FLORIDA FUN
FOR ALL
THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP MOVES
TO SPRING
If you decide to break away in 2019 for some early-spring golf in North
Florida, build in some time to attend The PLAYERS Championship, which
has moved to the new late-winter date of March 14-17, at TPC Sawgrass
in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Designated as the PGA TOUR’s “flagship event,” championship week
at The PLAYERS offers a variety of events before the pros even get started
in Thursday’s opening round of competition.
Military members are admitted free all week and a special military
appreciation concert with a national recording artist (to be announced)
will be held for fans on Tuesday of tournament week. The concert will
be held in “the bowl” area around hole Nos. 16 and 17, and will include
a military-jet flyover.
Wednesday’s practice round for the professionals also features the
annual “Caddie Challenge,” in which professional caddies make the tee
shot on the treacherous par-3 island green 17th hole and try to win a shag
bag of cash (provided by their touring pros) for being closest to the hole.
“They call this the greatest fan experience in tournament golf,” said David
Reese, president of Florida’s First Coast of Golf. “There are different levels
of hospitality all week at The PLAYERS with activities for all ages.”
For tickets and more information, visit THEPLAYERS.com.
WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME INDUCTION
If you’re in North Florida for winter golf, definitely plan to visit the World
Golf Hall of Fame (904-940-4123), located at World Golf Village in St.
Augustine, Fla.
The Hall of Fame and museum honors the game’s greats and
houses the bronze plaques of members enshrined into the Hall for their
accomplishments and contributions in the game.
A new member class will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of
Fame on June 10, 2019, in Pebble Beach, Calif., during the week of the
U.S. Open Championship.
Induction of the five new
members in 2019 will
bring the total number of
Hall of Fame members
to 160.
Set for induction into the
TOP: Omni Amelia Resort offers breathtaking
World Golf Hall of Fame
ocean views. RIGHT: TPC Sawgrass in Ponte
will be: South African
Vedra Beach will host the 2019 PLAYERS
competitor Retief Goosen;
Championship.
former Augusta National
Golf Club Chairman Billy
Payne for lifetime achievement; Australian competitor Jan Stephenson;
disabled golfer Dennis Walters for lifetime achievement; and the late LPGA
teaching professional Peggy Kirk Bell for lifetime achievement.
For more information, visit worldgolfhalloffame.org.
TEE OFF FOR FAMILY GOLF
The PGA of America launched its PGA Family Course Program in 2011
and since that time, golf courses around the nation have implemented
ways to help make golf a family experience.
At Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort, the year-round “Tee Off For
Family Golf” program at Oak Marsh offers families a chance to play nine
holes together in a relaxed setting.
Special family tee times are offered after 2 p.m. for a fee of $30 for one
adult and up to two juniors (age 15 and under), or $50 for two adults and
juniors play free. The program offers a complimentary cart, range balls and
club rentals.
“It’s important to grow the game of golf and this is a way to get families out
there together playing from the same tees,” said Omni Amelia Island Director
of Golf Mike Block. “It’s a fun, affordable option that doesn’t take a lot of time.”
For more information, visit omnihotels.com.
PGA FAMILY COURSE PROGRAM
Oak Marsh | Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort
THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
TPC Sawgrass | Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
fla.
vsga.org
WORLD GOLF HALL OF FAME
World Golf Village | St. Augustine, Fla.
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