January 3, 2011 – 11:45 am
The opportunity to spend some time with one of golf’s legends is available on Saturday, January 15 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum when the special exhibition, Nancy Lopez: Pride Passion & Personality is officially opened. The special exhibit, which opened in December, features more than 100 pieces of memorability from her career, including LPGA Championship trophies, her trophy from the inaugural Solheim Cup and even the legendary Ray Cook putter she used to win so many of her 48 LPGA titles.
Guests at the World Golf Hall of Fame on Saturday, January 15 will have the opportunity to tour the museum, the Lopez exhibit and attend a speaking program with her in the museum’s Shell Hall. Advance tickets to this limited seating event are $25 and available to purchase online at https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/wghof/event.jsp?event=14
Overnight accommodations are available at the nearby Renaissance Resorts from $129 plus tax. For more information log on to www.worldgolfhalloffame.org
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November 1, 2010 – 11:33 am
The Florida’s First Coast of Golf Annual Dinner at the World Golf Hall of Fame was the perfect site to celebrate the year. Congratulations go to all the award winners - New Member of the Year, Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront; Members of the Year - Courtyard Marriott Oceanfront (accommodations) and Honours Golf (golf courses) and 2010 Hall of Fame inductee Jackie Wilson of Palencia.
I was seated with the Southwest Airlines representative and two German tour operators who were looking at properties in North Florida. That certainly speaks to the diversity of Florida’s First Coast of Golf. The area is perfect for people looking for a close-in destination (and, yes, Southwest does fly to Jacksonville International Airport) but also has enough wonderful courses, attractions and accommodations to attract golfers from overseas.
And if you haven’t seen the World Golf Hall of Fame, now is the time to visit. There are so many great exhibits. My favorite is to see the lockers of the inductees which features their golf bag and other special mementos.Â
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November 1, 2010 – 11:33 am
The Florida’s First Coast of Golf Annual Dinner at the World Golf Hall of Fame was the perfect site to celebrate the year. Congratulations go to all the award winners - New Member of the Year, Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront; Members of the Year - Courtyard Marriott Oceanfront (accommodations) and Honours Golf (golf courses) and 2010 Hall of Fame inductee Jackie Wilson of Palencia.
I was seated with the Southwest Airlines representative and two German tour operators who were looking at properties in North Florida. That certainly speaks to the diversity of Florida’s First Coast of Golf. The area is perfect for people looking for a close-in destination (and, yes, Southwest does fly to Jacksonville International Airport) but also has enough wonderful courses, attractions and accommodations to attract golfers from overseas.
And if you haven’t seen the World Golf Hall of Fame, now is the time to visit. There are so many great exhibits. My favorite is to see the lockers of the inductees which features their golf bag and other special mementos.Â
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October 19, 2010 – 9:34 am
The Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open is this week at the TPC Sawgrass Dye’s Valley Course. Part of the Nationwide Tour of the PGA TOUR, this event helps showcase rising stars and gives professional golfers a chance to improve their game before moving up to the next rank.
Florida’s First Coast of Golf is fortunate to have two major professional events on its area courses along with a myriad of other competitive activities such as the upcoming Golf Channel Invitational at World Golf Village. So what does that mean for you, an average player? It means that you get the best of all worlds.
Joe or Joanne Golfer can play the same courses the pros do or relax and play courses that feature the area’s natural beauty. Whatever your game or the type of golf vacation you are seeking, we have it and now’s the time to visit. Fall weather means clear blue cloudless skies with temperatures in the upper 70’s. Plus there’s college and pro football to round out your trip.
September 15, 2010 – 4:42 pm
Michael Gudinas, of the LPGA International golf staff, likes to give this tip about putting. At the address, keep your left hand ahead of or over the front of the ball. Maintain constant pressure in both hands throughout the stroke. Keep your eyes on the ball and keep your head and body still. Work on consistent tempo. Make sure that the back of your left hand and palm of right hand face the target through impact. Stand tall, pointing your elbows towards your hips and concentrate on distance. Play the ball slightly ahead of center and hit it slightly on the upstroke. Take the club back slow and follow through. Putting is with your arms not your wrists. Avoid left wrist breakdown. Make sure you aim for the back of the cup on short putts. For long putts, concentrate on speed and aim for an intermediate target.
Don’t forget to make your plans to try out your new putting stroke at Florida’s First Coast of Golf!
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!