JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Camp Creek and SouthWood Golf Clubs, two awarding-winning St. Joe-owned golf courses, have been selected to Florida Golf Journal’s inaugural listing of “The Best of Northwest Florida,” a catalog of the finest public, resort, semi-private and private courses in Florida’s Emerald Coast region.
Camp Creek, a Tom Fazio design recently selected to host a U.S. Open Local Qualifier, was one of only two private courses included, while SouthWood, designed by Fred Couples/Gene Bates and home to the Florida State University men’s and women’s golf teams, was the eastern-most course selected. Only 12 courses were chosen from the region’s formidable inventory of highly-regarded golf properties.
Florida Golf Journal , a state-wide golf and travel publication based in Tampa, cited Camp Creek’s “mix of long, short, wide and tight holes,” and lauded its layout, which “takes players from sand dunes through forest, with slippery greens accompanying all the way.” About semi-private SouthWood, the magazine’s editors wrote: “Any collection of the region’s best would be shamefully incomplete without SouthWood, the Fred Couples/Gene Bates design that has raised the bar for all future Tallahassee courses.”
The St. Joe-owned and nationally-acclaimed WaterColor Inn and Resort, just minutes from Camp Creek, and its chef-driven Fish Out of Water restaurant, were recommended for area accommodations and dining. Also included in Florida Golf Journal’s list of regional accommodations were the craftsman-styled Cottages at SouthWood, located near the historic SouthWood House only one-half mile from the golf course.
“Florida Golf Journal is a widely respected golf publication and it is an honor to be considered one of the region’s best golf courses,” says Camp Creek General Manager Will Hopkins.
Hopkins and his staff were instrumental in Camp Creek’s recent transition from daily fee/resort to resort/private, as well as the successful implementation of a new caddie program. Guests of the WaterColor Inn and St. Joe luxury rental properties have exclusive access to tee times and the caddie service. Camp Creek – in concert with the WaterColor Inn – offers a handful of signature stay-and-play golf packages that include golf, accommodations, fine dining and lessons with the course’s PGA professionals.
October has been an exciting month for SouthWood. In addition to recognition in Florida Golf Journal, the live oak-laden layout was voted “Tallahassee’s Best Golf Course” by the readers of Tallahassee Magazine, and onsite instructor Becky Sauers was voted the city’s top golf instructor. SouthWood was the top vote-getter from among both public and private courses for the second time. And Sauers, who heads up the Classical School of Golf and Lady Links at SouthWood, won for the third time since opening her golf academy on property in 2002.
“These types of accolades speak volumes about the hard work our staff has put in to position SouthWood as one of the region’s best courses,” says SouthWood General Manager Beth Murphy.
About Camp Creek
Since opening in 2001, Camp Creek has been consistently cited as one of Tom Fazio's most thought-provoking, aesthetically-stunning design credits. Featuring a unique “dunescape” appearance, the course was created as a private club for members who are owners of selected St. Joe communities and resort guests of St. Joe’s WaterColor and WaterSound Beach resorts. From the back green tees, the course plays to a championship caliber yardage of 7,159 and a formidable slope rating of 145.
Camp Creek’s five-tee configuration, which also includes gold (senior) and red (women’s) tees, accommodates players of all skill and experience levels. Travel + Leisure Golf recently recognized Camp Creek as “Florida’s No. 1 Course of the New Millennium.” It has also been recognized for its environmental stewardship through designation as a Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary by the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary System (ACSS). Superintendent Larry Livingston was similarly distinguished as a certified Audubon Steward.
For more information about Camp Creek Golf Club, visit www.stjoegolf.com or call 850.231.7600.
About SouthWood
Designed by PGA Tour star Fred Couples and renowned architect Gene Bates, SouthWood Golf Club is among the region’s most-acclaimed courses. Most recently, it was named among the Top-10 courses of the new millennium by Travel + Leisure Golf. SouthWood was also named to Golf Digest’s list of “America’s Best New Courses,” selected by GOLFMagazine as one of the top 35 public courses – out of 325 nationwide – to open in 2002.
Highlighted by stands of stunning, Spanish moss-draped oak trees, the 7,172-yard layout meanders over rolling hills, through wooded areas and expansive, open land. A course that tests members of the Florida State University men’s and women’s golf teams while providing an enjoyable experience for golfers of all abilities, SouthWood features five sets of tees on every hole. The 2,986-yard “Wee Tees” provide the ideal course set-up for juniors, beginners or players seeking to improve their short game.
For more information about SouthWood Golf Club or to make tee times, visit www.stjoegolf.com or call 850.942.4653.
About JOE
The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), a publicly held company based in Jacksonville, is one of Florida’s largest real estate operating companies. We are primarily engaged in real estate development and sales, with significant interests in timber. Our mission is to create places that inspire people and make JOE’s Florida an even better place to live, work and play. We’re no ordinary JOE.
More information about JOE can be found at our web site at www.joe.com.
CONTACT:
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
803.547.2118
ssharp@billycaspergolf.com
