Matt Doyle sums up Tesoro Club this way: “The more time you have… the better it gets.’’
Indeed. Doyle, head golf professional at the 1,490-acre gated golf club community in Port St. Lucie, FL., has watched the property come a long way in the 26 months since he first arrived.
“The irrigation wasn’t working and 30 percent of everything was dirt,’’ thanks to neglect from the previous owner, Doyle said. “The greens were unplayable. That first summer (2022) we got the greens back together and improved the fairways.
“We had a very extensive summer (2023) program that restored the Bermuda grass playing conditions. The color in the fairways now is really good and the lies are really good. They’re not super tight like a lot of Bermuda. They have a nice little cushion on them. The greens are rolling at round 11 (on the Stimpmeter). We had them rolling at 12.5 for the Cognizant Classic qualifier a couple weeks ago.’’
All told, the Palmer has hosted three PGA Tour Qualifying events within the past year, further validation that it is among the top courses in Florida.
“The pros love it because it’s not a putting contest out there,’’ Doyle said. “They like the challenge of the course from tee to green. If you drive it well and hit your irons well, you’ll be rewarded. It’s not a place where you (hit) driver and spray it anywhere you want.’’
The resurrection of Tesoro Club from a near ghost town with a 100,000 square-foot clubhouse to one of the Southeast’s more desired addresses is one of the great stories in golf – a testament to the vision of the ownership team led by partners Timothy Jones, Roderick O’Connor, and Tucker Frederickson.
In addition to the Palmer Course (and the yet-to-be renovated Watson Course), Tesoro Club features two clubhouses, nine Har-Tru tennis courts (five of which are lighted), 11 pickleball courts (five of which are lighted), two dining venues, a fitness center, a full-service spa, and a heated swimming pool.
“We have around 70 golf members. We had zero a year ago,’’ Doyle said. “Thanks to the marketing and WCI, Toll Brothers and custom homes getting products out there, I estimate we’re seeing a lot more actual customers than last year. Last year I think we saw three to five people per week; now we;re seeing up to 20 people per week coming for tours of the real estate and coming back to play a round of golf.
“We are rolling into an exciting April and May. I think we will close a good amount of memberships.’’
The proof for the real estate sales is in the numbers. For example, Tesoro Club closed out 2023 with more than 80 home sales, exceeding its projections. Nearly 75 new homes will be built in Tesoro Club in the coming year, including the addition of three new luxury home builders to the roster of industry professionals. Ecclestone Signature Homes, GHO Homes and Janssen Custom Home Builders, LLC recently announced that they are building signature homes on the sought-after golf and lakefront homesites along the Palmer Golf Course.
For the Palmer Course, the proof is in the playing. At 7,333 yards yards from the tips, the Palmer winds around lakes and preserves that help make it a nature preserve for wildlife. With five sets of tees on each hole, the Palmer can play as short as 4,756 yards. And those aren’t just arbitrary numbers. Each tee box on the Palmer sets up precisely to that specific hole’s landing area/areas. In other words, if a player chooses the correct tee box for his or her game, the course is as fair and enjoyable as any in South Florida.
As rightfully proud as Doyle is of the rebirth of the Palmer Course, he’s equally as excited about the Watson. There’s no timetable to officially begin renovation work, although some clearing has started.
“That golf course is awesome,’’ Doyle said. “(Tom) Watson won five British Opens, so there are a lot of links-style strategies. Every tee shot on the Watson gives you at least three options. The 18th hole has five options off the tee. They are all great for the best players and for the weekend players.’’
For sure… the best is to come at Tesoro Club.