By Barbara Palmgren
Just down the road on Highway 20, the Bluewater Bay Golf Club welcomes the Freeport community to enjoy golf and join as members as well.
What many may not know is that this special course has a recent success story that inspires everyone.
There was a chance two years ago that the golf course could possibly close. With that threat, members of the community rallied to raise $2.5 million to be sure a precious green space remained in place for the community and visitors to enjoy.
Today, the Golf Club at Bluewater is guided by a management company—Elite Golf. Nestled among homes in the Bluewater Bay community, golfers enjoy a course layout that is challenging but fair. Tee times can be booked with Golf Now or by phoning the pro shop. With scenic views that often distract in a positive way, the course can now be enjoyed by golfers at all levels of play. With over seeded greens and tee boxes as well as reasonable fees, the beautiful course is ready for the winter. This could not have been done without the efforts of Golf Course Superintendent Alfredo Francisco and his staff.
General Manager Stephan Kleemeyer has worked tirelessly over the past year, to ensure growth and success for the club. With the added bonus of now having a full-service restaurant, the Blue Tee, golfers and residents can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner from 7 a.m. to 9 pm. It might be chilly in January, but a warm lunch with accompanying beverage should be a perfect way to share stories of how an approach shot to the green resulted in a birdie on the hole!
Plans are also underway for a party for snowbirds — a sign that social events are becoming an integral part of club life. I sense that once parties become part of the fabric of this club, membership will enjoy more than watching a tee shot head straight down the fairway.
Membership is the heart and soul of a golf course and new member rates encourage golfers to join. Golf carts are included in the rate. Yes, public play is important, but membership is the key to continued revenue to support the club.
So, congratulations, Preserve Bluewater Bay, LLC, you have protected 150 acres of green space for community enjoyment and golf club operations. Now the golfers in Okaloosa and Walton counties, especially those along Highway 20, are the beneficiaries of this gift to the Panhandle of Florida!
