AMELIA ISLAND, Fla. -- Amelia Island Plantation celebrated the construction of the new Golf shop at Royal Amelia Golf Club with a groundbreaking.

More than 20 people attended this afternoon’s ceremony, including a representative of the bank financing the project, the construction company building the golf shop, the architect who designed the structure and Amelia Island Plantation.

“We are excited to bring this new golf shop to the community of Fernandina Beach,” said Jack Healan, Jr., President of Amelia Island Company. “This new building will enhance the golf experience at Royal Amelia Golf Club with the addition of a restaurant and pro shop at this Tom Jackson designed championship course.”

Participating in the groundbreaking were Fernandina Beach Mayor William Leeper, John Duffy Sr. Vice President of the National Bank of South Carolina, the project’s architect Mike Lucas, Contractor Steve Pickett, Project Manager Lovick Suddath and Amelia Island Plantation Amelia Island Plantation President Jack Healan, Jr. and, Executive Vice President Norman Bray. Dave Reese, Executive Director and John McElreath, Associate Director of Florida’s First Coast of Golf along with representatives of Amelia Island Plantation, Vice President of Finance Laura Palmisano, Vice President of Marketing Richard Goldman, Director of Planning & Development William Moore, Director of Golf Robert Dugger, and Superintendent Ron Hill also participated in the ceremony.

Royal Amelia is renowned as one of the best-conditioned courses in the area with incredibly smooth TifEagle greens and wide Scottish links style fairways. This par 72 track, which plays to a yardage of 6,843 from the back tees, is always in pristine shape with well manicured rolling fairways, smooth bunkers and greens that challenge all skill levels.

Located just 29 miles northeast of Jacksonville International Airport, Amelia Island Plantation is Florida’s Premier Island Resort. Nestled between the Atlantic and the Intracoastal Waterway, the resort features 3˝ miles of wide, uncrowded beach, 72 holes of championship golf, luxury spa, 23 tennis courts, 23 pools, a shopping village, state-of-the-art Health and Fitness center, ten dining opportunities and age-specific youth programs.