A longtime symbol of conservation finds new life as an alternate logo for Wakefield merchandise.
Sometimes the answer is right in front of you. At least, that is the case when it came to finding an alternate logo to add to the merchandise offerings at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation.
Shortly after the club opened as TPC Wakefield in 2000, a large, custom-built birdhouse was placed behind the No. 1 tee. Originally built to provide a nesting habitat for purple martins, the structure is part of Wakefield’s commitment to serving as a responsible steward of the environment. This mission is reflected in the club’s distinction as the only McConnell Golf property certified by Audubon International, an organization that promotes environmental education and sustainable resource management.
From a symbol of conservation to representing The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation, the birdhouse will now adorn select merchandise in the golf shop. Joey Batuello, Head Golf Professional at Wakefield, was the one who recognized the birdhouse’s potential. “Driving into work one day, I saw the birdhouse by No. 1 tee. I then started noticing how many smaller birdhouses we have around property and started to do some digging. I also saw on the back of our scorecard that we are an Audubon International Certified Signature Sanctuary and that the birdhouse was a purple martin nesting place,” explains Batuello.
For Director of Golf Joey Latino, a logo is much more than stitching on a shirt.
“A logo should represent more than just a club; it should reflect the traditions, pride and sense of community that make Wakefield special,” says Latino.
Since acquired by McConnell Golf in 2011, the interlocking WP has been the only symbol used to tell the Wakefield story. Now, a new chapter begins with the addition of the birdhouse logo.
“The birdhouse gives us a distinctive identity that members can proudly wear both on and off the golf course. I’m excited to see that identity come to life across a variety of merchandise, giving members new ways to express their connection to the club while building on the Wakefield brand for years to come.”
With the logo concept solidified, the next step was giving the birdhouse some much-needed tender love and care. After more than two decades of enduring wet tropical storms, blistering hot summers, cold winters and everything else Mother Nature has thrown its way, the structure showed its age. According to Director of Maintenance Jay Brizendine, “All of the lower framework was weathered, rotted out and crumbled to the touch. The whole unit is supported on top of a pole. With the bottom support beams being so bad, I was surprised it hadn’t fallen off the pole throughout the years.”
Brizendine was the right man for the job. As a retired firefighter with civil engineering experience and a passion for woodworking, all of these skills were put to the test on a tight deadline. The work began in June with a targeted completion of August 1. With the help of his team, Brizendine rebuilt the main structure and brought in a professional to restore the bronze top of the birdhouse, which had oxidized over the years. “The two-tiered floors were built using marine-grade wood for longevity. The holes were cut to specifications for a special bird called a purple martin, which is renowned for its swift, agile flight and dependence on human-provided housing,” according to Brizendine.
After two months of precise measurements and engineering for each piece to fit just right, the birdhouse was ready to return to its normal resting place. Like a high-stakes game of Operation, Brizendine's steady hand (and forklift) carefully positioned the structure back on its post with a nervous crowd watching. The collective sigh of relief was met with an appreciation for all the hard work put into the project.
“Total team effort. Joey Batuello came up with the idea, our maintenance team figured out how to restore the birdhouse, and McConnell Golf found a way to bring the logo to life and tell its story. So proud of the team,” says Michael Thomas, General Manager and a member of the Wakefield staff since 2003.
Looking as new as it did when it was custom-built more than 20 years ago, Thomas reflects on this once-forgotten pillar of conservation. “I have been here a long time and driven by the birdhouse thousands of times. Now, it is so much more visible and present. Ironically enough, I have a direct view of it through my office window. It is great reminder of how far we have come as a club and that our future is bright.”
The birdhouse is a testament to McConnell Golf’s commitment to investing in its properties through strategic enhancements for future generations while preserving the past. Whether it is a bunker improvement or a dining room upgrade, every detail reflects heart, soul and hours of engineering. Part of McConnell Golf’s company creed is the line "Building Clubs of the Future." Jay Brizendine jokingly adds, “At Wakefield, we are also building birdhouses of the future."
And perhaps that’s the lesson the birdhouse offers. A once-forgotten landmark has become a renewed symbol for the club, proving that sometimes the answer to what’s next has been right in front of you the whole time.