Selected as One of Only 74 Courses Nationwide
(ST. AUGUSTINE, FL) – St. Johns Golf and Country Club – owned by The St. Joe Company and managed by Billy Casper Golf – will host the 2009 United States Golf Association Amateur Public Links Qualifier, Monday, June 22 and Tuesday, June 23.
The 36-hole, stroke-play tournament – hosted at St. Johns for the fourth consecutive year – will be contested among 84 golfers with the top two finishers advancing to the championship tournament, July 13-18, in Norman, OK. St. Johns was selected as one of only 74 golf courses across America and four inFlorida to host a qualifying competition.
“It’s a mark of distinction for St. Johns to once again be selected by the USGA to host this important amateur competition,” says Dan Zimmer, General Manager of St. Johns. “The course is in outstanding condition and will offer a fair, but difficult test for all golfers; our staff is commended for keeping St. Johns in top form year-round.”
The Clyde Johnston-designed course, located just north of St. Augustine, is a gem that attracts golfers from across the southeastern United States. Carved out of a pine forest, the course offers a great test for every skill level. From the championship tees, the course is a decidedly robust par-72 playing 7,236 yards with occasionally arduous wind patterns.
Since its inception in 1922, the U.S. Amateur Public Links has given exposure to many public-course players who otherwise might not have an opportunity to compete in a national championship. The competition is open to any bona fide public-course player whose USGA Handicap Index does not exceed 4.4. The Amateur Public Links is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.
The championship continues to attract bus drivers, bartenders, firemen, waiters, riveters, engineers and college professors. It has also been a springboard for the likes of U.S. Open champions Ed Furgol, Tommy Bolt and Ken Venturi; British Open champion Tony Lema; PGA champions Dave Marr and Bobby Nichols; and Masters winner George Archer. In 1959, it produced the first African-American winner of a USGA championship in William A. Wright, who later became a golf instructor.
For more information about St. John’s or to reserve a tee time: www.stjohnsgolf.com or 904.940.3200.
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.
More information about JOE is at www.joe.com.
About Billy Casper Golf
Widely respected as a high-performance, full-service owner/operator of golf courses, BCG manages more than 100 properties in 25 states and outside theU.S. The company provides turnkey club operations for public-agency and private owners, developers and investors. Founded 20 years ago in cooperation with golf legend Billy Casper, BCG is based in Vienna, VA with regional offices strategically convenient to courses’ locales.
BCG’s best-of-breed infrastructure shows clients favorable returns on investments. Critically-acclaimed by industry leaders and media, BCG economies of scale help daily-fee, municipal, resort and private courses make and save money while delivering a personal touch.
Buffalo Communications – a division of BCG – is America’s foremost golf-specialty publicity, media-relations and marketing-communications agency. In addition to creating PR and implementing programs for BCG courses, Buffalo represents many of golf’s top brands (products, resorts, destinations and communities) worldwide.
More information about Billy Casper Golf / Buffalo Communications: www.billycaspergolf.com, www.buffalocommunications.com, 703.761.1444.
Contact:
Nick Lashinsky
Billy Casper Golf / Buffalo Communications
703.891.3324
nlashinsky@billycaspergolf.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
www.billycaspergolf.com
