August 27, 2010 – 3:36 pm
Florida’s First Coast of Golf has assembled the ultimate guys getaway weekend this fall by providing a way to purchase Jacksonville Jaguar NFL tickets when you arrange to visit the area for golf. Fans of the Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans, Cleveland Browns, Oakland Raiders and Washington Redskins can follow their team. Log onto the special football ticket order page or call 1-888-441-4724 to purchase your tickets.
This is a great value-added for those looking for top quality accommodations at great prices, world famous golf courses and following their favorite team. And it’s easy to get to Florida’s First Coast. Visitors can fly into Jacksonville International Airport on their choice of AirTran, Southwest, USAirways, Delta, United, Continental, American or JetBlue.Â
Tickets are limited so call today!
August 20, 2010 – 10:47 am
Always dreamed of mixing business with golf. Now you can learn how to do it successfully with a new program. The Palencia Club in lovely St. Augustine is launching a new program in September called “Art & Science of Playing Business Golf.” The program includes morning continental breakfast and instructional program, lunch and 18 holes of golf for a reduced rate of $250 per person.Â
Participants will learn why golf is so conducive to conducting business and will tie the four “r’s” of golf - refocus, routine, react and relax - with the four “r’s” of business - responsibility, ready, relationships and return on investment.
Leading the program will be Dan Meinert, Director of Instruction at The Palencia Club and Palencia Putting Institute, and Jim Ragland, Golf Professional at The Palencia Club. Dan is actually a doctor - no, not the medical kind. He has a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University where his dissertation topic was “How Corporations Make Decisions to Invest in Sport.” Jim has been a golf professional since 1981 and studies under some of the game’s greats - Davis Love, Jr. and David Leadbetter.
For more information, call Dan Meinert at 904-599-9030 or email him at daniel_meinert@hines.com
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August 12, 2010 – 8:37 am
31 professional golfers make their home in the Ponte Vedra Beach area of Florida’s First Coast of Golf. And why not? It’s close to some of the world’s greatest courses, you can play golf all year round, there are beautiful sandy beaches beckoning, and the headquarters of the PGA Tour are right here.Â
The story of how Ponte Vedra Beach became such a mecca for golf is one of those legends that make it difficult to believe. Two real estate developers, Jerome and Paul Fletcher, wanted to put some zing in their marketing efforts for the area. They met Deane Beman, then commissioner of the PGA Tour, who was looking for a permanent home for the offices of the PGA Tour and what was then called the Tournament Players Championship. Jerome and Paul agreed to sell the land that Deane would need for a golf course, club and offices for $1. They broke ground on the course in 1980 and the rest is history.
So you too can enjoy golf history and have the same opportunity as the pros have by booking your trip to Florida’s Frist Coast of Golf. With fall just around the corner, it’s the perfect time to come visit.Â
Yes, even the pros have problems with their putting. But Mike Burgess, First Assistant Golf Professional at LPGA International has a simple drill to help you improve your score.
Take an everyday chalk line that you can get at any hardware store. Start from about three feet away making a line with the chalk from the hole to your starting point. First, without a ball, make strokes using the chalk line as a guide. Swing the putter back and forth like a pendulum. Next, place a ball directly on the line and swing the putter straight back on the line. Follow through the putt, keeping the putter on the chalk line. Keep your strokes low and slow and you’ll make more putts.
Check out the many great deals for Florida’s First Coast of Golf courses where you can put into practice your newly improved putting skills!
While some of the golf world will be focused on the Old Course at St. Andrew’s where Gore-Tex in July is a real possibility, Florida’s First Coast of Golf thought you should consider what the links of our golf courses have to offer this summer. Besides value season rates, there are cool ocean breezes off the waters of the Atlantic and great courses by some of the game’s most renowned architects.
The Ocean Links course at Amelia Island Plantation has five holes that qualify as links. Designed by Pete Dye and Bobby Weed, it has been named as one of the 50 Best Courses for Women by Golf for Women.
The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club’s Ocean Course was designed in 1928 by British architect Herbert Bertram Strong and was one of the area’s first resort golf experiences.
Jack Nicklaus Signature design Ocean Course at Hammock Beach has won just about every award out there including being one of the Best Courses You Can Play in Florida (Golfweek Magazine).
So what are you waiting for. Summer is flying by!
Taking your game of golf a little too seriously? Well, Amelia Island Plantation wants you to get a little bit more fun out of golf by signing up for its First Annual Retro Golf Classic. Yes, pull out that v-neck sweater and see if you can still fit into those polyester madras bell bottom pants. It will be 70’s on the links (not your score…the year). Friday, August 6 is the date. There will be shotgun tournament starting at 2PM on the Ocean Links. Cost is $85 per person and includes boxed lunch, drink tickets, prizes and more. Immediately after golf head over to the Falcon’s Nest After Party for the awards ceremony and find out what lucky team has won a golf trip to the Orange County National (must be present to win and have played in the tournament). Orange County National is the course that will host the Qualifying School finals for the PGA Tour in November.  Tournament participants can stay in a deluxe ocean-view room for only $149* per night (*based on double occupancy). Contact 904-321-5029 or 904-491-1760 to register for the golf tournament and for tournament room reservations.Š
Dave Reese, President of Florida’s First Coast of Golf, was slaving over a very hot machine this past week preparing his signature “Dave Reese Low Country Boil” for participants in the Florida’s First Coast of Golf tournament held at Windsor Parke Golf Club. Dave, like any good cook, won’t release the secret details of his delicious recipe, but I can tell you that it did contain lots of Mayport Shrimp.
Those of you who have yet to visit Florida’s First Coast of Golf are missing out on some great restaurants and some delectable Mayport Shrimp. The area is known for its quirkly fish camps, which are kind of a cross between restaurant, bait store, and place to dock your boat. It’s all about casual and it’s all about the shrimp - fried, broiled, barbequed, baked, you name it.
Nearby Amelia Island, home to several courses on Florida’s First Coast of Golf, claims the title of birthplace of the modern shrimping industry. That’s because many years ago someone figure out to add a motorized winch to collect the nets. Shrimp nets used to be made in a little shack near the docks of Fernandina Beach called The Net House.Â
While I can’t promise you Dave’s recipe, I can promise you that the Mayport Shrimp give the golf a battle as one of the best reasons to visit.
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It’s summer in Florida so it’s hot. But it’s also value season and now’s the time to consider coming to Florida’s First Coast of Golf. Many of our member courses are offering value season rates, like Eagle Harbor’s ladies’ rate in June, Monday-Thursday, for $35 plus tax.Â
Here’s the recipe for your vacation. Get up early and hit the golf course. Enjoy the beverage cart as it makes its rounds. Hit the beach in the afternoon and wait for the sea breeze to kick in. Our beaches remain pristine - no oil spill here.
After a busy day of golf and the beach, head for the nearest fish camp for some local delicacies - after all, Amelia Island’s Fernandina Beach is the home of the modern shrimping industry so our Mayport shrimp is legendary. Then get up the next day and do it all over again.
In fishing they always talk about the one that got away. In golf, stories of success/failure grow by the minute when recapping your round at the 19th hole. So why not win a prize for your legendary tale in Florida’s First Coast of Golf Back Nine Legends contest. Write up to 500 words about your golf experience (we really love those that occur in our neck of the woods) and submit your entry by email to elizabeth@fla-golf.org. The winning prize is a four day/three night stay for two in an Ocean view room (Sunday through Thursday) at Amelia Island Plantation. Included is unlimited golf at Amelia River, Ocean Links and Oak Marsh each day of your stay.
Of course there are deadlines and rules. One entry per person up until deadline of July 20, 2010. Our panel of three judges makes the final decision. You must be 18 years or older to win and all entries will be the property of Florida’s First Coast of Golf. Check out all the restrictions, rules and fun on our Facebook page, Florida’s First Coast of Golf. While you are at it, become a fan. We’re also on Twitter @FL1stcoastgolf.
This year’s British Open will be contested on the Old Course at St. Andrews. As one who has been to St. Andrews twice, I can attest to the charm of the city, the quirkiness of the golf course (it’s closed on Sunday’s and people walk their dogs there) and the very chilly breezes off the North Sea (and that was in August!).Â
For those who can’t make the trek to the home of golf and the headquarters of the Royal & Ancient, I can say that Florida’s First Coast of Golf can certainly make the case that it is the home of golf in the United States. In addition to the World Golf Hall of Fame, the headquarters of the PGA Tour, and the world-famous 17th green at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, there are many courses that offer true links golf. No cold breezes off the North Sea but plenty of friendly people to make your visit enjoyable.Â
The other great thing about Florida’s First Coast of Golf…we have ice cubes! During my two visits to Scotland ice was a commodity not used very often though I was allowed a couple in my glass of Macallan.
So plan a trip if you won’t be making the crossing to Scotland. Great golf and warm ocean breezes await!