Eglin Eagle Golf Course Featured as Florida Historic Golf Trail Course of the Month

Tallahassee –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced today that the Eglin Eagle Golf Course has been chosen as the featured course on the Florida Historic Golf Trail for the month of November. The Eglin Eagle Golf Course is located in the City of Niceville in Okaloosa County.

“As we celebrate Veterans Day and honor those who have served in the United States military, we are pleased to feature the historic Eglin Eagle Golf Course as a partner on the Florida Historic Golf Trail,” said Secretary Detzner. “This 1920s golf course has been part of the Eglin Air Force Base since World War II, providing service members, their families and the golf-playing public with a great place to improve their game, or just unwind.”

In 1922, Chicago businessman James E. Plew came to the Florida panhandle where he organized the “Chicago Country Club.” The golf course operated as a 9-hole course until 1927 when the firm of William Langford and Theodore Moreau was hired to design an 18-hole course. In 1949, the Plew family sold the property to the United States government. It was renovated and re-established as an 18-hole course, and became part of Eglin Air Force Base.

Eglin Air Force Base is named in honor of Lieutenant Colonel Frederick I. Eglin of the U.S. Air Corps, who was killed on January 1, 1937, in an aircraft accident. The Eagle Golf Course (named after the F-15 Eagle fighter aircraft) is one of two 18-hole courses at the Eglin Golf Course Complex.  The 18-hole, par-72 Eagle Coursefeatures four sets of tees playing from 5,100 to 6,800 yards.

"We are excited and honored to be featured this month on the Florida Historic Golf Trail," said Derek Turner, General Manager of Eglin Golf Course. "Eglin Golf Course has quite a spectacular history, going back to 1927 and was at one time known as ‘The Finest Golf Course Resort in the South.’ Although we are a US Air Force military golf course, the public is welcome throughout the year." 

Image Courtesy of Eglin Golf Course

For more information about the Eglin Eagle Golf Course or the Florida Historic Golf Trail program visit Eglin Eagle Golf Course, Florida Historic Golf Trail or Facebook.com/FloridaHistoricGolfTrail.

# # #

About The Florida Historic Golf Trail

Florida's golf history, recognized as one of the oldest in the nation, dates back to the 1890s 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. DHR directs historic preservation efforts throughout the state in cooperation with state and federal agencies, local governments, private organizations, and individuals. The director of DHR 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 or major program areas: archaeological research and historic preservation. For more information, visit flheritage.com.