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The Island Country Club opened in 1966 as Marco's premier amenity for the sale of single family homes and condominiums by the Deltona Corporation.

In September 1986, a group of 400 members purchased the club from the Deltona Corporation, creating Marco Island's only private country club.

Island Country Club has the only 18-hole golf course on Marco Island.

The club's first golf professional was "Champagne" Tony Lema. Upon Lema's untimely death in 1967 in a plane crash, a tournament was created and held in his honor for several years, with a field comprised of the golfing greats of that era.

In 1981, Gene "The Squire" Sarazen became the club's resident golf professional, a title held until his death in 1999.

The Island Country Club was the proud sponsor of the Gene and Mary Sarazen Foundation Tournament, held each year on Sarazen's birthday.

Contributions from these tournaments were used to benefit local charities. Since taking the club private in 1986, the members have upgraded the course by rebuilding its 18 greens to United States Golf Association specifications, with hybrid-Tifeagle grass in 2001.

ROGER LALONDE / Eagle staff

A view from above shows the Island Country Club, secluded in a neighborhood of Island homes. Opening in 1966 as part of the Deltona Corporation's development plans, a group purchased the club in 1986, making it a private club.

Story: View from above: The Island Country Club (08-10-07)

Also added were four Har-Tru clay tennis courts and the club rebuilt the irrigation system during the summer of 1999.

A fire in 1993 led to the construction of a new 40,000 square- foot facility, with premier casual and formal dining, hosting a grand opening in late 1995.

In 2005 a major remodeling, enlarging the facilities to 50,000 square feet and a free-standing restaurant.

The club also features a casual grill, a formal dining area, private dining rooms for smaller groups, a designed and appointed lobby, full locker room and bag storage facilities, open air verandahs with fabulous views of the golf course and an exercise facility.