Sarasota, Florida: Home Of The Oldest Golf Course in America

Several communities across America have claimed they were first to provide a golfing facility. The most popular of these claims comes from Yonkers, New York , where two gentlemen from Dunfermline, Scotland, Robert Lockhart and John Reid, constructed a three hole golfing ground in 1888. However, many Sarasotans disagree with the Yonkers claim and local historical records support their position.

In December 1885, John Hamilton Gillespie arrived in the southwest Florida fishing village of Sarasota. Gillespie brought his hickory golf sticks with him from Scotland and by May 1886 he had constructed a two hole golfing ground between what is now Main Street and Ringling Boulevard. By 1888 the number of golf holes increased to four and a practice range was added to the mix. This course increased to 9 holes and a clubhouse by 1901 and by 1906 a full 18 hole course was in operation two years before the Yonkers course.

Today, Bobby Jones Golf Club is a 45 hole municipal facility named for the legendary Robert Tyre Jones, Jr., who personally dedicated the course on Sunday, February 13, 1927.

The original 18 holes were designed in 1926 by the famed course architect Donald Ross. Nine additional holes were constructed in 1952 and another nine were added in 1967. The John H. Gillespie Executive Course was completed in 1977.

In 1930, Bobby Jones accomplished one of the most amazing feats in sports history, the Grand Slam of Golf. In honor of these championships the British Course front nine is named for his British Amateur victory at St. Andrews and the back nine for his British Open success at Hoylake. The American Course honors Jones' championships in the U.S. Amateur at Merion and the U.S. Open at Interlachen. Jones is the

During its eighty three years Bobby Jones courses have challenged such immortals as Walter Hagen, Tommy Armour, Gene Sarazen and even the "Babe", George Herman Ruth. In 1940 the longest playoff for a PGA event was held at both the Bobby Jones Course and nearby Sarabay C.C. when the PGA Seniors Championship tournament needed 36 playoff holes before Otto Hackbarth bested Jack Hutchinson 294 to 295. Past LPGA greats including Patty Berg, Babe Dedrickson Zaharias and Louise Suggs made Bobby Jones a regular tour stop in the mid 1950's. The current British Course record is 62 set by Sarasotan, Paul Azinger, in 1980.

Sarasota’s Bobby Jones Golf Complex attracts visitors from around the world who come to play the fairways and greens steeped in golfing history.

Learn more at www.bobbyjonesgolfclub.com and www.sarasotafl.org if you plan to visit the area.

James C. Weaver
jweaver35@comcast.net

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LPGA International: Among Florida’s Finest Golf Courses

There must be a thousand golf courses in sunshine state of Florida, but among the very best are the two courses are the LPGA International. These outstanding courses are open to men and women members and to the general public. Located in Daytona Beach. they’re just minutes from the famous beach and the world renowned Daytona International Speedway. The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), headquartered here, oversees more than 800 golf events worldwide each year.

Opened in 1994, the LPGA International complex features two golf courses distinctly different in design that have hosted numerous LPGA Tour Championships. The Champions course is now the venue of the final LPGA Tour Qualifying School. There’s also a first-class driving range, three regulation-length practice holes, and a clubhouse that boasts all the fine amenities you might expect in a major resort facility.

The Rees Jones designed Champions Course is both challenging and picturesque. There are elevated tees and greens, the dramatically rolling fairways bordered by high mounds and old-growth trees, and many of natural and man-made hazards. Water is in play 10 of the 18 holes. The 18-hole Champions plays 7,088 yards from the tips for a par of 72.

The LPGA’s 1997 signature Arthur Hills Legends Course challenges golfers at every turn. The par 72 layout is a classic at 6,984 yards. Hills used a superb natural setting to create a masterpiece in playability and variety. It features natural wetlands, narrow pine corridors, small greens and strategically placed water hazards.

The Legends calls for the player to use their mind ahead of their muscles. Played from the proper tees, it poses an appropriate challenge to more accomplished players and fairness to high handicappers, seniors, women and junior golfers.

The Practice Facility at LPGA International is larger and superior to any I have ever encountered. Totally unique, it is what one might expect from the home of the LPGA Tour and the Teaching and Club Professional Division. The main practice area features an 80,000 square foot surface area of natural turf and 10 target greens. With a combination of perfect turf and high quality practice balls, there is no better place to practice.

There are six practice putting greens throughout our facility so that it’s never too crowded to practice this vital area of your game. Several of these greens have bunkers with different face heights to enable realistic bunker practice. There is also a bunker reserved only for fairway bunker shot practice.

In addition, there is a three-hole Practice Academy course that features a par 5, par 4 and a par 3. It is maintained to the same high standard as our two championship courses.

The practice facility hosts numerous college golf teams for their annual spring training, international teams, local school teams and a wide variety of golf schools.

LPGA International offers world-class golf instruction, school, and clinics. Florida is renowned as a top destination for golfers worldwide, and the LPGA encourages groups and individuals of all levels and ages to come experience our world-class golf instruction.

To learn more about these opportunities view www.lpgainternational.com. Also, see www.daytonabeachcvb.org to plan you trip to the area.

James C. Weaver
jweaver35@comcast.net

Travel Editor
New York Trend, Metropolitan NYC
NewYorkTrendOnLine.com (web)
Travel Correspondent
ilreporter.com (web)
The Morning Telegraph, Tyler, TX
Journal & Topics, Suburban Chicago
Journal-Press, Northern Virginia
Independent Feature Writer
Chestnut Hill Local, Philadelphia
The Crafts Report
CraftsReport.com (web)
Antiques & Collecting
Carousel News & Trader
Old Time Herald
DelMarVa Quarterly
GolfWiz (web)
AANR e-Bulletin (web)

Member:
International Food, Wine
& Travel Writers Association
International Association
of Black Travel Writers

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