Summertime is all about sleeping in a bit later, working a little less hard and unwinding with family and friends while trying to beat the Florida heat. For those living and visiting the World Golf Village area, there’s no shortage of fun, family-friendly activities to enjoy. From an animal sanctuary to long-awaited blockbuster movies, find out why this area of St. Johns County that boasts 6,000 homes and more than 15,000 residents is one of the top destinations for those long summer days. And from award-winning golf courses to more than 3,500 acres of conservation land, World Golf Village brings you back to nature and that Old Florida feel.

IMAX Films

Throughout July, enjoy the air conditioning and a bag of salty, buttery popcorn as you take in a film at the IMAX Theater in World Golf Village. Watch Harrison Ford reprise his role of daredevil archeologist, Indiana Jones, in “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” which finds Jones squaring off against Jürgen Voller, a former Nazi who works for NASA. Or perhaps documentaries are more your speed? Jane Goodall, an English primatologist and anthropologist who is considered the world’s foremost expert on chimpanzees, has a new film out called, “Jane Goodall: Reasons for Hope.” For those craving a summer blockbuster that turns up the heat, check out “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One.” Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, who along with the IMF team, must track down a terrifying new weapon that threatens all of humanity if it falls in to the wrong hands. Later in the month, Christopher Nolan’s film, “Oppenheimer,” opens. The movie follows physicist J Robert Oppenheimer who works with a team of scientists during the Manhattan Project, leading to the development of the atomic bomb.

Golf Tournaments

If there’s one thing the World Golf Village area is known for, well it’s golf! Check out a few summer golf tournaments in the area like the St. Augustine Junior on Wednesday, July 5 and Thursday, July 6. The tournament is now in its third year and will be played at the Slammer & Squire Golf Course. What some of the area’s best junior golfers and root for your favorites during this fun, summer tournament. If you’re looking for a relaxed tournament that is more social game rather than intense competition, then check out Spark Games, an 18-hole event that will take place Saturday, July 29 at the King & Bear Golf Course. The event is described as “casual and fun with a touch of friendly competition.”

Fun Activities

Founded in 1981 by Deborah Warrick-Rossi, St. Augustine Wild Reserve provides a home for unwanted and abused exotic animals, including jaguars, lions, leopards, hyenas, wolves, lynxes, and even a bear. Open to the public and offering tours every Monday and Wednesday at 2pm, visit this one-of-a-kind sanctuary where the animals live out the rest of their lives receiving top-quality care and a safe environment. There are also two tours on Saturday, one at 11am and one at 2pm. If you prefer a more hands-on experience, there is a special VIP tour from noon until 1:30pm every Friday. You must make an advanced reservation to visit. Looking to become more active this summer or just need to get the kids out of the house? Above Basketball World Golf Village offers summer camps, training programs and camps for those wanting to hone their skills and take it to the next level. Check out upcoming events here.

With The Players Championship tournament bringing the best and brightest talent in golf from across the world, it’s no surprise that Northeast Florida is a coveted destination for golfers. Even if you’re not a pro, you can feel like one with the quality and variety of courses in the area.

Just south of Jacksonville, in St. Johns County, you can find four amazing courses, all within less than 30 miles of each other. Play like a pro at the course that hosts the aforementioned TPC tournament, The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. It is the world’s first true stadium course, designed to favor no particular style of play and improve the fan experience. It’s a balanced course best known for its iconic Island Green on the 17^th. Sawgrass’ other course, the Dye’s Valley Course, is no stranger to champions, having hosted the Senior Players Championship and the NFL Golf Classic. It features large greens, a myriad of water features and rolling hills and valleys.

At the iconic World Golf Village, enthusiasts of the sport can view an extensive collection of memorabilia in the World Golf Hall of Fame before hitting the links at their two iconic courses: the King & Bear and the Slammer & Squire. The King & Bear is a championship course in its own right. Legendary rivals Arnold “The King” Palmer and Jack “Golden Bear” Nicklaus came together to design a course that is a testament to their love of the game. The course is set amongst towering oaks and boasts a layout that combines Nicklaus’ inviting fairways and Palmer’s fast greens. The Slammer & Squire was named after World Golf Hall of Fame members Sam “Slammer” Snead and Gene “Squire” Sarazen. The course was designed to showcase the area’s natural beauty, with lush woods and pristine wetlands.

Arnold Palmer continues to leave his mark on the area with Hidden Hills Golf Club in Jacksonville. Home to high-profile regional tournaments in the 1970s, Palmer redesigned the course in 1986. Surrounded by towering pine and oak trees, the course exudes classic North Florida, with hole 8 being considered the most charming.

Just north of Jacksonville lies a unique course situated on a barrier island. The Fernandina Beach Golf Club sprawls across Amelia Island, offering three 9-hole courses, each with a different configuration for a total of 27 uniquely challenging holes. The course is situated along the Atlantic Ocean, providing a serene, escapist atmosphere.

Golfers looking for a more budget-friendly course need not compromise. The Jacksonville Beach Golf Club is a municipal course that received a complete overhaul in 2018. The course is fast and fun with creative holes and well-maintained putting surfaces. Play like a local (call it Jax Beach, though) and try to hit the boat that serves as a target at the driving range. For under $50, this course is a great play and is beloved by locals for a reason.

With Northeast Florida playing host to almost 70 courses – 70! – the First Coast is the place to be for any golfer looking to have their choice of game and all within a 30-minute drive from home.

Located in St. Augustine, Florida, World Golf Village is a premier golf destination providing locals and visitors alike with various ways to enjoy one of Florida’s most popular pastimes. Whether a beginner or a golf pro, World Golf Village awaits you with a magical game you won’t experience anywhere else. So, if you’re looking for a way to reap the benefits of one of the top-rated golf resorts in Northeast Florida, look no further than the World Golf Village Membership. 

About World Golf Village 

Established in 1998, World Golf Village allows golf enthusiasts to experience championship golf courses designed by some of the most legendary names in the game, including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen. Home to two championship courses, including The King & Bear and The Slammer & Squire, each course has received numerous awards and is known for its challenging yet enjoyable layouts among the Florida fauna. 

Membership Benefits 

If you’re an avid golf lover, then the World Golf Village exclusive membership is for you. Members will enjoy an array of benefits, including: 

Premier Access: World Golf Village members and their families will enjoy two championship golf courses, designed for veteran golfers and beginners alike. Spread across a picturesque backdrop of lakes, pines and oak trees, each course is an ideal blend of beautiful and challenging, which makes for the perfect game.  

Exclusive Discounts: Time for a new set of clubs? Enjoy discounted rates on greens fees and merchandise at the golf courses’ pro shops when you become a member! For avid golfers who play frequently, this discount is sure to save you in the long run. 

Priority Tee Times: If you’ve ever missed a game of golf due to overcrowded greens, you’re in luck. Members enjoy exclusive access to priority tee times, so you can secure a preferred time to play on busy days, even during peak season. 

Practice Facilities: New to the game? World Golf Village members have unlimited access to the resorts’ practice facilities, including driving ranges, putting greens and chipping areas, so any golfer can perfect their skills and improve their game. You’ll be playing for the pros in no time! 

Special Events and Tournaments: Connect with the local community and foster relationships with access to exclusive golf events and socials. With golfers of all skill levels in mind, World Golf Village hosts multiple events throughout the year, including golf tournaments, couple’s events and family golf days as well as onsite golf instruction and even junior golf clinics for those interested in learning the game. These events are a great way to meet fellow golf enthusiasts, connect with community members and make friends along the way.  

Ready to start swinging like a pro? Become a member of World Golf Village for the premier golfing experience today.