DJTheoret - 3/17/21
Millions of golfers each year flock to the Sunshine State to play golf. From Destin in the Panhandle to Key West, the year-round warm weather makes Florida a golfer’s paradise. While there are great courses to be found all over the state, the Orlando area seems to be the most popular among golf travelers. In addition to some fantastic golf courses, there’s a lot to do off of the golf course.

One of the areas that seem to be overlooked is St. Augustine, which in my opinion has the most to offer golfers: World Golf Village. World Golf Village is to golfers what peanut butter is to jelly. They just naturally go together. Within World Golf Village is The PGA TOUR Golf Academy at World Golf Village, the World Golf Hall of Fame, the Renaissance World Golf Village Hotel, several eateries, and two championship golf courses: The King & Bear and The Slammer & Squire.

Whether you’re new to golf or just fine-tune your game, the PGA TOUR Golf Academy at World Golf Village can set you on the right path. They specialize in providing clinics, group exercises, as well as one-on-one teaching for all levels of golfers. The academy also offers group activities such as team-building exercises, night golf, and challenges. They can help with every facet of your game, from the driver to the putter using the latest technology: TrackMan and the SAM PuttLab.

If you’re a golf junkie like me, you can easily spend a couple of days at the World Golf Hall of Fame. Next year (2022), four new members will be inducted into the Hall of Fame including Tiger Woods, Tim Finchem, Marion Hollins, and Susie Maxwell Bering. Exhibits include the Member’s Locker Room, containing personal items from each member, Tales From the Collection, Tributes to Nancy Lopez and African American Golfers, THE PLAYERS Experience, built around the PGA tournament in nearby Ponte Vedra, and The Challenge Hole – a 132-yard island green reminiscent of the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass.

The Renaissance World Golf Village Hotel is located in the middle of WGV and puts you in walking distance of the Hall of Fame, PGA TOUR Academy, Bill Murray’s Caddyshack Restaurant, and The Slammer & Squire Golf Course. The rooms are spacious and well-appointed, offering everything you’ll need to relax after a round of golf or touring the grounds. The Villagio Restaurant is located on the first floor and serves a great breakfast buffet during non-COVID 19 times as well as sumptuous dinners.

All this leads us to the golf courses, The Slammer & Squire and The King & Bear. The Slammer & Squire course was designed by Hall of Fame members Sam "The Slammer" Snead and Gene "The Squire" Sarazen with the help of well-known golf course architect Bobby Weed. The three of them shared a desire to design and build a golf course that rewards good shot making while maintaining the natural beauty of the Florida property. They have created a layout that showcases the naturally wooded areas and wetlands. This resort course is wide open, with only a few water hazards and some well-undulated greens. Just like the two legends that helped create the course, the layout places a premium on the short game, which requires several finesse shots. The Hall of Fame is visible from just about anywhere on the course.

After your round at the Slammer & Squire, head over to The Legends Restaurant and Grille located inside the clubhouse. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide stunning views of the golf course and the surrounding area. The restaurant is all Florida with warm colors and unusual ceiling fans. Enjoy your favorite post-round libations and try some unique golf club food including Smokey Shrimp Tacos, Cauliflower and Field Pea Paninis, and a variety of leafy green salads.

The King & Bear is the coup de gras of the two courses. It’s located a couple of miles away but is definitely worth the trip. You’ve probably figured out by now the designers behind it, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Not only were these two champions part of the inaugural Hall of Fame class, but their collaboration on this course is also amazing. Of the two courses, King & Bear is much more of a “players” course although, with seven different yardages on the scorecard, there’s an appropriate distance regardless of ability.

The King & Bear can best be described as a tale of two nines. The front nine is more of a links-style course, open and airy with lots of native grasses. The back nine is where the fun begins. In true Florida golf fashion, many of the holes are lined with tall, loblolly pines and ancient oak trees, waste areas created with crushed coquina shells, and several water hazards. Since both Palmer and Nicklaus excelled off the tee, good driving is at a premium, especially on the two signature holes designed by each player. They are handicapped as the two most difficult holes on the inward nine. Number 15 is Arnie’s, a risk/reward,311-yard par 4 with a slight dogleg right. Most players will opt for a two-shot approach into a green surrounded by water. Number 16 is Jack’s hole, a 416-yard dogleg right par 4. A long drive down the middle goes a long way in succeeding on this hole. Trees line the right side and anything long and left off the tee is not likely to be found. Most players will be left with a long iron or hybrid approach shot into a large, elevated green protected front and right by a large, deep greenside bunker. Par these two holes and you’ve most likely shot a good round!

The clubhouse at the King & Bear was recently remodeled and is spectacular, especially their brand new restaurant, AJ’s Kitchen & Cocktails. World Golf Village’s newest dining venue recently won a Golden Fork Award, placing second in Best New Amenity 2021. AJ’s specializes in specialty drinks, beer samplers, and a wine wall as well as some uncommon comfort food with a local twist including Grilled Jerk Spiced Wings, Braised Short Rib Quesadilla, and Hatch Pepper Spiced Grouper. Whether you’re looking for something light or a multi-course meal, AJ’s has something for everyone.

Both courses have comprehensive practice facilities with full-length driving ranges, short game areas with bunkers, and large practice greens. Many players that don’t have time for a round will spend a couple of hours at one of the two practice facilities.

World Golf Village is currently accepting new members so if you can’t get enough of these courses, here’s your chance! WGV is managed by Troon Golf, the #1 golf course management company in the country. As a member of a Troon-managed property, you’ll have access to other Troon private and daily fees across the country and around the world. And with Troon’s recent acquisition of Indigo Golf Partners, that list has grown significantly!

  thegolfinguy@gmail.com - 3/12/18
If you’re into golf, The World Golf Village in St. Augustine FL has everything your heart desires. From world class golf on their two championship courses designed by four Golf Hall of Fame members, to the World Golf Hall of Fame and the acclaimed Renaissance World Golf Village Hotel, golf enthusiasts will leave thoroughly impressed and content. Need to improve your game? The PGA Tour Academy is also on site and ready to put the latest technology to work to help cure your swing woes.

The Renaissance World Village Resort has received a AAA Four-Diamond rating and is located next to the extraordinary World Golf Hall of Fame. The resort offers 301 Colonial Asian-designed guest rooms which feature spacious spa-inspirited bathrooms complete with granite countertops. In the sleeping area you will find comfortable beds, a mini refrigerator, coffee maker, sink and a 37-inch, flat panel TV. Each room provides a great view of the property, whether it’s the Hall of Fame or the golf course. High speed Internet access is also available in each room. Downstairs you will find the Villagio Italian Grille, which features fresh seafood, great steaks, traditional Italian cuisine and more. If you’re looking to catch your favorite sporting event, odds are you’ll find it on one of the 7 televisions. There’s also a complimentary shuttle service to and from historic downtown St. Augustine for registered guests as well as a gift shop where you can pick up World Golf Village memorabilia.

Also on property is the PGA TOUR Golf Academy, a one-of-a-kind, full-service game improvement facility. Their goal is to improve your golf game and exceed your expectations in every facet of their work. Since opening in 2000, the PGA TOUR Golf Academy has become one of the most recognized instructional academy locations in the country and serves as a training headquarters for all certified TOURAcademy instructors. They use all of the latest technology, including Trackman, Flightscope and V1 Digital Sports Coach.

PGA TOUR Golf Academy offers 2-day and 3-day golf schools, private lessons and club fittings. Junior golf camps are also available and, if you just want them to evaluate your swing and make a few suggestions on how to improve, they can do that too.

No trip to World Golf Village is complete without a visit to The World Golf Hall of Fame. Golf Historian Dr. Tony Parker and his staff do a wonderful job of keeping the exhibits fresh and interesting. The World Golf Hall of Fame keeps visitors engaged with interactive storytelling and exhibitions featuring artifacts, works of art, audio, video and photography that are meaningful and memorable to the history of golf and beyond. You’ll find genuine artifacts that have been sought out by Dr. Parker and donated or are on loan to the museum in a variety of constantly changing exhibits. The journey through the Hall of Fame starts with a history of the game and how different cultures may have had an influence on the origin of golf and ends with a trip through the Member Locker Room. The Member Locker Room features a locker for every inductee into the Hall of Fame and provides some insight into their personal lives and interests outside of the game of golf. Your ticket price includes all-day admission, a round on the 18-hole natural grass putting course and a shot on the Challenge Hole; a 132 –yard island green reminiscent of the 17th at TPC Sawgrass. You can also take in a movie at their IMAX theater. Group pricing is also available. It’s best to allow yourself at least half the day to wander through and take in all the exhibits.

The Slammer & Squire Golf Course is located on the World Golf Village property, just a wedge shot away from the World Golf Hall of Fame. It’s an 18-hole championship course that was designed by Bobby Weed, with considerable input from its namesakes: Sam "The Slammer" Snead and Gene "The Squire" Sarazen.

The course features two distinct nines with generous fairways, contoured greens, and plenty of water hazards. The Slammer and the Squire provides a challenge regardless of which tees you play from or how good you might be. Low handicappers will be challenged by a number of risk/reward opportunities; successful navigation of these holes will yield a low score. High handicappers will be glad to know that most approach shots have bailout areas and the greens are straight forward with not a lot of hidden breaks and subtle undulations. They are quick, running about 11 or 12 on the stimpmeter. A full length driving range as well as a large practice putting green and short game area to hone your skills are within walking distance of the pro shop. Should you arrive hungry or get so during your round, the Legends Grille is a great place to grab breakfast or lunch. The food is very good as are the portions. You won’t leave hungry.

Number 7 is a 143-yard par 3 that is truly a shotmaker’s delight. The hole is designed after the famous Redan hole; number 15th at North Berwick. The flag can be attacked either by carrying the bunkers straightaway, or better yet, by fading a tee shot. This allows the ball to feed down to the hole. Miss the green and you could very well be staring at a big number. It’s no wonder The Redan is the most copied par 3 in all of golf.

On the par 4, 371-yard finishing hole, the bunkers in the distance provide a good line off the tee. Even with water running down the entire left side, there is room right of the green to bailout if you feel the need. The subtle undulations of the green will make your last putts quite memorable and the view of the Hall of Fame across the water is quite spectacular and definitely camera worthy.

The King and Bear Golf Course is located a few minutes down the road from the rest of the World Golf Village, with shuttles available to get you there. The course is “a collaboration of two friends,” according to Jack Nicklaus. Arnold Palmer and Nicklaus joined together to create a course where each hole exhibits characteristics of both players. For Nicklaus it is the wide fairways and generous landing areas off the tees; for Palmer it’s the fast greens. At the time it was built, King and Bear was the only course in the world that the two had built together.

The King and Bear meanders around pristine lakes and ponds with beautiful loblolly pines and stately oak trees throughout. These trees are spectacular to look at; that is until they impede your shot! The emphasis here is on a part of the game that both men were famous for – driving the golf ball. Regardless of which tees you play, you will be challenged. A good game from the tee boxes goes a long way in shooting a good score here.

The two most memorable holes are 15 and 16, which happen to be Arnie and Jack’s favorites as well. Number 15 is a short par 4 and is probably the most photographed hole on the course. You’ll need to hit an accurate, controlled shot off the tee to avoid the water on the right and tall loblolly pines on the left. A good hybrid or fairway wood off the tee will leave a short pitch into an elevated green protected by two sand bunkers on the left and rocks and water on the right. The green slopes dramatically from back to front. At only 311 yards from the Blue tees, par is a good score here.

The shortest par 4 is followed by the longest par 4, Jack’s favorite. It’s a long dogleg right with tall loblolly pines and water on the left side of the fairway and more trees right. The hole plays 416 yards from the Blue Tees, so regardless of how well you strike your drive, you’re most likely facing a long iron, hybrid or fairway wood into the green. Try to avoid the large pine tree on the left side of the fairway which has been the downfall of many good-looking approach shots.

Last Word: No matter which course you play, make sure you warm up with some complimentary range balls and get in the grove before you hit the first tee. Once on the tee, grab a chilled apple from the wooden bins on the 1st and 10th tees.

Both courses are over seeded during the winter months which makes for superb playing conditions year-round and a caddy service is available at both courses if you would prefer to walk.

Both the Slammer and Squire and King and Bear offer exceptional breakfast and lunch menus as well. The menu is the same at both facilities with a couple of the names changed, but nevertheless, the food is outstanding. For breakfast, the Eggs Benedict is highly recommended. For lunch or after golf, start with the Classic Jumbo Chicken Wings which are very meaty and tossed in a variety of sauces. Then go for the Buffalo Bleu Burger, Caribbean Fish Tacos or the Fish and Chips. Legends and Champions Grille offer several non-traditional clubhouse menu items that will have you coming back. Both clubhouses have several large screen TVs where you can catch up on the latest happenings in the sports world while enjoying happy hour.

There is just so much to do at the World Golf Village; it takes several days to take it all in. A lot of resorts offer golf and dining which is fine but why settle for a half day’s activities when you can have so much more. After all, an early tee time on either the King and Bear or the Slammer and Squire followed by lunch at either the Champions or Legends Grille and an afternoon at the World Golf Hall of Fame could very well be a golfer’s perfect day.

  Allante1989 - 5/4/16
Excellent courses and facilities

  mdsparks - 8/5/15
Excellent course that is impeccably maintained. Hospitality and service was top notch and at the North Florida rate it is a bargain.

  SpursMike - 7/15/15
A must play course if you are ever in the St. Augustine area.

  rolimiller - 1/1/14
Love to play both courses but enjoy Slammer & Squire the best. Always in great condition and the staff is the best. Truly one of the best courses in North Florida.

  acfoster - 9/12/13
King and Bear is a nice demanding course especially of the back tees where we played if not a little bland on the back nine. The greens had been spiked a few weeks back so roll was sub-perfect but expect that will change. Front nine is nice back nine looses character between 13 and 16.

I feel the course / clubhouse and general atmosphere does not represent a true $129 price tag and your paying for the designers names rather than course quality. Find the odd tee time at about $70 and you are then paying a more true rate.

Some websites state GPS buggies but this is not the case so bring your sky caddies. Grabbed a very poor Hot Dog at the turn, not worth money just a dog and bun for $4 and the cart girl on a Friday was very infrequent passing us only on the 9th and 16th hole.

  Keith Mayes - 5/10/13
DON'T hesitate to play this course

  EHarveyIII - 4/24/13
Slammer and Squire is an outstanding course, it's a must pay if you are in the area or on a golf trip with a package, add this course. Great for pictures

  tpglenn - 8/4/12
King and Bear one of my favorites, period. 5-6-7 holes are cool. 15 is a test. Will always play when in the area.