St. Joe Owned, Operated Course Debuts on List, Layout, Conditions and Programs Cited
(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) – SouthWood Golf Club – the award-winning public course at the heart of one of Tallahassee’s most comprehensively designed communities – has been named one of the "Top 50 Courses for Women" by Golf For Women magazine.
Owned and operated by The St. Joe Company, SouthWood debuted on the prestigious list at No. 45. Editors cited the course’s women-friendly layout and multiple tee ratings for women, as well as its progressive instructional, social and competitive programs. Additionally, SouthWood is one of the only facilities in the country with a female general manager, Beth Murphy, and director of instruction, Becky Sauers.
Murphy came to SouthWood two years ago from Myrtle Beach, where she was one of only three female general managers/head professionals among 120-plus golf courses. She has been instrumental in the start-up and continuation of a variety of activities for women golfers, including the popular Grove Park Ladies Match Play championship.
Sauers, who heads up the Classical School of Golf and Lady Links at SouthWood, is a former president of the LPGA’s Southeast region and was instrumental in bringing the organization’s headquarters to Daytona Beach. She was also LPGA professional of the year in 1987 and has been recognized as aGOLF Magazine Top 50 female instructor and Top 100 teachers (male and female).
"We are honored to be named one of the top courses for women by such a widely-read and respected publication," Murphy says. "This award is a validation of our commitment to attracting women to the game of golf and retaining their participation and interest level over time."
To determine the Top 50 Courses for Women, Golf For Women began with a large group of nominees that included past Golf For Women Top Courses, eligible courses from Golf Digest’s Top 100 Public Courses and courses nominated by Golf For Women’s course raters. The course raters provide evaluations on every public and resort course they play, and they travel and play at their own expense and on their own timetables.
A Golf For Women Top 50 Course must have at least one set of tees under 5,300 yards, and should have at least two under 6,000. A minimum of two tees must be rated for women. The course should have few forced carries from the forward tees, be in top condition and present a women-friendly environment.
SouthWood debuts on the list along with such high-profile courses as Running Y Ranch (Klamath Falls, Oregon), Celebration Golf Club (Celebration, Florida), Bandon Dunes Resort (Bandon, Oregon), Turning Stone Resort and Casino (Verona, New York) and We-Ko-Pa Golf Club’s Saguaro Course (Fountain Hills, Arizona).
For more information about SouthWood Golf Club, visit www.stjoegolf.com or call 850.942.4653.
About SouthWood Golf Club
Designed by PGA Tour star Fred Couples and renowned architect Gene Bates, SouthWood Golf Club is among the region’s most-acclaimed courses. Highlighted by stands of stunning, Spanish moss-draped oak trees, the 7,172-yard layout meanders over rolling hills, through wooded areas and open land. A course that tests Tour-quality players and provides an enjoyable experience for golfers of all abilities, SouthWood features five sets of tees on every hole. The 2,986-yard "Wee Tees" provide the ideal course set-up for juniors, beginners or players seeking to improve their short game. SouthWood Golf Club has garnered numerous honors since opening in November 2002. Most recently, the course was named among the Top-10 layouts of the new millennium by Travel + Leisure Golf. SouthWood was also named to Golf Digest’s list of "America’s Best New Courses," selected by GOLF Magazine as one of the top 35! public courses – out of 325 nationwide – to open in 2002, and named Tallahassee’s best golf course byTallahassee Magazine.
About the SouthWood Community
SouthWood is a mixed-use community in Tallahassee, Florida, where residents can live, learn, work and play. The community sits on 3,300 acres of graceful rolling hills lined with moss-draped oaks and over 1,000 acres of community-wide interconnected green space, including numerous lakes, parks and wetlands and a 123-acre Central Park and Lake. Residential opportunities include apartments, town homes, and single-family homes, including custom-built homes. Miles of walking and biking trails wind throughout the community. In addition to the Fred Couples/Gene Bates-designed semiprivate golf course, SouthWood features a Community Center with pools, an Education Village providing lifelong learning opportunities and a vibrant Town Center at the heart of the community. An abundance of wildlife creates an ever-changing landscape for birdwatchers and nature lovers.
For more information about residential opportunities, visit www.joe.com
About JOE
The St. Joe Company (NYSE: JOE), a publicly held company based in Jacksonville, is one of Florida’s largest real estate development companies. We are primarily engaged in real estate development and sales, with significant interests in timber. Our mission is to create places that inspire people and make JOE’s Florida an even better place to live, work and play. We’re no ordinary JOE.
More information about JOE can be found at our web site at www.joe.com.
Contact:
Shane Sharp
Buffalo Communications
704.519.8381
ssharp@billycaspergolf.com
