DELAND, FL. – Victoria Hills Golf Club - the award-winning course at the heart of Victoria Park, a St. Joe community in DeLand - has been named Florida's No. 7 public course by Golfweek's 10th annual, state-by-state ranking of "America's Best Courses."
This distinction marks the second consecutive year that Victoria Hills has ranked among the Top 10 in the Sunshine State, solidifying its position among the elite layouts in America. The survey, which included the state's nearly 700 public golf courses, examined overall strength of routing, feature shaping, natural setting, greens, variety and memorability of holes, conditioning and maintenance, landscape management and other criteria.
Golfweek, which has a readership of more than 400,000, perennially sends roughly 300 "America's Best" raters in search of notable places the public can play.
"It is humbling and gratifying for Victoria Hills to be awarded this objective distinction by one of the world's foremost golf publications," says Ed Hill, president of Central Florida residential operations for St. Joe. "The feedback we receive from golfers - that the course is of the highest championship caliber - is validated by Golfweek's selection."
Another St. Joe property - Camp Creek Golf Club in Seagrove Beach - placed No. 8 on the list. Other courses among the Top 10 are TPC at Sawgrass Stadium Course (Ponte Vedra Beach), Bay Hill Club (Orlando), World Woods (Brooksville), Doral Golf Resort & Spa (Miami), Ocean Hammock (Pal Coast) and Southern Dunes (Haines City), three of which host PGA Tour events.
Designed by Florida native Ron Garl, Victoria Hills is tucked away in the historic college town of DeLand, just north of Orlando. This majestic layout boasts more than 50 feet of elevation change, taking advantage of the area's natural rolling hills, foliage and wetlands. Tall pines and hearty oaks frame the course while sandy waste areas and pristine lakes make for inspiring sight lines.
Other accolades for Victoria Hills include:
"Top 10 You Can Play" - GOLF Magazine
"4-1/2 Stars" - Golf Digest
"No. 2 Florida Public Course of the New Millennium" - T+L Golf
"Florida's Best New Golf Course" - Florida Golf News
"One of the region's Top 10 courses" - Orlando Sentinel
For more information about Victoria Hills or to book tee times, visit www.stjoegolf.com or call 386-738-6000.
About Victoria Park
Within the Victoria Park community, there are three distinct neighborhoods, with homes priced from the $200,000's to over $1 million. Victoria Hills features one of the most beautiful golf courses in Florida, according to Florida Golf News which named Victoria Hills Golf Course the Best New Course in Florida for 2002, and Golf Magazine which listed the course in its "Top Ten You Can Play" in the country, March 2003. Victoria Commons, the social center of Victoria Park, features a 22-acre park surrounding Lake Victoria. At the Lake Victoria Fitness Club residents enjoy the pool's casual atmosphere, an exercise room, gazebo and lighted tennis courts. Victoria Commons also is the site of a proposed Village Center within the community.
Victoria Gardens is a gated community for active adults, with a clubhouse at its core. The Club features a café, ballroom, billiards room, card room, demonstration kitchen, arts and crafts room, fitness center, business center, computer lab, resort-style pool and spa, as well as tennis courts and community gardens. Close proximity to regional cities like Orlando and Daytona Beach and a number of cultural centers make Victoria Park an attractive option for those who are interested in city life conveniences and the personal familiarity of a smaller community. Several educational opportunities are available to residents including Stetson University, Florida's first private university, and a number of excellent public schools. For more information, visit www.victoriaparkflorida.com.
About St. Joe
The St. Joe Company, a publicly held company based in Jacksonville, is one of Florida's largest real estate operating companies. It is engaged in town, resort, commercial and industrial development, land sales and commercial real estate services. JOE also has significant interests in timber.
More information about JOE can be found online at www.joe.com.
