Overview
The Slammer & Squire is the flagship course at World Golf Village in St. Augustine, Florida.
Named after World Golf Hall of Fame members “Slammin’ Sammy” Snead and Gene “The Squire” Sarazen, they served as player consultants to golf course architect, Bobby Weed.
This textured, low-profile layout meanders elegantly through N. Florida flatwoods. Bold, flashed-face bunkers and close-clipped greensides inject style and strategy into the course design.
Since opening in 1998, the Slammer & Squire has proudly hosted Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf (PGA TOUR), Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf (PGA TOUR Champions), The Handa Cup (LPGA Legends Tour), ANNIKA Invitational USA, Murray Bros. Caddyshack Golf Tournament and other high-profile events.
Awards
2021 Golf advisor
Best Public Courses in Florida, No. 9
2016 Golf Digest
Top Public Courses in Florida, No. 52
Challenge
In 1990, PGA TOUR Commissioner, Deane Beman, announced his intention to bring the World Golf Village concept to life. It was to become a “must visit” for sports enthusiasts.
However, it would take eight years of securing permits, financing and approvals from local and state entities before World Golf Village was fully constructed.
This brand new master development would be anchored by the World Golf Hall of Fame, PGA TOUR Golf Academy, 18-hole putting course, IMAX Theatre, designer shops, Renaissance Resort and Grande Villas.
The sprawling complex would also boast two championship golf courses by four World Golf Hall of Fame members – the Slammer & Squire designed by Bobby Weed, Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen, as well as the King & Bear by Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.
Approach
Snead, Sarazen and Weed aimed to reward good shotmaking on their 18-hole layout. Protecting northeast Florida’s natural wetlands was also of great importance.
The front nine strolls through gentle forests and marshes, while the back nine plays more open across the resort campus.
While there are no forced carries and plenty of width in fairways, large bunkers mask certain landing areas for visual intimidation.
The Slammer & Squire’s small-scale, quality greens also provide a fun challenge. Fall-away greens are featured on Holes 4 and 6, a beautiful Redan on Hole 7 and Postage Stamp green on Hole 15.
Solution
Famed golf writer Derek Duncan notes, “This design rewards drives that play to strategic angles, creates pin placements that actually matter, and has enough character in the putting surfaces and surrounding hazards that approach and recovery shots have real consequences.”
Nearly twenty years after its opening, Weed returned to the Slammer & Squire in 2017 to enhance the course’s bunkers, playability and aesthetics, all while easing maintenance requirements. Bobby Weed Golf Design has become an expert at addressing how to amend the spiraling cost of bunker construction and maintenance.
Non-bunker related additions allowed a number of areas of the golf course to be rehabilitated that were not originally considered, including cart-path work, extra sod work, tree removal and cart path edge regrading.
Said Bob Barrett, CEO of Honours Golf, “Weed took one of his great designs from the late 90’s and made it more player and maintenance friendly, all while improving its aesthetic beauty.”
70% Increase in Course Bookings
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