Herons Glen Golf & Country Club

What Herons Glen Golf & Country Club does

Herons Glen Golf & Country Club is the operating brand of the Herons Glen Recreation District (HGRD), a Florida independent special district established in 1998 under Chapter 418, Florida Statutes, serving the 1,300-lot Herons Glen residential community in North Fort Myers, Lee County. The District was formed when residents voted 95% to purchase recreational facilities from developer Coolidge Fort Myers Realty for $15 million in June 1999, financed through a tax-exempt bond. HGRD is governed by a five-member elected Board of Supervisors and operates in parallel with a separately incorporated Florida not-for-profit homeowners association (HOA). The HGRD provides amenities primarily to the 1,300 property owners through mandatory assessments, while also offering gated non-resident memberships subject to board approval.

The District's core offerings include an 18-hole par-72 championship golf course redesigned by Ron Garl in 2021 for approximately $6 million (six tee sets from 4,225 to 6,468 yards, 27-station practice range, 8,100 sq ft putting green), a 45,000 sq ft clubhouse housing a 6,000 sq ft Grand Ballroom, a 5,070 sq ft fitness center, the Herons Nest restaurant and lounge (refreshed 2024), a lakefront heated pool and spa, six Har-Tru tennis courts, six pickleball courts, six bocce courts, and eight shuffleboard courts. Technology infrastructure includes Rain Bird IVM two-wire weather-based smart irrigation with 11 environmental sensor controllers (installation under $2.8M budget completed in 2025 by Stahlman-England), Thor Guard lightning prediction with mobile alerts (System ID 62), the Chelsea Tee Time reservation system, and on-site AED safety infrastructure. Operational facility management is partly outsourced to Mainscape for irrigation and Edge Physical Therapy for on-site wellness services.

Revenue is generated through five streams: (1) annual bond assessments of $1,424.58 per lot (refinanced 2020 with $12.95M raised), (2) separate annual O&M assessments per lot for amenity maintenance, (3) golf membership fees with bundled greens, cart, and practice access, (4) resident non-member and public pay-as-you-go golf rates, and (5) transactional revenue from dining, ballroom events, weddings, and concert series. The District has no parent company, no private equity backing, and no public listing — ownership and control rest entirely with resident property owners through democratic governance.

Name

Herons Glen Golf & Country Club

Legal name

Herons Glen Recreation District

Website

https://heronsglencc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Herons Glen Recreation District is a Florida independent special district serving 1,300 residential lots in North Fort Myers, providing members a championship golf course, clubhouse, fitness center, dining, ballroom, and sports complex funded through mandatory property assessments and supplemented by golf, dining, and event revenue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Golf & Country Club Recreation Services

NAICS

Golf Courses and Country Clubs (71391), Golf Courses and Country Clubs (713910), Fitness and Recreational Sports Centers (71394)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Golf Courses & Golf Facilities (MPAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Multi-Sport Complexes & Community Sports Parks (MPAKAEAH)

Keywords

• Country club amenities
• Golf course membership
• Recreation district services
• Active adult community
• Event venue rental

Headquarters

HQ city

North Fort Myers

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Golf Membership Fees: Annual prepaid greens fees paid by golf members for course play, preferential tee times, unlimited practice facility usage, and bundled golf cart access. Used to repair and maintain golf facilities.
2. Special Assessments (Bond): Annual bond assessment of $1,424.58 per lot used to repay bond financing for recreational facility purchase and capital improvements. History: $1,127/year (1999), $1,294/year (2006), $1,424.58/year (2020 refinancing).
3. Operations & Maintenance (O&M) Assessment: Second annual special assessment per lot for operating and maintaining all recreational amenities except golf course maintenance.
4. Dining & Lounge Revenue: Restaurant and lounge operations generating revenue from food and beverage sales. Herons Nest updated in 2024 with full-service bar. Cashless facility.
5. Events & Weddings: Event rental revenue from 6,000 sq ft Grand Ballroom, private dining rooms, and outdoor settings. Cocktail party packages, wedding books, holiday events, meeting packages, and concert series.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Herons Glen Golf & Country Club is a resident-owned recreation district providing an integrated active-adult lifestyle offering built around an 18-hole championship golf course, a sports complex (tennis, pickleball, bocce, shuffleball), fitness center, lakefront heated pool and spa, full-service restaurant and lounge, and a 6,000 sq ft Grand Ballroom for weddings, corporate events, and concerts. Access is provided via property assessments on 1,300 homes, optional golf memberships, and paid non-resident memberships, with revenue also generated from dining and event rentals.

Product overview

Herons Glen Golf & Country Club is a gated championship golf and country club recreation district in North Fort Myers, Florida, with 1,300 homes. The community offers a unified membership-based experience combining golf, fitness, dining, and social activities. Core offerings include the 18-hole championship golf course (renovated by Ron Garl in 2021 with six tee sets from 4,225-6,468 yards), Sports Complex with six Har-Tru tennis courts, six pickleball courts, six bocce courts, and eight shuffleboard courts, a 5,070 sq ft Fitness Center with cardio and strength equipment, a lakefront heated pool and spa, Herons Nest restaurant and lounge (updated 2024), and a 6,000 sq ft Grand Ballroom for events. The facility is managed as a cashless, cashless operation with member portal access for reservations and tee time booking via the Chelsea system. Smart irrigation technology (Rain Bird IVM) manages the Common Lot Irrigation System across the community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Championship Golf Course 18-hole par-72 championship golf course redesigned by Ron Garl in 2021 with six sets of tees (4,225-6,468 yards), a practice range with 27 Turf-Hound hitting stations plus Bermuda grass stations, an 8,100 sq ft putting green, and chipping area. Used by golf members, resident non-members, and the public.
• Golf Membership Annual prepaid golf membership offering greens fee access, seven-day advanced tee time booking priority via the Chelsea system, bundled golf cart access, unlimited practice facility usage, and eligibility for men's and ladies golf association events and club-run events. Pro-rated rates available for first-time residents joining after October.
• Tennis Courts Six LED-lit Har-Tru tennis courts with court scheduling. Supports women's and men's doubles play twice weekly, 16 intramural leagues, and tournament events in Lee and Charlotte Counties.
• Pickleball Courts Six pickleball courts with paddles and balls provided on-site. Scheduled play six days per week with designated times by skill levels and open social play seven days per week.
• Fitness Center 5,070 sq ft fitness center open daily 4:00 AM to 10:00 PM with rubber flooring, 12 TVs, cardio equipment (ellipticals, treadmills, cycles, rowers), strength machines, free weights, kettlebells, TRX, and stretch tables. Licensed massage therapists, physical therapists, and personal trainers available by appointment.
• Heated Swimming Pool & Spa Lakefront heated swimming pool with spa, open daily. Pool deck expansion and partial awning completed as part of bond projects.
• Herons Nest Restaurant & Lounge Full-service restaurant and lounge with lake views offering lunch, dinner, pizza, and kids menus. Updated in 2024. Cashless facility. Accepts online and phone reservations from members, residents, and their guests.
• Grand Ballroom & Event Venue 6,000 sq ft Grand Ballroom with 2,000 sq ft dance floor, 500 sq ft theatrical stage with professional lighting and sound, full-service bar, and seating for up to 350 guests. Accommodates 250+ for sit-down dinner and 520 for seminar/conference. Available for weddings, corporate events, social gatherings, and concert series.
• Golf Shop Fully stocked golf pro shop offering equipment, apparel, and accessories. Provides private one-on-one instruction, group lessons, weekly clinics, and demo days under the Head Golf Professional.
• Sports Complex Comprehensive sports facility featuring six Har-Tru tennis courts, six Har-Tru bocce courts, eight shuffleboard courts, and six pickleball courts. LED-lit for evening play, with social events and tournaments available.
• Common Lot Irrigation System (CLIS) with Smart Weather-Based Controls Common Lot Irrigation System serving the Herons Glen community, upgraded to Rain Bird IVM two-wire control with 11 weather-based controllers that automatically adjust run times using real-time environmental data including temperature, rainfall, humidity, solar radiation, and evapotranspiration.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% resident vote approval for district formation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Stahlman-EnglandminorOthers · 1 October 2025Leading irrigation contractor selected in October 2025 to install the new Rain Bird IVM two-wire control system. Project nearing completion and anticipated to come in under the $2.8M budget.
• Hydrologic Irrigation Design & EngineeringminorOthersFirm engaged by the HGRD Board to develop a master plan for the Common Lot Irrigation System (CLIS) replacement.
• Edge Physical TherapyminorOthersPhysical therapy services available by appointment at the fitness center. Part of comprehensive wellness offerings including licensed massage therapists and personal trainers.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• The Villages (Florida): The largest 55+ active adult retirement community in the United States, located in central Florida, with extensive golf, recreation, dining, and social amenities. While geographically distant, it is the dominant category incumbent against which Herons Glen competes for the same retiree demographic.
• Lakewood Ranch (Schroeder-Manatee Ranch): Large-scale master-planned community in Sarasota/Manatee County, Florida, with multiple golf courses, clubhouses, and amenity centers serving active adult residents. Comparable in amenity breadth and target demographic, though broader in scope than Herons Glen.

Emerging players

• Babcock Ranch (Babcock Property Holdings): Newly developed, sustainability-focused master-planned community in Southwest Florida with active-adult neighborhoods, recreation amenities, and a planned town center. Represents the newer generation of competitor communities entering Herons Glen's traditional target demographic.

Direct peers

• Shadow Wood Country Club: Private member-owned country club in Estero, Florida, with multiple 18-hole courses, full clubhouse, and dining — comparable to Herons Glen in Southwest Florida location, member-owned governance, and bundled amenity offering. Note that Herons Glen's agronomy leadership has direct prior tenure here.
• Palmer Ranch Golf & Country Club: Private member-owned golf and country club community in Sarasota County, Florida, with comparable 18-hole championship course, clubhouse, dining, and amenity mix serving active adult residents in Southwest Florida. Operates with similar bundled-membership and assessment-based revenue model.
• Pelican Preserve Golf Club: Active adult gated community in Fort Myers, Florida, with a championship golf course, clubhouse, restaurant, and recreational amenities. Directly comparable in target demographic (55+), Southwest Florida location, and amenity bundling.
• Stoneybrook Golf Club at Gateway: Public/semi-private golf course and recreation facility in Gateway, Lee County, Florida — same county as Herons Glen. Comparable course operations, F&B, and tournament/event hosting in the Southwest Florida corridor.
• Calusa Pines Golf Course at Palmetto Pines Country Club: Member-based golf and recreation club in Cape Coral, Florida, offering comparable 18-hole course, clubhouse dining, and league/event programming to active adult residents in the same Southwest Florida market as Herons Glen.
• Cypress Woods Golf & Country Club: Member-owned country club community in Naples, Florida, offering comparable championship golf, tennis, dining, and fitness amenities to active adult residents. Herons Glen's Director of Agronomy held a prior superintendent role here.

Others

• Edgewater at Paradise Pointe (Florida Special Districts Association member communities): Florida special districts are the closest governance peers to Herons Glen Recreation District, operating under Chapter 418 with similar statutory assessment authority and bond-financing capability. While not a recreation operator, the FSDA represents institutional and governance parallels.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5yxDzkwp46Z_WRgDnzK8NQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/heronsglencc
• Instagraminstagram.com/herons_glen_golf_fl
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/herons-glen-golf-&-country-club

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Herons Glen Golf & Country Club