Naples Lakes Country Club, Collier county’s only Arnold Palmer Signature Golf Course, has recently promoted Jacob (“Jake”) A. Myers, PGA, to Director of Golf and selected Evan Holewinski as new Head Golf Professional.
With Naples Lakes since 2017, Myers has risen to the top of his craft in an almost Cinderella-like progression. He began his golfing career at Naples Lakes at the entry-level position of starter/ranger in 2009, after graduating from the Golf Academy of America, Myrtle Beach Campus with an Associates’s Degree in Golf Complex Operations and Management. During the next seven years, he was promoted to First Assistant Professional and completed continuing education courses to earn the PGA professional designation.
In 2016, Myers was named Head Professional at Bonita National Golf & Country Club. But when Naples Lakes’ long-time Director of Golf left for another area course in 2017, Myers was quickly tapped to fill his golf shoes, returning to Naples Lakes as Head Professional … at the “seasoned” age of 30.
Shared Bryan Roe, General Manager and COO of Naples Lakes for the past eight years, “Jake is an innovative and creative professional who has endeared himself to the membership. He is genuinely respected and loved by the members and understands the type of tournaments they prefer to play. He is blessed with a strong work ethic and an upbeat personality.”
Originally from Philadelphia, PA Jake enjoys many other sports, spending his summers volunteering, and has spent the last ten years as the Head Golf Coach for the Collier County Special Olympics program, hosting a tournament for this group at Naples Lakes. Newcomer to Naples Lakes Evan Holewinski, PGA was born and raised in Wisconsin, graduating from Edgewood College in Madison with a concentration in Finance and was a 4-year academic All-Conference member of the golf team. After graduation, he relocated to Naples, FL where he has resided for 15 years. Evan was elected to the PGA of America in 2013 and has quickly moved through the ranks as an Assistant Professional at Chenequa Country Club in Hartland, WI, and Island Country Club on Marco Island.
Evan served as Head Professional at Countryside in Naples, and at Hideaway Beach Club in Marco Island before accepting his current position at Naples Lakes. He represents Naples Lakes as one of less than 2% of PGA Professionals who have earned his PGA Certified status in all four concentrations through the PGA: Golf Operations, Player Development, Teaching and Coaching, and General Management.
Evan’s current goal is to achieve the Master Professional designation, the highest educational level in the PGA. It was established to recognize PGA Members who make a significant effort to improve themselves as golf professionals and maintain the highest degree of excellence for themselves and their operations.
Naples Lakes’ $3.2 million “wall-to-wall” course renovation in 2018 enhanced the golfing lifestyle for the community’s very active residents. This was the last course renovation reviewed by Arnold Palmer before his passing. The community’s $4.1million Cabana Cafe is scheduled for completion at the end of February with a grand opening in March.
Located at 4784 Naples Lakes Boulevard, Naples Lakes Country Club (www.napleslakesfl.com) is a private 490-acre gated golf course and the country club community was “bundled” golf membership is included with every residence. Naples Lakes contains more than 200 acres of lakes and protected nature preserves and has been designated as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, one of only 114 in Florida.
