Highly-acclaimed course recognized for female-friendly design, atmosphere
(TALLAHASSEE, Fla.) – SouthWood Golf Club – the award-winning Fred Couples and Gene Bates designed course owned by The St. Joe Company and managed by Billy Casper Golf – is ranked No. 16 on Golf Digest’s list of “America’s Top 50 Courses for Women.”
Featured in the magazine’s June issue, the ranking reflects SouthWood’s female-friendly layout, atmosphere and golf shop, which includes women’s equipment and apparel. SouthWood is one of the few facilities in the country with a female general manager, Beth Murphy, and director of instruction, Becky Sauers.
“Whether it is providing multiple tee box options or offering female-specific instructional programs, we take great pride in making SouthWood a place where women enjoy their experience,” says Murphy. “We are thrilled to be included on Golf Digest’s list alongside world-class facilities like Bandon Dunes, Whistling Straits and Pinehurst.”
A panel of more than 100 female raters provided the feedback used to create the rankings. Each course on the list has at least one set of tees shorter than 5,300 hundred yards, two tees with Course and Slope ratings for women, and few or no forced carries. Course conditions and amenities were also taken into account.
The ranking adds to a long list of honors for SouthWood, which was recently named one of Florida’s top 25 public courses by GOLF Magazine and hosted the 2011 Seminole Intercollegiate in March.
For more information about SouthWood, visit www.southwoodgolf.com or call (850) 942-4653.
About SouthWood Golf Club
Designed by PGA TOUR star Fred Couples and renowned architect Gene Bates and managed by Billy Casper Golf, 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, SouthWood was named among the “Best Public Golf Courses in Florida 2010” by GOLF Magazine, recognized as one of “America’s Top 50 Courses For Women” by Golf Digest and selected as one of 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 by Tallahassee Magazine.
About St. Joe
The St. Joe Company, a publicly held company currently based in WaterSound, is one of Florida’s largest real estate development companies and Northwest Florida’s largest private landowner. St. Joe is primarily engaged in real estate development and sales, with significant interests in timber. More information about the Company can be found on its website at www.joe.com.
Contact:
Jonathan Williamson
Buffalo Communications
703.891.3346
jwilliamson@buffalocommunications.com
www.buffalocommunications.com
