As featured in GCNMOnline, written by Andrew Hartsock.

Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club won Audubon International’s 2023 BioBlitz Biodiversity Award. Photo courtesy of Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club

When Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club in Palm City, Fla., first started participating in Audubon International’s BioBlitz program, course maintenance employees did most of the work.

But Tim Cann, CGCS, Harbour Ridge’s director of greens and grounds maintenance, thought that defeated the purpose of the effort for golf courses to count and document the diversity of insect, plant and animal species on their properties.

“When we started doing this, we had more employees involved as a group,” says Cann, a 42-year GCSAA member. “As we got more residents involved with it, we were able to take a step back. This last one, they ran it on their own. I shared with them that this is meant for residents, for membership to really take hold of, so they understand what’s out there. We know as employees. They don’t know to the extent we do. It worked out really, really well this go-around. Mainly because of timing this year, we were just so busy on property. We didn’t help much. The residents ran with it.”

And in one sense they ran away with it, or at least part of it. The annual BioBlitz — which was suspended for three years due to the pandemic — has three components: the Biodiversity Award, the Community Engagement Award and the Best Photo Award.

An eastern amberwing dragonfly at Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club in Palm City, Fla.

Harbour Ridge won the Biodiversity Award with 607 unique species, easily standing clear of runner-up Meadow Club, in Fairfax, Calif., with 444 species and third-place Ironwood Golf Course in Byron Center, Mich., with 405.

The big number was no surprise to Cann.

“No, because we’ve been working on this for a number of years,” he says. “We kept a database. After each BioBlitz, we’d update it so it was organized and easy to read and easy to add to. No, it’s not a surprise. We worked pretty hard on it.”

And they did so on an accelerated timeline. Back in 2019, the last time there was a BioBlitz, facilities had a week to hold their counts, and Harbour Ridge counted 475 unique species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, spiders, invertebrates, fish, trees, palm trees, plants, aquatic plants, grasses, wildflowers, fungi and lichens. This year, the counters had a 24-hour window to make their tallies. The biggest gains (132 in all) were in amphibians, crustaceans, fish, fungi, invertebrates, lichens, trees and warblers.

Mary Hutchinson, co-coordinator of the Harbour Ridge BioBlitz, credits the increase to more observers — 35 this year — and more “knowledgeable” observers. Hutchinson reached out early to Harbour Ridge residents and specifically targeted environmental groups, like the 380-plus-member Harbour Ridge Birding Society.

“Some dedicated participants even went out in the early morning, then again late on the afternoon/early evening to observe different species at different times of the day,” she says. “One member alone identified 202 different species.
“Since we only had 24-hours for the BioBlitz versus one-week with previous counts, this meant we had to be even more organized and efficient.”

Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club covers 865 acres, approximately one-third of which serves as the setting for its two 18-hole golf courses. Another third is natural vegetation, while a third is developed.

“Audubon International’s BioBlitz has helped our members at Harbour Ridge clearly see that the golf courses, wet prairies and ponds, and naturally vegetated areas are wonderful places to golf, fish and enjoy,” Hutchinson says, “but provide a rich diversity of plants and wildlife, particularly important as surrounding areas become more developed.”

Click here to read the article from the source.

As Featured in Links Magazine, 2021 Premier Properties Guide. – Perhaps no place was better prepared to face the challenges of 2020 than this private, member-only country club community. The waterfront community of Harbour Ridge offers a level of privacy and a connection with nature that cannot be found anywhere else in South Florida, affording its members beauty, privacy, and security.

Perfectly situated on the North Fork of the St. Lucie River in the heart of Florida’s famed Treasure Coast, Harbour Ridge enjoys two miles of private waterfront, 885 acres of unspoiled beauty, and two Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary-certified golf courses. Members enjoy outdoor dining on the waterfront, shop for fresh produce and groceries at the onsite Marketplace, and take advantage of a personal shopping service and grab-and-go Happy Hours. These, and other safety-first precautions, have allowed the club to continue servicing its members during this challenging year.

Home to three marinas with 98 boat slips, and just 55 miles from the Bahamas, Harbour Ridge also offers two 18-hole championship golf courses, a state-of-the-art fitness center and spa, an award winning USTA Tennis Facility, a 24-hour-manned security gate, an onsite dog park, and more.

Harbour Ridge showcases homes that have been built into the scenic landscape, overlooking the St. Lucie River, lush green fairways, or natural wooded areas. Harbour Ridge Realty is proud to serve as the Membership-owned, onsite real estate agency, offering expertise on this unique community and lifestyle. Visit harbourridge.com to request a Digital Brochure and learn more today!

If you have to endure a global pandemic, Harbour Ridge has to be the best place in the world to be. On behalf of all the members who call HR home, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the incredible care, continuation of world-class services, attention to our personal and individual needs and the sacrifices you all have made for us this season as we all struggled to keep the coronavirus outside our gates. We will be forever grateful to you all for the amazing commitment you have shown to our community and to our membership.

While Harbour Ridge has long been considered “THE place to Be,” our families and friends in other parts of the country have taken note on how we have been so well cared for, which in turn has given them and us peace of mind during these unprecedented days.

When others waited out the COVID-19 pandemic in other parts of the country, confined to inactivity indoors, we at Harbour Ridge maintained an enviable position of having to decide just how we would spend the day. And even though our clubhouse was closed, you still prepared delicious meals for us and even delivered them to our front doors, if requested. You shopped for us at grocery stores and picked up prescriptions at pharmacies.

You organized a weekly shop at Dockside where we could purchase beautiful produce, meats, homemade pasta, fresh fish, household supplies, and coveted paper products. Daily, you had a shop for fresh market provisions, like salads and deli meats and breakfast breads.

To keep us entertained, you did everything you could to keep our golf courses open and for that, we will be forever grateful. You provided us with private lessons, weekly clinics, Sunday mixed couples golf, personal shopping with a golf shop merchandiser, and raffles.

You gave us a drive-through happy hour with daily specials and a weekend drive-through for breakfast. You kept housekeeping and property maintenance open, as well as providing video wine tastings, art classes, and trivia games.

You know we cannot sit still, so you created outdoor fitness and water aerobic classes, practicing CDC and social distancing guidelines with a maximum of nine participants. We enjoyed weekly fitness at-home challenges with virtual water, yoga, and exercise classes.

We went boating, paddle boarding, sail boating, and kayaking on the river. You organized on-site freshwater fishing and fishing tournaments.We played singles tennis, took private tennis lessons, hit on the tennis ball machine, and watched virtual tennis videos online.

You set up Zoom meetings for member-led programs, which kept us informed and out of isolation. Notary services, copies, and printing were provided without charge.

For those of us selling our properties, you created weekly virtual open houses, as well as FaceTime video tours and in-person showings, which followed all safety protocols.

You emailed us regularly with updates on the virus, how to stay safe at home and on the golf course and gave us peace of mind that we were all doing the most we possibly could to keep the dreaded virus at bay.
In the process, our gratitude for your extraordinary efforts has never been greater.

While we always knew that the staff was as spectacular as the setting at Harbour Ridge, we have a renewed appreciation for each and every one of you. Thank you for going above and beyond this season to ensure our safety and our well-being. Because of you, we have never been more grateful to call Harbour Ridge home.

The Members

With so much of daily life changing, Harbour Ridge has worked hard to put the comfort and security of its members first. The lifestyle here is appreciated across the board.

Thanks to the incredible staff for their hard work and dedication. The Harbour Ridge Family is second to none.

Harbour Ridge is one of Florida’s premier private waterfront golf communities. Its waterfront location on the St. Lucie River makes it the perfect place to live, and members and residents alike enjoy the well-rounded Florida lifestyle that it offers.

Harbour Ridge is the best of the best. The two championship golf courses wind along the river with beautiful views throughout the entire course. Residents can entertain themselves at the new Lakeside Fitness Center or explore the surrounding area with kayaks and boat rentals from the on-site Marina. An active calendar of events informs residents of the activities that will take place in the neighborhood and consists of everything from sporting events to dinners and social gatherings.

To learn more about the unique Florida lifestyle offered at Harbour Ridge and the wide variety of residential real estate offerings available, CLICK HERE. We will email you a digital brochure that highlights the amenities and lifestyle of our waterfront community.

So, this happened! In just two days, Members of Harbour Ridge planned and executed an absolutely amazing Employee Appreciation Parade. Check out the video here:

The parade included 222 golf carts, 2 vehicles, and 364 Members. It totaled 2.5 miles of golf cart traffic from start to finish – really an amazing sight.

After the parade, one member said, “The Appreciation Parade was fabulous! Many of us had tears in our eyes, seeing the great turnout, and being able to go by and thank our wonderful employees!”

The members wanted to show the staff, who have been working through the pandemic, how much they appreciate them as best they could while still social distancing. They never would have thought they would have had this type of turnout, but the Harbour Ridge family is truly something special.

One staff member said, “I am not sure who to thank for the morale boost in our department! Very cool event in a very stressful time – the best part was seeing everyone SMILE!”

“It was the most memorable event for sure!! Brought tears to my eyes and so many other employees! It was so cool to see so many of our workers being recognized by members shouting out their names as the members drove by,” another Harbour Ridge employee said. “It was so much fun, exciting, and uplifting as well. Kudos to those who put it together! Personally made me proud to be working here!”

Fitness industry magazine FIBO USA, recently published a feature on Harbour Ridge’s own Jennifer Tamules and her team at the Lakeside Spa and Fitness Center.

Check out the FIBO article below:

One-on-one with Jennifer Tamules
Originally from Long Island, NY, Jennifer Tamules’ passion for fitness started as a kid who played sports and was always very active. Back at a time before personal training was a big industry, she went to school for exercise science and found that private fitness was a career that suited her and her goals. She moved to South Florida in 2001, where her first job in a private club as a personal trainer made her further realize that both fitness and the private club industry were her calling. After several years as a trainer, she moved into the management role in one of the nicest country clubs in South Florida, a path that eventually led her to other prestigious golf and country clubs and into planning and helping build out wellness centers.

Now, for the past five years, she has been director of Lakeside at Harbour Ridge Yacht & Country Club in Palm City, FL. Here she explains that journey to FIBO Focus, the impact COVID-19 has had on the fitness business and where she believes the industry is headed in 2020 and beyond.

What motivates you?
The people, both members, and my team. Helping people is what I’ve been doing for 25 years in the fitness business. It’s not always about losing weight or getting stronger. Sometimes it is the social or mental aspect of caring about someone or just talking to them that helps more than the exercises themselves. Being a part of a team that is growing together, learning together, and helping out a community together is very exciting and meaningful.

What’s the favorite part of your job?
I love coming to work every day — not everyone can say that. I have a team of about 40 employees that makes coming to work fun and inspiring. We have really become a family and grown together.

How about the least favorite?
It may sound cheesy, but I don’t have one.

What are the challenges in keeping to your own fitness routine when you are in such a demanding position, particularly in-season?
What fitness routine? Being the mom of three elementary school-aged children is my workout during the season. I do try to motivate myself at least a couple of times a week to do something structured. My boyfriend and I blew the dust off our old P90X-3 CDs and started doing that in the mornings.

You don’t get up before dawn to get your workouts in?
Being in the fitness profession most people think that I love to get up at 4:30 in the morning to work out — I don’t. Eating somewhat healthy during the season does help me to stay fit and running around the building from one department to the other gets my steps in.

So much of the fitness business incorporates a mind-body connection in a fitness regimen. Do you subscribe to that or some variation of that thinking?
I do. A friend of mine has a company called Bright Insights. She has taught me the importance of Embodied Cognition. The function of your body and good posture tells your brain that you’re powerful and confident, which in turn affects your attitudes. The opposite is true as well — poor posture results in dysfunction both physically and mentally.

So where is that connection?
The relationship between our mind and body is interconnected, meaning our mind influences the way our body reacts and the form of our body also triggers our mind. So even when I am sitting at my desk for way too long, I focus on my posture and what my body is doing. It really helps to have a connection to what is happening with your body and mind.

What do you like about being in the private club sector?
We are not in competition. Our sector of the fitness industry works together. We bounce ideas off each other, find out what works and what doesn’t. We want everyone to succeed and it shows. There is an organization called the CSFA (Club Spa Fitness Association) that we started quite a few years ago and they just partnered with the CMAA (Club Managers Association of America). It’s a great way to get ideas and see what’s trending for the moment.

How has that helped in the current COVID-19 situation?
Right now we have a large email chain about COVID-19 to see how we are dealing with it, how other clubs are attempting to adapt and what we can do to keep our members engaged in fitness through this very interesting period.

What do you look for in the people you hire for your club?
Passion. If you’re not passionate then you shouldn’t do it. I would say that for every industry and career. Having interviewed many people over the years I’ve learned – the hard way – what to look for. You get into the fitness industry for two reasons,
I believe: To better yourself and to help others to be better. You need to have a passion for both to succeed.

What do you think your clients are looking for in their fitness efforts and how do you give that to them?
Excitement. Keeping things fresh is very important in our industry. If you do the same routine every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday your clients are going to get bored. If our spin class is the same every day, our members won’t show up. So trying to get new and different group exercise instructors and keep our trainers focused, educated and on-trend to what’s happening out there is important. Most of our members come to the gym daily because of the staff. If the staff wasn’t as good as it is, people would stay home.

How would you characterize the state of the fitness business in the United States, pre-COVID-19 of course?
Fitness was booming in the U.S. Just looking at a commercial on TV or driving through a strip mall, you can see that it’s everywhere. Sometimes that’s a weakness though: Do you really want a new company that’s in it for a quick buck training you when they are not qualified? Educated, well-qualified trainers can be hard to find when our industry is saturated with bogus certifications.

How is technology changing not only how you do your job and communicate with your clients, but the fitness industry as a whole?
I have to say that technology hasn’t really encroached into my personal universe yet. We are still old school when it comes to most things. We keep workouts in a file written on paper with a pencil. We try to keep the “personal” in personal training.

Your members still like the “oldschool” touch?
Our club is automated when it comes to making reservations, tee times, tennis lessons, etc. At Lakeside, you have to call up to make an appointment in all departments. Members sometimes get frustrated, but being able to speak with someone is something I don’t want to give up yet. Talking with our members and figuring out exactly what they need is something we can’t do if we don’t have that human contact.

What role do you see FIBO USA playing in the U.S. fitness business?
It could be huge. We haven’t had something new for a while. The fitness conferences and shows get sort of redundant after 25 years and to have something new and exciting on the horizon seems enlightening.

Based on your experience, what one piece of advice would you give to the typical club owner or trainer on how to be better – and make more money – in the fitness business?
Stay focused on what you believe in. Too many people try to be trendy. Sometimes it works, but I’ve learned to stick to the basics and excel at those.

Finally, in what direction do you see the fitness business in the U.S. headed in 2020, post COVID-19 and beyond?
That’s a very interesting question right now. The entire face of our industry is changing. Online videos, streaming, and distance training are what’s happening. Are people going back to gyms after this is over or will staying home be more logical, economical, and easier? It’s going to be a toss-up.

So what’s your prediction?
I don’t think gym-goers are going to be flocking back to their fitness centers. Maybe little by little, but I think that the online universe is going to be inundated with fitness videos and new trends. Being that fitness is my life, I’m hoping for a quick recovery and normalcy.

*Copy taken directly from FIBO USA article. To see the article in the magazine’s digital edition, click HERE.

Farmers’ markets have taken off in the past couple of years, and it’s easy to see why. The Treasure Coast’s tropical climate is perfect for fruits to grow, makes delicious beef and eggs, and gives everyone a good excuse to get outside and get together. After all, who could turn down a day that starts with watching the river go by as you eat breakfast, buying some of the freshest produce from local farmers and dancing along to live music?

Fort Pierce Farmer’s Market

We’d argue that although there are many amazing markets out there, none of them could come close to the Downtown Fort Pierce Farmers’ Market. There’s so much to check out here, and so much of it has been grown, raised or made right in here South Florida. One such example is the dips at Dani’s Healthy Organic Fun Food. Everything on the table is delicious, from the crackers to the amazing Lemon-y Artichoke Dip, and Dani himself made everything. Make sure to stop and grab a box of cinnamon and sugar sprinkled donuts from Cider Doughnuts. They’re freshly made right in front of you, and make for the perfect snack! If you want a gift to send to family up north that’s authentically Florida, grab them a box of oranges from Al’s Family Farms. Locally grown right in South Florida, you won’t find sweeter citrus anywhere else.

Stuart Green Market

The Stuart Green Market started out in the 90s by people whose dream it was to bring locally grown produce and goods to the people of Stuart. Roughly 30 years later, that dream is still alive, thanks to the vendors who show up every Sunday and the buyers who come to enjoy live music, shopping, and great food by the waterfront. No one can resist a salty treat from Sea Turtle Concessions, which serves up hot dogs and ice-cold drinks every Sunday at the market! Grab some produce from Whole Plant Food, or wooden bowls from Otton Wood making. Walk down the waterfront a little ways, and you’ll come across PJ Ranch, known for their sweet syrups! Whether you’re looking for maple syrup, mangrove honey from Florida mangroves, or sorghum, they have it all of the stickiest, sweetest stuff here.

When you’re purchasing fruit or honey from a farmer’s market, you’re getting more than just produce. You’re getting something that’s authentically Florida. Most folks think that that’s hard to find these days, but it turns out that it’s closer than you think. And Harbour Ridge is in the heart of it all.

Located just a short way from each of these farmer’s markets on the Treasure Coast, Harbour Ridge embraces the area’s authenticity in so many ways.

Harbour Ridge is the best of the best. The two championship golf courses wind along the river with beautiful views throughout the entire course. Residents can entertain themselves at the new Lakeside Fitness Center or explore the surrounding area with kayaks and boat rentals from the on-site Marina. An active calendar of events informs residents of the activities that will take place in the neighborhood, and consists of everything from sporting events to dinners and social gatherings.

Everyone who’s visited the Treasure Coast can agree that it has some of the most amazing waterfront spots in town. With a location set among the St. Lucie River and the Atlantic Ocean, those who love the waterfront will love the Treasure Coast. One of the best places to see the waterfront is to dine at one of the local restaurants, many of them which are situated right on the St. Lucie River. Check out some of the best views from the restaurants below.

Kyle G’s

Part of Kyle G’s appeal is the lovely view of the Atlantic Ocean that sits right behind the restaurant. Diners enjoy watching the waves lap the shore and seeing boats go by. The views of the ocean here are hard to beat, as well as the delicious menu that features Center Cut Filet Mignon and Steamed Maine Lobster.

Stuart Boathouse

Stuart Boathouse is famous for many things, including its amazing happy hour, its great dishes, and it’s wonderful waterfront view. The Cannonball Shrimp Tacos with ginger aioli, as well as the prosciutto and goat cheese flatbread, reflect the restaurant’s creative atmosphere. Even better, the restaurant is right next to the Riverwalk Stage, meaning that diners can often catch dinner and a show.

Dolphin Bar & Shrimp House

The Dolphin Bar & Shrimp House is well-known thanks to some fantastic food and an amazing view of the riverfront. The restaurant’s menu features fresh fish and classic steakhouse food, including it’s signature dish, Dolphin a la Dolphin. It’s best enjoyed with a table seat right by the Indian River Lagoon. The Happy Hour here is not to be missed!

Sailor’s Return

On the far east side of Downtown Stuart is Sailor’s Return, a lively and vibrant local restaurant with some of the best sights of the St. Lucie River. The menu is a classic mix of New England favorites, such as clam chowder, and coastal classics like coconut shrimp. A collection of drink specials and specialty martinis lets diners enjoy happy hour here, and the sight of the St. Lucie River rolling by adds to the scene. They regularly host live music here for entertainment as well.

The Treasure Coast is famous for it’s amazing views of the waterfront. However, few can beat the unparalleled views at the restaurants within Harbour Ridge, the Treasure Coast’s preferred golf and country club. The Club’s member-only restaurants such as the refined Riverview Dining Room and the classy-casual Dockside Pavilion serve up not only stellar dishes such as steaks and seafood, they also have the St. Lucie River as a backdrop. Emblematic of the Club’s waterfront lifestyle, the dining here is unmatched.

The restaurants aren’t the only way that the members of Harbour Ridge live their lives by the river. The Club’s marina hosts up to 98 slips, and its location allows boaters to get out on the St. Lucie River or the Atlantic Ocean within a short matter of time. For those hoping to stay closer to shore, the Waterfront Department is more than happy to rent out kayaks and paddleboards to explore the mangrove trails that wind around the Club.

Harbour Ridge is one of Florida’s premier private waterfront golf communities. Its location along the St. Lucie River makes it the perfect place to live, and members and residents alike enjoy the well-rounded Florida lifestyle that it offers.

Harbour Ridge is the best of the best. Residents can entertain themselves at the new Lakeside Fitness Center or explore the surrounding area with kayaks and boat rentals from the on-site marina. An active calendar of events informs residents of the activities that will take place in the neighborhood, and consists of everything from sporting events to dinners and social gatherings.

To learn more about the unique Florida lifestyle offered get a copy of Harbour Ridge’s digital brochure here.

The Stuart Boat Show – A COVID-Conscious & Safe Outdoor Event

NAMED AS ONE OF THE TOP 20 EVENTS IN THE SOUTHEAST BY THE THE SOUTHEAST TOURISM SOCIETY

About the Annual Stuart Boat Show

The largest boat show on Florida’s Treasure Coast featuring over 175 local, national and international exhibitors displaying hundreds of boats in-water and on land. Many boat brands are represented at the show, including the latest models of motor yachts, cruisers, center consoles, speedboats, sport fishing boats, and pontoons ranging in size from 12 feet to over 90 feet in length. Additional exhibits include the latest in personal watercraft, marine electronics, outboard and inboard engines, safety equipment, accessories, boat lifts, fishing gear, nautical clothing and jewelry, as well as financing and insurance companies. Plenty of seminars, music, delicious food and drinks add to the festivities.

Partial proceeds from The Stuart Boat Show benefit The Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast. The Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast is a not-for-profit trade organization working in conjunction with Marine Industries Association of Florida focusing on the awareness and growth of the marine industry on the Treasure Coast. Established for the benefit of its members and their customers, local community waterways, and the environment. Through the Stuart Boat Show, boat parades, waterway clean-up events and other industry-related events, the association is able to create awareness and support for the communities it serves.

To learn more about the Stuart Boat Show visit: stuartboatshow.com