City of Palm Coast partners with KemperSports to re-open and manage historic facility
PALM COAST, Fla. – Nov. 5, 2009 – Palm Harbor Golf Club, an 18-hole championship layout located 35 miles north of Daytona Beach, Fla., has announced its grand re-opening plans after undergoing a two-year, $4.5 million renovation project. Purchased by the city of Palm Coast, Fla., in 2007, the public golf course will be operated by Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports, a premier golf facility management company, which joined the management team in May of this year.
Grand opening activities, which kick-off on Nov. 7, will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by the striking of the first ball in a 21-ball salute. Lunch and golf for invited guests and media will follow.
Visitors to the golf course will see numerous changes to the historic layout including upgraded drainage and irrigation systems, reconstructed tees and greens, new bunker configurations, two new ponds, redistributed native trees, redesigned driving range with improved features and new cart paths along the entire course.
“The major difference golfers will notice is the movement through the fairways,” said George Clifton from Clifton, Ezell and Clifton Golf Design, who was in charge of the renovation. “We raised the features more into view and lowered some areas in the fairway for basins, which accents these features. Visually, this offers a nice rolling appearance and adds some drama off the tee. The golf course is similar in length as before but should play a little more difficult with the addition of 20 bunkers.”
Built in 1973 by William W. Amick, the golf course has enjoyed more than 30 years as the centerpiece for a master planned housing community. The course gained national recognition in 1979 as it hosted the Palm Coast Mixed Team Championships, which saw LPGA legend and Palm Coast resident, Nancy Lopez, team up with Lee Trevino, to win the pro-am tournament against ten other LPGA/PGA teams.
“We hope that local golfers are able to experience the golf course improvements that have been made and that they will return to enjoy this wonderful community amenity,” said Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon. “KemperSports is the right partner to work with Palm Harbor Golf Club as they have developed a positive relationship with our local golfers based on the management of their golf course in Port Orange, Fla. (The Golf Club at Cypress Head).”
The Palm Harbor Golf Club will officially re-open for public play on Sunday, Nov. 8. Fees will start at $36.50 for Palm Coast residents with an introductory rate of $27 during the first month of operation.
“We look forward to the re-introduction of Palm Harbor Golf Club,” said Steve Skinner, CEO of KemperSports. “The golf course has enjoyed a long and rich history and we are anxious to bring a great golf experience back to the local community.”
To book a tee time or for more information on the golf club, visit www.palmharborgolfclub.com.
For more information on KemperSports visit www.kempersports.com.
About KemperSports
Northbrook, Ill.-based KemperSports operates golf facilities as well as athletic clubs, lodging venues and major sporting events, including nationally ranked courses and tournament venues such as Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Dorado Beach Resort & Club, The Glen Club, Harding Park, Desert Willow Golf Resort and Chambers Bay, host of the 2010 U.S. Amateur and the 2015 U.S. Open. Affiliate KemperSports Marketing & Communications, a sports marketing, events and public relations agency, has produced and managed major national and international events, including the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational college basketball tournament. For more information, visit www.kempersports.com.
Editor’s note:
Contact B.R. Koehnemann for Palm Harbor Golf Course renderings, high-resolution photos or official logo.
Media interested in attending the grand opening event, contact B.R. Koehnemann.
Contact:
B.R. Koehnemann
847.291.6740, brkoehnemann@kempersports.com
