Southwest Florida is such a fantastic place to live and it’s home to so many wonderful people and families. One such family is the Lye Family — Mark, Lisa, Lucas and Eva.

Mark Lye was a player on the PGA Tour for 18 years and is currently in his 18th year as an analyst for the Golf Channel. Mark has been a member of the exclusive Old Collier Country Club for 8 years and is now the Director of Membership for the Club.
Mark grew up in Napa, California and after joining the PGA Tour, moved to Tallahasee to be centrally located — he could drive to many of the PGA Tour events from there. Over the years, he kept coming to Sanibel Island, playing in an event there. Southwest Florida began to grow on Mark, and after a hurricane hit Tallahasee, he decided to make a move.
His friend, Bobby Nichols, was the Director of Golf at Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers, so Mark decided to buy a house and settle in Fiddlesticks. He said air travel out of Fort Myers (RSW) was a big plus, boating to islands, fishing, waterports, lots of outdoor activities — it was ideal!
After playing on the PGA Tour for 18 years, Mark was asked to join The Golf Channel full time in Orlando, FL to cover tour events. While working there, he met his lovely wife, Lisa, who was the public relations manager
for The Golf Channel. Lisa has a background in PR and Advertising, Sports Public Relations, and has worked for the Sunshine Network, as well. Lisa Lye, originally from Indiana, grew up on the east coast of southern Florida. She is an accomplished writer, mother of 2, and currently has a published children’s book out called “Goodbye Little Red Boots.”
Lisa used to write a blog to keep in touch with her family and keep them informed of her own family’s activities. The blog included photos of her daughter getting rid of her red boots that she loved and wore everyday, until she finally outgrew them and had to let them go. Lisa was inspired to write this story and have a meaning and lesson with it for children.

Q & A with Mark and Lisa

Q: What do you guys like most about Southwest Florida?
A: The people make the place. We like midwest values and the people here are friendly and nice.
Q: Did you look at other Florida cities prior to settling here?
A: Yes. We looked at several cities including Ponte Vedra, Vero Beach, West Palm, Coral Gables, the Tampa areas — there were several places that were intriguing and peaked our interest, but ultimately we couldn’t find anything better
than Naples and Bonita. Naples seems to be a great blend of people, exceptional beaches, restaurants, outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, waterports — seems to be the Number 1 “IT” spot in the country, and we have travelled and seen a lot of places in the U.S. and world.
Q: Favorite Hidden Treasure Restaurant?
A: Fish House Restaurant, Bonita Beach. Hands down!
Q: Favorite Restaurants Overall?
A: The Bay House, Roy’s Butterfish for Lisa and Roy’s Braised Short Ribs for Mark, Ruth’s Chris for a Steak, Campiello’s, Bistro 821, and Flaco’s.
Q: Favorite Shops for Lisa?
A: White House | Black Market, Coconut Point Mall, DSW
Q: Favorite Activities?
A: Botanical gardens, Naples Zoo, Museum, Boating.