The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, located at Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, is a AAA Five Diamond Award resort and the first country club at Ponte Vedra. The 9th hole on the Ocean course has the distinction of having the first island green ever built.
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History
In the early 1900's, Ponte Vedra was primarily an area dominated by sand dunes, swamps, alligators, and palmetto trees. In 1912, it was discovered that these dunes were rich in desirable minerals, containing rutile, ilmenite, and zirconium. These minerals were vital in the production of steel, which was in high demand during this era. After this discovery, attention was drawn to this pristine area of wilderness, in turn, resulting in the transformation to a mining town with a workers' quarter, a post office, and a supermarket. The National Lead Company took over the area for the purpose of mining ore and spurred development of the mineral-rich land, which supported the war effort. After World War I ended, demand for the minerals decreased and the company decided to transform the beachfront property into a resort community, covering the property with seaside houses, small and pastel in color. After a few years, the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club debuted in 1928, bringing an influx of socialites from nearby San Jose, San Marco, Ortega, and Riverside.
Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co. was a developer of Ponte Vedra Beach in the early 1930s and owned the Ponte Vedra Club. The resort became a favorite of the wealthy with guests and their families returning year after year. The 1937 clubhouse stands behind the lobby building and is still in use.
In the early 1980s, Gate Petroleum purchased the Florida real estate holdings of Stockton, Whatley, Davin & Co., which was then owned by Phillips Petroleum Company for $60 million. The purchase contained more than 16,000 acres (65 km2) of land in northeast Florida including the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club. Gate raised the standards at the resort, and the property was awarded the AAA Five Diamond designation in 2002 and every year since.
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Resort
The Ponte Vedra Inn and Club is a AAA Five Diamond oceanfront resort in Northeast Florida. The family-oriented resort contains 300 acres (120 ha) with ½ mile of beach on the Atlantic Ocean. There are 249 guestrooms and suites, all with complimentary wifi access, and over 90% with ocean views. There are nine restaurants and dining options, three lounges, along with ten boutiques and shops. A new 28,000 sq ft (2,600 m2) full-service day spa facility opened in November, 2006. The spa offers 100 speciality services and treatments as well as dining and guaranteed relaxation. Jacksonville Magazine titled it the "Best Day Spa" and the Top Spa for Bridal Parties." Recreation activities include four heated beachside pools: an adult pool, family pool, lap pool, and kiddie pool, as well as a heated spa jacuzzi. Other activities on the resort include bicycling, boating, fishing, and horseback riding. The resort has a kids camp, open to children between the ages of 4 to 12 years old, offering activities like organized games, beach walks, arts and crafts, and swim time. Hotel guests and club members are able to access the beach rentals which provide paddleboards, kayaks, bicycles, and more. The resort has a 36-hole golf course and a premier tennis center which both offer professional instruction. The tennis club has been rated "one of the top adult tennis camps in the nation" by Tennis Magazine. The club offers instructional programs, private lessons, and a fully stocked pro-shop. The fitness center includes a six-lane Olympic pool and offers over 100 classes open to all members as well as hotel guests. A conference center can accommodate up to 450 people. Many of the staff are multi-lingual.
The Resort is home to nine different restaurants each with a variety of culinary choices. The Seahorse Grille is located just above the surf deck, with views of the beach. This restaurant is popular for dinner but also is open for brunch from 11-2PM. A lounge dining area called the Tavern serves cocktails and small dishes. Overlooking the par-three "island" golf hole is the Golf Club Restaurant. The Surf Club Patio and the Snack Bar serves the pool area. The small Seafood Dining Room has been recently updated to a more modern look. Jackets and ties are recommended for gentlemen as this restaurant is more formal. The newest addition to the resort's dining options is the Surf Deck Grille, a casual spot right off the ocean.
Golf courses
The Ponte Vedra Inn and Club introduced the first golf course to the region in 1928, and Ponte Vedra is now known as one of the golf capitals on the East Coast.The golf facilities at the resort have a total of 36 holes on two courses. The Ocean Course was designed by Herbert Strong in 1928, redesigned by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1947, then again by Bobby Weed in 1998. The island green on the 9th hole is always a challenge and most of the time there is a stiff wind off the ocean. The Ryder Cup was scheduled to be held there in 1939, but was canceled when World War II began.
The front nine holes of the Lagoon Course were a Robert Trent Jones Sr. design and opened in 1961. It was 16 years before the back nine was built, laid out by Joe Lee. In 1997, Bobby Weed redesigned the entire course and then again in 2007, fixing irrigation issues, enhancing the landscaping, and changing the routing on several holes. The Lagoon is considered the easier course to play, but is still challenging and full of character of its own. The latest clubhouse renovation occurred in 2001.
The course is limited to members and their guests or guests of the resort. There are three putting greens, a chipping green, and a practice bunker. The resort has a complete pro shop with golf club rentals and shoes. Private lessons and daily clinics offered as well.
References
External links
- Ponte Vedra Inn & Club official website
- The Spa at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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