By Jason Bruno
Alan Fike has had a unique path to becoming the Director of Agronomy at Seagate Golf Club in Delray Beach (formerly known as The Hamlet GC). Seagate Golf Club is the rare destination that serves as both a private members club and a resort experience that anyone can experience with a reservation at the Seagate Hotel and Spa – located just a block from the Atlantic coastline. The golf club that just recently reopened after a complete renovation by Drew Rogers, is located about 15 minutes from the resort, just west of interstate 95 off Atlantic Avenue.
We were on hand for the media unveiling at Seagate in early spring, and again during the summer and early fall to see how the course has matured. To say we were impressed with how well it plays and how fantastic the playing conditions are, is a huge understatement. In late October ’24, we caught up with Director of Agronomy Alan Fike (who once held the same position at Nemacolin Resort in western Pennsylvania, a place we had just visited before this interview). We discussed his journey in year 35 of his career.
LinksNation: Thanks for having us, how did you first get involved in Golf and Agronomy?
Alan Fike: I just needed a job, and growing up across the street from Nemacolin Resort in Western Pennsylvania, I became a grounds maintenance guy there. I went on to get my spray certification and loved the work . . . I went on to work there for 27 years (I started there in 1992).
LN: How did your role evolve from an entry-level position at 20 years old to having a three-decade career of tremendous responsibility?
AF: It was around the time that Mr.Hardy’s daughter Maggie started to take over at the resort. I was talking to her about Penn State and she offered to help if I got accepted into the (Agronomy) program. She paid for my education at Penn State, but the deal was, after I finished school I was to give the resort at least 2 years, I ended up being there 27 years. I did Mystic Rock and Shepherd’s Rock with Pete Dye and Tim Liddy, re-did the grounds at the resort and ran both golf shops. At one time, I had 250 employees under me.
Mystic Rock at Nemacolin – Former home of the PGA Tour 84 Lumber Classic
LN: After a life and career in Western Pennsylvania, how did you end up here among the sunshine and Bermudagrass fairways of South Florida?
AF: After Nemacolin and I decided to part ways, my wife expressed a desire to move closer to her mother in South Florida. After a few months of idle time, I interviewed at four or five clubs. When I came here to Seagate, I could see that the Superintendent needed help. I started just cutting grass an quickly became the Assistant Super. When the Superintendent was fired, I told the GM at the time – Carl, that I wasn’t knowledgeable enough about Bermudagrass to take the position. The next Super lasted about a year and a half, so when he left, I stepped up and took the position . . . that was two years ago.
LN: The transition of managing cool season grasses like Rye, Fescue, Bent and Poa to Hybrid Bermuda had to be quite the challenge . . .
AF: Up in PA, we always said, “you have 90 days – from the middle of May to the end of September to make your money”. Down here it’s 365 days, and you’re fighting all kinds of insects, nematodes, mole crickets, and weeds non-stop.
LN: How much has learning an entirely new set of challenges been an energy drain vs being re-invigorating?
AF: I took it head on, I enjoy learning new things each day, it really drove me once I took over here. Even the project of rebuilding the golf course, provided a change of direction and attitude. 35 years of this and I still love getting up every morning and coming to the golf course.
LN: How many on your Agronomy staff?
AF: Including me 26.
LN: That’s a solid group, and shows great support from the club. What did you take from being involved in the Drew Rogers renovation project?
AF: Drew was very easy to work with, and was very open to my suggestions. The par 3 twelfth hole is a perfect example, he had the bunkers shifted too far over to the right. I told him, “The women won’t be able to run their ball up through there.” He said, you’re right, and we moved it. Communication was great, he would even take my calls when he was on vacation.
LN: You chose Bimini Bermuda as the new turf for the renovation project at Seagate, what factors led to that decision and how has it performed as maintenace wise and as a playing surface?
AF: Bimini has exceeded our expectations in every way. Several Superintendents from the area have come out to see it, and they’ve been blown away.
LN: What other varieties were you considering?
AF: Celebration was the one we looked at because it’s such a popular choice around here, but being from up north I wanted do some research before choosing. Quail Ridge (Golf Club) nearby used Bimini, and Joe Ramsey (who was the Super at the time there), was a really big help in showing me how well it performed – especially in shady areas. He had a tee box there dealing with shade location that was constantly giving him issues, until he installed Bimini. After several visits with Joe, I made the choice to go with Bimini.
LN: A year after re-opening, is there anything that has needed to be tweaked from a design perspective on the course?
AF: Not really, the only exception would be expanding the width of the left side of the 18th fairway. It’s already a long tough par 5, now it’s a bit more forgiving off the tee.
LN: Not many courses in this area maintain firm n fast playing conditions, you guys have managed to keep the bounce and roll, allowing all of Drew’s contours to be in play. Is that something that’s part of the culture you and (Director of Golf) Frank Lostaglio have created at Seagate?
AF: I want it firm n fast, it brings in all of the different aspects of the design, that’s my mindset . . . and I want the greens to be true. Speed is one thing, but a true roll is another. Frank decides the green speeds, if he wants them faster for an event or tournament that’s different. He prefers them around 10.5/11, so the average player doesn’t roll the ball off the greens – destroying the pace of play.
LN: When you grab your morning coffee and head out from the shop onto the course, is there a certain hole that’s your favorite, and why?
AF: It’s probably the least impressive, but has grown on me – hole no.7. Maybe it’s because when I came here, it clearly was the worst hole on the property, now after the project it’s a good golf hole. It was the “Ugly Duckling” and now it just keeps growing on me . . .
For more information on the Seagate Resort and Spa: https://www.seagatedelray.com/
