Changing course

For golfers who have been frustrated by their bunker play and the small greens at Golf Hammock Country Club, the new owner has good news.

“We’re going to try to make it a little easier,” Jason Laman said. “It’s a pretty tough course.”

Laman, who owns The Bluffs Golf Course in Hardee County, has been familiar with the Golf Hammock layout in Sebring for years, having played it in junior tournaments.

Laman said he has always liked the area of Sebring where the country club is located off Hammock Road. When he was looking at it and drove around, he discovered there are more than 700 homes there.

“The people are really nice,” Laman said.

Laman acquired the golf course as well as the pro shop, restaurant, tennis courts and pool on March 1. He said the country club had been on the market for about a year.

The course, which plays 6,400 yards from the back tees, is in good condition, according to Laman. He said the grass is in “healthy shape.”

No major changes are planned. Laman said there are 44 bunkers on the course and a few of those are going to be filled in. Some of the greens are going to be widened.

Laman said he made an initial offer last summer. He came back with a second offer in January that was accepted by the Golf Hammock members who owned the property.

He plans to lower the membership rates and will hold a membership drive in the fall. The country club will be starting a summer membership that will run from May 1 to October.

The restaurant at the country club, formerly Mulligans, is now being leased by Nancy Davis. Customers of the Hammock Inn at Highlands Hammock State Park and more recently Bon Creek BBQ will recognize Davis, who is known for her wild orange ice cream and pie.

Davis said she met Lanan through a mutual friend. She noted her role will be more of a manager at Golf Hammock because there is a “built-in staff.”

“Jason and I work well as a team,” Davis said.

Breakfast will be served from 8 … 11 a.m. and lunch 11 … 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. The Friday Night Fish Fry, which began March 25, will be available from 5 … 8 p.m.

The restaurant will be closed Monday.

Davis said she wants the restaurant to be more family-oriented, noting that a lot of young people live in Golf Hammock.

Davis plans on doing some buffets and adding a mini convenience store.

She will do catering at the restaurant, which can seat 150 people.

The lunch menu will include sandwiches, platters, salads, soup and chili. Iced tea, soda and coffee are included in the price of the meal.

The breakfast menu will feature all-you-can-eat pancake and sausage and all-you-can-eat biscuits and gravy. Coffee is free with the meal.

Davis said she will continue to own Bon Creek BBQ, the tiny eatery at Lakeview and Kenilworth. She noted that she has found a manager to run the place that opened a couple of months ago.

She said it is a “good little business,” but added that she wants to generate more income.

“My motto is go big or go home,” she said. “I’m not afraid to take risks.”

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