Highland Florida Golf Club Featured as Florida Historic Golf Trail Course of the Month

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today that the Highland Florida Golf Club located in the Village of Highland Park in Polk County has been chosen as the featured course on the Florida Historic Golf Trail for the month of December.

"We are pleased to feature the Highland Florida Golf Club as a partner on the Florida Historic Golf Trail," said Secretary Detzner. "The scenic, rolling hills of the Lake Wales Ridge have provided the setting for the historic links of the Highland Florida Golf Club for more than 90 years."

Image Courtesy of Highland Florida Golf Club

In the early 1920s, a 9-hole golf course existed on the property for several years. The course was poorly designed and flooded frequently. In 1927, the Boston golf course architectural firm Wayne Stiles & John Van Kleek was hired to design an 18-hole golf course on the site. Renamed the Highland Park Club, Stiles & Van Kleek rebuilt and incorporated five of the old holes in to the new design. Several of the new holes were laid out in an orange grove on higher ground.

When a labor shortage occurred during World War II, six holes were removed and replaced with orange trees. The club remained a 12-hole layout until the 1990s, when the golf course was bought and restored back to its 18-hole configuration. 

Today, the Highland Florida Golf Club is an 18-hole, par-72 golf course featuring three sets of tees playing from 5,100 to 6,100 yards. With elevation changes of more than 110 feet from top to bottom, there are interesting features to challenge any golfer's game. 

"The Highland Florida Golf Club is honored to be selected as the Florida Historic Golf Trail's featured course for December 2018," said A.J. Hill, Superintendent at Highland Florida Golf Club. "While it offers a friendly layout, it will challenge any player's chipping and putting abilities. In addition to a great round of golf, the staff will greet you with a big smile and always try to make your visit an exceptional one."

For more information about the Highland Florida Golf Club, visit hfgolfclub.com. To learn more about the Florida Historic Golf Trail, visit floridahistoricgolftrail.com or find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/FloridaHistoricGolfTrail.

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About The Florida Historic Golf Trail

Florida's golf history, recognized as one of the oldest in the nation, dates back to the late 1800s when a number of early courses were created along with the development of railroads and hotels in the state. The Florida Historic Golf Trail is a collection of more than 50 historic, publicly accessible golf courses throughout the state that can still be played on today. Through the Florida Historic Golf Trail, golfers can play on courses designed by world-class architects and played by famous golfers such as Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Babe Zaharias, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Information about the history and current day contact information for each partner course can be found at FloridaHistoricGolfTrail.com. Find the historic course near you and Come Play on History!

About The Division of Historical Resources

The Florida Department of State's Division of Historical Resources (DHR) is responsible for preserving and promoting Florida's historical, archaeological, and folk culture resources. The Division Director's office oversees a grants-in-aid program to help preserve and maintain Florida's historic buildings and archaeological sites; coordinates outreach programs such as the State Historic Markers program and the Florida Folklife program which identifies and promotes the state's traditional culture. DHR directs historic preservation efforts throughout the state in cooperation with state and federal agencies, local governments, private organizations, and individuals. The Division Director serves as the State Historic Preservation Officer, acting as the liaison with the national historic preservation program conducted by the National Park Service. The Division is comprised of two Bureaus, archaeological research and historic preservation. For more information visit flheritage.com.