Watersound Lifestyle Magazine • Fall/Winter 2023

Fall/Winter 2023

WATERSOUND LIFESTYLE

SM

a timeless family tradition

37 years of Good Food. Good People. Good Times.

Waterfront Dining and Rooftop Bar Seaside, Florida

BudandAlleys.com

850.231.5900

A coastal community nestled amongst nature, yet within 3 miles of Scenic Highway 30-A

HOMES FROM THE $500’S TO $2 MILLION Visit the new Watersound Discovery Center for more information WATERSOUNDORIGINS.COM

1.866.563.0070

SOUTH WALTON, FLORIDA

“Actual development of Watersound Origins are based upon current development plans, which are subject to change without notice. “Watersound Origins®” and “Origins®” are registered service marks of The St. Joe Company or its affiliates. The Watersound Club (the “Club”) is a private club, membership in which permits Watersound Origins owners the use of the Village Commons, Lake Powell, and other facilities designated by the Club. Use of additional Club Facilities requires purchase of a separate membership upgrade. Club membership and use of the Club Facilities may be subject to application and acceptance, payment of applicable fees and dues, and membership requirements, rules and other limitations, all of which are subject to change. All parties who build homes in the Watersound Origins community are independently owned and operated. The St. Joe Company does not guarantee the obligations of, nor provide any warranties for unaffiliated parties who build homes or offer services in the Watersound Origins™ community. This material shall not constitute an offer in any jurisdiction where prior registration or other advance qualifications of real property is required and has not been completed.

Void where prohibited by law. Equal Housing Opportunity.

Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Kentucky Registration #R-171. For NY Residents: THE COMPLETE OFFERING TERMS FOR THE SALE OF LOTS ARE IN THE CPS-12 APPLICATION AVAILABLE FROM SPONSOR, THE WATERSOUND COMPANY, LLC. FILE NO. CP18-0089.”

THE CENTER OF IT ALL Restaurants, Shops, Office Space, and Year Round Events

WATERSOUND TOWN CENTER RM/SC

Located at the entrance to the Watersound Origins® community.

WATE RS OU NDTOWNCENTER.CO M | 85 OR IGINS M A IN S T R EET | INLET BEAC H, F L 3 24 61 © The St. Joe Company 2023. All Rights Reserved. “Watersound®” and “Watersound Origins®” are service marks of The St. Joe Company.

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®

PUBLICATION DESIGN, PRODUCTION AND MANAGEMENT

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS PAIGE AIGR E T

ST E VE B O RNH O FT

KA R I C . B A R LOW

VICK I B U RRIS

B E N B L ALO C K

DAVID DE MARE ST

C ARRIE H O NAK E R

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS S H E L BY C AR R ICO

H O LLY G ARDNE R

B U DDY C L AY

KU RT LIS CH KA HO LLY MAK E KAU

WATER SOU N D C LU B.COM MEMBER SH I P OFFI CE 850.213 .5181 © The St. Joe Company 2023. All Rights Reserved. “JOE®”, “St. Joe®”, “St. Joe and the Taking Flight Bird design®”, “Camp Creek®,” “Camp CreekSM Inn,” “Pier Park®,” “Pier Park w/ design®,” “Pier Park North®,” “Pier Park North w/ design®,” “Rivercamps®,” “Rivercamps on Crooked Creek w/design®,” “Fish Out of Water®”, “Fish Out of Water w/ design®”, “FOOW®”, “Watercolor®,” “Watercolor w/triple bar design®,” “Watercolor Executive Suites®,” “Watersound®”, “Watersound w/ tree design®”, “Watersound Camp Creek®“, “Watersound Camp Creek w/ tree design®“, “Watersound Club®”, “Watersound Executive SuitesSM,” “Watersound Inn®,” “Watersound LifestyleSM”, “Watersound Origins®” and “Watersound Origins w/ tree logo®” are service marks of The St. Joe Company.

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Contents TABLE OF

Features ickleball 24 PHas Arrived

Known as the fastest growing sport in America, pickleball welcomes a diversity of players.

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Accessible Care

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New Chef in Town

The St. Joe Company brings a new medical campus to the beach, alongside partners from FSU and TMH. Leo Ortiz manifested a life in paradise, now he’s taking over as the Club’s newest executive chef.

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44 Clubhouse Amenities

Now open, Camp Creek Inn offers both Members and guests a slew of activities and dining experiences.

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L ive Well

New 11,000-square-foot wellness center is a hub for healthy living.

56 From 30A to UGA

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Club Member Pearce Spurlin achieves lifelong goal, scoring a spot on the Bulldogs lineup.

Around 62 StheeenGreen

Take a look at recent Watersound Club golf champions.

70 The Powder Room

Sharpen your shot and hone your skills at the new shooting range free to Club Members.

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Departments

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Member Spotlight

Dave Rauschkolb — Club Member, community activist and 30A restaurateur.

84 Employee Spotlight

Meet the Watersound Club staff who make memory-making experiences possible.

olf Tips 88 Gfrom the Pros

Ben Blalock simplifies the game with expert tips and instruction.

Laid-Back Libations

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E vent Calendar

Sunset season arrives, bringing new and fun holiday activities.

Mix up happy hour across the Club with one of these six Member-favorite fusions.

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In Each Issue 12 W elcome Letter 96 H ow to Become a Member 98 C ontact Directory

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# 1 I N W AT E R S O U N D B E A C H S A L E S

Scott Cobine | Amin Delawalla | Ann Mosely | Anne Winicki 6652 E. County Highway 30A | 850.213.5150 | WaterSoundBeachSales.com ©2023 BHH Affiliates, An independently operated subsidiary of and HomeServices America, Inc. a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate, andHathaway a franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. ©2023 BHH LLC. Affiliates, LLC. An independently owned operated of franchisee of BHH Affiliates, LLC. Berkshire HomeServices and theBerkshire Hathaway HomeServices and the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are of registered service marks of Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire affilate. Equal Housing Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices symbol are registered service marks Columbia Insurance Company, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate.Hathaway Equal Housing Opportunity.

Opportunity. Watersound®” is a service mark of The St. Joe Company and is used under license.

NEVER A DULL MOMENT

FOR WATERSOUND CLUB MEMBERS, MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES ARE ALWAYS WITHIN REACH

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WELCOME LETTER

A

s an active, working mom of three, I often find myself calling upon the old adage, “never a dull moment.”

Mornings at home are typically hectic — I can guarantee that someone in my family (sometimes me) will hit snooze at least once, that a shoe is on the run and something needs to be signed.

When Watersound Club Members use this phrase, however, it sings a different tune. They are often delighting in all the activities made possible by their membership. We continue to work hard to expand those possibilities and places, and we hope you find that every day includes a moment that’s extra special. Whether that’s taking in Gulf views at the Beach Club, indulging in culinary offerings at our many dining venues or sharing a laugh at one of our social events throughout the year, it's our goal to ensure no moment is dull for Watersound Club Members.

In this issue of Watersound Lifestyle, you’ll get to know a fellow Member and local pillar of our community, David Rauschkolb. We’re thrilled that he took the time to share more about his philanthropic work and the exciting activities he enjoys when he can steal a moment away from his active career. You’ll also learn more about the sport that’s sweeping the nation — pickleball — and how you can get involved right here at Watersound Club courts.

We’ll tell you about a new medical facility coming to the area and you’ll hear about a very talented young Club Member who’s lacing up for the Georgia Bulldogs! We’re also excited to introduce you to the new chef at the helm of the Beach Club’s dining venues and, as always, we’ll share some tips from the pros to keep your golf game sharp.

We’re so appreciative that you’ve chosen to be part of the Watersound Club experience and we look forward to making more memories with you.

VICKI BURRIS

WATERSOUND CLUB DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP

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MODELS OPEN DAILY

OUTSIDE LIVING OUTSIDE OF ORDINARY. Explore new home opportunities at NatureWalk at the Watersound Origins® community, 30A’s only gated community with resident-only clubhouse, just two miles from the Gulf.

New Homes from the $500s to $800s NatureWalkWatersound.com

©2023 Kolter Homes. Prices, features, dimensions, amenities, special offers and product offerings are subject to change without notice. “Watersound Origins®” is a service mark of The St. Joe Company and is used under license. CRC057817/CGC1514916

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Elevated Senior Living An exclusive community for active seniors is coming soon.

Call 850-601-3174 today!

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WELCOME TO LATITUDE MARGARITAVILLE WATERSOUND 55-and-better active living New homes from the $300s Sales Center & 13 Models Open Daily

Call (866) 984-5359 LatitudeMargaritaville.com

Obtain the Property Report required by Federal law and read it before signing anything. No Federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. WARNING: THE CALIFORNIA BUREAU OF REAL ESTATE HAS NOT INSPECTED, EXAMINED, OR QUALIFIED THE OFFERINGS. Latitude Margaritaville Kentucky Registration Number R-201. For NY Residents: THE COMPLETE OFFERING TERMS FOR THE SALE OF LOTS ARE IN THE CPS-12 APPLICATION AVAILABLE FROM SPONSOR, LMWS, LLC. FILE NO. CP20-0062. Pennsylvania Registration Number OL001182. Latitude Margaritaville Watersound is registered with the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Real Estate Brokers and Salesmen, 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, MA 02118 and with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 1700 G Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20552. This material shall not constitute a valid offer in any state where prior registration is required and has not been completed. The facilities and amenities described are proposed but not yet constructed. Photographs are for illustrative purposes only and are merely representative of current development plans. Development plans, amenities, facilities, dimensions, specifications, prices and features depicted by artists renderings or otherwise described herein are approximate and subject to change without notice. ©Minto Communities, LLC 2023. All rights reserved. Content may not be reproduced, copied, altered, distributed, stored, or transferred in any form or by any means without express written permission. Latitude Margaritaville and the Latitude Margaritaville logo are trademarks of Margaritaville Enterprises, LLC WATERSOUND LIFESTYLE FALL/WINTER 2023 120919.

17 2023 and are used under license. Minto and the Minto logo are trademarks of Minto Communities, LLC and/or its affiliates. St. Joe and the St. Joe logo are trademarks of The St. Joe Company and are used◆under license. CGC 1519880/CGC

Club Cocktails A sampling of refreshing favorites at Watersound Club venues Written By DAVID DEMAREST

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FAZIO Where to get it: 1936 Ingredients: Revival Jimmy Red corn bourbon, maraschino cherry amaro, lime juice, simple syrup, bitters.

Description: Built around Revival Jimmy Red corn bourbon (distilled using a rare South Carolina-grown corn that was recently rescued from near extinction), the Fazio is a sophisticated cocktail befitting the refined setting of 1936. The muscular bourbon notes are rounded by cherry amaro and a hint of citrus, making this signature concoction eminently drinkable.

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hether you’re in the mood for a comforting classic to sip on while enjoying a relaxing Club dinner or you’re ready for a taste of summer sunshine in your glass in any season or weather, Watersound Club dining venues have you covered.

Pull up a seat at a table full of friends or belly up to the bar and strike up a conversation with a fellow Member you haven’t met yet. Once settled, you can get down to Watersound Club business — aka happy hour. Which drink to choose?

The pressure is palpable. But there's no wrong choice at the Club, and options cater to everyone with both alcohol-free and spirited selections. Still can’t decide? Here are a few of our favorites:

TRANSFUSION Where to get it: Shark’s Tooth Clubhouse Ingredients: Vodka, ginger ale, splash of grape juice.

Description: Sometimes called “golf’s greatest drink,” the Transfusion is a refreshing and tasty cocktail with enough kick to put an exclamation point on a great round of golf or to soothe the sting of a day spent hitting from the rough.

SUNNY DAY LEMONADE Where to get it: The Beach Club Ingredients: Vodka, St. Germain, house-made strawberry puree, lemonade.

Description: This Member favorite is crisp and fruity, with nice citrus notes from the lemonade adding just a touch of tartness. It’s as refreshing as sunshine in a glass, and can be prepared without the booze as a mocktail or kid-friendly treat.

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WATERMELON SHADE Where to get it: Gather Kitchen + Bar Ingredients: Corazon Blanco Tequila, watermelon vodka, chia seeds, watermelon sorbet.

Description: This gorgeous drink looks like a watermelon in a glass, thanks to the chia seeds and watermelon sorbet.

Offering a delightfully balanced flavor, the Watermelon Shade makes good use of tequila to develop what one tastetester described as a “very sophisticated daiquiri.”

C.C. SAZERAC Where to get it: ANR Ingredients: Bulleit Rye whiskey, Hennessy V.S, apple simple syrup, bitters, orange bitters.

Description: The Camp Creek take on a classic Sazerac is almost shockingly smooth, with notes of orange and apple lending an approachable balance and making it a great choice any time of year. A close cousin of the old fashioned, the Sazerac cocktail was crowned the official cocktail of New Orleans in 2008, and the version served at ANR is among the best you’ll ever taste.

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SUMMER ON 30A Where to get it: Bark ’N Brine Ingredients: Vodka, St. Germain, basil, watermelon, cucumber, lemon.

Description: A favorite among our taste testers, this drink was hailed as being “dangerously delicious.” Light and not too sweet, muddled and garnished with watermelon and cucumber, it’s the perfect poolside cocktail and sure to bring a smile to your face.

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H O M E S I T E S AVA I L A B L E N O W South Walton’s newest gated community adjacent to Camp Creek Golf Course WAT E R S O U N D C A M P C R E E K .C O M Obtain the Property Report required by Federal Law and read it before signing anything. No federal agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. © 2023 Camp Creek Residential Development, LLC. All Rights Reserved. “Watersound Club®”, “WaterSound®”, and “Camp Creek®” , are registered service marks of The St. Joe Company or its affiliates. The information included herein is intended to provide general information about the proposed plans of the Watersound Camp Creek community and does not constitute an offer to sell real estate. All proposed plans are subject to change or cancellation (in whole or in part) at any time without notice. We are in compliance with Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. We have not and will not discriminate against you because of your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or handicap. The Watersound Club (the “Club”) is a private club. The mandatory Club membership permits members the use of the club facilities developed by the Club in accordance with the community governing documents and the Club Membership Plan, Membership Agreement and addendums thereto, and the Rules and Regulations of the Watersound Club.

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You’ve played the course, now you can live on it.

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G The Art of the Dink Pickleball arrives as a new amenity for Watersound Club Members, offering a laid-back tennis alternative Written By PAIGE AIGRET

CAMP CREEK WELLNESS COMPLEX added eight pickleball courts to its list of amenities this past spring. Already, instructor Todd Ponder has seen overwhelming interest amongst Members.

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roup chats quickly form.

New friendships bloom.

Full days are spent on the courts. And the fun often carries over to evenings spent at the Beach Club with new friends.

The name of the game is pickleball — pingpong’s big sister and tennis’ easy-going aunt. It’s become the Club’s hottest hobby and a way for Members to connect over goodspirited smack talk.

“It’s the fastest-growing sport in America, and there’s a reason for it — because anybody can learn how to play,” said Todd Ponder, who arrived as the Club’s new pickleball pro in league with the sport this past spring. “That’s what’s so great about the game.”

Eight pickleball-dedicated courts opened at Camp Creek amenities in April. Within less than two months, Ponder had instructed nearly 500 Members on the game. Among Members jumping on the pickleball train are many going on to learn levels 2, 3 and intermediate; six who are ranked skill levels of 5.0-plus; and 8-year-old pickleball phenom Marshall Clark, who Ponder enlisted to help instruct the Camp Creek juniors group over the summer.

“It’s great to see that level of talent in a club of this size,” Ponder said. “It’s definitely something that we’re seeing the momentum catch us at an early stage.”

Where pickleball is the attraction, Ponder is its conductor. Watersound Club director of membership Vicki Burris said Ponder’s skillset and contagious enthusiasm fit the bill.

“We have received numerous compliments about his passion and skills,” Burris said. “With that type of drive, word spreads quickly among

“It’s the fastest-growing sport in America, and there’s a reason for it — because anybody can learn how to play. That’s what’s so great about the game.”

— Todd Ponder, Watersound Club Pickleball Pro

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PONDER SAID THE GAME is a quick learn, noting that many new players at the Club have quickly moved on to levels 2, 3 and intermediate and some Members are already ranking 5.0-plus skill levels.

our Members. I had the opportunity to take a lesson from Todd during his audition process at the Club. I could see myself becoming addicted to the game.”

Combining elements from tennis, badminton and pingpong, the game is played on a badminton-size court with a modified tennis net. It’s primarily played in doubles recreationally but in singles competitively. A perforated ball, similar to a Wiffle ball, is served underhand and cross-court with two players on either side using paddles larger than those used in pingpong but smaller than a tennis racket. The game is typically played to a score of 11 or 15. The goal is to reach the non-volley zone without crossing it, playing the game at the kitchen but not in it.

“That’s what you call a firefight,” Ponder said. “That’s when you’re battling at the kitchen line, and you’re learning how to dink. That’s what the name of the game is, learning the art of the dink.”

The dink, according to the USA Pickleball Association (USAPA), is a soft-shot hit on a bounce from the non-volley zone intended to arc over the net and land within the opposing non-volley zone, either straight across or diagonally cross-court.

Pickleball lingo, like the dink, erne and scorpion, may leave some 26

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scratching their heads. But Ponder ensures newcomers to the game catch on quickly, and its massive popularity among all ages proves there is truth in the statement.

“It’s not as competitive or intense as tennis,” Burris noted. “The playing area is smaller, and it seems to be more conducive to socializing and just having fun!”

These sentiments resonate across generations and abilities.

And Ponder said that the game translates seamlessly for many players with disabilities, himself included.

“When I lost my leg 10 years ago, the tennis court became way too big,” Ponder said. “In 2017, one of my friends said, ‘Come out and play this crazy game of pickleball.’ I said, ‘I can’t run on the court that much.’”

Despite hesitancy, Ponder found confidence on the court again. There was less running involved, and the game was more casual compared to tennis. Soon after, he became a certified pickleball instructor.

“A lot of people are looking at it and seeing they can save their knees, save their joints and learn to play a much faster-paced game on a very small surface,” Ponder said. “I have 80-yearold grandmothers that come up with knee braces on, and those are the ones that scare me the most. Because

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those are the ones that I’m going to get annihilated by.”

As the fun of the game cannot be denied, neither can the health benefits.

Ponder often instructs players with fitness watches to track their play.

By the end, most have burned 500 calories or more.

“Everybody out here is just looking to have a good time and burn some calories.”

And no better time is had than at Friday Night Lights Dinks and Drinks night. Every other Friday night, the pickleball courts come alive with gameplay, music and mingling, and a beverage cart serves up cold ones to keep the good vibes going.

The event caters to the 21-plus crowd, and the sign-up sheet fills near instantly.

Outside of Dinks and Drinks, open play is available across four courts daily from 8–11 a.m. and from 6–8 p.m.

Courts can be reserved after 11 a.m. for one to two hours at a time. Clinic and class schedules can be viewed and reservations easily processed through the Membership app.

The fall will bring leagues and tournament play for those with a competitive bone to pick. But Ponder insists, “This is not a serious sport.

“If you’re not happy and having fun playing pickleball, you’re not a pickleballer.”

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STEWARDS OF HEALTH CARE

Medical campus bridges gap in accessibility for Bay and Walton counties Written By PAIGE AIGRET

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IN JANUARY, A groundbreaking ceremony was held at an 87-acre site in Panama City Beach, launching phase one of the FSU Health-TMH Medical Campus.

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ome 45 miles separate area hospitals currently available to Panama City Beach residents — 45 miles which could impact the timing of life-saving care or prevent general access for residents and tourists of the area.

The St. Joe Company was presented with a unique opportunity when they sought to bridge this gap in health care.

“It had really been years in the making,” said Dan Velazquez, St. Joe’s senior vice president of commercial real estate. “We’re proud stewards of land, but we also want to help develop the region, not just standalone single-family communities.”

Awarding more than 80 acres of land, St. Joe partnered with Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and Florida State University to create a medical campus with room to grow.

“Immediately I think there was mutual enthusiasm for what could be possible,” said Andrew Starr, chief health operations officer for TMH. “We saw this as a great opportunity to do what we do really well here in Tallahassee and expand that out into a new market.”

FSU president Richard McCullough said the conversation evolved organically with the university’s immediate interest in participating. “It wasn’t a question of whether the university should be involved in a project like this,” he said. “It is our duty as a public research institution to contribute our skills and talents to help the people of our state, region and nation.”

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in January, launching phase one of the FSU Health-TMH Medical Campus, with several more anticipated in the coming years. The first phase will introduce a medical office building planned to be operational by the end of 2024.

Projected services to be offered within the building include primary urgent care, cardiology, orthopedics and an ambulatory surgery center.

“When you look at most health care campuses, even Tallahassee for that matter, it starts sometimes as a hospital and they add on almost like Legos,” Starr said. “Whereas this is a unique, clean slate where we can be very thoughtful and have the ability to expand accordingly.”

Future phases are planned to bring about three more medical office buildings and a state-of-the-art hospital with future expansion potential to reach a 500-bed capacity. The first phase of the hospital will bring 100-plus beds for inpatient services, a fully functioning emergency department, and surgery and procedural opportunities.

“We’re very excited about that as a stepping stone,” said Starr. “We hope to grow with the community and be their trusted destination for health care.”

The new medical campus will be ideally situated along Highway 79, placing it directly between the WATERSOUND LIFESTYLE

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beach and Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, about 15 miles west of FSU’s Panama City campus.

The medical campus will be central to the Watersound area and other beach communities and within several miles of the new 55-and-better community, Latitude Margaritaville Watersound.

“There has been a lot of continued growth throughout Panama City Beach, but historically, there has not been a real hospital … this will be the first true hospital campus on the beach,” said Velazquez.

“The Panhandle is our backyard, and we want to ensure that our neighbors have easy access to quality medical care,” said McCullough.

The 2022 U.S. Census listed Florida as the nation’s fastest-growing state with a population of more than 22 million, a nearly 2% increase from 2021. Among regional growth influences, the Latitude Margaritaville Watersound community began selling homes built upon contract less than two years ago. Already, more than 600 homes have residents, and 500 more are underway. The community has buyers from 46 states, and its first phase plans to bring about 3,500 new homes.

“I think that’s what really pushed the need beyond just the local population, which was already growing rapidly, to a much broader audience,” said Velazquez, 32

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“especially with all of these new residents coming in from other states.”

The new medical campus will keep up with demand as the rapid Southerly migration to Northwest Florida continues.

“If you’re retired or about to retire, health care is a big concern,” Velazquez said. “And I think it helps us to check that box when out-of-state prospects are looking to relocate to Latitude Margaritaville Watersound.”

The demand is evident for fulltime and part-time residents as well as tourists. The FSU-TMH Medical Campus plans to alleviate that stress.

“A lot of folks who live on the east end of 30A in South Walton may find it easier to drive to this new medical campus on 79 than to drive west to the existing Emerald Coast hospital,” said Velazquez. “Depending on who your providers are or what type of specialists you want to see, there may also be people who drive from Panama City proper or other parts of Bay County.”

The location, layout and design will make for easy navigation to and around the campus, and ample parking will be available, making access convenient for both patients and employees. Starr believes the master plan will bring about hundreds of jobs, and the relationship with FSU will broaden the scope of research and development for the area.

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THE NEW MEDICAL campus will house medical offices to be operational by the end of 2024. Future phases will bring about a 500-bed hospital and more.

McCullough agreed, saying that the campus opens doors for research on aging and digital health as well as for residency programs and clinics for students.

“We want students to stay in the Bay County area for their training and ultimately contribute to the health care workforce here as well,” McCullough said. “We are educating the next generation of health care providers, while also conducting research into human longevity.”

TMH will provide clinical care while creating an environment where FSU can foster transformational studies in health sciences through the development of novel therapies for diseases, the advancement of technologies to maintain health and prevent illness, and improved education for future providers.

“We take much pride in our mission, taking care of patients and trying to provide the highest quality care possible,” said Starr. “We’ve been very successful here in Tallahassee, and we really believe we can bring that same principle, same success to another market that I think welcomes that.”

A welcomed mission indeed.

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New Kid

ON THE

WATERSOUND BLOCK Chef Leo Ortiz draws inspiration from background largely rooted in family and food Written By CARRIE HONAKER

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WATERSOUND Club executive chef Leo Ortiz found a love for food through culture and family before studying at the Culinary Institute of America.

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here’s a new face at the Beach Club. Leo Ortiz, executive chef overseeing 30°86°, Beach Break and Sunset Bar, draws his menu inspiration from his background rooted in family gatherings and honoring local ingredients.

Growing up in a large family — his parents have 15-plus siblings each — Ortiz frequented large, multigenerational get-togethers where food was always the focal point. “My grandparents were farmers from Puerto Rico who proudly harvested and prepared huge meals for the family,” said Ortiz, who began cooking at home from an early age. As a teen, he enrolled in a vocational high school with culinary arts as his focus. After graduation, he backpacked through Europe. When he returned to the U.S., he made it official and enrolled at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA).

Ortiz has been marinating in the culinary arts for quite some time.

Returning to his family roots for a pivotal career opportunity, Ortiz set out for the Ritz Carlton in Puerto Rico where he completed a CIA internship before extending his stay to immerse himself in the food scene. He landed in Florida after returning from Puerto Rico for graduation where he married his wife, a pastry chef he met while attending CIA. They took jobs at Disney and stayed there for over a decade.

Every July, they made their way to Panama City Beach to visit family and celebrate their wedding anniversary. During a 2022 visit, Ortiz felt called to relocate to the Emerald Coast and casually searched job boards for openings in the area.

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ORTIZ FINDS inspiration in a crafted dish and puts the same passion into a simple basket of tenders as he would to five-star cuisine.

“I love that I get to interact so much with Members and get an honest answer as to how their meal, service and experience was. That’s how we become better as a team and as a restaurant.”

— LEO ORTIZ

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To his surprise, he found the perfect one — sous chef at the Shark’s Tooth Golf Course clubhouse restaurant in Panama City Beach.

“I applied and received a phone call that week. The following week, on August 9, I was up here doing a tasting, and the following week, I was hired,” Ortiz said. In the span of three short weeks, he landed a job in paradise.

Though he’s only been with the Club for a year, Ortiz cites working for The St. Joe Company as one of the most rewarding jobs of his career.

“My job isn’t just cooking,” he said. “It entails a lot of interpersonal communication, dealing with emotions and attitudes from a diverse group of people. Some of them come from a different part of the world and some of them don’t speak English as their first language. I have to get all of these people to work together cohesively.

But seeing my team come together, seeing the efficiencies that are being developed, is really rewarding.”

When putting his menus together, Ortiz considers the value of tactile experiences offered from the physical preparation of a dish, something that can’t be manufactured but must be articulated by the human hand.

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“Technology seems to be taking over the world today, but technology can’t do food,” he said. Ortiz values the finesse, passion and care that goes into creating a dish, saying that “whether that’s a simple chicken tender or the best foie gras you could ever produce, if that individual is putting 100% into that dish, it doesn’t matter what it is, I’m inspired.”

Ortiz prioritizes fresh, local ingredients in creating a quality experience. “If I’m serving you asparagus in the middle of spring when it’s ready to go and you’re tasting all the flavor it has to offer … that inspires me,” he said.

As a father of five, Ortiz understands family needs in terms of variety. Recently, he’s implemented different buffets that make it easier for parents to come grab what they want, feed their kids and enjoy the amenities at the Beach Club. On Sunday nights during the summer, Ortiz offers a carnival-themed buffet where kids can go watch a movie at Beach Break and feast on cotton candy, popcorn, snow cones, soft pretzels, corn dogs and funnel cake. Parents can join them or drop them off and grab a drink at the bar with friends.

Ensuring satisfaction amongst Members is at the forefront for Ortiz, from family-friendly food experiences to high-end steak dinners. “I don’t want Members to have to go to other places for what they’re looking for, we want them to come to Watersound Club dining venues,” he said. “This is my first year, but as I progress with the Club, I plan to slowly start implementing some prix fixe menus to give Members different options and, hopefully, try to cater to everyone.”

As he finds his groove, Members can spot Ortiz weaving around the dining room, stopping at tables to chat and getting to know the people at the Beach Club.

“I love that I get to interact so much with Members and get an honest answer as to how their meal, service and experience was,” he said. “That’s how we become better as a team and as a restaurant.”

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®

Progress NOT PERFECTION

Well, maybe a little perfection. From learning the basics to fine-tuning your swing, Watersound Club Members have no shortage of golf instruction opportunities at the Golf Performance Center. Director of Instruction Ben Blalock offers an array of courses throughout the year ranging from juniors’ camps to ladies’ clinics to private one-on-one instruction.

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Learn more about the Golf Performance Center’s offerings in your weekly Membership e-Newsletter or by viewing the events calendar on the Member website.

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Gateway to World-Class

AMENITIES The new Camp Creek Inn Clubhouse brings an array of activities, services and dining options Written By KARI C. BARLOW

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t the new Camp Creek Inn, laid-back luxury meets Southern hospitality, and the result is a boutique hotel experience like none other.

Situated in the tall pines just north of 30A and adjacent to the top-rated Camp Creek Golf Course, the inn features 75 guest rooms and suites, meeting rooms and an upscale restaurant and lounge. Its long-anticipated opening also marks the debut of the new Camp Creek Clubhouse, which is included on the inn’s first floor.

“We’re really excited to provide something that this area hasn’t ever seen before, to really just up the game for everyone,” said Dave Merryman, general manager of Camp Creek Inn and amenities. “It’s a golf clubhouse that happens to have a luxury hotel right above it. What it provides is a new dimension to what the Camp Creek experience has always been about.”

Through the inn’s unique “Member for a Stay” experience, short-term guests can enjoy the many new wellness, fitness and dining amenities recently completed across the sprawling property.

“It really gives the folks staying at the hotel a chance to experience what it’s like to be a Watersound Club Member,” Merryman said. “And we expect that our guests will find that there’s value in that experience and actually become full-time Members.”

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The inn’s architecture, decor and design all work together to showcase the best of what South Walton’s inland areas have to offer.

“Your views are of these beautiful, manicured fairways,” Merryman said.

“It’s really a different experience, but you’re still a five-minute bike ride away from being right on the beach. It’s really providing the best of both worlds.”

Camp Creek Inn’s first floor includes the hotel check-in area, a spacious seating area, a fireplace, an outfitter shop and clubhouse locker rooms.

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the Gulf Coast region and is known for celebrating local ingredients. A second eatery — a relaxed lobby lounge called 1936 — showcases the chef's elevated take on classic country club fare with regional influences and flavors and features a daily happy hour.

Merryman said Watersound Club Members who are business owners are already inquiring about bringing smaller executive retreats and meetings to the hotel.

“It’s a perfect spot for small meetings,” he said. “We have a 10-person boardroom, and we have a function space that can seat up to 50 people, so it’s good for that small market.”

And during those stays — whether for pleasure, business or both

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— guests can immerse themselves in the full Camp Creek experience, branching out from the inn to the golf course and the new and expanded lifestyle amenities that opened earlier this year. That collection includes an 11,000-plus square-foot wellness center, a lazy river, an 80,000-gallon zero-entry pool with a 139-foot water slide, a fitness lawn for outdoor classes, eight new tennis courts and eight new pickleball courts, a 19-meter adult lap and fitness pool, a playground for ages 2–12, a multiuse sports field, and a teen lounge. A casual poolside eatery, Bark ’N Brine, serves up healthy versions of Southern smokehouse favorites, including gluten-free options.

We’re really excited to provide something that this area hasn’t ever seen before, to really just up the game for everyone.”

— Dave Merryman, Camp Creek general manager

“All the amenities are open,” Merryman said. “All of our tennis courts and pickleball courts are up and running and all the pool areas are up and running.”

While the luxurious pools are certainly the main visual focal point of the Camp Creek property, the bright and bustling wellness center is a close second.

“Architecturally, it’s a stunning facility,” Merryman said. “When you walk in, there’s definitely a wow factor.

You have a two-story sunlit atrium and a feature staircase that leads up to the cardio and the weight areas.”

Members and visitors won’t find any low ceilings or cramped workout areas. Space, comfort and light are in abundance. On the first floor are locker rooms featuring saunas, steam rooms, Vichy showers and traditional showers, while cardio and strength machines and additional fitness studios are located on the second floor.

“If you’re on the cardio machines, you look directly through the windows

across the balcony into the pool area,” Merryman said. “The views are amazing, and the facility is very open.

It rivals anything in the area.”

The wellness center — which offers a range of classes each week including indoor cycling, yoga, and HIIT — is easily the beating heart of the property. For individuals and families who prioritize having an active lifestyle, the wellness center is a place to find and build community.

“We’ve had a lot of new Members join in the last 12–16 months, and it gives them a chance to meet other people who are interested in the same types of things,” Merryman said. “If you’re doing yoga on the inflatable fitness boards and you’re really into that, then those are your people, and you may not have known them before!”

All the new amenities are helping create a property that draws Members of all ages and makes them want to gather,

socialize and exercise with others. For kids and teenagers, the pool, towering slide and lazy river are popular choices, as well as the pickleball courts and the teen lounge in the main entrance building, Merryman said.

“If you come here and you have a 6-year-old, a 10-year-old and a 17-year-old, every one of them can find something to do,” he said. “And we see that a lot of grandparents come with grandchildren, so they feel the connection to the Club as well.”

Merryman said the overall goal at the Camp Creek amenities is to provide guests and Members with a five-star hospitality experience that keeps them coming back.

“We hope that our Members are as excited about this expansion and these new amenities as our whole St. Joe family is,” he said. “We’re very proud of what we’ve created here and want to be recognized as the premier club in the area.”

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G E T H E A LT H Y,

STAY HEALTHY New Camp Creek wellness center offers Members variety, encouraging routine for overall well-being Written By KARI C. BARLOW

At the new Camp Creek wellness center, head-to-toe fitness and exceptional customer service are top priority.

“When I was brought on, the main thing I wanted to do was make the Members feel like they were part of a family,” said wellness center manager Sandra Smith. “And now it does feel like a community within the community.”

The more than 11,000-square-foot wellness center is the go-to spot for starting, boosting or maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Open to Members as well as guests staying at the new Camp Creek Inn, the center is alive with activity and staffed with friendly and motivated fitness professionals.

“I’m really big on relationships and knowing everyone by name,” Smith said. “We can’t control a lot of the things around us, but we can always be kind. You can have a billion-dollar facility, but if your Members don’t have a good experience, it doesn’t matter.”

For Smith and her team, the mission is all about helping Members of all ages and abilities set and reach their health and fitness goals. To accomplish that mission, they make a point to be in constant communication with Members.

“That allows Members to feel comfortable enough to come and talk to us about what their needs are and some of their health concerns,” Smith added.

Most Watersound Club Members are interested in integrating functional fitness into their daily lives.

“Physically picking up their grandkids — it could be as easy as that,” Smith said. “As a team, we have learned to anticipate and respond to some of the needs.”

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WELLNESS TIPS FOR YOUR BEST LIFE KNOW YOUR NUTRIENTS

Incorporate fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean proteins into your daily meals. If you have questions, see one of the certified nutrition coaches on the Camp Creek Wellness team.

AVOID PROLONGED SITTING

Take frequent breaks for stretching and walking to reduce muscle tightness and support circulation.

PRIORITIZE SLEEP

Get at least seven hours of sleep each night to rest and recover from the day’s activities.

GET MOVING

Some of the center’s most popular classes take place in the pool.

“Our aqua fitness classes are the most fun,” Smith said. “You can make them any level you want to because we use pool noodles, we use weights and we use the kick boards, so you get a little cardio in there and you get some core. You get the resistance of the water but no impact, so you don’t come out feeling like you’ve been beaten up.”

The inflatable aqua board classes are also gaining traction.

“Think of the aqua board as being your yoga mat on water,” Smith said.

For Members who prefer to practice their yoga on land, the wellness center offers a range of classes, from slow flow to restorative to power.

Other classes that are geared to a variety of abilities include total-body conditioning, stretching, meditation and men’s mobility.

“I have tried to program classes that can make adaptations to everyone’s fitness level, whether that’s someone who’s high intensity and pushing the limits or someone who just had knee surgery or is just learning to squat for the first time,” Smith said.

That approach also applies to the center’s cycling classes, which are proving especially popular.

“We have a cycle fusion class, which is an abbreviated version of the 55-minute cycle class,” Smith said.

“It’s 25 minutes of cycling followed by 25 minutes of stretching.”

Other group classes include weight training and high-intensity interval training.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our wellness center,” Smith said. “We’re just trying to keep people interested and accountable, and as we grow, we want to add more programs and even nutritional workshops.”

Adults need at least 150 minutes of moderateintensity physical activity per week. You can start with just five minutes at a time. Swim, garden, walk the dog, dance or bike your way to feeling better.

GET STRONG

Use resistance-training exercises, such as pushups or squats, to build strength and improve muscle tone.

BE MINDFUL

To reduce stress and improve mental and emotional well-being, add meditation to your daily routine and write down what you’re grateful for each day.

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DOG, SPELLED

D-A-W-G Pearce Spurlin III is catching his dream Written By STEVE BORNHOFT

P

earce Spurlin III is given to superlatives.

He is living his childhood dream, working out with the two-time defending national champion University of Georgia Bulldogs football team. He says about his position coach, Todd Hartley — Spurlin is a tight end — that he is the best in the country. He regards Evan Chelini, a trainer and gym owner who has helped position him to succeed at the collegiate level, as a genius.

And he says about the Watersound Club experience that it is his favorite place on the planet.

At Athens, Spurlin will have the opportunity to observe and learn from junior Brock Bowers, who received the 2022 Mackey Award as the best tight end in the country.

“My goal this fall will be to find a role to help my team in any way that I can,” Spurlin said in June. “Catching the ball, blocking, playing on special teams or helping others to get ready to play on Saturday — anything I can do. I think I’ll play, but I don’t want to sound too confident.”

Spurlin, now more than ever before, finds himself in a land of the giants.

“Up there, he’s not tall,” said Christy Spurlin of her son, who stands 6 feet, 7 inches and weighs 245 pounds.

Christy said Spurlin was “3 or 4 years old” when she and her husband realized that he had the potential to become a standout athlete.

“He was always so much bigger than his peers and he had very good hand-eye coordination,” she said, adding that as a boy he had an affinity for numerous sports. “Lacrosse, basketball, baseball, golf — he’d play them all if he could.”

Spurlin took part in the Walton Raiders football program in Georgia from the second grade forward. He started for Class 7A football powerhouse Walton High School as a freshman, an accomplishment that Christy said is “unheard of.” Following that freshman year, he participated in one football camp in Atlanta and was filmed running “five or six lights-out routes.”

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That video was posted to Twitter, and offers from bigtime programs started flowing in. Tennessee was the first to come calling and was followed by additional SEC schools, plus programs including Penn State, Florida State and Duke. Some schools offered both football and basketball scholarships. Then Georgia came in, and the Spurlin family was relieved. It was the one offer that Spurlin had been waiting for, no doubt.

“For as long as I’ve known him, he didn’t want to go anywhere else,” trainer Chelini said. “When people ask him if he considered other schools, he tells them that he has been spelling dog D-A-W-G since he was 3. That’s his joke with everybody.”

With the Georgia offer in hand, the Spurlins felt comfortable moving from the Atlanta area, leaving a 2,700-student football factory of a high school for the Emerald Coast and

“

He was always so much bigger than his peers and he had very good handeye coordination,” she said, adding that as a boy he had an affinity for numerous sports. Lacrosse, basketball, baseball, golf — he’d play them all if he could.” — CRISTY SPURLIN

1,000-student South Walton High School, which at the time was without a football booster club.

Said Spurlin, “It was a culture shock, for sure.”

But not necessarily in a bad way.

“I am so glad we moved down here,” Christy said, explaining that the family rented for a time while building a home in the Watersound Origins community. “I love the neighborhood feel of Origins. We’re active Watersound Club Members, and it’s like living in a small town where everybody enjoys the same activities.”

And in South Walton, Christy said, son Spurlin, removed from the “cutthroat competition” in Atlanta, “was free to be Pearce.”

He committed to Georgia while a 10th grader.

“When he got here, there wasn’t a whole lot I could give him in terms of receiver skills,” said Phil Tisa, the head football coach at South Walton. “So we talked a lot more about the mentality of being a leader and the mental toughness and determination required to make it at the college level.”

ATHLETE AND WATERSOUND CLUB MEMBER Pearce Spurlin III finds respite at his Watersound Origins home, and remains close with sisters (pictured left page) Riley and Reese.

Chelini, who owns Sand Dunes Strength and Conditioning on U.S. Route 331 just north of South Walton High School, met Spurlin when he was helping out coach Shafer Martin with the Seahawks basketball team.

Chelini was working closely with forward Barrett Waldrop, who would go on to Florida State, but could not help noticing another player on the team, a sophomore who possessed a “lot of talent and natural ability, but was aggressive and any time something went bad, it became an emotional deal.”

That raw 15-year-old has rapidly matured since then.

“I have been fortunate to see Pearce grow into a respectful young man, especially in transitioning to Georgia,” Chelini said. “When he’s bought in, he’s all the way in. He’s invested.”

For 25 years, Christy and husband Pearce Jr., who is a mortgage banker, have been football season-ticket holders at Sanford Stadium in Athens. They’re Georgia people.

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DESPITE EARLY CHALLENGES with injury in spring practices, Spurlin is eager for the chance to support his team at the University of Georgia, a goal which he has aspired toward since he was young.

Georgia. My husband’s parents went there.

My brother played baseball at Georgia.”

For the season ahead, Christy and Pearce Jr. have bought tickets and made arrangements to travel to all of Georgia’s away games. The Bulldogs will open at home on Sept. 2 versus Tennessee-Martin, where Christy’s father, Richard Whitfield, played football — as a tight end.

“Georgia has never played UT-Martin before,” Christy said. “We see it as kind of a godwink.”

Spurlin graduated from South Walton in December 2022 and enrolled at Georgia as of January. He is majoring in business. Of 23 student athletes in his football class, 19 reported early.

In March, during his third practice of the spring, he broke his collarbone. Surgery was performed and a plate and screws were inserted at the break.

“It was a disappointment, but I didn’t have much time to sulk,” Spurlin said. “I had to learn the playbook and I worked on getting my legs stronger. Now I’m doing upper body stuff, and I’m almost 100%.”

Chelini and Spurlin speak frequently.

“We stayed in each other’s orbit,” Chelini said. “One day he reached out to me and said ‘Hey, man, I really want to make a good run at Georgia, and I think you’re the guy to help me get there.’”

Chelini and Spurlin work one on one, addressing not just physical needs, but also mental, spiritual and emotional aspects of his life, all of which play a role in athletic performance.

“What will make him successful is just doing what he has been doing,” Chelini said. “Staying focused, putting in the reps, watching film, having a good relationship with his coaches and other players. The stadium is bigger, but he’s focused on doing the little things well. Once the helmet and the pads are on, he just wants to work, and it’s home for him.”

“I think he’s ready for it,” Tisa said. “This is something he has looked forward to all of his life.”

This fall, Tisa will be channel hopping, he said, trying to keep track of three graduates of his program: receiver Cade Roberts at the University of South Florida, quarterback Kemper Hodges at the Air Force Academy and Spurlin.

Spurlin said his immediate family is his chief source of inspiration. He said he is very close to his sisters — Riley, who played volleyball at Rollins College in Winter Haven after turning down offers from Division I schools, and Reese, who has an artistic bent and is about to enter her senior year at South Walton.

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Asked what surprises he has encountered in Athens, Spurlin had a ready answer: “Parking tickets.” He then added that he has been amazed at “what coach Hartley gets out of us. It’s unmatched.”

Always, Spurlin will look forward to going home to the Watersound community where, as it happens, a number of assistant coaches have places and where head coach Kirby Smart often visits. Coach Smart, Christy said, doesn’t have a home in South Walton, but doesn’t have a hard time finding a place to crash — the community is home to a number of Bulldog boosters.

The Watersound community now offers Spurlin a respite for which he is grateful.

“Golf is a passion of mine and I think we have the best golf courses in Florida at the Watersound Club courses,” Spurlin said. “When I’m home, I go to the beach and play a lot of Spikeball. But I think I’m probably too big to waterski.

“I’d like to thank the whole Watersound Club community for its support and thank everyone who makes that place so special.”

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or many Watersound Club Members, golf remains the hero amenity on the Club’s lengthy list of offerings. Tournaments offer Members an opportunity to show off the skills they’ve honed on the green and a chance to face off against neighbors they see regularly on morning walks and friends they catch up with during vacations spent at the Club.

“We take a lot of pride in our events and want to make sure that they run smoothly and are enjoyable for our Members,” said Patrick Richardson. “I think it’s showing.” Richardson said the tournaments elicit a sense of camaraderie and community amongst Members.

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Demand for events such as the Member-Member and Member-Guest tournaments remain high. And the Club delivers, offering the opportunity four times annually. Other tournament events, such as the annual Watersound Club Championship, are more competitive in nature. The Norman–Fazio Classic allows for a twoman handicap with a partner of choice, either Member or guest. And monthly 9 and Dines offer a playful date night as couples get a chance to tee off together with dinner following at the Shark’s Tooth clubhouse.

Keep an eye out for the Member newsletter with regularly supplied details on upcoming tournaments and events.

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2023 WATERSOUND CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP June 23–24, 2023 Camp Creek and Shark’s Tooth golf courses

CLUB CHAMPION

WOMEN’S CLUB CHAMPION

MEN’S NET CHAMPION

WOMEN’S NET CHAMPION

Nick Turner

SENIOR CHAMPION Gary Slayden

Net Champions

Kyle Beard

DeAnna Woods

Rita Neimeyer

Gross Champions

2023 NORMAN-FAZIO CLASSIC July 27–29, 2023 Shark’s Tooth and Camp Creek Golf Courses

NET CHAMPIONS

William Hargraves and Brandon Hargraves

GROSS CHAMPIONS

Jim Swegle and Jeff Swegle

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2023 MEMBERMEMBER TOURNAMENT April 20–22, 2023

Shark’s Tooth and Camp Creek golf courses

NET CHAMPIONS

LAGUNA BEACH Patrick Bates and Jeff Mowrer

GROSS CHAMPIONS

SEAGROVE BEACH John Michalik and Philip Jones

FLIGHT WINNERS

CHIPPING CONTEST WINNERS

John Michalik and Philip Jones John Norton and Mark McGuffee

ALYS BEACH John Norton and Mark McGuffee BLUE MOUNTAIN BEACH Tully Sakel and Jeff Sheppard GRAYTON BEACH Tom Kerins and Brian Starkman

INLET BEACH Stephen Smith and Evan Christensen

Net Champions

FIRST PLACE Patrick Leonpacher and Doug Beddome

SECOND PLACE Patrick Bates and Jeff Mowrer THIRD PLACE Briant Daws and Jason Tidwell Gross Champions

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WINNERS

S tanton Matthews (Member) and Jamie Nelson (Guest)

SHOOTOUT AT THE CREEK MEMBER-GUEST TOURNAMENT

Winners

March 16–18, 2023

Shark’s Tooth and Camp Creek golf courses

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F E AT U RE

WATERSOUND LADIES INVITATIONAL October 12, 2023

Shark’s Tooth Golf Course

2022 WINNERS

Karen Sakel and Hope Oaks

SHARKFEST MEMBER GUEST TOURNAMENT October 26–28, 2023 Shark’s Tooth Golf Course

2022 WINNERS

Mark Wright and Ryan Wright

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State of the Art WELLNESS CENTER

The Watersound Club lifestyle truly centers around happiness. A healthy body and mind makes a world of difference. Watersound Club Members enjoy a variety of ways to maintain their physical and mental acuity at the Wellness Center. Be sure to make some time for yourself here during your next visit.

®

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Everything you love

all in one place! ®

A variety of shopping and dining options await you.

Centrally located in the heart of Panama City Beach north of US-98 at Pier Park Drive.

PierParkNorth.com © The St. Joe Company 2023. All Rights Reserved. “Pier Park®”, “Pier Park w/ design®”, “Pier Park North®” and “Pier Park North w/ design” are service marks of The St. Joe Company.

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F E AT U RE

SAFETY Preparation and

The Powder Room promotes responsible gun ownership

BY STEVE BORNHOFT

M

ary Catherine Miller is a firm believer that everyone should be prepared to drive a vehicle with a stick shift.

You never know.

Unforeseen circumstances might dictate that you know how to do so.

Everyone should know how to change a tire, she said, “because you may not have time to wait around for AAA or BMW Roadside Assistance.”

And, Miller stressed, it’s imperative that everyone know how to safely operate a handgun.

Miller, who has resided with her husband Paul in the Watersound Origins community since January 2020 and is a Watersound Club Member, recently visited The Powder Room Shooting Range and Training Center in Panama City Beach.

There, she was briefed, not for the first time, on gun safety and operation and had an opportunity to shoot a variety of firearms. Ten years ago, she took a

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WATERSOUND CLUB MEMBERS now have access to The Powder Room shooting range with exemption from range fees, early access to sales and events, and a standing invitation to monthly Members Nights.

daylong gun safety course conducted by the National Rifle Association in Rhode Island.

“We live in a very safe neighborhood, but I have told my husband that eventually I would like to get a gun for our home for protection,” Miller said.

Miller said she is not currently shopping for a gun, but has been to enough ranges to know what she wants — a semi-automatic versus a revolver and one that will fit her small hand.

Effective in February of this year, The Powder Room, located at 106 Griffin Blvd., became a Watersound

Club amenity. Club Members are exempt from range fees and are eligible for monthly Members Nights, which include both training and social components. In addition, Watersound Club Members enjoy early access to product sales and events.

The Powder Room attracts diverse people and offers classes accordingly.

“We offer a class or two per month that are reserved for women only,” said Joe Preston, a law enforcement veteran and the general manager at The Powder Room. “Women from the Club can get into a novice, entry-level

class all the way up to more advanced skills and defensive pistol instruction.”

Preston said various factors account for interest in firearms.

“If I am going to be a protector of myself, my loved ones and my property, I need to be properly prepared,” Preston said. That preparation may include instruction about laws and regulations and also tactile and kinesthetic training with firearms.

Preston said that, in addition to people for whom personal protection is a priority, he encounters people with a passion for shooting competitions.

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THE POWDER ROOM prioritizes safety and guest satisfaction, offering a variety of classes and tailoring product recommendations based on specific needs.

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F E AT U RE

“Shooting is a lot like golf. If you don’t practice, you’re not going to be very good at it. God forbid that you are out of practice and are in a situation where you really need a gun and you need to stay level-headed.”

— Mary Catherine Miller, Watersound Club Member

Other people may wish to have the condition of an inherited gun evaluated.

“We try to sell people products based on a needs assessment,” Preston explained. “If you stop by and say you are looking for a handgun, I will ask you why you are in the market for one. Do you plan to carry it on your person?

“We try to ask questions that enable us to match a gun with you and intended uses. Depending on your answers, we will talk about different types of guns, weights, shapes and operating mechanisms. Then, we will give you two or three choices that fit those criteria.”

The Powder Room also maintains a large selection of rental guns so that customers can try before they buy.

Often, Preston and members of his staff will recommend that someone take a safety course before buying a firearm.

“Some gun stores are so quick to want to sell someone a gun,” Preston commented. “They may sell a newly widowed woman a huge .357 magnum. The woman comes to us and she has shot it twice and she hates it

because it is so noisy and heavy, and it hurts her hands.

Shame on whoever sold her that gun without really understanding her needs.”

At The Powder Room, Preston prioritizes safety training to those both familiar with and new to handling firearms.

“They may not be aware of where their hands are going,” Preston noted. “If I were to pick up a water bottle, my fingers would sympathetically close in unison around it. The same tendency occurs with a handgun. Your finger tends to go to the trigger automatically unless you train yourself to consciously not put your finger there.”

Always, The Powder Room personnel observe four safety rules, which are posted on the business’s walls: • Treat all firearms as if they are loaded.

• N ever cover anything with the muzzle that you do not intend to destroy.

• K eep your finger off the trigger and along the frame of the weapon until you are on target and you have made a conscious decision to fire.

• Be sure of your target and what’s beyond it.

“What we like to say is that you are legally, ethically and morally responsible for the terminal resting place of every round that leaves a firearm, and that’s a responsibility that cannot be delegated,” Preston emphasized.

Miller knows better and said she plans to take additional classes at The Powder Room, which she described as an “outstanding facility,” to stay current regarding gun laws and to practice shooting.

“Shooting is a lot like golf,” Miller said. “If you don’t practice, you’re not going to be very good at it. God forbid that you are out of practice and are in a situation where you really need a gun and you need to stay level-headed.”

“It’s one thing to miss a fairway. It’s quite another to miss … .”

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&mingle

MEET

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MAKE NEW FRIENDS BUT KEEP THE OLD New Location Each Month.

New & Legacy Members Invited to Attend.

Beer, Wine & Light Refreshments included.

Join us each month from 4 – 6 PM at a different Watersound Club venue to meet and mingle with fellow Club Members. Monthly Meet & Mingles will alternate between Sunday and Wednesday each month. Registration is required. Check the Watersound Club mobile app for more information and to register.

®

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OPEN FOR BRUNCH & DINNER Happy Hour 2–4 PM Daily

ONLINE ORDERING AVAIL ABLE FOOW30A .COM

•

(850) 534- 5050

•

34 Go l d e n ro d Ci rc l e , S a n ta Ro sa Be a c h, FL 32459

© The St. Joe Company 2023. All Rights Reserved. “Fish Out Of Water®” and “FOOW ®” are service marks of The St. Joe Company.

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M E M B E R S P OT L I G H T

DAVE

Rauschkolb Dave Rauschkolb tackles entrepreneurship alongside activism on the Emerald Coast Written By CARRIE HONAKER

T

he swell rises and a familiar figure emerges riding his board. It’s early morning and Dave Rauschkolb, Watersound Club Member and mastermind behind six 30A restaurants, catches some waves before breakfast with his family.

With a 6-year-old and a 13-year-old in tow, he makes it to the Club several days a week for sandcastle construction, waterslide adventures in the pool and an order of his favorite wings from Bark ’N Brine. He added, “There’s very low turnover and the staff is so sweet — everybody knows your name. I know if I’m going to a Watersound Club property, I can get in and the service and food will be fantastic. I always get a tee time, I always get a table to eat with my family, and I’ve never not had fun.”

A vocal community advocate, Rauschkolb was recognized by Walton County Tourism Department with the 2022 WATERSLIDE Van Ness Butler Jr. Award for ADVENTURES, excellence in hospitality, service and sandcastle construction and community contributions. a lunch break “It’s a small group of people they’ve at Bark 'N Brine honored over the last decade — I’m make up a typical proud to be among those folks,” Club day for Dave Rauschkolb said. “I also love that Rauschkolb and his family. award because it inspires other people

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“

We want to inspire the people, the youth, the folks that live here to be engaged. The next generation is coming up and we’re all getting older; it’s coming time to pass the torch.”

— DAVE RAUSCHKOLB

to be involved in their community and take on roles that enhance and protect our quality of life.

It’s such a beautiful place and it’s been that way since I first opened Bud & Alley’s.”

An avid surfer, he fell in love with 30A’s emerald waters, white-sand beaches and small-town charm. At the tender age of 24, he opened Bud & Alley’s with former partner Scott Witkcoski. He saw Seaside architects Robert and Daryl Davis’ vision for the town and wanted to help shape its development.

In 1988, just two short years after opening his flagship restaurant, Rauschkolb started the Scenic 30A Business Association. That group of fired-up citizens worked toward getting the scenic byway designation for 30A, among a number of efforts. “We compelled the commissioners to do a 50-foot height limit on the buildings, and they did it,” Rauschkolb said.

“We asked them to put a bike path in, and they did.” He designed signs for each community along the two-lane road to give each town its own sense of pride and identity and show the connectedness of the communities along 30A. His fierce community advocacy continued when, in 2009, he heard the Florida Legislature

RAUSCHKOLB is a committed advocate for his community, contributing to and spearheading organizations that promote the well-being of the Emerald Coast and beyond.

was going to allow offshore oil drilling in Florida’s waters. He set to work organizing a group of like-minded citizens and Hands Across the Sand took flight.

“I partnered with Surfrider Foundation and Sierra Club and designed this website that empowered any Floridian to join hands on February 13, 2010,” Rauschkolb said. “Go to their beach and join hands for 15 minutes to stop offshore oil drilling and champion clean energy.”

The simple act brought together a mass of 10,000 Floridians from over 60 towns and cities and over 90 beaches spanning from Pensacola to Key West. It remains the largest protest against expanding oil drilling into Florida’s waters.

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M E M B E R S P OT L I G H T

Two months later the Deepwater Horizon oil spill happened and Rauschkolb’s fears were realized.

“I flew to D.C. and all these environmental groups asked me to organize a national event,” he recalled. “So I retooled the website and two weeks into that, we had people wanting to participate all over the world. It all came from this crazy idea I had to protect our waters.”

June 26, 2010, marked the first global Hands Across the Sand. Events were held in all 50 states and 42 countries, with one in Italy drawing over 6,000 people. Rauschkolb said it became “the largest gathering of people in the history of the world united against expanding offshore oil drilling and championing clean energy and renewables.” Since that initial gathering, Hands Across the Sand events happen annually RAUSCHKOLB across the world’s beaches. is the visionary In his dogged efforts to behind a string of popular 30A inform the public and keep the restaurants beaches clean, he seeded the including Black idea for the successful Beach Bear Bread Ambassador program, which Co. and Bud & dovetails with turtle watch Alley's, among four others. efforts. The volunteers patrol the beaches and educate the public about not digging holes that affect the turtles. They pick up garbage and educate tourists about beach safety, flags and water conditions.

“We want to inspire the people, the youth, the folks that live here to be engaged,” Rauschkolb said. “The next generation is coming up and we’re all getting older; it’s coming time to pass the torch.”

Throughout his environmental advocacy journey, Rauschkolb remained busy bringing about a number of 30A restaurants. Taco Bar opened right next door to Bud & Alley’s serving the only Mexican food in Walton County at the time. Then Pizza Bar & Trattoria opened and added to his culinary empire with authentic wood-fired, Naples-style pizza and Italian food.

Then in 2016, he and longtime friend and surf buddy, Phil McDonald opened Black Bear Bread Co. in Grayton Beach, which has since expanded to Grand Boulevard and Seaside.

Rauschkolb said he’s not planning on opening any more restaurants — he wants “to play golf and take my family to the Watersound Club amenities as much as I can. I’ve led a charmed life, and it just keeps getting better.”

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Celebrate the joy of living, eating and drinking well.

Located at The Pearl Hotel 8 5 0 . 5 8 8 . 2 8 8 2 | t h e p e a r l R B . c o m | 6 3 M a i n S t r e e t | R o s e m a r y B e a c h , F L 3 24 61 WATERSOUND LIFESTYLE

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E M P L OY E E S P OT L I G H T

The Faces

Behind Club Fun Meet the Watersound Club key players who keep the good times rolling

Where you’ll find him:

BRANDON DUNCAN

Behind the counter at the Shark Shack on Shark’s Tooth Golf Course and helping out at the Shark’s Tooth Clubhouse for Thursday night dinners.

First started:

Brandon first joined the Watersound Club team in 2009, working at Point South Marina Bay Point. After Hurricane Michael, he moved to Shark’s Tooth in 2019.

What’s the best part about your job?

T

he moments you cherish most are the times spent with friends and family. Loving life and making Watersound Club memories is made easy with the innumerable amenities available, from time on the green to enjoying poolside grub and beachside fun. Watersound Club employees make the easy and good life possible. For many Members, shared smiles and friendly conversations with longtime staff become a part of that fabric as well.

In this issue of Watersound Lifestyle magazine we’re highlighting a few familiar faces who, through their graciousness and commitment to excellence, have worked their way into the hearts of seemingly everyone they encounter — from Members and guests to their Watersound Club coworkers.

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The Membership is great — they’re very friendly, very gracious. At the Shark Shack in particular, I have something in common with every single one of them — which is that I love golf. That makes my job pretty great. I enjoy the camaraderie, and I have a good time talking to people and helping them have a great round of golf.

What do you like best about the Club?

Definitely the golf. We have great variety between Shark’s Tooth and Camp Creek golf courses. And now that we’re bringing in The Third golf course, that will be very exciting.

People sometimes overlook Origins Golf Course, but that course is a lot of fun, too.

GREG SMITH

Where you’ll find him:

At the Beach Club, managing the pool and beach set ups, including chairs, umbrellas, kayaks and paddleboards.

First Started:

Joey began working with La Dolce Vita to provide beach services for the Beach Club in 2019, but his career in beach services stretches back to 2003.

What’s the best part of your job?

We have such a pretty and unique beach with the outfall and an incredible stretch of sand. In the 20 years I’ve been doing beach services, this is the best beach I’ve seen. The Members are laid back and nice — it makes this an excellent work environment.

What do you like best about the Club?

The beach, obviously! Although I haven’t seen the new Camp Creek amenities yet, and I hear from all the kids that they love that new waterslide.

JOEY CURTAIN Where you’ll find him:

Tending bar poolside at Bark ’N Brine.

First started:

Greg joined the Watersound Club team in 2014, working first at the Camp Creek Golf Course before moving behind the bar, where he’s been happily serving Members for four years.

What’s the best part about your job?

The best part about it is that it’s not like a job!

Everybody’s so friendly, the Members here are great people. Working here, you get to watch families grow and the kids grow up — it gives you a feeling of being part of something bigger than just a job. The St. Joe Company has invested so much in this area. For a company to do that is a great thing.

What do you like best about the Club?

The Camp Creek amenities are the newest and biggest to date — they’re pretty awesome! The wellness center is amazing, and it’s another great amenity for our Members to be able to take advantage of. But it’s hard to say what the best part is. The Beach Club has a long stretch of beach, which is kind of hard to beat.

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GOLF

TIPS FROM

THE PROS Simplify the game: It’s just distance and direction, right?

Written By BEN BLALOCK

G

olf is simple on the surface — use the club to propel the ball in the direction of your intended destination, at the proper distance.

That’s the game, whether you’re making a full swing, a putt or anything in between.

But there’s something about the culture of the game that makes us overthink things. Almost everyone who takes the game even a little bit seriously is guilty of falling into this trap from time to time, losing focus of the game’s simple directives. In many cases, we don’t even realize it. This problem is rooted in a few basic points: W e generally look to our own problem-solving abilities and intellect to solve movement problems.

W e fail to practice effectively.

W e get consumed by the pursuit of hitting the ball as far as possible.

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TIPS

OVERCOMPLICATING THE GAME

Both new and occasional players report staying away from golf because it seems too complicated. The reality is that the game is simple. But, as players, we add in unnecessary layers of thought. This is because we don’t understand the cause-and-effect relationships between the body, the club and the ball.

Many who are struggling to perform to their potential are suffering from a conceptual misunderstanding of how the game works. Here’s your first dose of reality: You are not in control of the ball, but you are in control of the club. This is because you don’t get to touch the ball during the execution of a shot.

It is the club that controls the ball, and the club is all that you can control, so control it well!

Focus on controlling the club and observe how what you do with it elicits an effect on the ball. Player, club, ball — that’s the order, keep it simple!

CLUBFACE DIRECTION CONTROL = SHOT DIRECTION CONTROL

The club face will mirror your hands.

I f your dominant hand is your top hand, pay attention to where the back of that hand faces at the moment of contact with the ball. Ignore the other hand.

I f your dominant hand is your lower hand, pay attention to where the palm of that hand faces at the moment of contact with the ball. Ignore the other hand.

FOCUS ON ARM USAGE ALLOWS STRIKE LOCATION CONTROL

Don’t ignore your arms in your swing; use them, focus on them! If you can’t hit your spot on the ground, slow things down and consciously use your eyes, arms and hands to hit the spot. Go as slow as you need to until your skill and confidence match each other. Only then should you add speed.

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UNDERSTAND HOW YOU CREATE MOVEMENT

There is a structure to everything.

Human movement is no exception to this rule. Getting lost in the details of how the body functions — measuring things like the rate of angular change between body segments or degrees of rotation within a joint over a specified range of motion — may seem like a way to find answers. In reality, that information will only help describe a past event and provide a source of frustration. It won’t help with what you do in the future.

The way it works is complex and simple at the same time: Your brain is designed to make the process of movement easy for your intellect. Your coordination capabilities are advanced enough that you need only to let them perform their appointed jobs to manage 90

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your movements. Your cognitive mind has no power to manipulate how it works. What your intellect does have the power to do is to change what your coordination does within the movement.

It is important to draw the distinction between how and what. We don’t need to know how coordination functions — It is a complicated process involving the sensory system: balance, eyesight, depth perception, touch. These are things we all use every day without realizing.

Do you think about how you balance yourself, or do you just do it? When you’re tying your shoes, are you in direct cognitive control over what your fingers, wrists and arms are doing? Or did you learn the movement through repetition and once you found success, you learned to trust it?

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EFFECTIVE PRACTICE There are three basic skills for playing golf effectively. You need to practice them and you need some sort of evidence to know if you’ve accomplished what you set out to do.

H it the ground with your club in your intended location.

D eliver the club face to the ball appropriately.

S trike the ball near the center of the clubface.

K now your yardages.

Keep your focus on the above concepts when practicing. Consider testing your own ability to accomplish these things to see how you measure up: B efore you hit a shot on the range, make a practice swing. Before the

TIPS

practice swing, visually select a specific spot of the ground, about where the back of your ball would be sitting relative to your feet. Now, make the practice swing and watch what your club does to the ground. Did you hit your spot? Can you do it three times in a row, four, five?

Lay a club on the practice tee and point the shaft toward something in the distance. Play a ball from a position on the ground that’s in line with this shaft.

Now, strike the ball so it launches to the right of the shaft, then to the left of the shaft on the next swing.

How many times in 10 tries can you get it right?

Go to the drugstore and buy a can of Dr. Scholl’s Odor X. Bring it to the range and spray a coating of it on the clubface, let it dry. Tee up a ball on a low tee and hit a shot. Now look at the face and see how you did. Did you leave an impression on the center of the clubface?

Know your distance for each club. If you don’t have a clear idea for how far each club travels, let me know and we can schedule a time to learn those. Knowledge is power, especially accurate knowledge. Here’s an example of what you can learn. This information is legal for use on the golf course. Having it as a reference on the course will help reduce your score!

Partial Shots

60˚

56˚

52˚

AW

PW

Ribs

30y

50y

60y

80y

97y

Underarm

42y

70y

75y

90y

108y

Shoulder

63y

83y

90y

100y

118y

Full Shots Club

Carry

Club

Carry

Approach Wedge

117y

7 Iron

173y

Pitching Wedge

132y

6 Iron

186y

9 Iron

143y

5 Iron

200y

8 Iron

159y

3 Hybrid

220y

Woods

Max

Club

Carry

Total

Carry

Total

3 wood

240y

260y

258y

274y

Driver

270y

290y

284y

300y

Ben Blalock is certified as a PGA Master Professional, a GRAA Top 100 Growth of the Game Teaching Professional and serves as Director of Watersound Club Golf Instruction.

CHASING DISTANCE

If you struggled with these drills, do another round of them with one change: Slow it down so that you have control over the outcomes. Use your eyes and your hands, keep doing the drills.

There’s plenty of physics and math to support the claim that if you move with more effort than your body can effectively support, you will not execute your movements accurately. Trying to hit it hard or far will often prevent you from hitting it well. There’s always another club in the bag that you can use if the one you’re trying to force to go a certain distance isn’t doing the job. Go ahead and reach for that longer club and put the ball on the green — no one cares what club you hit, but they might care about what score you made!

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C AL E N DAR

U P C O M I N G

EVENTS 2 0 2 4

W A T E R S O U N D

New Member Monthly Meet & Mingle

C L U B

E V E N T S

Join us each month at different Club locations from

Golf Tournaments

4–6 p.m. to meet and mingle with fellow Club Members and

March 14–16

enjoy complimentary beer, wine and light hors d’oeuvres.

Registration required.

Shootout at the Creek — Member-Guest Tournament

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

Sunday, June 30, 2024

The Powder Room

Gather Kitchen + Bar

Watersound Club MemberMember Tournament

Sunday, December 17, 2023

Wednesday, July 31, 2024

June 21–22

Camp Creek Clubhouse

Shark’s Tooth Clubhouse

Watersound Club Championship

Sunday, January 28, 2024

Wednesday, August 28, 2024

July 25–27

The Powder Room

Norman-Fazio Classic

Sunday, September 29, 2024

September 19–21

Camp Creek Wellness Center Wednesday, February 28, 2024

1936 Bar & Lounge

Camp Creek Yoga Lawn & Wellness Pool Area Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Camp Creek Tennis Courts

Camp Creek Pickleball Courts

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Sunday, April 28, 2024

Beach Club

Beach Club Activity Room — Trivia Night!

Wednesday, May 29, 2024

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Golf Performance Center

30°86°

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April 18–20

Watersound Club Senior Member-Guest Tournament October 10

Watersound Club Women’s Invitational October 24–26

Sharkfest Member-Guest Tournament

Visit Members.WatersoundClub.com to learn more about these events and other recurring events like trivia night, bingo, golf leagues and more.

Three-Bedroom Luxury Townhomes steps away from Publix, Watersound Town Center, and Origins Golf Course.

SM

Obtain ©WSOT, the LLC Property 2023.Report All Rights required Reserved.

by Federal “Watersound Law andOrigins read it before Crossings®”, signing“Watersound®”, anything. No federal and agency “OriginsSM” has judged are service the merits marks or of value, The St. if any, Joe of Company this property. © 2022 and used Camp under Creek license.

Residential The Origins Development, golf course LLC. is not All Rights a partReserved. of nor an “Jamenity The Clubs of the by townhome JOE®”, “JOE®”, community.

“St. Joe®”, Equal“St. Housing Joe Club Opportunity. & Resorts®”, “WaterSound®”, “Camp Creek®”, Air, Land & Sea. United.®, are registered service marks of The St. Joe Company or its affiliates. The information included herein is intended to provide general information about the proposed plans of the Watersound Camp Creek community and does not constitute an offer to sell real estate. All proposed plans are subject to change or cancellation (in whole or in part) at any time without notice. We are in compliance with Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. We have not and will not discriminate against you because of your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status or handicap. St. Joe Club & Resorts (the “Club”) is a private club. The mandatory Club membership permits members the use of the club facilities developed by the Club in accordance with the community governing documents and the Club Membership Plan, Membership Agreement and addendums thereto, and the Rules and Regulations of The Clubs by Joe.

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MEMBERSHIP

HOW TO BECOME A

WATERSOUND CLUB MEMBER

®

LIFESTYLE MEMBERSHIP Experience unlimited golf at Shark’s Tooth and Camp Creek courses, as well as access to the Beach Club and Camp Creek lifestyle amenities. Find private air charter on the Watersound Club Pilatus PC-12 NG. You’ll enjoy fitness facilities, tennis and pickleball, and a robust calendar of social events throughout the year. Topping things off are a multitude of dining options and an extensive list of outdoor amenities the whole family will enjoy!

Visit WatersoundClub.com, call 850.213.5181 or email Membership@StJoe.com to start your application.

Information in this Membership section provides a summary of the Watersound Club Membership program. As this information is only summary in nature, you should read the Membership Plan and Rules and Regulations for a complete understanding regarding Membership rights and privileges. Membership privileges and benefits are subject to change from time to time.

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L E T U S TA K E YO U F R O M

Sea to Tee AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN

Charter the Watersound Club® Pilatus PC-12 NG aircraft and let your membership take you places.

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B O O K YO U R N E X T A DV E N T U R E 850.213.5184

In arranging flights in the aircraft, St. Joe Resort Operations, LLC (the “Club Owner”) acts solely as an air charter broker. The Club Owner is not a direct air carrier or a direct foreign air carrier in operational control of aircraft. The air service referred to herein is provided by Western Aircraft, Inc. dba WestAir Charter, a properly licensed direct air carrier. Refer to Western Aircraft, Inc.’s Terms and Conditions of Transportation for Members of the Watersound Club experience. Membership subject to the Membership Plan, the Membership Agreement, and addendums thereto, and the Watersound Club Rules and Regulations. Flights subject to availability.

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PHONE DIRECTORY CONTACTS MEMBERSHIP Membership Office ������������������������������������������������ 850.213.5181 Vicki Burris, Director of Membership ���������� 850.213.5182 Hollie Parker, Membership Sales & Relations Manager ������������������������������������������� 850.213.5185 Betsy Grinstead, Membership Sales & Relations Manager ������������������������������������������ 850.213.5179 Cassie Dortch, Membership Accounting ���������850.213.6523

OPERATIONS Mike Jansen, Vice President ������������������������� 850.249.3045 Patrick Richardson, Director of Golf �����������850.249.3017 Josh Parker, Director of Agronomy ������������850.249.4168 Jennie Frey, Membership Amenities Manager ���������������������������������������������������������������850.213.5184

BEACH CLUB Greeter Desk ���������������������������������������������������������850.534.2500 Kristy McKinney, General Manager. �������������850.534.2078 Amanda Rogers, Assistant General Manager ����������������������� 850.534.2509 Katie Griffitts, Sales & Events Manager ���������850.534.2500 Dining Beach Break Grill ������������������������������������������������850.534.2500 30°86° ���������������������������������������������������������������������850.534.2500

CAMP CREEK CLUBHOUSE & AMENITIES Main Line ������������������������������������������������������������������850.231.7600 Dave Merryman, General Manager. ���������������850.231.7623 Jennifer Lombard Knight, Assistant General Manager ������������������������� 850.231.7624 Solimar Leon, Sales & Events Manager ������850.231.7600 Barry Webb, Director of Tennis ���������������������� 850.231.7681 Todd Ponder, Pickleball Professional ����������� 850.231.7681 Sandra Smith, Wellness Manager ������������������850.231.7109 Dining 1936 ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 850.231.7654 ANR ����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 850.231.7653 Bark ’N Brine �����������������������������������������������������������850.231.7664 Golf Outfitter Shop ��������������������������������������������������������� 850.231.7601

Adam Devine & Lee Moran, Head Golf Professionals ������������������������������� 850.231.7602 Ben Blalock, Director of Instruction ������������ 850.231.7607

SHARK’S TOOTH Main Line ������������������������������������������������������������������850.249.3015 General Manager ��������������������������������������������������850.249.3015 Patrick Kralik, Clubhouse Manager ��������������������850.249.4168 Golf Golf Shop ������������������������������������������������������������������850.249.3041 Paul Zeuschner, Head Golf Professional ������� 850.249.3046

ORIGINS GOLF COURSE Outfitter Shop ������������������������������������������������������� 850.213.5090 Patrick Aldrich, Head Golf Professional �������850.213.5090

THE POWDER ROOM SHOOTING RANGE & TRAINING CENTER Main Line ����������������������������������������������������������������� 850.249.1003 Joe Preston, General Manager �������������������������850.213.5172

HOTELS

Camp Creek Inn Reservations ����������������������������������������������������������844.993.9832 Concierge ����������������������������������������������������������������� 850.231.7620 The Lodge 30A Reservations ������������������������������������������������������������877.345.1986 Front Desk �������������������������������������������������������������850.608.3500 The Pearl Hotel Havana Beach Bar & Grill ���������������������������������850.588.2882 Spa Pearl ������������������������������������������������������������������850.460.9041 Sales & Events Manager ��������������������������������� 850.460.9040 WaterColor Inn WaterColor BoatHouse (Kayak & SUP rentals) ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������850.419.6188 Fish Out of Water �����������������������������������������������850.534.5050 Gather Kitchen + Bar �����������������������������������������850.534.5025 Sales & Events Manager �������������������������������������850.231.7773 Watersound Inn Reservations ���������������������������������������������������������� 877.568.9340 Front Desk �������������������������������������������������������������850.534.2040

FIND MORE INFORMATION AT: WATERSOUNDCLUB.COM 98

FALL/WINTER 2023

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DIAMOND DAZZLING EVENT come sparkle with us

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December 9th & 10th | 10am - 5:30pm

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B EBetween T W E E N DDestin E S T I N and A N D Sandestin SANDESTIN 1 3 3 9 0Highway H i g h w ay 8 We s t| | Destin, D e s t i n ,FL F L || 8(850)650-2262 50-650-2262 13390 989West

® MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION membership@stjoe.com - 850.213.5181