Riviera Country Club in Ormond Beach Featured as Florida Historic Golf Trail Course of the Month

TALLAHASSEE, Fla –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today that the Riviera Country Club, located in the city of Ormond Beach in Volusia County, has been chosen as the featured course on the Florida Historic Golf Trail for the month of April.

“We are pleased to feature the Riviera Country Club as a partner on the Florida Historic Golf Trail,” said Secretary Detzner. “Owners Eric and Charlotte Meyers continue the family tradition of a well-maintained and beautifully manicured championship course in the Ormond Beach area.”

Image Courtesy of Riviera Country Club

 The Riviera Country Club golf course is located in the city of Ormond Beach in Volusia County. The golf course was built as part of a development called Rio Vista on the Halifax, envisioned by an Ohio developer in 1924. Work began on the golf course in February 1926 under the supervision of prominent Chicago golf course architect W.D. Clark. By 1927, a hotel, 38 homes and more than 15 miles of paved roads had been developed, but this all came to a halt with the onset of the Great Depression.

The arches that once marked the entrance to Rio Vista on the Halifax are among the few remaining structures from the development. Located on Calle Grande Street, the archways and Romanesque columns were built as a grand entryway for the Rio Vista subdivision platted in 1926.

In late 1953, the golf course was purchased by the Meyers family, and a year later the nine holes were remodeled by golf course architect Mark Mahannah. In 1967, an additional nine holes designed by architect Dave Wallace were added. Over the years, well-known golf architect Lloyd Clifton gave a facelift to several holes and was instrumental in the look of the course and its present-day character. The Riviera Country Club is home to The Riviera Open, which started in 1960 and is the longest-running mini-tour event in the country.

Today, the Riviera Country Club includes an 18-hole, par-71 golf course featuring three sets of tees playing from 5,100 to 6,200 yards. Riviera Country Club welcomes golfers from around the world who enjoy a relaxed atmosphere where no tee times are required.

“Riviera Country Club is honored to be selected as the feature golf course of the Florida Historic Golf Trail. We are proud to have been family owned and operated since 1953,” says General Manager Ryan Meyers. “Riviera is unique in that we are a first-come, first-served facility. Our focus has been on encouraging juniors to take up the game that will last them a lifetime. The evidence of our success is in the number of high school, college and professional golfers who have attributed their success to the atmosphere and guidance they received from the ‘Riv’.”

For more information about the Riviera Country Club, click here. 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.