Experience the Ultimate Golf Vacation
JACKSONVILLE, FL - April 23, 2010 - With over 1,220 holes of golf, Jacksonville and the beaches is the ideal spot for golf vacations. Northeast Florida is home to more than 70 public and private courses designed by the likes of Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Mark McCumber. With ample opportunity to do all things golf - play a round, watch the professionals vie for the crystal trophy or commemorate the history of the sport - the region is the perfect destination for golf enthusiasts.
The two golf courses of World Golf Village are the official courses of the World Golf Hall of Fame, located just south of Jacksonville. King & Bear (www.kingandbear.com) is an 18-hole championship course designed by Arnold Palmer (The King) and Jack Nicklaus (The Bear), making it one of Florida's premiere courses. The course features loblolly pines and open meadows on the front nine while the natural beauty of 200-year-old live oaks with huge shady canopies compliment the back nine.
The Slammer & Squire (www.slammerandsquire.com) championship course, located at the World Golf Village, was designed by Bobby Weed with player consultants Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen. With the intent to be both fun and interesting, the course features five sets of tees to choose from to accommodate a player of any ability level. Slammer & Squire has hosted several nationally televised events including the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf and numerous champion events.
The Hampton Golf Clubs provide challenging courses in beautiful settings. Another Arnold Palmer-designed course, The Golf Club at North Hampton (www.hamptongolfclubs.com/NHampton.html) is located in Fernandina Beach. This par 72 championship design is wrapped around over 10 crisp, spring-fed lakes lined with coquina boulders and elevations over 40 feet. The wild grasses and rolling hills emanate the feel of an old Scottish links course. To the south, The Golf Club at South Hampton (www.hamptongolfclubs.com/SHampton.html), located in St. Augustine, offers every golfer the appropriate risk-reward situations that challenges the experienced player and offers encouragement to the novice. Sixteen large lakes and over 60 contoured bunkers, in combination with meticulous landscaping, provide players with a superbly conditioned facility.
Located in Jacksonville, the semi-private Windsor Parke Golf Club (www.windsorparke.com) was given four stars in “2002 Places to Play” and rated the 4th best new course in the nation for Golf Digest. The course, designed by Arthur Hills, features rolling fairways and dramatic elevations making it one of the top 100 golf courses in Florida by Golf News. A perfect spot for golf novices especially, the National Golf Course Owners Association recognized the course as being “beginner-friendly.”
Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass (www.tpc.com/sawgrass) in Ponte Vedra Beach is unique among the nation's finest golf facilities. TPC Sawgrass is a semi-private resort course that offers the avid golfer the ultimate golf experience. Recently renovated, the course updates ensure world-class playing conditions and a faster playing surface year round, as well as construction of a 77,000 square-foot Mediterranean Revival-style clubhouse, perfect for any event or meeting.
Each May, TPC Sawgrass hosts THE PLAYERS (www.pgatour.com/tournaments/r011). Known as the unofficial “fifth major,” the international event brings thousands of fans to watch the world's best golfers play in Northeast Florida for the prized crystal trophy. Many delight or share frustration in watching their favorites attempt to master the infamous island green of the 17th hole.
The World Golf Village, located in St. Augustine, is home to golf courses, a resort and conference center, spa, IMAX® Theater and restaurant and dining options. In the heart of the Village lies the World Golf Hall of Fame (www.wgv.com/hof/hof.php), a true destination for the golf and history lover. Combining historic artifacts, interactive exhibits and personal players' memorabilia, the Hall of Fame celebrates the history, players and sport of golf. The annual induction ceremony is open to the public commemorating players and golf contributors the sport's highest achievement.
To plan your golf escape, call Visit Jacksonville at (800) 733-2668 or log on to www.visitjacksonvnille.com.
Visit Jacksonville is the marketing organization contracted by the Duval County Tourist Development Council (TDC) to champion the growth of business and leisure tourism in Northeast Florida. Along with its nearly 400 tourism partners, Visit Jacksonville stimulates economic impact, quality of life and recognition for the Northeast Florida region. For a closer look at all there is to see and do in Jacksonville, go to www.VisitJacksonville.com.
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