Press Kit - Attractions and Non Golf Activities

Florida's First Coast of Golf – The 19th Hole and Beyond

JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – While northeast Florida is home to scenic golf courses that are ideal for golfers of any skill level, the area also offers a full menu of activities off the course to complete any vacation experience. Northeast Florida is home to beautiful sandy beaches, historical attractions and a full menu of nature based activities such as kayaking and birding. The area is also home to the history of golf at the World Golf Hall of Fame at the World Golf Village in St. Augustine.

The World Golf Hall of Fame boasts 100 members and has welcomed more than one million visitors since opening in 1998. A 75,000-square-foot dynamic educational tool, the Hall of Fame strives to impart the values taught by golf – honesty, integrity, sportsmanship – through instruction, inspiration and fun.

The World Golf Hall of Fame's 300-seat IMAX Theater houses an 80-foot-wide by six-story-high screen, supported by the most powerful sound system in the business. IMAX film frames are 10 times the size of a conventional 35mm movie. This is the first IMAX Theater built in conjunction with a sports museum or Hall of Fame.

Visitors to the World Golf Village will find shopping alternatives for those who are fans of the game. And, award winning cuisine for those who just enjoy a good meal. Actor-comedian Bill Murray, together with his five brothers, opened the first-ever Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurant, on the Walk of Champions at World Golf Village.

In addition to golf inspired activities, there are many non-golf attractions and activities. In addition to featuring four top rated golf courses, the Amelia Island Plantation resort offers a world class spa designed to relax and rejuvenate. In Palm Coast, the Club at Hammock Beach's full-service spa features a wide range of treatments including a facial designed specifically for teenagers.

In Jacksonville, Alltel Stadium is home to the NFL's Jaguars. In addition, the stadium hosts several college football games each year including the Florida/Georgia game, the ACC Championship, and the annual Gator Bowl each New Year's Day.

The area is also famous for fishing, cycling, and boating. Clay County's Green Cove Springs is fed by a natural mineral spring. Flagler County is home to fresh and salt water preserves that provide visitors with a unique glimpse of unspoiled ecosystems, including dunes, tidal creeks, estuaries, salt marshes, and mangroves. St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach offer a unique combination of history and recreation in a setting of sunlit natural beauty. St. Augustine abounds with historic sites, national monuments, architecturally rich churches and Old World ambiance. Jacksonville's museums, art galleries and theaters are complemented by its beaches. And, 40 square blocks of Amelia Island are in the National Register of Historic Places.

The abundance of golf courses, resorts and hotels, and other activities in the area has created the need for the services and packages offered by Florida's First Coast of Golf. The organization can help plan the ideal golf vacation experience. By working with courses and accommodations in the area, Florida's First Coast of Golf can help travelers build the perfect trip. They are also able to help plan activities for golfers traveling with a non-golfer.

Florida's First Coast of Golf's Web site is an ideal spot to start planning any Florida golf escape. The site features weekly specials and other packages to help make a golf retreat affordable.