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It should be no secret about golf's popularity in Florida. The state has more golf courses than any other - 1,300. Golf courses employed 73,000 workers during 2000 and generated $4.4 billion in revenue, a University of Florida study shows. Duval County golf courses generated $110 million in revenue during 2000, the study found. According to Florida's First Coast of Golf, a golf destination marketing company for the area, vacationers at 21 resorts and hotels FFCG represents played 31,112 rounds of golf on its 38 member courses between Oct. 1, 2001 and Aug. 31, 2002. That economic impact alone came to more than $11 million. Although the economic downturn has resulted in a nationwide slump in the number of golf courses constructed and rounds played, industry analysts predict the downward spiral will end. Two key factors in the area's golfing reputation lie directly south of Jacksonville in St. Johns County. The Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach is home to the PGA Tour headquarters and The Players Championship golf tournament, while the World Golf Village and Hall of Fame has become a destination attraction. More so than ever, the First Coast is an area in which to learn and appreciate the game, thanks in good part to the First Tee program. First Tee, an initiative of the World Golf Foundation to make golf more accessible and affordable for young people, has three model chapters in the area. First Tee of Jacksonville at Brentwood is a nine-hole course at 1157 MBO1 Golfair Blvd., on Jacksonville's Northside (904-924-0401). First Tee of St. Johns County is a three-hole learning center at 4401 Cypress Links Blvd. in Elkton (904-810-2231), adjacent to the county's 27-hole public course. While not a "grassroots" facility, the First Tee of UNF conducts summer camps and clinics at the Hayt Golf Learning Center on Holzendorf Drive at the University of North Florida, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road S (904-620-4653). The center features three regulation practice holes, two short-game areas, driving range and educational building. For more information about First Tee, access www.thefirsttee.org. Golf clubs and courses (Numbers refer to location on the map that is pictured below on the right.)
BAKER COUNTY 1 Pineview Golf & Country Club, 763 Golf Club Road, Macclenny 32063. Slightly hilly public course might have longest ladies yardage (5,738) in the area. 904-259-3447.
CLAY COUNTY 2 Cattail Creek Golf Club, 659 State Road 16, Green Cove Springs 32043. Small greens, narrow fairways make public course a difficult test. 904-284-3502. 3 Eagle Harbor Golf Club, 2217 Eagle Harbor Parkway, Orange Park 32073. Semi-private club highlighted by numerous bodies of water. 904-269-9300. 4 The Golf Club at Fleming Island, 2260 Town Center Blvd., Orange Park 32073. Semi-private club with open front nine, wooded back nine. 904-269-1440. www.flemingislandgolf.com 5 Keystone Heights Golf and County Club, 294 S.E. 43rd St., Keystone Heights 32656. Semi-private, members-owned Donald Ross course and the oldest continously operating course on the First Coast. Tree-lined fairways, no water and little sand. 352-473-4540. 6 Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club, 3616 Magnolia Point Blvd., Green Cove Springs 32043. Private course designed by Mark McCumber with varied elevation changes. 904-269-9315. www.magnolia-point.com 7 Country Club of Orange Park, 2525 Country Club Blvd., Orange Park 32073. Semi-private club with challenging, well-manicured holes. 904-276-7664. 8 Ravines Inn and Golf Club, 2932 Ravines Road, Middleburg 32068. Mark McCumber's first design project, with dramatic and natural elevation changes. 904-282-7888. www.theravines.com
(Jacksonville unless otherwise noted) 9 Baymeadows Golf Club, 7981 Baymeadows Circle W 32256. Public course originally designed by Desmond Muirhead and Gene Sarazen. Owner plans to turn course into homes and condominiums possibly starting in summer 2005. 904-731-5701. www.baymeadowsgolf.com 10 Blue Cypress Golf Club, 4012 University Blvd., Jacksonville 32277. Regulation nine-hole public golf course and driving range with clubhouse. 904-887-4699. 11 The Course at Westland, 7510 Plantation Bay Drive 32244. Links-style course with lakes and canals in play on most holes. 904-778-4653. www.courseatwestland.com 12 Deercreek Country Club, 7815 McLaurin Road N 32256. Private championship course amid a 285-acre nature preserve. 904-363-1604. www.deercreekclub.com 13 Deerfield Lakes Golf Club, 3825 Deerfield Country Club Road, Callahan 32011. Public course home to 2001 U.S. Amateur champion Bubba Dickerson. 904-359-0404 or 904-879-1210. 14 Deerwood Club, 10239 Golf Club Drive 32256. Private championship course that re-opened Labor Day 2004 after extensive renovation by Brian Silva. 904-642-5917. 15 Fiddler's Green, 13715 Lake Newman St. 32215. Public 18-hole course. 904-778-5245. www.fiddlersgreengolfclub.com 16 Glen Kernan Golf & Country Club, 13181 Glen Kernan Parkway 32224. Large tee boxes and greens and generous landing areas highlight this private course. 904-646-1116. www.glenkernanrealty.com 17 Golf Club of Jacksonville, 10440 Tournament Lane 32222. Public course featuring a setting of mature pines and wetlands. Managed by the PGA Tour. 904-779-0800. www.golfclubofjacksonville.com 18 Hidden Hills Country Club, 3901 Monument Road 32256. Private course and past Greater Jacksonville Open site. 904-641-8121. 19 Hyde Park, 6439 Hyde Grove Ave. 32210. Public course designed by legendary designer Donald Ross; known for its par-3 No. 6 on which Ben Hogan once took an 11. 904-786-5410. 20 Jacksonville Beach Golf Course, 605 Penman Road S, Jacksonville Beach 32250. Popular municipal course; carts equipped with GPS. Opened new clubhouse May 2004. 904-247-6184. 21 Jacksonville Golf and Country Club, 3985 Hunt Club Road 32224. Private championship course designed in consultation with Fuzzy Zoeller. 904-223-6910. www.jaxgcc.com 22 Mill Cove Golf Club, 1700 Monument Road 32225. Arnold Palmer signature designed public course. 904-646-4653. 23 NAS Jacksonville Golf Club (Casa Linda Oaks), MWR Department Box 14, Building No. 584, NAS 32212. A 27-hole military course. 904-542-3249. 24 Pablo Creek Golf Club, 5660 S. San Pablo Road 32224. Tom Fazio-designed private course with natural pine flatwoods and rolling terrain. 904-992-6900. 25 Pine Lakes Golf Club, 153 Northside Drive S 32218. Public course on Jacksonville's Northside. 904-757-0318. 26 Queen's Harbour Yacht and Country Club, 1131 Queen's Harbour Blvd. 32225. Private course designed by Mark McCumber and set among old oaks and tidal marshes. 904-220-2118. www.qhycc.com 27 San Jose Country Club, 7529 San Jose Blvd. 32217. Private course designed by Donald Ross. 904-733-1511. 28 Selva Marina Country Club, 1600 Selva Marina Drive, Atlantic Beach 32233. Fairways open and windy while greens are small and rolling at this private club. 904-246-3144. www.selvamarina.com 29 Timuquana Country Club, 4028 Timuquana Road 32210. Donald Ross-designed private course features narrow fairways and small greens. Home course in his youth to 2001 British Open champion David Duval. 904-389-0477. 30 West Meadows Golf Course, 11400 West Meadows Drive 32221. The par-5 17th hole at this public course is among the longest in the area at 594 yards. 904-781-4834. 31 Windsor Parke Golf Club, 13823 Sutton Park Drive N 32244. Public course recognized as one of the top 100 courses in the state by Florida Golf News. 904-223-4653. www.windsorparke.com. 32 Windy Harbor Golf Club, Building No. 1981 Naval Station Mayport, Mayport 32228. Military course was completely renovated in 2000. 904-270-5380.
NASSAU COUNTY 33 Amelia Island Plantation, P.O. Box 3000, Amelia Island 32034. Resort with 54 championship holes: Ocean Links and Oak Marsh, designed by Pete Dye and Bobby Weed, and Long Point by Tom Fazio border the ocean and coastal marshes. 904-261-6161 or 888-261-6161. www.aipfl.com 34 Fernandina Beach Golf Club, 2800 Bill Melton Road, Fernandina Beach 32034. A 27-hole municipal course. 904-277-7370. 35 The Golf Club at North Hampton, 24050 N. Hampton Club Way, Amelia Island 32034. Semi-private club designed by Arnold Palmer to wrap around 10 spring-fed lakes. 904-996-0674 or 866-998-8300. www.hamptongolfinc.com 36 The Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach, 4700 Amelia Parkway, Amelia Island 32034. Resort course designed by Mark McCumber, adjacent to The Ritz-Carlton. 904-277-8015 or 800-245-4224. 37 Royal Amelia Golf Links, 4477 Amelia Road, Amelia Island 32034. Semi-private layout carved from a forest of live oaks, palms, pines and wax myrtles. 904-491-8500. www.royalamelia.com
ST. JOHNS COUNTY 38 Champions Club at Julington Creek, 1111 Durbin Creek Blvd. 32259. Semi-private 18-hole course, with the back nine designed by Steve Melnyk. 904-287-4653. www.championsclubgolf.com 39 Cimarrone Golf Club, 2800 Cimarrone Blvd. 32259 Semi-private championship course with water or marsh featured on every hole. Carts equipped with color global positioning system (GPS). 904-287-2000. www.cimarronegolf.com 40 The Golf Club at South Hampton, 315 S. Hampton Club Way, St. Augustine 32092. Semi-private club designed by Mark McCumber that features 16 large lakes and more than 60 contoured bunkers. 904-287-7529. www.hamptongolfinc.com 41 Marsh Creek Country Club, 169 Marshside Drive, St. Augustine 32084. Private Mark McCumber-designed course along coastal marshlands. 904-461-1145. www.marshcreek.com 42 Marsh Landing Country Club, Ponte Vedra Beach 32082. Ed Seay-designed private course along Intracoastal marshes and amid large pines. 904-285-0204. www.marshlandingcc.com 43 Oak Bridge Club at Sawgrass, 254 Alta Mar Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach 32082. Private course redesigned by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay. 904-285-0204. 44 Palencia, 649 Palencia Club Drive, St. Augustine 32095. Private course with several picturesque holes, including a leaning live oak that stretches across a fairway into the line of play. 904-810-2020. www.vivapalencia.com 45 Plantation at Ponte Vedra, 220 Plantation Circle, Ponte Vedra Beach 32082. Private course designed by Arnold Palmer. 904-285-0155. 46 Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, 200 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach 32082. Resort's Lagoon Course has water in play on 11 holes; its front nine was designed by Robert Trent Jones. Ocean Course redesigned by Bobby Weed. 904-273-7710. www.pvresorts.com 47 Royal St. Augustine Golf & Country Club, 301 Royal St. Augustine Parkway, St. Augustine 32084. Semi-private club course winds through trees and wetlands. 904-824-4653. www.royalstaugustine.com 48 St. Augustine Shores, 707 Shores Blvd., St. Augustine 32086. Public course once owned by Raymond Floyd has abundant water holes and lighted range. 904-794-4653. 49 St. Johns County Golf Course, 4900 Cypress Links Blvd., Elkton 32033. A 27-hole municipal course with water frequently in play. 904-825-4900. 50 St. Johns Golf & Country Club, 205 St. Johns Golf Drive, St. Augustine 32092. Semi-private course carved from a pine forest. 904-940-3200. 51 Sawgrass Country Club, 10034 Golf Club Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach 32082. Private club with 27 challenging holes designed by Ed Seay; home to Tournament Players Championship from 1977-1981. 904-273-3720. www.sawgrasscountryclub.com 52 Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass, 110 TPC Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach 32082. World-class and challenging resort courses: Stadium Course - home to The Players Championship - was designed by Pete Dye, while Valley Course was designed by Dye, Bobby Weed and consultant Jerry Pate. 904-273-3235. www.tpc.com 53 World Golf Hall of Fame, 1 World Golf Place, St. Augustine 32092. King & Bear course is first designed jointly by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Slammer & Squire is named for consultants Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen, and was designed by Bobby Weed. 904-940-6200 (King & Bear); 904-940-6100 (Slammer & Squire). www.wgv.com
Driving ranges Many golf courses have driving ranges as part of their practice facilities. Here are the standalone driving ranges in the area:
DUVAL COUNTY (Jacksonville) 54 Avenues Driving Range, 12121 Philips Highway, 904-292-4678. 55 Westside Golf Center, 2301 Parrish Cemetery Road, 904-786-1999. 56 MasterFit Teaching and Learning Academy, 14055 Philips Highway, 904-886-4800.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY 58 Legends Golf Driving Range, 2255 Old Moultrie Road, St. Augustine, 904-794-2750. |
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