The Ocean Course at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
Designed in 1928 by famed British architect and professional golfer Herbert Bertram Strong, the 6,811-yard, Ocean Course is the region’s oldest resort golf course with sweeping oceanfront views and . Featuring 99 strategically positioned sand bunkers, elevated Bermuda greens, and undulating fairways, the par-72 Ocean Course demands accurate drives and precise approach shots. Famously recognized as one of golf’s first island greens, the Ocean Course’s signature 9th hole was meticulously constructed in 1928 with the help of 100 mules dragging slip pans to shape the course’s contours and mounds.
Adding to its lore, the Ocean Course was selected to host the prestigious Ryder Cup Match in 1939, an event that was canceled due to the onset of World War II. The course has served as the site for the U.S. Open, qualifying five times, and as host of the Gate Invitational since 1985.
For more than 90 years, the Ocean Course has been a cornerstone amenity at Ponte Vedra Inn & Club. Originally designed by Strong, the Inn’s signature course has undergone three major renovations, first in 1940, in 1998 and the current renovation which is scheduled to be completed in August 2020. Bobby Weed, who also led the 1998 renovation, is heading up the current course refurbishment. Highlights of the renovation include expanding the existing practice facility to three-times its size and adding a new private instruction area that includes both a tee and short-game practice space.
The Ocean Course renovation project is part of a significant commitment by The Gate Hospitality Group to upgrade and modernize the resort as it approaches its centennial anniversary. The Gate Hospitality Group manages four of northeast Florida’s most luxurious and renowned private clubs – Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and The Lodge & Club, both located in Ponte Vedra Beach and Epping Forest Yacht and Country Club and The River Club, which are both located in Jacksonville.
Recent enhancements have been made to several of the resort’s amenities, including renovations to the Golf Club Dining Room and Golf Pro Shop and a remodeling of the resort’s family pool. In late summer 2020, Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is reintroducing the historic Ocean House and Peyton House, offering 41 new oceanfront guest rooms and suites.
