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Second thoughts, first-rate results

A father-son team rebuilds a course from the ground up, much to the delight of players.

By KELLIE DIXON, Times Staff Writer
Published January 2, 2008

With the help of his dad, the versatile Tom Floberg has spent the past two years rebuilding Saint Leo Abbey Golf Course.
	[Stephen J. Coddington | Times]

ST. LEO

When Tom Floberg first came down to Pasco County, he checked out the Saint Leo Abbey Golf Course that was up for lease with his dad and simply said nope. No chance.

The grass on some fairways was knee high. The tee boxes looked more like sand boxes. And the greens? Well, they were anything but.

Still Floberg talked it over with his dad and decided to give the course another chance. If they put some money into it, it could be a pretty good little venture.

Floberg also couldn't ignore his family ties - his parents live in Lake Jovita. So he went for it, and two years ago he moved down from Indiana with his family. Since then, he has watched the course attendance grow along with the positive feedback.

Growing up, Floberg was a talented golfer. He won several junior national tournaments in Wisconsin. His high school golf team - coached by his dad - claimed the state title. He loved the game and he loved being outdoors. During the summers, it wasn't uncommon for him to walk 54 holes and fit in a little fishing between rounds.

"I got older, and I didn't know what I wanted to do," Floberg said. "I fell back on golf. I worked at the golf course when I was in high school. It was a hands-on approach. Start from the sweeper get to the top."

He enrolled at Golf Academy of the South in Alamonte Springs and graduated with an associate's degree in golf management. He also got certified in club repair and design along the way.

So when he and his dad leased the golf course, he already had quite a bit of knowledge. The Class A golf professional knew about more than just teaching the game, and that knowledge came in handy for the expensive endeavor.

Floberg had to buy the proper equipment and materials as well as put in an irrigation system. He also set up lights on the driving range.

The 39-year-old knew about the machinist and groundskeeping parts of it, too. He could fix a golf cart and work on the equipment necessary for rebuilding tee boxes and greens. He did it all with the help of a few guys he brought on board.

For some of the first year, the course kept nine holes open while Floberg and his crew dug up the ground, dug up the greens and prepared them to be reshaped. Now the entire course is open, and improved much to the delight of local golfers like Mario Figueiredo who jokes that he simply adjusted his games to the previous course.

Figueiredo, 71, has been golfing the course for 10 years and is part of the Wild Bunch league that plays during the week. The 10-handicapper said that now the course is great.

Red Compton, a 69-year-old, who also lives in Zephyrhills and plays with the league, agreed.

"It's great now," said Compton, who plays four times a week. "It's beautiful."

It also attracts aspiring golfers and those not fortunate enough to be retired. Scott Johnson, 32, brought out his 10-year-old daughter Caitlyn for a few swings on the driving range last Thursday. Johnson, who grew up in Pasco County, has been golfing for several years and said the lit driving range is what appeals to him.

"I usually work until about 6 or 7 p.m. so you can come out here at night," Johnson said.

During the day, Floberg handles the operations while giving lessons. During the summer he offers junior clinics.

He remains the go-to guy for all things golf, while his dad, a retired businessman, helps out occasionally with the business side of things. Floberg's dad, also named Tom, said in the first two years, the club has succeeded beyond their expectations.

Six leagues play at the club during the week. And the locals, who golfed at the course before the Flobergs leased it, said it has improved.

"It was worth it," Floberg said. "In the end, all the work that we did is worth it. We still have some work to do, but we're onward and upward. We haven't peaked yet."

Saint Leo Abbey Golf Course

33640 SR 52 W

St. Leo, FL 33574

352 588-2016

[Last modified January 1, 2008, 20:53:27]