for the golfer to overcome while keeping them guessing. There will be a variety of greens shapes and sizes that will complement one another especially in the recovery shot game where the player will have numerous options. “The bunkers will take on the personality of the site sandscape and be used to match the property character as opposed to competing against it. The existing exposed sand and native grasses will be utilised and expanded upon to create natural challenges for the players to navigate. There really isn’t a ‘style’ of greens or bunkers we are looking to create, other than matching the beautiful setting of the property while allowing for fun playable golf.” High Grove’s identity will be complemented by the developers’ plan to maintain groves within the out of play areas and along the property perimeter. Sheehan says: “While there are countless golf courses in Florida, not one of them, as far as we know, plays among citrus groves. We will also be introducing an attractive texture of flora native to the Lake Wales Ridge, which we have seen as precedent at the nearby nature refuges.” Hanse and Wagner have also designed an 11-hole par-three course on the northwest portion of the property, with holes between 102 to 188 yards. “The short course will have multiple routings for daily variety,” said Wagner. “We have also planned several greens and tees within close proximity of each other with the goal of enhancing social interaction.” The project has no real estate component, with the developers planning on High Grove being a golfdriven development. Member equity shares start at $200,000. “This was always going to be a specialoccasion, destination club where we anticipate members and their guests coming for one- and two-night stays,” said Sheehan. “It wasn’t intended to be one of the many Florida real estate golf communities; instead, we will have cabins totalling 48 bedrooms.” Sheehan, Hanks and Guy want High Grove to be different from the flurry of new golf courses that have been built in Florida. “The other new courses in the state are certainly closer to the coast, but they each begin as entirely flat parcels ten feet above sea level,” said Sheehan. “Those flat-earth projects can be interesting as they force architects to create every single feature by shaping millions of cubic yards of earth, but High Grove is endowed with natural terrain and undulation that will make it stand out from those others.” Hanse’s build team Cavemen Construction are expected to complete work by summer 2025, with a planned opening by December 2025. TEE BOX Photo: High Grove The High Grove developers plan to maintain the site’s citrus groves within out of play areas and along the property perimeter “ High Grove is endowed with natural terrain and undulation that will make it stand out from others in Florida” 13
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