Golfweek names Victoria Hills in Deland as Florida's best new public course

Victoria Hills Golf Club – the award-winning Ron Garl design at the heart of Victoria Park, a St. Joe community in DeLand – has been named the No. 19 new course in America in Golfweek’s inaugural listing of the “Top 40 America’s Best New Courses.”

Victoria Hills is the only public course in Florida to be included on this prestigious list, which appears in the magazine’s June 18 issue. The ranking is derived from the efforts of Golfweek’s nationwide team of more than 375 raters. All public, private and resort courses to open in 2003 and 2004 were considered, with judgments rendered on the basis of 10 standards of evaluation.

“To be placed among these great courses, many of which are among the most exclusive in the world, is a true testament to what Victoria Hills offers everyday golfers,” says Ed Hill, president of Central Florida residential operations for St. Joe. “With the opening of the new golf clubhouse this summer, it’s an exciting time for us.”

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.

One of America’s most-respected golf publications, Golfweek has a readership of more than 400,000. Other Florida facilities to make the list were two designs at Reunion Resort in Davenport – Independence Course (No. 12) and Legacy Course (No. 21), and one private facility – Renaissance in Fort Meyers.

“Although fewer courses are opening now than were a decade ago, this list demonstrates there has been no slack in the quality of today’s new courses,” said Bradley S. Klein, Golfweek’s America’s Best Courses Panel Director. “It is a reflection of golfers’ expectations and the skill of modern designers, builders and superintendents.”

Other accolades for Victoria Hills include:

• “Top 10 You Can Play” – GOLF Magazine

• “4-1/2 Stars” – Golf Digest

• “No. 7 Course in Florida” – Golfweek

• “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 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 Hills, home of Victoria Hills Golf Club, offers distinctive custom and semi-custom homes nestled along a nature preserve. This summer Victoria Hills will host the 2005 Southern Living Idea House at Victoria Park and the new Victoria Hills Golf Club House will open for business. 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 .

© 2005 The St. Joe Company. “JOE,” “St. Joe,” “Victoria Hills,” “Victoria Commons,” “Victoria Gardens” and the “Victoria Park” design are service marks of The St. Joe Company.

CONTACT:

Tom Williams

Buffalo Communications

703.891.3322; twilliams@billycaspergolf.com