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Hammock Dunes: Serving Flagler County
by Kathy Danforth
Though the community of Hammock Dunes is blessed with one and a half miles of beach and two prestigious golf courses, they are not just another pretty place. Their association won the Civic Initiatives division of the Communities of Excellence contest through the breadth and depth of their service to Flagler County.
ITT began development of Hammock Dunes, located midway between St. Augustine and Daytona, in the 1980s. "In 2007, the county was the fastest growing county in the United States and the needs were so prevalent," says board member and chairperson for communications and community relations, Kelli Jebbia. "We didn't need to dig for what the needs were-they were in our face. It was a responsibility that some of the senior members in the community took on, and we all just jumped on board. At Hammock Dunes, we have a small community of residents who are generally very knowledgeable and successful and really needing to do something. We have people from across the United Sates who were involved in city planning and who knew what the needs are for a county growing this fast."
Since most of the residents are retired, they have had the time, money, and expertise to accomplish much more than a hole-in-one. Kelli estimates that 80 percent of their residents are involved in community-wide service projects, which are grass-roots efforts communicated largely through email and word of mouth. Their significant projects have included work for Habitat for Humanity, the local Humane Society, the Oare Foundations, and Flagler County Food Bank; but the most extensive project has been contributing to construction of the Stuart F. Meyer hospice facility. Kelli explains, "When Hammock Dunes resident Stuart F. Meyer, president of the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball Team, contracted cancer and needed to go to an in-house hospice facility, there wasn't anything around. His wife, Doris, made a bequest to Florida Hospital Flagler in order to start fund-raising for the construction of the Hospice House, and the majority of additional contributions needed came from Hammock Dunes residents and the Hospital's Foundation. Florida Hospital Flagler donated the land the Hospice House was built on, and once the construction was completed, it was turned over to the Florida Hospital Flagler's Hospice Care to maintain. The county was also working to provide support, so it was a hand-in-hand effort," Kelli relates.
Large-scale fund-raising is needed to raise such large-scale funds, and Hammock Dunes was a leader in the process. One successful venue has been the annual gala ball with entertainers such as Tony Orlando and Three Dog Night. Silent and live auctions were part of the evening events. Numerous gifts from vacations to car tune-ups were solicited for the silent auction baskets. For the auction, Kelli says, "Nursing stations on different floors of the hospital volunteered to create beautiful baskets full of all these donations from various vendors and eateries. They created a basket presentation unique to each floor. One would be a 'Relax and Feel Good' basket, and it might have a spa certificate with other items. Each basket might go for $350 or more, with 30 or 40 baskets all together."
One of the most successful fund-raisers for the hospice facility is the annual Stuart F. Meyer Golf Tournament. Besides Hammock Dune residents, Kelli notes, "It attracts people on the outside, too, who want to play on our wonderful golf courses."
The effort has benefited people throughout the county through providing in-house hospice care without the difficulty of extensive traveling for the family. Kelli exclaims, "I know how important hospice care is, and I'm so proud to be part of these efforts."
The Oare Foundations are managed by residents in Hammock Dunes, and they provide a variety of services for children, others served by hospice, financially disadvantaged families, and people served by the Family Life Center.
Habitat for Humanity has been a community focus for the last five years due to the growth in the area, with three houses to their credit. Kelli explains that their involvement with Habitat came about because "there was a resident in the building industry and everyone was inspired to help fund and build the houses. The last one was 100 percent funded and built by Hammock Dunes' residents." Though not everyone had construction abilities, Kelli notes that there were ways that everyone could help.
The involvement with the local food bank began with tougher economic times last year. "Our county's at 14.3 percent unemployment. When we started hitting over 10 percent last year, our desire within our clubs was to do whatever we could do to give food. We electronically and by word of mouth communicated the need. When our local grocery store has a two-for-one sale, we'll go fill a recyclable bag for $20. We'll pile all the bags in the trunk of a car and take it off to our local food bank. It's remarkable-it gets at your heart to see how you can actually make a difference," Kelli states. Clubs whose official interests include tennis, golf, croquet, bocce, and bridge raised over $10,000 for the food bank in 2008.
One of the group's latest projects has been a scholarship fund for employees at the Hammock Dunes Club. Kelli says, "We started a foundation with the Daytona State College creating grants for employees and their families to go to college. We get matching funds from the state, so we raised $40,000 and it is $80,000 total available for the qualifying employees."
On the Beach Front
Hammock Dunes also has to take care of their own business, if life on the beach with two golf courses, tennis courts, bocce, book clubs, and more can be considered business. "We're an all-round active community," Kelli declares, "and there's always something going on every day." They are located on a barrier island, though one of the golf courses is on the mainland. Equestrian capabilities at Prince Preserve are available as well as the activities offered at the Hammock Dunes Club. Twilight golf and dinner are offered on Friday nights, and there are regular monthly parties on the beach.
There are nine neighborhoods in Hammock Dunes, each with their own rules and regulations and responsibility for any common elements such as lighting, roads within the neighborhood, retention ponds, greenery, and necessary reserves. The residences range from acreage estates backing up to the Atlantic Ocean or the Intracoastal waterway, to villas, to low-level or high-rise condominiums. Two condominium towers are still planned but not yet constructed.
The Hammock Dunes Homeowners Association is responsible for the roads not within individual neighborhoods, decorative plantings, guard/gate security and procedures, the dunes, and other common elements. Their board consists of one representative from each of the nine neighborhoods, and the developer holds two seats. There are no employees, though they do utilize a management company for securing subcontractors. Committees oversee the areas of communication, social events, design review, finance, long-range planning, security and emergency response, and maintenance. The social committee is also responsible for the volunteer recognition dinner, where they seek to honor the individuals doing hands-on service. The design review committee ensures that an overall Mediterranean look is maintained-a tile roof, blocks-rather-than-bricks style, though each community design is somewhat different. As with many communities, Kelli notes, "The finance committee had to add a bad-debt line item to all the neighborhoods as well as the master association. We are making sure we have policies to be more efficient and cost conscious, especially when maintaining trees and shrubbery. We have our own water development district. Our policy is to water twice per week only and make sure the sensors are operating properly. We are focused on being financially sound." One new committee is for security and emergency response-"We found the need to create that based on our residents wanting more access control into the community, and a desire to have written procedures for emergencies. We wanted to have better communication with our people," Kelli reports.
The long-range planning committee has the goal of being prepared in all areas, but preservation of their beach environment is a key concern. Kelli explains, "The Atlantic Ocean is always active and moving, which makes it an ongoing task to keep the sea oats vegetation plentiful in order to keep our dunes strong and healthy. We also don't want our dunes to go away because they provide a safe haven for the protected sea turtle population which nests along our shoreline."
The Hammock Dunes Club and golf courses are handled by a separate board, and equity membership in the club is optional. The club solicits information from its members regarding what amenities and activities they desire. Following a recent remodeling, the Club offers a fitness center, casual and fine dining rooms, oceanfront croquet, card rooms, and clay tennis courts in addition to the Tom Fazio-designed Links Course and the Rees Jones Creek Course. "The Club has a full-time manager to manage the club amenities and he has his own employees-all the way from groundskeepers to the chef," Kelli reports. Different levels of membership are available, depending on the amenities which the equity owner wishes to utilize. The Hammock Dunes Club has recently been recognized as a "Platinum Club of America," putting it in the top three percent of all private clubs in the United States.
Though Hammock Dunes has residents that hail from diverse locations, they have chosen to make Flagler County their home for both volunteer work and play. Their service together benefits the volunteers, the Hammock Dunes' sense of community, and the entire county they live in.
Golf Course TLC
As seen in Florida Coast Living Magazine
Pristine, manicured,
and ready
for a tournament
at the drop of a
hat—that’s how Steve
Sorrell, golf course
superintendent for the
Hammock Dunes golf
courses, describes his goal for upkeep
and care of these spectacular courses.
The Hammock Dunes’ seaside
Links course, designed by Tom Fazio
and the Rees Jones-designed Creek
Course are major attractions to this
private, luxury golf community on the
upper east coast of Florida. Because the
courses are so valued by members and
the community, the care and upkeep
required for the courses means having
a finely tuned maintenance department
staffed by knowledgeable, skilled
individuals. Steve Sorrell is the perfect
choice to keep the courses "playability"
at their highest levels.
Steve "grew up" on a golf course in
Alabama, played college golf, and went
on to play professional golf in his early
twenties. After receiving a turf degree
from Penn State in 1988, he immediately
took a superintendent position with
the Arnold Palmer Group at a course in
Orlando. From there he went on to work
for Jack Nicklaus in Hilton Head, South
Carolina, then to TPC in Tampa, and
finally, ten years ago, took the position
at Hammock Dunes. "Coming to Hammock
Dunes has turned out to be the
best move of my career," says Steve.
"Our focus is mainly on the playability
of the golf courses. We try to
keep all areas of the courses in tournament-
ready conditions at all times. On
top of our daily maintenance schedules,
we are very fortunate that the Hammock
Dunes membership is committed
to continual improvements, not only
for the golf courses but throughout the
entire operation. One of the unique
aspects of the club is that we do not
defer maintenance, whether it is on the
golf courses or around the clubhouses.
This helps us stay on top of things."
With a staff of 46-strong between
the two courses, many of the daily
operations are performed before the
members ever get to the course. "Greens
are mowed daily," Steve remarks, "and
cups are moved, tee placements are
changed, sand traps are raked, and
general clean up of the cart paths and
debris are performed ahead of play.
Once these daily routines are done we
try to stay out of the way the best we
can, but there is always work to do."
The maintenance staff is in operation
364 days a year, which means
that staff members are on the courses
doing some sort of maintenance every
day. "We want to give our members
the best playing conditions that we
can every day of the year," Steve adds.
"Having the staff and the equipment
to maintain the level of service that
our members have come to expect
and support means it’s our job to go
out there and make it happen. If we
can make it play good and look good
every day, then we are ahead of the
game. That’s what we shoot for."
Membership Has Its Privileges
As seen in Florida Coast Living
That well-used phrase has true
meaning at the Hammock Dunes®
Club. Among the many privileges
of membership are access to two spectacular
golf courses—the masterful Rees
Jones Creek Course and the legendary
Tom Fazio-designed Links course.
Considered by many as one of the premier
private oceanfront golf communities
in the southeast offering equity club
membership, Hammock Dunes provides
its Club members not only with exceptional
amenities, but with access to a
Class A PGA professional who delivers
top-notch golfing events, teaching
instruction and member services.
As the Rees Jones Creek Course
was being developed, long-time Head
Pro Golf Director at two courses owned
by the Robert T. Jones family (Robert T.
Jones Sr., Bobby Jones and Rees Jones),
Ron Sharpe was considering his move to
become the Creek Course Head Pro at
Hammock Dunes.
With 39 years as a Class A PGA
professional, Ron, quickly moved into
the position of Director of Golf for both
Hammock Dunes courses. Well loved
and respected, Ron has worked to create
first-class member golf programs,
events, and shops.
"Our main goal is to give the
members the service they expect and
deserve at a club such as Hammock
Dunes," states Ron. "Members should
receive the best services available in
all aspects of club membership. We
provide them with the ability to take
golf lessons, both individually and in
clinics. Our golf shops carry only top
quality merchandise. We always have
our courses open—even during regular
weekly maintenance; we alternate
course closings so that members always
have a course open for play."
With a wealth of experience spent
directing mostly private clubs, Ron knows
what Hammock Dunes Club members
want and deserve—the very best.
"You will not find two better golf
courses," he comments, "condition-wise
and layout-wise for private membership
anywhere than these Hammock Dunes
courses. The conditions of the courses
are excellent. The top focus of our entire
staff is to provide what the members
need and deserve."
The Club offers an active, vibrant
array of golf activities year-round. The
two largest annual Club events are the
Member/Member Tournament and the
Men’s Member/Guest Tournament. Club
members also have the opportunity
to participate in community events,
such as the Annual Hospice House
Tournament, to raise funds for charities
while they enjoy the camaraderie of
friends and the excitement of great golf.
Regularly held member events include
Mixed Member/Guest events, men’s
and women’s Club championships, and
weekly events for both ladies and men.
"I love what I do," adds Ron. "Every
day I get up, I love going to work. So
many people can’t say that. Though my
education was in math and accounting,
I love golf. I sure couldn't sit behind a
desk after having a position like this at
one of the world’s premier clubs!"
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