Lagoon Course Reopens

Ponte Vedra Awarded AAA Five-Diamonds

PONTE VEDRA INN & CLUB REOPENS LAGOON COURSE

After six months of restoration and remodeling, the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club's Lagoon Course officially opened on Saturday, December 1. More than 150 club members and guests were in attendance for the grand reopening festivities which included the official ribbon cutting and ceremonial first ball being hit.

The restoration, conducted by Bobby Weed of the locally based Weed Design, includes an increase in course length to more than 6,000 yards; new tees, fairways and greens; several hole routing changes; new turf standards and improved irrigation and drainage. Much effort was given to further enhance the Lagoon Course's natural landscaping. Material such as Spartina Grass, Purple Love Grass, and Gaillardia flowers visually complement and contrast the large dune zones created by beds of coquina shell. Golfers can expect to be further tested with 87 strategically placed sand bunkers and water that comes into play on eleven of eighteen holes. The Lagoon Course was first built in 1961 as a nine-hole course by the famed architect, Robert Trent Jones with a second nine holes added by Joe Lee in 1977.

"This exciting restoration brands the Lagoon Course with its own unique identity while providing a nice complement to the Ocean Course" said Dale Haney, General Manager of the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. "It will provide our members and guests with two wonderful golf experiences to enjoy".

Honored guests at the reopening of the Lagoon Course were (l-r), Steve Horner, Men's Club Champion, Scot Sherman, Weed Design, Alan MacCurrach, MacCurrach Construction, Dale Haney, General Manager, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Herb Peyton, President, Gate Petroleum, Trevor Hughes, Asst. Lagoon Course Superintendent, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Bobby Weed, Weed Design, Jay Reister, Golf Course Superintendent, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, Richard Pelletier, President PVMGA, Susan Buckey, President PVWGA, Paula Aull, President, Ladies Links, Kelli Stokes, Women's Club Champion, Jim Howard, Director of Golf, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club.

PONTE VEDRA INN & CLUB AWARDED
AAA's COVETED FIVE DIAMOND STATUS

ORLANDO, FL. (November 2007)

For the sixth consecutive year, the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club has received the coveted Five Diamond Award, the American Automobile Association's (AAA) highest hospitality honor. The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is one of only six Five Diamond resorts in Florida, and one of only 35 Five Diamond resorts in the United States.

AAA rates nearly 57,000 restaurants and lodgings throughout all 50 states, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean, providing the broadest coverage of any U.S. rating system, both geographically and by number of properties rated. Only one quarter of one percent of all properties inspected by AAA actually receive the coveted Five Diamond Award.

AAA ranks properties based on overall quality, range of facilities, and the level of services offered by the property. According to AAA, Five Diamond properties "reflect the ultimate in luxury and sophistication; accommodations are first-class; the physical attributes are extraordinary in every manner, and exceed guest expectations while maintaining an impeccable standard of excellence."

"The staff is truly the key to our rating," said Dale Haney, vice president and general manager of the Inn & Club. "Our 750 employees strive diligently to insure every guest's experience at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is exceptional and unforgettable. We are very proud indeed, of receiving this distinguished award."

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides its 52 million members with travel and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, AAA has been the respected leader in the travel industry.