“In the summer,” says Ian Fetigan, general manager of Boca Royale Golf and Country Club, “half of our residents disappear. If you are local, summer is the best time to try our facility.”
Having grown from just under 300 homes five years ago to almost 650 today, Boca Royale is one of our area’s fastest growing golf and country club communities. Eventually, there will be a total of 1,200 homes here. Non-residents are always welcome, Ian says, and Boca Royale offers non-resident memberships, including special summer memberships that include social, fitness, racquets and golf.
“Anyone can pay to play golf here year-round,” Ian explains, “but in the summer, there is daylight until 9 p.m. and so many more opportunities to play. Aside from our wonderful course, we offer six Har-Tru Classic Green Clay tennis courts, four pickleball courts and a full fitness center with all-new cardio equipment. In the summer, guests can enjoy all we have to offer in a relaxed environment. Novice golfers who are intimidated by golf won’t have a foursome bearing down on them.”
The summertime, Ian says, is also a great time to get to know Boca Royale’s exceptional sports professionals.
Ed McConnell
Boca Royale Head Golf Professional and Director of Golf
A graduate of Penn State, Ed learned the game from his father, a military man, and has been playing ever since he was 5 years old, roughly 55 years now. Grandfather of four and a PGA member since 1986, Ed’s strengths are keeping the ball in play, his short game, the tournament mindset and being a tough competitor. Manager of all golf operations at Boca Royale, Ed loves his course, his members and teaching.
“I teach individuals, give clinics in the short game, the full swing,” Ed explains. “We offer a comprehensive program in golf, beginner to advanced. The challenge is always trying to find new ways to communicate golf ideas.”
Ed’s Tips for Summer Golf
“People have a misconception about when to play,” Ed says. “They go early in the morning when the humidity levels are off the charts. But afternoon is a great time to play because the breezes come up. Definitely wear some head cover and light-colored clothes. I really play a lot in the summer.”
Pancho Williams
Boca Royale Head Racquet Sports Director
Pancho grew up in Panama, where he learned tennis on local courts and played as an amateur in the Pan-American Games. Father to two daughters and married to Kay for 32 years, Pancho has been a tennis pro at private clubs all over the States. Ten years ago, he landed at Boca Royale.
“This is the best club I have ever worked for,” Pancho says. “The members we have here love to be here, and they are proud of their club. The best friends of my life I have made here at Boca.”
Pancho teaches private lessons, group lessons, clinics and juniors. Pancho’s inspirations include tennis greats Ilie Nastase, Yannick Noah, John McEnroe and Ken Rosewall.
Pancho’s Tips for Summer Tennis and Pickleball
“In the summer, you’d think you’d play early in the morning, but that’s not true,” Pancho says. “The Gulf breezes start around 9:30–10:00 a.m. Never play before that. The crosswind can really keep things cool. We have fans to cool you down courtside at the changeovers, and afterward, there’s our amazing resort pool.”
Jill DeMarco
Boca Royale Fitness/Wellness Director
New to Boca Royale, Jill and her husband, Jim, recently moved to the area from Illinois, where she ran a wellness center for Archer Daniels Midland.
“We were visiting family here, we liked the area and not having winter,” Jill says. “We decided to make the move now as opposed to later in life. Boca Royale needed some new fitness/wellness classes, and things have just worked out.”
With a degree in accounting and an MBA, Jill worked in the corporate world for seven years, always teaching fitness on the side, before deciding that fitness was her passion.
“I have been a full-time fitness instructor for 11 years,” Jill says. “I love helping people reach their fitness goals.”
Jill’s Tips for Summer Fitness
“During season, my classes were bursting at the seams,” Jill says. “Now with summer here, there’s more room to move around, and you’re not whacking your partner when you are doing yoga. People should come in now. They will get more individual attention in the group setting. I can focus more on each person and on testing out new classes.”
Boca Royale Golf and Country Club
1601 Englewood Road, Englewood
941.475.6464, BocaRoyale.com
