Read full article featured in Hometown News.

Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club, a private club community near Vero Beach, is pleased to announce its Arnold Palmer golf course is undergoing a refresh this summer. Well known as one of Florida’s few barrier reef golf courses, the renovations to the par-72 championship course will prioritize the preservation of Orchid Island’s captivating Audubon-worthy natural surroundings.

The golf course has been recognized as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary since 2005, and Orchid Island has a long history of supporting the environment and surrounding wildlife. The course itself is a bio-diverse ecosystem that adds a unique natural appeal to the golf experience. The renovations, which began May 1st, aim to refresh course playability while preserving its distinctive character. The plans include introducing new Bermuda grass greens, renovating the bunkers, regressing tee boxes, and enhancing the overall landscaping. Members will have the opportunity to enjoy the revitalized course during Orchid Island’s Welcome Back Weekend in November.

The General Manager of Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club, Rob Tench, looks forward to these new upgrades. “The design and integrity of our Arnold Palmer course will not change, but the majority of the course will be exquisitely refreshed in order to continue to provide our Members with the best golf in Vero Beach,” said Tench. “Golf at all levels is one of the cornerstones of the social life at Orchid Island and we are excited to unveil the newly-refreshed course to our Members in November.”

Nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon, legendary golfer Arnold Palmer designed the course under the simple principle that golf should be fun to play. Nine tee combinations ranging from 4,321 to 7,126 yards create a flexible game golfers of all skill levels can enjoy. Beginners appreciate the course’s picturesque setting, with daily sightings of otters at play, roseate spoonbills, graceful egrets, and rare white pelicans during the winter. Avid golfers, relish the distinct challenges of the course, winding through natural estuaries and lakes that frequently come into play from the back tees. Sculpted bunkers and well-guarded greens provide holes designed to test the best golfers with a strategic design. Professional golfers were impressed when the course was hosted the 2018 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship.

Coastal Living has just unveiled its list of America’s Best Beach Towns for 2023, and it comes as no surprise to residents of Orchid Island that Vero Beach was recognized. Nestled along Florida’s serene Atlantic coastline, this hidden gem offers residents and visitors a unique blend of natural beauty, vibrant culture, and an unmatched coastal lifestyle. With its quieter pace of life and pristine surroundings, Vero Beach is a haven for both humans and wildlife. Discover what makes this tranquil beach town so inviting.

Uncrowded White-Sand Beaches

Vero Beach boasts 26 miles of exquisite beaches, distinguished by their windswept beauty, unspoiled nature, and unobstructed views. Guided by the motto “sunrises, not high-rises,” hotels and shops have been carefully crafted to blend seamlessly into the surroundings. None of the buildings soar higher than three stories. The beaches are not overcrowded, leaving plenty of space for leisurely walks, beachcombing for seashells, surfing in crystal-clear waters or treasure hunting. While exploring the beaches, visitors are more likely to encounter sightings of loggerhead sea turtle hatchlings, ghost crabs, and diving pelicans, contributing to the beach’s enchanting ambiance.

Seaside Charm and a Passion for the Arts

In addition to beautiful beaches, the area offers a plethora of excursions, all while maintaining a laid-back, small-town atmosphere. The charming and eclectic seaside area is a delight to explore, with downtown Vero Beach and Ocean Drive bustling with options for casual and fine dining, boutique shopping, and more. Art enthusiasts can visit Vero Beach Museum of Art’s curated exhibits, film screenings, lectures, film library and more. Just across the street, Riverside Theatre is a beloved destination for Orchid Island Members, showcasing Tony-award-winning performances, stand-up comedy, and children’s theater.

Orchid Island – A Private Beach & Golf Club Community Near Vero Beach

Just to the north of Vero Beach, nestled on the barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River, Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club enjoys a beautiful natural setting that is second to none. Here, pristine natural environments and world-class amenities converge with a welcoming culture to create a renowned private golf and beach club lifestyle. The Arnold Palmer-designed golf course is the beloved centerpiece of the community and was the proud host of the 2018 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship. Certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, every turn within this par-72 course welcomes exciting views of natural seaside landscapes teeming with wildlife. The West Indies-style Beach Club is a social place designed for both fitness and leisure, with a resort-style pool, state-of-the-art fitness center, eight Har-Tru tennis courts, pickleball courts, multiple dining venues, and a full-service salon and spa.

A Premier Collection of Golf, Riverfront, And Oceanfront Homes and Condos

Each of Orchid Island’s 375 residences surrounds Members in the best of Florida’s natural beauty. With many homes located directly on the water or overlooking Orchid Island’s championship golf course, each home features West Indies architectural designs, panoramic natural vistas, and the secluded privacy of living in a gated oceanfront golf community. Luxurious oceanfront condominiums and oceanfront estates are spacious and bright with open Atlantic Ocean views. A wide array of single-family riverfront estates offer open Indian River views and many feature private docks. Golf course homes and cottages are tucked away on private cul-de-sacs and winding streets to maintain open views of the lush fairways and sparkling lakes of its distinctive Arnold Palmer course.

With demand for this highly sought-after community at an all-time high, inventory is limited at Orchid Island. To stay updated on new real estate listings, register your interest at OrchidIslandFL.com. A complimentary copy of the Orchid Island Magazine is available on-line, showcasing the surrounding area and lifestyle of the community. Call 772.388.3888 for more information or to schedule a private community club tour.

Read full article featured in North Palm Beach Life.
Photo: Ben McNew and Charlie Hope

(PRESS RELEASE) _VERO BEACH, FL

Altruistic athletes recently participated in the 2023 Family 5K Walk & Run at Orchid Island Golf Club. Club members and their families laced up for the annual pre-Easter race which included a continental breakfast and awards ceremony. Monies raised benefit Meals on Wheels America, which helps seniors overcome food insecurity. 

“Supporting the community through philanthropic efforts is so important to our members, and fitness is also a big part of the lifestyle at Orchid Island,” said Rob Tench, General Manager of Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club. “It was a wonderful morning for our members to combine charity giving while getting exercise on a beautiful day.”

Orchid Island is located at One Beachside Drive, Vero Beach. For more information, visit OrchidIslandFL.com.  

Read full article featured in Steve Pike Golf and Travel.

When a golf course is as good as the Arnold Palmer-design at Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club, there’s only one thing to do: Make it even better. That’s the plan when the course – one of the best layouts along Florida’s Treasure Coast – closes in May for a six-month renovation. Fortunately, Orchid Island is more than just great golf. The private, gated country club community, technically located in the town of Orchid near Vero Beach, is resplendent with amenities that range from tennis and pickleball to one-mile stretch of beach, fitness center and spa, and multiple dining options.

Orchid Island – one of the few private oceanfront golf communities in Florida to offer direct beach access – recently opened a kayak launch in the spectacular mangroves on the Indian River Lagoon, considered the most biodiverse ecosystem in the Northern hemisphere. Members can utilize the Club’s kayaks or use their own to paddle the waters and encounter manatees, dolphins, and birds.

As a Certified Audubon Sanctuary by Audubon International with an ocean to river habitat, Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club is committed to preserving the rich wildlife found in Vero Beach. Kayakers launch amongst the mangrove and can explore the lagoon waters.

Bird watchers can find colorful and unique birds found in and near the waters of Orchid Island, including pelicans, hawks, ovenbirds, black and white warblers, blackpoll and black-throated blue warblers, American redstarts, rose breasted and blue grosbeak, yellow-throated and red-eyed vireo.

No wonder the community is known as “Camp Orchid” by its residents and members.

“There’s a lot of socialization here,” said Orchid Island General Manager Rob Tench. “We have a great group of members. The members make the experience. And they are very welcoming to new people coming in, so it’s easy to make friends and cultivate relationships. Orchid Island is all about all the amenities, everyone can get to places in their golf cars, which creates a bonding among the members.

“Our seasonal members are worn out by the time they go back North; they have to go home and rest up to come back and do it all over again.”

When those members return this fall, they’ll see a golf course with new tee boxes, new greens, renovated bunkers and fresh landscaping. The Club even is considering naming the final three holes (among the better private club finishing holes in South Florida) after its legendary designer. How does “The King’s Corner” sound?

Indeed, with such trademark Palmer design signatures as rock walls and sharp doglegs, the King’s influence is obvious. A couple of the holes, particularly the par-five, 18th, even resemble holes at Palmer’s beloved Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando.

The most significant renovation work (led by Palmer senior architect Brandon Johnson) will be done on the greens, while the most visible work will be on the tee boxes.

“Basically, we’re redoing all of the greens,” said Orchid Island Director of Golf David Champagne. “They are perfect on the surface, but if you go down 14 inches, there is all kinds of crumbling that creates disease and contamination issues.”

“We’re going to laser-level and realign all the tee boxes. Some of them look like after thoughts, so we’re going to expand them and make them look like regular tee boxes. We’re not adding tee boxes, we’re just taking away ones that aren’t being use. It will make the course more playable without taking away any of its integrity.”

Golf Course Superintendent Matt Boyd will oversee the renovation work, which will be led by Palmer Design Group senior architect Brandon Johnson. When it’s complete, the course will feature TifEagle greens, Champion Bermudagrass on the fairways and paspalum tee boxes.

“The design and integrity of our course will not change, but the majority of the course will be exquisitely refreshed in order to continue to provide our members with the best golf in Vero Beach,” Tench said. “Golf at all levels is one of the cornerstones of the social life at Orchid Island and we are excited to unveil the newly refreshed course to our members.”

Read full article featured in Vero News, written by Stephanie LaBaff.
Photos courtesy of Stephanie LaBaff and Amanda Duffy

Mother Nature put on a spectacular sunset display over the Indian River Lagoon as guests gathered at the home of hosts Liz and Ken Whitney to celebrate donors and scholars at the annual Orchid Outreach Cocktail Reception.

Friends and neighbors enjoyed food and beverages provided by the Orchid Outreach committee, as they mingled with the scholarship recipients and their families and learned about their educational plans for the future.

Orchid Outreach has distributed more than $1.1 million in scholarships to 177 high school graduates since its founding in 2002, all made possible by the generosity of the residents of the Orchid Island community.

The Scholarship Foundation of Indian River County and the Indian River State College Foundation assist with the distribution of the scholarship funds, which cover tuition and expenses, including books and other miscellaneous items.

Scholarship recipients must be Orchid Island employees or their family members, or first responders and their family members.

This year, five recipients – Nevaeh Huber, Caitlyn Miller, Melissa Pereira, Erin Mrazek, and Richard Tehasse – were either Orchid employees or family members.

Several scholars shared their career goals after earning degrees in computer science, business management, elementary education, nursing and human services.

Rossie Jenkins spoke with emotion about pursuing an associate degree in nursing.

“I’ve been in Indian River County my entire life; I am the only girl of five boys.

“I will actually be the first-generation graduate of college within my family,” said Jenkins.

“I can’t begin to tell you what this means to me.”

“This is a great program, and it really means a lot to me and our team,” said Rob Tench, general manager of the Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club.

“The number of kids who have gone to college and benefited by your generosity is terrific.”

If there’s one place in Coastal Florida where foodies are being rewarded, it’s at Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club. From refreshing tropical plates served poolside to Asian-inspired themed dinners, this private Club in Vero Beach provides a robust calendar of dining events that bring international flavors to life. Among the most popular private events, Members look forward to the Fine Wine Affairs, where food and wine enthusiasts gather for an unforgettable evening. Let’s take a closer look.

Wine Connoisseurs Welcomed

Hosted once a month at the Beach Club during the Winter season, the Fine Wine Affair allows Members to sip and sample in style, combining international vintners with the farm-to-table fare Orchid Island is known for. Each month spotlights a different vintner, providing an educational introduction to the wines featured and the regions they come from. The evening begins with a cocktail reception, followed by a five-course dinner where dishes handcrafted by Executive Chef Chris Sozio and his team are perfectly paired with wines from that month’s featured vineyard. From French-based Jean-Luc Colombo and Rombauer Vineyards to Napa-based Fisher Vineyards, every Fine Wine Affair brings the opportunity to expand Members’ palates.

March’s Fine Wine Affair Features Planeta Winery

On March 15th, Members gathered for the last Fine Wine Affair of the season, featuring Planeta Winery. First opened in 1995, the Italian-based vineyard combines the oldest Sicilian traditions with innovative and modern approaches. With seven wineries spread throughout five regions of Italy, the company works with indigenous vines while also experimenting with international varieties to create what are considered the best wines of each region. Planeta’s wines were not only featured at the Fine Wine Affair, but three of their best varieties – a red, white, and a red blend – can be enjoyed daily at the Beach Club or the Golf Club.

Delightful Evenings Served with an Oceanfront View

Along with a robust series of events, Executive Chef Chris Sozio and his team work to create a welcoming ambiance within each of the Club’s three dining venues. The Pool Grille and Turtle Bar offer an easygoing setting where friends can come together, bonding over burgers and cocktails while watching dolphins swim along the Atlantic coastline. The “19th hole” Golf Club offers casual fare of salads, sandwiches, and flatbreads in a variety of atmospheres, from the main dining room to an extended patio overlooking grand views of the fairways. Finally, the Beach Club’s elegant dining venue is home to five-star creations that include everything from healthy selections to innovative dishes and decadent desserts – all while overlooking the stunning azure waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Best of all, residents can hop on their golf carts and be at any of the venues within mere minutes.

A Coastal Florida Lifestyle Surrounded by Nature’s Beauty

Spanning from the Atlantic Ocean to the Indian River, Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club is highly sought-after for its laid-back waterfront lifestyle. World-class dining, however, isn’t the only aspect of Orchid Island that Members enjoy. The West Indies-inspired Beach Club serves as the heart of the community, with a resort-style pool, a state-of-the-art fitness center, eight Har-Tru tennis courts, two pickleball courts, and a spa. Residents also enjoy nearly a mile of secluded beach and an Arnold Palmer-designed championship golf course.

Located along Florida’s Treasure Coast, Orchid Island is home to a wide variety of premier riverfront and oceanfront estates, courtyard homes, cottages, and mid-rise condominiums. For those interested in learning more about this picturesque, one-of-a-kind private club community, request a complimentary copy of the Orchid Island Magazine. If you’re in the area, schedule a visit to the Orchid Island Realty office for a community club tour. Visit OrchidIslandFL.com or call 772.388.3888 for more information.

Read full article featured in Vero News, written by Debbie Timmermann.
Photos courtesy of Joshua Kodis

Creative expression and visual beauty have been lifelong passions for Vero Beach artist Reggie McCormack, whose studio offers an all-encompassing view of an extraordinary woman, one who creates beauty in everything she touches.

A self-described mixed-media abstract artist, her range is eclectic, and includes acrylics, oils, pastels, wax and collages.
Another favorite is encaustics, an ancient art form where oil paint is mixed with beeswax and then torched, a technique that creates multiple layers with rich depth and texture.

“I love mixed media,” says McCormack. “It allows so much freedom to create a lot of interesting layers which evoke much emotion.”
McCormack says she signs her work on the back, so as to not interrupt the flow of the eye and, not wanting to influence what the viewer sees, does not name her abstracts.

“Abstract art can be appreciated on many levels, considering the use of color, shape, texture, line and how these relate to one another,” she explains.

“Moving in and out of a painting and connecting on a deeper level often is related to our life experiences and where we are on our journey.”

She says her creativity and love of art stems from her artistic mother, who was always working on some sort of creative project. As a child growing up on the New Jersey coast, she followed suit, drawing and doodling, and dreaming of becoming an artist.

“I’m just so passionate about creating. It’s in my blood. I’ve always felt like this. In my late teens, it was just pouring out of me. Through all of these careers, decades in my life, they were all creative,” says McCormack.

She has drawn influence from many artists, such as Picasso, for his genius in continually changing and experimenting with his art; Matisse, for his use of color and shapes; and Andy Warhol, for his pop art and graphic-like painting. She was also inspired by a quote by Maya Angelou:

“Everyone born comes from the Creator trailing wisps of glory. We come from the Creator with creativity. I think each one of us is born with creativity.”

Her current works are a culmination of those years of creativity and the wonderful gift she has been given.

She believes that while everyone has difficulties in life, if they are able to work through them, they will find love, light and beauty.

“If you don’t get through the muck, that’s your lens for life; you don’t see clearly, you don’t appreciate it,” she explains.

McCormack graduated with a B.A. in English from Monmouth University in New Jersey, where she also studied studio art and art history, and spent many hours throwing on the wheel and hand building in clay.

Afterward, she spent 10 rewarding years as the in-house stylist for designer Liz Claiborne, and ran Claiborne’s fashion office, producing press shows and photo shoots, and traveling with the designer.

That experience influenced her creation of fashion collages, using designer names coupled with photos of women and exciting places, and various textures. When her daughter Liz was growing up, she enjoyed working on the collages as well.

“We collaged every box we could get our hands on and just loved the process of cutting, pasting and creating together.”

To add additional skills to her repertoire, she earned an associate degree in interior architecture and design at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. For the next 35 years, she ran her own company designing residential interiors, with a specialization in historic restoration in and around Boston. As with her artwork, she would approach each room differently, but they all had a thread that connected them.

While she has continued working on special projects in the design field, her main passion is her artwork.

“Every day is a different experience in the studio, connecting, letting go and loving the process, along with exploring, learning and moving beyond existing boundaries. It’s a continual and exciting journey while painting from my heart and soul,” she says.

McCormack is very involved with an online arts community called Art2Life, based in Marin, Calif., that involves artists from around the world, painting in a variety of styles and mediums.

“It’s a wonderful way of seeing what other artists are creating and to continue learning and growing. I love keeping my finger on the pulse of the design and art world. It’s such an exciting journey,” she says.

McCormack describes the textures and layers in her work as reflective of those of our own life’s experiences, which is what people see in art.

Quoting Vincent Van Gogh, she says, “‘Paintings have a life of their own that derives from the painter’s soul.’ That’s why it’s so exciting for me. I am pulling in all of these multi-faceted pieces in my art. I am learning so much about myself and the eclecticism of all of this work, and it all marries. It just works.”

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To view more of McCormack’s work, please visit: reggiestudioarts.com

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