I just returned from being hosted at the “World Golf Village in historic St. Augustine, Florida area.  It is golf's ultimate destination.  It is a chance to experience the courses the legends of the World Golf Hall of Fame  have created. Relax in our award-winning resorts and the PGA TOUR Spa Laterra. Enjoy our exceptional dining. Improve your game at the PGA TOUR Golf Academy. Reflect on the glory of the game's greatest players and contributors at the World Golf Hall of Fame as you await your next tee time.” 

The first thing that impresses you, as it certainly did me, as you pull off I-95 into the complex is, “this is really, really huge!”  Acres of grounds have been artfully designed to present the history of golf, offer the public two fine courses (King & Bear and Slammer & Squire) to play, A world class spa – PGA Tour Spa Laterra, the PGA Tour Golf Academy, the World of Golf Hall of Fame,  pro shops, an IMAX theater, and much much more about golf!  There are hotel accommodations, as well as property for residence-stay-of-a-life-time.

The King & Bear and Slammer & Squire have both been featured in nationally televised events and both have received a four and half star rating (five being the highest) from the famed Golf Digest reviews. 

The King & Bear named for the co-designers Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus has been opened since 2000.  This course is playable, picturesque, and will leave you with a memory album to last for years.  Course rating 75.2 and slope rating 141. “ The course features loblolly pines and open meadows on the front nine, while the natural beauty of 200-year-old live oaks with huge, shady canopies perfectly complements the back nine. Lush native vegetation abounds throughout the course. The 9th and 18th holes meet at the clubhouse while the other holes offer vistas that are simply not to be missed.”  Take a look at the course layout .

Here is a close look at holes 1 – 9 individually

and holes 10 – 18

The Slammer & Squire was named in honor of the World Golf Hall of Fame members Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen and has been opened since 1998 and is a natural habitat course that flows through native flatwoods, hardwood hammocks, wetland preserves and wildlife habitat. Take a look at the course layout The Slammer and Squire features two distinct nines. The front side meanders through an old pine forest linked together with wetland corridors to protect the indigenous vegetation and wildlife. The back nine, bordering the World Golf Village, finishes with a breathtaking view of the World Golf Hall of Fame that towers above the 18th green. This fun and interesting course has five sets of tees to challenge every caliber of player.  Take a close look hole by hole of 1 – 9 and the holes 10 -18 . 

The course rating is 73.8 and its slope is 135.  The 6,939 yard course is certainly one that will be remembered long after the game is over. 

The “on property” PGA Tour Golf Academy is unique in that not only is it available to professional instructors, but to conventions and equipped to offer individual instruction all the way to group clinics, video analysis, daily golf, access to the Hall of Fame, accommodations at the World Golf Village, select meals, and an atmosphere of the grandeur of Golf’ history to the present state.

Art from the golfing Hall of Fame where the famous are honored in

many and varied ways.

For more information on visiting the Hall of Fame, call 1-800-WGV-GOLF or click here to book a  vacation package .   

Of course, you are just minutes away from one of America’s favorite cities, St. Augustine, Florida – America’s Oldest City !  Convenient to Jacksonville, Orlando, and Daytona airports.  See this month’s related articles to World of Golf as well as “one of my favorite cities in all of America” – St. Augustine!  Directions: 

Happy Traveling.