Feb
 
19

The Vision of World Golf Village

Posted by: Sherry Davidson in News
 

Behind anything great, you find a great story. World Golf Village is no exception. In the 1980s, St. Johns County had less than 100,000 residents. It was inevitable that the area would blossom with the right vision and execution. Jim Davidson, President of Davidson Development, was the man for the job. 

Jim could see the pieces of the World Golf Village puzzle come together. “Not only could Jim see the Jacksonville market heading south and knew this was the perfect area between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, but he could see the pine trees becoming the development he envisioned,” shared Davidson Realty President and Jim’s wife, Sherry Davidson. “Jim saw beyond the golf courses, lakes, and homes and saw people walking their dogs and pushing their children in strollers on the sidewalks.” 

Jim was persistent in bringing World Golf Village to life. He met regularly with land planners, engineers, attorney’s and an environmental team to make sure the pieces came together as he planned. Although many along the way didn’t believe, Jim never doubted he could get the job done right. Once the World Golf Village developer financed a new interchange on Interstate 95, the development became extremely attractive to commuters, as World Golf Village was one of only a few options for buyers in St. Johns County who worked in Jacksonville. 

The pieces continued to come together after Jim brought the PGA TOUR and other golf organizations on board to build the World Golf Hall of Fame. From there, Jim assembled various partners for the golf courses, the hotel, and the retail stores to further bring attraction to the area. World Golf Village turned out to be exactly what people were looking for, including the Davidsons. Jim and Sherry Davidson were one of the first homeowners in World Golf Village and still live in World Golf Village to this day. 

While building World Golf Village, the Davidsons worked hard to protect the environment to ensure the community maintained its natural beauty. More than 2,775 acres, nearly half of the project site, was set aside for preservation. These efforts were recognized by the Florida Association of Realtors ®  when the Davidsons received the ENVY award in 2002. The ENVY award honor is given to developments that preserve Florida’s natural quality of life. 

The infrastructure added by World Golf Village paved the way for the development of other communities in the area like The Hutson Companies’ SilverLeaf, which will have 10,700 homesites, 2,650,000 square feet of mixed-use commercial space, and more than 3,500 acres of conservation land. It is clear that World Golf Village blazed the trail. 

The master planned community has prospered over the last 23 years and is regarded as one of the most desired communities on the First Coast. With more than 6,000 homes and more than 15,000 residents, World Golf Village provides a place to live that is picture perfect. Whether you are a golf lover eager to take advantage of the award winning golf courses or a family wanting to give their children the opportunity to attend fantastic public schools or interested in enjoying an active adult community, you have a home in World Golf Village.

World Golf Village has a vibrant history to be proud of and a legacy to look forward to, as it continues to be a highly sought-after area. No one knows World Golf Village better than Davidson Realty. If you are interested in calling World Golf Village home, contact Davidson Realty at (904) 940-5000.

 
 
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The golf world is excited for this year’s KPMG Women’s PGA Championship, which will take place at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota, from June 20-23. This is a big year for the tournament, which is entering its 64thyear of play. Here are three reasons this year’s championship is one you can’t miss:

1. Park, Hataoka & Ryu all return after a big playoff in 2018. At last year’s tournament, Sung Hyun Park defeated So Yeon Ryu and Nasa Hataoka on the second extra hole to win her second major title and fourth LPGA career victory. This year, all three players are returning and looking for a title win. Americans Jessica Korda and Angel Yin, who tied for 4th last year, are also returning with an eye on the title. Competition will be fierce!

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The World Golf Hall of Fame IMAX Theater is known for its breathtaking 3D nature documentaries, but plenty of action-adventure movies are headed to IMAX in the coming months!

IMAX Theaters are designed to deliver the world’s most immersive movie experience. The 275-seat theater includes the latest IMAX 3D digital projection system, state-of-the-art sound system and North Florida’s largest IMAX screen (50 ft. wide and 80 ft. high).

The theater also boasts large 2D screens with blockbuster movies and engaging documentaries. From super hero action films to family-friendly adventure movies, IMAX is the perfect place to take in a flick (without making the trek to Jacksonville or downtown St. Augustine).

Here are the current shows:

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The World Golf Hall of Fame is preparing for African American History Month by inviting everyone to see “Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to African Americans in Golf”. The permanent exhibition contains rare photographs, audio, video and memorabilia to highlight the long, rich history of African Americans in golf from the game’s pioneers in the late 1800s to today’s superstars.

Visitors will see items that highlight the accomplishments of African Americans in the game despite facing steep challenges. This includes Hall of Fame member Charlie Sifford’s PGA Player Card from 1960, the document that officially broke golf’s color barrier. See other items marking the career of 1985 PLAYERS champion Calvin Peete and tennis great Althea Gibson, who was the first African American to join the LPGA Tour in 1964.

Interactive, touch-screen video displays make this one of the Hall of Fame’s most advanced exhibits. Screens show profiles of prominent African American players.

The centerpiece of the exhibit is an original sculpture designed by the renowned sculptor Mario Chiodo.  The piece represents a timeline of African Americans in golf, including 13 legendary players. Each step in the sculpture’s frame signifies a milestone of achievement, beginning with John Shippen in 1896, the first African American to play in the U.S. Open Championship. At the top, Tiger Woods is featured followed by an empty step, begging the question, “Who is next?”

The exhibit launched in 2014 and continues to provide insights into the many contributions of African American players to the game of golf.

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While the PGA TOUR prepares for the 60th anniversary of its Desert Classic, the World Golf Hall of Fame is also gearing up for the big event. Played every winter in Coachella Valley, California, the Desert Classic features the sport’s top players vying for a tournament win, as well as a celebrity pro-am tournament.

 

The pro-am has included among its competitors Bing Crosby, Desi Arnez and Frank Sinatra, and more recently Jimmy Fallon, Don Cheadle and Samuel L. Jackson. Several U.S. presidents have even competed including Dwight Eisenhower, Gerald Ford, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush.

The most notable celebrity player, however, was Bob Hope. For years considered to be Hollywood’s greatest golfer, Bob first played in the tournament in 1965 when he stepped in as chairman of the board. The tournament bared his name from 1965 to 2011.

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This weekend, plan to visit the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum for a special promotion! All active duty military, veterans and their dependents will receive free admission to the museum November 10 and 11.

Also, enjoy a round on the 18-hole natural grass putting green for just $5 per person. Feeling lucky? Take two shots on the Challenge Hole for just $5 (or five shots for $10).

In addition to the activities offered, the Hall of Fame features permanent as well as special exhibits throughout the facility. Just some of the current exhibits worth pursuing include:

  • Gary Player: Grand Slam Success
  • Honoring the Legacy: A Tribute to African-Americans in Golf
  • Bob Hope: Shanks for the Memory
  • Nancy Lopez: Pride, Passion & Personality
  • History in the Making (featuring memorabilia from professional tournaments and major championships highlighting record-breaking performances and other historic moments)
  • Hall of Fame Inductee Exhibits (including Class of 2019 inductees Peggy Kirk Bell, Retief Goosen, Billy Payne, Jan Stephenson and Dennis Walters)

Join the World Golf Hall of Fame & Museum in honoring veterans, active military and their families this weekend! Visit www.worldgolfhalloffame.org for more information.

 

 
 
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To commemorate the women’s last Major Championship of the year, the World Golf Hall of Fame is hosting Evian Championship Week between September 13 and 16.

Visit the museum and enjoy learning about Hall of Fame inductees who are past Evian champions.

The celebration parallels the Evian Championship tournament Sept. 13-16, played at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Évian-les-Bains, France. The tournament will be shown throughout the museum during the week. It will also be broadcast on NBC and the Golf Channel.

The field will be very competitive as top players like defending champion Anna Nordqvist and current #1 player Sung Hyun Park vie for the coveted trophy.

Learn more about the tournament by visiting evianchampionship.comand don’t forget to check out the special celebration at the World Golf Hall of Fame!

 
 
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If thinking about Father’s Day leaves you without ideas, plan to visit the World Golf Hall of Fame on Sunday, June 17! The museum will be offering FREE admission for dads and their immediate families. In addition, Dads are invited to take a swing on the Challenge Hole, a replica of TPC Sawgrass’s 17th island green, for just $5.

The Hall of Fame will also launch its newest exhibit, Tales from the Collection, on Father’s Day.

This is huge savings as regular admission is $20.95 for adults ($19.95 for seniors, Florida residents and military), $10 for students, and $5 for kids 5-12 (4 and under are free).

The museum will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Father’s Day. Escape the heat and make Dad smile by visiting the World Golf Hall of Fame on his big day!

 
 
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With THE PLAYERS Championship well under way at TPC at Sawgrass, now is the perfect time to get in the golfing spirit at the World Golf Hall of Fame!

This week, guests can peruse tournament history and artifacts in the new exhibit “THE PLAYERS Experience.” Inside the 1,800 sq. ft. exhibit, guests will find stories, mementos and images from the tournament, which is celebrating its 44th year of play. The list of past winners includes 11 Hall of Fame members.

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Dec
 
19
 
The World Golf Hall of Fame celebrates the history, heritage and traditions of golf. The World Golf Village (WGV) community-at-large celebrates its ever-evolving special place through continued good-growth in a Live Oak punctuated landscape that is well on its way to making its own history and establishing its own legacy.
The original neighborhoods of Turnberry, Royal Pines, St. Andrews, The Legends, Meadows and Heritage Landing are all complete – with over 2,200 homes. The King and Bear neighborhoods are 92% occupied, with 892 of their 968 homes complete. The first WGV age-restricted neighborhood is thoroughly-well established with 450 single-family homes in The Cascades.
Recently, there has been a resurgence of home-building that is filling out and completing many of the associated WGV neighborhoods. Greenside at WGV is rapidly building 36 single family homes overlooking the Slammer & Squire #6 fairway. Legacy Trail is also nearing completion with 30 exclusive single family homes – most overlooking the #16 & #17 fairways of the Slammer & Squire.
 
 
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