Winter Park Golf Course Featured as Florida Historic Golf Trail Course of the Month

Tallahassee –

Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee announced today that Winter Park Golf Course, located in the city of Winter Park in Orange County, has been chosen as the featured course on the Florida Historic Golf Trail for the month of January.

“We are pleased to feature Winter Park Golf Course as a partner on the Florida Historic Golf Trail,” said Secretary Lee. “This nine-hole golf course was the first golf course in Florida to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places.”

 Image Courtesy of Winter Park Golf Course

In 1914, Harley A. Ward and Dow George were commissioned to lay out a 9-hole course on 25 acres at the north end of town. In that same year, the newly formed club contracted with Dow George to build an additional 18-hole golf course which would wrap around the 9-hole "short" course. In 1926, holes from the 18-hole and 9-hole golf courses were combined to produce a new 9-hole layout. The golf course and clubhouse were rehabilitated, and the course was reopened in 1937. The Winter Park Golf Course became the first golf course in Florida to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.

Today, the 9-hole, par 35 Winter Park Golf Course features three sets of tees playing from 2,100 to 2,400 yards. The residents of Winter Park have embraced the history of their golf course and are proud of their unique facility. Together with passionate golfers, recognizing the significance of the course, they have worked to maintain this course as one of Florida's very best public access golf courses.

“We are honored to have the Winter Park Golf Course (WPGC) featured as the January 2020 course on the Florida Historic Golf Trail,” said Winter Park Mayor Steve Leary. “Since 1914 the WPGC has been an integral part of Winter Park. Situated alongside our historic downtown, the course is a beautiful amenity to all residents, neighbors, pedestrians and motorists. Our 2016 redesign by Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns of Integrative Golf has placed the WPGC (also called the WP9) as one of the Top 5 nine-hole golf courses in the country, providing a fun, challenging and rewarding round for golfers of all levels. We invite everyone to come and enjoy nine holes and all that Winter Park has to offer.”

For more information on Winter Park Golf Course, visit their website.

To learn more about the Florida Historic Golf Trail, visit floridahistoricgolftrail.com or find us on Facebook at @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 Historical 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.