Led by Sanford Golf Design, Florida superintendent Jim Kilgore and his team have taken strategic steps to transform a declining property into a private, thriving golf facility.

Palm Cove Golf has undergone significant changes since superintendent Jim Kilgore joined the staff in 2024. Those changes on the Florida course are helping bring new life to a neglected property and reintroduce a rejuvenated golf experience.

Originally designed by Gary Player and later redesigned by Chi Chi Rodriguez, the course had suffered from ownership changes and years of deferred maintenance. When Kilgore arrived, the signs of decline were everywhere: sinkholes in fairways, broken bridges, and failing irrigation. Many of the drainage areas were overgrown, chemical applications had not been done correctly, and the fairways had become too thick for proper play.

“When I first walked the property, the course felt abandoned. It had lost its identity — overgrown, unkept and underperforming,” Kilgore says. “Now, it has a heartbeat again.”

Restoring the Course

Restoration efforts began in September 2024. Kilgore and his team immediately focused on stabilizing the facility and ensuring it could survive long-term. All tee boxes and fairways were completely redone using Celebration Hybrid Bermudagrass and TifEagle. Bridges were rebuilt, and deteriorated structures throughout the course were repaired.

“These new systems now stabilize key edges, prevent erosion and reinforce the course’s layout and playability,” Kilgore says. “They also support proper drainage and water control, which is crucial during Florida’s rainy seasons.”

The team focused on environmental protection as well, managing runoff and sediment throughout the property.

“It’s a tireless process — we’re not only protecting the course’s integrity but also improving the ecosystem while reducing future maintenance,” Kilgore adds.

A full irrigation system designed with Sanford Ferris Golf Design was also installed. The upgrade supports efficient water movement, better growth, and more flexibility in managing turf conditions.

Looking Ahead

In the next phase, the team plans to implement Mach 1 Bermudagrass on greens and introduce strategic play improvements such as reshaping out-of-play areas.

“This helps visually frame the course and supports our sustainability goals,” Kilgore says.

Other enhancements led by Sanford Ferris Golf Design include:

• Expanding the driving range by more than 100 yards
• Lengthening and widening fairways
• Repositioning and enlarging tee boxes
• Re-shaping numerous greens

“Their goal was to refine, not erase — and they did it masterfully,” Kilgore says.

The course has also transitioned from public to private. For Kilgore and his team, that shift means more consistency in planning and maintenance, from turf patterns and shade management to membership expectations.

“Going private means planning every detail in advance — turf rotation, shade patterns, irrigation cycles — everything matters,” he says.

This shift also reflects a cultural change on the team.

“We’ve rebuilt a failing property. Time and effort brought the facility back. This place has required more of me and my team — more time, more energy, more heart — than anywhere I’ve ever been,” Kilgore says. “We come back every day because we believe in where this is going.”

He adds one final note of pride:

“This wasn’t just a restoration. It was a rescue. And to be part of the group that brought it back — that’s something I’ll carry with me for a long time.”