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Thanks to overwhelming support from members, the vote to proceed
with the New Clubhouse was passed. The New Clubhouse will complete the
upgrade of our facilities including the New Fitness Center, New Pool, Casual
Dining Facility and Racquet Sports Complex, and New Gate House.
The existing clubhouse is scheduled to close May, 2023 and the New
Clubhouse is scheduled to open in October 2024.
Also, we are ready to proceed with renovations on the Blue Course April
25th, from architect to contractor. A realistic timeline, weather permitting,
is to have all the planting/sprigging completed by July 4th. Giving the 90-120
days needed for growth, that would open the Blue Course for play no later than
November 1st. In addition to the renovation, we will be modifying the Silver
Tees on holes #2, #12, and #17.
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In 2020, the construction of the new gate house was completed.
Construction of the new Gate house began on May 4, 2020.
Mariner Sands Security finalized moving into the new Security Gate House at the
US1 front entrance in mid-October. A special thanks to the late Jim
Baranello and the MAC Committee, Pete Drucker and the Security Officers,
Proctor Construction and all individuals involved in the construction project
over the 2020 summer.
Additionally, the Gold Golf Course completed renovation on Monday,
November 30th, 2020.
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Yes, we like Pina Coladas and getting caught in the rain...
Back in 1979 “If you like Pina Coladas” hit the top ten music charts! Fast forward 40 years to 2019 and Mariner Sands is still making beautiful music and sipping away on frozen drinks... and since tropical rains are part of our climate, we get caught in the rain regularly...
Mariner Sands is happy to celebrate 40 years of creating home, sweet, home for our residents and members alike. So, join us and enjoy paradise in the palm of your hand!
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After 10 months of construction, the Casual Dining, Pool area and Court Sports Complex improvement plan was completed. Members celebrated the opening of the Sand Bar Café, 2 new hydra tennis courts (9 in total), 2 new pickleball courts, new resort style pool, and event lawn at the grand opening at an event in February 2018.
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On January 27th, 2014, the new Fitness Center and Spa of Mariner Sands officially opened its doors to several hundred members who enjoyed the ample refreshments provided. The building includes large spaces for exercise equipment (3700 square feet with a large assortment of cardiovascular and weight training machines) and aerobics activity (1,000 square feet), along with space for Martin Memorial Health Systems physical therapy sessions. It also includes three beautifully decorated private rooms in an attached space for all spa activities.
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The front entrance on US-1 obtains much-needed upgrades including a new lake and water feature, new stone signage, upgraded lighting, new pavers and bridge entrances.
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Croquet, one of America’s fast growing sports, has arrived at Mariner Sands. Four new croquet lawns, adjacent to the sales office, will hold there first event on November 17. All courts have been built to U.S. Croquet Association standards.
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Tony Bongiovanni worked at Ford Motor Co. as a supervisor on the assemble line for 30 years. After retiring and moving to Port St. Lucie, FL. As fate would have it, he met Mariner Sands Director of Golf Chuck Knebels during a round of golf in 1979. That day, Chuck hired Tony to become the head starter at Mariner Sands. Tony survived 6,000 mornings with scurrying members inquiring about tee times, 11 club managers, 7 super intendents, 7 Club presidents and 40 assistant Golf Pros. Tony worked 5 days a week, from 7:30 – 11:30 am, then rushed home to spend with his wife of 60 years. Aftter 20 years of service at Mariner Sands, a golf tournament was held in Tony’s honor to recognize his dedication and member’s respect for him. The halfway house on the then Green Course, now Blue Course, was renamed “Tony’s House” and still stands to this day.
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A dream becomes a reality.The Mariner Sands Chapel and Community Center opened on March 1 with over 200 Mariner Sands residents and guests in attendance.
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The Clubhouse reopens after the a major expansion project has been completed. The expansion included tripling the size of a the dining room, adding a separate dining room for private parties and greatly enlarging the kitchen and lounge areas.
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Ground was officially broken for the new 18-hole championship golf course, which was designed by Golf Course Architect Tom Fazio, This was the first step in the development of Phase B at Mariner Sands.
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The real start of Mariner Sands began. In 1978, the Great American entered into a join venture with Erling Speer for the development of the 720 acres now known as Mariner Sands. Erling Speer became responsible for raising the money to fund the development and planning and building the Mariner Sands Community. This year the community was planned and permits were granted, basically as it is today. In late 1979, the first phase of the construction was completed and the Clubhouse opened with a Golf Pro Shop, lobby, small dining room and small locker rooms.
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According to local lore and “The History of Martin County” by Janet Hutchinson, Mariner Sands has more infamy than buried treasure along the Treasure Coast….
A remote plot of land at Mariner Sands is the family burial ground of the Ashley family and assorted relatives. Some of these individuals gained fame in the early 1900s as an outlaw posse who spent most of their time robbing banks, including the old Stuart Bank - twice. The Stuart Bank was converted into a restaurant, The Ashley, which was later converted into Spritz City Bristro in downtown Stuart.
The cemetery is now known as Ashley Park. No further burials are allowed and the latest date shown on the existing headstones is 1946.
Heavily vandalized before development began, the cemetery was restored by the developer and new headstones were erected around 1987. The inscriptions now show the names of about 15 family members, and others, who are buried there; including two, "Lost at sea - Dec. 1921
"There is a book entitled "The Notorious Ashley Gang" by Hix C. Stuart that is believed to be a true account of the Ashley Gang’s history. Today, Ashley Park is a historical place for the enjoyment of Mariner Sands members.
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