a round of golf lunch, and lively conversation.
Back row (L-R): Mary Maciaszek, Noreen Kubinski, Barb Grazioso, Caryl Page, Bobbe Fash, and Sharon Ryczek. Front row (L-R): Debbie Edwards, Barb Johnson, Linda Neisler, Marcia Gallichio, Sue McNeilly, and Mary Tschetter.

Between the Palms Going Digital!

Not now, but soon!

Our publisher, Seabreeze Communications, will no longer be producing a newsprint-type format of BTP. They’re currently developing a dedicated website with a flip-book style reader for easy online browsing of BTP by our members. For seasonal residents, whose only access to BTP is an electronic-only version while you’re out of town, it will be an easy transition. The same goes for those members who enjoy the benefits of reading the electronic version of BTP and BTP EXTRA due to greater clarity of photos and easy access. So, why are they doing this?

• The cost of the actual paper BTP is printed on has climbed more than 30% from 2020 to 2022, and continues to rise. This spike has, in no small part, been precipitated by diminishing newsprint production amid the longer-term decline of print newspapers. Newsprint mills are closing, or pivoting to produce more lucrative types of paper, not least of which is packaging for companies like Amazon.

• According to the Pew Research Center, “Newspapers are a critical part of the American news landscape, but they have been hit hard as more and more Americans consume news digitally. The industry’s financial fortunes and subscriber base have been in decline since the mid-2000s.”

• US newspaper publishers are expected to lose $2.4 billion in ad investment from 2021 to 2026, primarily due to declines in print advertising.

• As of 2022, about 86% of adults in the US get their news online, either via mobile or laptop.

• In 2023, only 5% prefer getting news from printed media. Roughly half (52%) prefer getting their news from digital platforms.

• Digital advertising accounted for 48% of newspaper advertising revenue in 2022, based on this analysis of publicly traded newspaper companies. This follows a steady increase from 17% in 2011.

So, what are the advantages of going digital?

• Wider Reach: Any adult with an email address in HP’s data base will receive their own copy.

• Mobile Accessibility: BTP will be available on your laptop, tablet, or cell phone, whichever you prefer.

• Only one BTP per month. Since it will be in a digital format, there’s no limit on the number of pages available for copy and photos. So, there will no longer be a need for BTP EXTRA.

• Interactivity and Engagement: Links will be clickable, and can include email links, links to HP’s website, videos, etc.

• Timeliness: Digital offers a much shorter distribution timeline, making the information more recent and relevant.

• Other features: An events page to keep you informed about what’s happening at HP, access to prior issues, and a resource page to connect you with local providers.

Staying Connected

Between the Palms is going digital! Please see the details on the left.

There are two articles which reference our 2024 Member Survey results. Please see page 1 and the Did You Know? article on page 5. Also, according to the Member Survey, only 45.2% of you have viewed The History of Heritage Palms on our website. There are 214 PowerPoint slides which highlight our historyfrom soup to nuts. Please see In the Beginning… of Heritage Palms on page 4 to whet your appetite. **********

As an English major in college, I have always been fascinated by words and their meanings. So… please take a gander at a humongous list of, perhaps quixotic, words to spice up your vocabulary on page 6. I don’t think you’ll find them jejune or boring. **********

I hope you’re all enjoying a fun-filled summer with family and friends. The Post Cards sent in from our members in this and prior issues show the HP spirit is alive and well wherever you are, or wherever you travel. Please send more! My October issue deadline is September 1. Please email to cvgolfers@gmail.com

Erika and Jim Celebrate 80th

Jim and Erika McDougall.
The MacDougall clan.
Standing (L-R): Ben & Martha Simmons, Jane & Bob Breisch, and Louise & Jack Downs. Seated: Jim & Erika.
Standing (L-R): Bill Traum, Erika & Jim, Francis & Bev Oberembt, and Mary & Ken Swanson. Seated (L-R): Barbara Traum, and Jon & Lori Swanell
Standing (L-R): Dick and K.C. Grosse, Pat Shepard, and Sandy & Mya Swe. Seated (L-R) Marti Bough, Karen McJunkin, and Marilyn Dorcak. Jim and Erika’s birthday cake.

AEDs at Heritage Palms

AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) are placed at key locations within our community, so please be aware of their locations. There is a map of the AED locations on our HP website (under the Community Tab and then in the link under the gatehouse phone number named Emergency Contacts and AED). In the HP app the information is located on the Emergency & Important Numbers page.

Post Cards from page 1

From Chris Signore: In June, my husband, Steve, and I took a “Bucket List Trip” to Alaska to celebrate our 49th anniversary! We spent a week on land traveling from Fairbanks to Anchorage. And then we spent a week on a cruise. The highlight of our trip was taking a helicopter to Hubbard Glacier and going on a dogsled ride! It was a trip of a lifetime!

From Barbara Keller: In June, my husband, Ed, and I went on a 15-day Overseas Adventure Travel trip to Denmark, southern Sweden, and southern Norway. Twelve of the days were on a small ship which held only 88 passengers. We had 74 people split into four groups. We loved all the small towns and beautiful scenery. It was a wonderful trip!

In addition, many HOAs and a single-family home have strategically placed AEDs for everyone’s use and safety.

Training is available for everyone on how to use an AED. Dan Davis, Director of Security, will be holding a class given by the Ft. Myers Fire Department for CPR and AED instruction. Keep

an eye out for the upcoming date and time. We encourage your attendance so you feel comfortable knowing how easy they are to use.

We certainly hope you never have to use an AED, but if you do, we want you to know where the nearest one is!!

Remember, SECONDS matter!!

Geiranger Fiord in Norway, which was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005.
Barbara and Ed

In the Beginning… of Heritage Palms

In 1997, US Home Corporation purchased 512 acres, which represented the initial footprint of Heritage Palms. Harper Brothers Construction, a road construction contractor who also did site development, owned the property. Monk Hillmyer was the central figure with US Home, starting their Rutenberg division in SW FL. He was instrumental in earlier residential developments in the 70’s and 80’s.

Prior to 1997, the land comprised a farm with few trees and foliage, a 38-acre lake, and some grazing cattle. Melons and vegetables had been raised on the property. In fact, when the golf course was initially developed, wild watermelons were found growing between #14 and #15 Royal, and tomato plants were popping up everywhere. There were still cattle roaming the property when construction first began. They remained for several months until the project required their relocation.

Unfortunately, we had issues with the cattle getting onto the newly planted course turf, as they loved feeding on the new grass. An old cattle trough still remains on #11 Royal, discovered when ground was first broken. There is a date of 4/29/53 inscribed on it . The 30+ acre lake that is now the center of our community was dug for the development of Colonial Boulevard in the 70’s. Originally rectangular, it was reshaped to its current configuration during HP’s development.

Greg Kriesch, our current Director of Golf Course Operations, was first hired in February 1998. Reminiscing, Greg states, “It seems like only a short time ago when I was walking the property, marking out doglegs for the construction of the golf courses, planting trees, and sprigging fairways.”

At that time, the construction trailer was US Home’s only building; it was located on the corner of Winkler and Six Mile Cypress. Bob Kelly, our current Director of Golf, was hired soon after Greg, in October 1998

The development of our community then occurred very quickly. Residential units were planned, and sales of Terraces, Verandas, Villas, and Single-Family Homes were in their beginning stages by mid-1998.

PGA HOPE

By Heather Angell, PGA Director of Instruction hangell@hpgcc.com

The PGA HOPE Program is a six-week program for Veterans in the Fort Myers area. I started the Fort Myers Program two years ago, and this spring, started the first AllLadies PGA HOPE Program in SW FL. This fall, I’ll again host the PGA HOPE Program and the All-Ladies Program at HP. HOPE is an acronym for Helping Our Patriots Everywhere.

Heritage Palms held its “grand opening” on January 10, 1999… before the Clubhouse was even completed (that opened in October 1999)! Sam Snead was here for autographs, and trolley rides took potential buyers on a tour of the grounds. Pre-construction prices began at $99,900 for a Terrace in Phase 1 at Lakeside Greens. A Dover Villa at Lakemont went for $173,900, and a Manchester single family home was $246,900.

Originally, the Azinger/Lewis designed layout was only going to be 27 golf holes. The three nines were named Royal, Sabal, and Sago. The first 18 holes were open for play on November 27, 1998; the next nine holes in mid-January 1999.

At this time, talk began about US Home purchasing land for another nine holes. Before you knew it, that talk became reality and the construction of the last nine holes began. The final version of what is now the Sabal course officially opened on October 15, 2000.

Our initial 512 acres grew to 814. Utilizing the 302 extra acres, US Home built more residential units alongside the new nine golf holes. Note: No terrace buildings had been built along #18 Royal. Recognizing our Clubhouse was sized for approximately 1,300 “doors,” they realized an additional “Clubhouse” had to be constructed to meet the needs of our growing Community. So… the 5,000 square foot Lodge was constructed. It opened in 2001.

Heritage Palm sales were so successful that in 2003, US Home notified the community that “turnover” to the

Master Homeowners Association would most likely occur in 2005. This announcement prompted our community leaders to establish a Due Diligence Committee (DDC) to assist in making the transfer from the developer as smooth as possible.

Over 150 community members volunteered their time to make note of any concerns regarding buildings, grounds, golf courses, restaurant, finances, employees, and management. Those efforts were rewarded by US Home making physical repairs to noted discrepancies, in addition to a negotiated monetary settlement between the Club and US Home. It was the DDC that laid the groundwork for a smooth turnover from the developer on October 1, 2005.

In accordance with the Declaration of Covenants and Restrictions and Bylaws of the Club, the nine members of the first Board of Directors (BOD) were elected on October 3, 2005. In November 2006, the five Board of Supervisors (BOS) of the Heritage Palms Community Development District (CDD) were elected via a general election held by the Lee County Supervisor of Elections.

As fate would have it, Wilma thundered ashore as a Category 3 hurricane at 6:30 a.m. on October 24, 2005, bringing with it torrential rain and sustained winds of 125 mph. Despite damages throughout the community, we were back to “normal” within a few months.

Want to read about what happened next and/or view more archival photos? Go to www.hpgcc.com>My Heritage Palms>The History of Heritage Palms. Accompanying our general history are four other sections which touch on: Golf, Governance, Member Activities, and Tennis & Pickleball.

Golf Legend Slammin’ Sam Sneed teed off our Golf Grand Opening on January 10, 1999.
An aerial view of #3 Royal tee boxes and #9 fairway. Note: Terraces have not yet been built along #18 Sabal. Circa November, 1999.
Joney Kelly (then Joney Krenson) on her first day of work at HP: October 8 2002.
The Clubhouse Bar circa 2002.
Heather with two of her PGA HOPE classes.
The prior Fitness Center –2002 to 2016.
The Clubhouse Lobby circa 2002.

Did You Know?

I thought I’d highlight a few “offerings” here at Heritage Palms some of you may not have taken advantage of as of yet. Having reviewed some of the member comments made on the 2024 Member Survey, I realize some of you may be unaware of a few of these. I’m hoping this listing will stimulate your interest.

• Yes, we have a comprehensive History of Heritage Palms on our website! According to the Member Survey, only 45.2% of you have viewed it. To whet your appetite, I’ve included excerpts from the History in an article titled In the Beginning… of History Palms on page 4. So, check it out when you have a free moment! Go to: www.hpgcc. com>My Heritage Palms>The History of Heritage Palms Accompanying our general history are four other sections which touch on: Golf, Governance, Member Activities, and Tennis & Pickleball.

• Speaking of… yes, we have a Sitemap search feature on our HP website. It makes navigating the website a lot easier. Just go to www.hpgcc. com>My Club>Site Map. You’ll see “Sitemap” on the right side of our home page screen.

• Yes, we have an HP app for your iPhone or Android. Simply go to the App Store and type in Heritage Palms or HPGCC in search. Up it pops. The login is the same as you use for the HP website. Once signed in, you can, for example, look up a fellow member in the Directory, make a dining or event reservation, register for a fitness class, use Chelsea, or look up your statement… right from your cell phone. You can also access our Sitemap, which take you directly to our “full” website.

• We’ve also improved our HP website by having direct links (or short cuts) to many sections of the website. Just go to the “My Club” page (homepage) of our website once you log in. You’ll see a grey box on the right-hand side of our home page screen. In that box, you will see the following direct links: Emergency & Important Numbers, Management Team, ARC, Calendar, Chelsea Reservations, Directory, Sitemap, and Visitor Management.

• According to our Member Survey, only 51.74% of you have “opted in” to receive Text Alerts (and 97.51% of you find them useful!). Text Alerts are sent from the Club to notify members of emergency situations, gate issues, or other time sensitive circumstances. When the program was initiated, all members with a cell phone number on file were automatically opted into the system. If you are new to the community, or you have never received a text message from Heritage Palms, you can “opt in” to receive these alerts by texting HPGCC to 38316. You’ll receive a confirmation that reads

Happy Birthday Kathy!

Friends joined Kathy Hazard to celebrate her birthday and enjoy martinis on Wednesday evening, July 10. (L-R): Barb Barlow, Jamie Unger, Annie Kajander, Mary Lou Reid, Kathy Hazard, Jeanie Andrew-Brennan, Holly Osler, Pat Johnon, Denise Johnston, and Sharon Hulick.

“Thanks for joining the Heritage Palms Golf and Country Club Text Group.” These notifications will not replace other means of communication.

Please note that if you have received previous text messages from the Club you are already enrolled and don’t need to “opt in” again. Message and Data Rates may apply.

• Yes, we have an official Heritage Palms Golf & Country Club Facebook page! The easiest way to access it is to click on the icon on the bottom right side of our HP website homepage. Or just search for hpgolfandcountryclub

So far, we have only 1,300 Facebook “followers,” and 893 likes, so some of you are missing all the HP community “happenings.”

HPCO Plans for its 2025 Fundraisers

During the dog days of summer, HP’s Charitable Organization (HPCO) Board has been looking ahead to its 2025 fundraising efforts, while also responding to several employee requests for aid.

Because of HP’s tight calendar for the upcoming season, the date for our third annual dinner dance has not been set. We hope you’ll plan to join us in celebrating a night of elegance and philanthropy at the January Dinner Dance. Once the date is set, look for the announcement, which we’ll also share on our website, www.HPCOnonprofit.org, This fundraiser is an evening of fine dining, music, and dancing, as well as an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of our dedicated employees when they are in need.

Our 3rd annual April Golf Outing is Sunday April 13. It gives participants of all skill levels an opportunity to enjoy a day on the links while supporting a worthy cause. Mark your calendars and gather your buddies for a day filled with golf, camaraderie, and the satisfaction of giving back to our HP community.

Both the January Dinner Dance and April Golf Outing are cornerstone events for our non-profit HPCO, which is dedicated to supporting our invaluable employees. Whether you’re dancing the night away in January, or teeing off in April, your involvement makes a difference as we lend a helping hand to employees in need.

52 Interesting Words to Know

For those of you desirous of improving your vocabulary, I’ve listed some words that are fun to say and/or have a pretty cool meaning. Here you go… two words for each letter in the alphabet. alliteration use of the same consonant at the beginning of each word ambiguous having more than one possible meaning benevolent showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding brackish somewhat salty or briny, as the water of some marshes near the sea cachet a characteristic feature or quality conferring prestige capricious determined by chance or impulse rather than by necessity disingenuous lacking in frankness, candor, or sincerity dubious fraught with uncertainty or doubt; questionable empathy ability to imagine or understand what someone else is feeling (what we need more of) esoteric understandable only by an enlightened inner circle fervent characterized by intense emotion fulminate to explode with a loud noise; detonate; condemn gallivant to wander about, seeking pleasure or diversion guise a manner or way; an artful or simulated semblance

humongous extraordinarily large hyperbole extravagant exaggeration innocuous harmless; inoffensive integrity adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character jejune devoid or significance or interest; dull juxtapose to put side by side or close together karma effects of one’s actions that determine his or her destiny ken range of what one can know or understand lethargic deficient in alertness or activity lucid transparently clear; easily understandable melancholy a tendency to be gloomy and depressed misanthrope someone who dislikes people in general namby-pamby weakly sentimental; timid nostalgic longing for familiar things; sentimental omniscient having infinite knowledge; knowing all things oxymoron a figure of speech in which contradictory terms or ideas are combined paradigm a standard, perspective, or set of ideas; a distinct set of concepts or thought patterns pique call forth, as an emotion, feeling, or response quell suppress or crush completely quixotic impractical; extravagantly romantic; foolishly idealistic

Lunch Bunch Tradition Continues…

Once a month during the summer, HP resident Kitty Jedd has been hosting luncheons at various local restaurants for ladies who are on campus during those months. On July 9, 55 ladies joined the “Lunch Bunch” gathering at the Lighthouse Waterfront Restaurant in Fort Myers. There was delicious food and tons of camaraderie! Photos by K.C. Grosse.

A Black-crowned Night Heron

From Penni Berrie: I stood on my retaining wall to capture this adult Black-crowned Night Heron. We’ve lived here 25 years and have never seen one before. They’re very common worldwide, but rarely seen in FL. They are stocky birds compared to many of their longlimbed heron relatives, and possess short necks. True to their name, these birds do most of their feeding at night and spend much of the day hunched among leaves and branches at the water’s edge.

All four players are on the putting green. Everyone marks their balls. Player A is first to play. Player A walks around to the other side of the hole to see how his putt will break. While doing so, Player A accidently moves player B’s ball-marker on the putting green. What is the Rule in this situation?

Rule 13.1d (1) N0 Penalty for Accidentally Causing

Hello from the Golf Shop. Summer is winding down, and hopefully we can get through it with no major storms!

We’ve certainly had more of a normal summer weather pattern, with almost daily rain. There have been a few issues around some of our drains, and golf course maintenance has been working hard on those areas. This, combined with the rains, has led to several more days with cart-path-only holes than we’re used to.

The most aggressive maintenance practices were performed on our first round of closures, so as we finish up the summer, course conditions will continue to improve. We’re looking to have all 36 holes open for play on October 14.

rambunctious noisy and lacking in restraint or discipline rhetorical marked by or tending to use exaggerated language or bombast salacious indecent; obscene; prurient sanguine cheerfully optimistic, sometimes to the point of seeming complacent, or naive tenacious stubbornly unyielding tutelage the act of guarding, protecting, or guiding; office or function of a guardian ubiquitous existing or being everywhere, especially at the same time; omnipresent unctuous characterized by excessive piousness; excessively smooth, suave, or smug vernacular using the native language of a country or place vermillion of a vivid scarlet red color wanton a lewd or immoral person wonky shaky; feeble; unsteady xenophobia a hatred or fear of foreigners or strangers xylograph an engraving on wood yammer to whine, whimper, or complain yearn desire strongly or persistently zealot a fervent and even militant proponent of something zenith the highest point of something

Ball or Ball-Marker to move.

There is no penalty if the player, opponent, or another player in stroke play accidentally moves the player’s ball or ball-marker on the putting green

The player must:

• Replace the ball on its original spot (if not known, it must be estimated) Rule 14.2, or

• Place a ball-marker to mark the original spot.

Here is this month’s golf etiquette tip: Every player in your group should be watching other players hit their shots to avoid looking for golf balls.

Men’s & Ladies’ leagues will be kicking off the beginning of November. Emails will be coming out soon to get registered for the 2024-25 season. Also, mark your calendars for information coming out soon for the 2024 Heritage Palms Veterans Assoc. (HPVA) Tournament. The event will be held on Sunday October 27, with a 9 a.m. shotgun start on all 36 holes.

Reciprocal season runs through the end of October. Please remember to give the Golf Shop multiple courses and a reasonable time window when requesting tee times. All clubs will begin to get busy this time of year with seasonal members returning, so early tee times at most courses can be difficult to get.

Space is still available for the 2024 Ladies’ Member Guest being held Monday November 11. Registration information has been sent out through Golf Genius. If you experience any issues signing up, please contact the Golf Shop.

The entire staff is excited and ready to get the 2024-25 season kicked off. We look forward to seeing you all soon!!

A Black-crowned Night Heron photographed on July 28 at 5:50 p.m.

First floor Brookside with Eastern exposure and grand views of lake. Unfurnished. $299,000

Second floor Ashbury with Southern exposure and wide lake views. Partially Furnished. $299,000

Second floor Ashbury with Eastern exposure and views of signature “Island Hole.” Partially Furnished. $299,000

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