Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee announced today that Capital City Country Club located in the city of Tallahassee in Leon County has been chosen as the featured course on the Florida Historic Golf Trail for the month of August.
“We are pleased to feature Capital City Country Club as a partner on the Florida Historic Golf Trail,” said Secretary Lee. “The beautiful rolling hills and large moss-draped oaks have provided the setting for this historic golf course for more than 100 years.”
In 1913, George B. Perkins organized the Florida Hills Country Club on land he owned in the southwest portion of Tallahassee. Perkins secured the services of Herbert H. Barker, a professional golf expert, to lay out new golf links. The 9-hole golf course was completed in 1914 and received much local, state and national acclaim. A year later the Hill City Golf and Country Club formally organized and included in their bylaws a “standing invitation to the fraternity girls of the Florida State College for Women.”
In 1924, Perkins sold the property to the newly incorporated Tallahassee Country Club and the golf course remained a 9-hole course for nearly two decades
In 1935, the Tallahassee Country Club gave the property to the City of Tallahassee, with the provision that course ownership would revert back to the original members of the Tallahassee Country Club should the City become unable to maintain it. That same year, the City of Tallahassee applied for and received a federal Works Progress Administration grant for the expansion of the golf course to 18 holes. Albert W. Tillinghast, one of America’s most renowned golf course architects, stopped in Tallahassee later that year to inspect the golf course as part of his work with the Professional Golfers Association. Tillinghast reviewed and commented on plans for the new nine holes and the existing nine holes. Construction began in 1936 and was completed within a few years. In 1956, the city leased the golf course and most of the property back to the Club for 99 years. That same year the Club assigned its lease to the newly chartered Capital City Country Club.
Today, Capital City Country Club includes an 18-hole, par-72 golf course featuring four sets of tees ranging from 5,200 to 6,500 yards. The golf course is very special and unique to Florida. It is a rolling course through massive pines and live oaks with elevation changes more commonly found in the Northeastern United States.
“Capital City Country Club is home to one of the most historic golf courses in all of Florida. Our beautiful natural setting is not just unique for Florida, but the club’s location within Tallahassee makes it an even more special place,” said Jason Bench, General Manager of the Capital City Country Club. “The course is situated beautifully among the many charming aspects of the Myers Park Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This also brings close proximity to downtown and the capitol which makes the club one of the premier places for retreat and recreation in the city. We are thrilled to be featured on the Florida Historic Golf Trail and welcome players seeking an unforgettable golf experience that is founded on a rich and interesting history.”
For more information on Capital City Country Club, visit their website.
To learn more about the Florida Historic Golf Trail, visit floridahistoricgolftrail.com or find us on Facebook at @FloridaHistoricGolfTrail.
About the Florida Historic Golf Trail
Florida’s golf history, recognized as one of the oldest in the nation, dates back to the late 1800s when a number of early courses were created along with the development of railroads and hotels in the state. The Florida Historic Golf Trail is a collection of more than 50 historic, publicly accessible golf courses throughout the state that can still be played on today. Through the Florida Historic Golf Trail, golfers can play on courses designed by world-class architects and played by famous golfers such as Bobby Jones, Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Babe Zaharias, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Information about the history and current day contact information for each partner course can be found at FloridaHistoricGolfTrail.com. Find the historic course near you and Come Play on History!
About the Division of Historical Resources
The Florida Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources (DHR) is responsible for preserving and promoting Florida’s historical, archaeological, and folk culture resources. The Division Director’s office oversees a grants-in-aid program to help preserve and maintain Florida’s historic buildings and archaeological sites; coordinates outreach programs such as the State Historic Markers program and the Florida Folklife program which identifies and promotes the state’s traditional culture. DHR directs historic preservation efforts throughout the state in cooperation with state and federal agencies, local governments, private organizations, and individuals. The Division Director serves as the State Historic Preservation Officer, acting as the liaison with the national historic preservation program conducted by the National Park Service. The Division is comprised of two Bureaus, archaeological research and historic preservation. For more information visit flheritage.com.
