In order to identify various sources of capital, Deane held meetings with successful charitable fundraisers. After several meetings it became evident that the PGA TOUR, by itself, would struggle to raise funds to construct and support such a facility due to its rather narrow audience. As the fundraisers pointed out, the planned facility needed the acceptance and support of participants in all aspects of golf world-wide. It was agreed that if you included the PGA of America, L.P.G.A. and all of the organizations world-wide (Europe-Asia, etc) that the charitable base would be of sufficient size to support not only the current concept, but an expanded concept for the entire world of golf. Deane acknowledged this was the only way to secure lasting success for the project and felt sharing his idea of a central facility honoring the game of golf would be readily accepted and supported.

The first organization he contacted was the L.P.G.A.. They applauded the idea of a centralized Hall of Fame and with that initial commitment Deane was able to convince all of the golf related organizations world-wide to join the team in developing a special place to honor the game and those individuals who had made it their careers.

With this influx of participation and support involving over 21 organizations world-wide, we knew that the facilities concept plan needed to be enhanced. The 28,000 sq.ft. PGA TOUR Hall of Fame became the 75,000 sq.ft. World Golf Hall of Fame with IMAX Theater; the 350 room resort hotel evolved into a 400 room resort hotel and a major time-share project. Finally, the golf facilities were expanded to two 18-hole championship courses with a PGA TOUR Golf Academy. This evolution of the project from the PGA TOUR Hall of Fame to the World Golf Hall of Fame took almost two years to come to fruition.

At the end it was Rick Pariani, V.P. of Design and Development for Davidson Development, Inc. who renamed the project “The World Golf Village”, a more fitting description of the project evolution.

Not only will guests enjoy wine, golf, and plenty of fun, a portion of all proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society through its Annual Relay for Life event (World Golf Village Chapter).

Here is a carte du jour of the weekend’s events:

Friday, May 17

Evening 5-Course Wine Dinner, 6:30 pm – 9 pm

Villagio Italian Grille $75 per person (+ tax)

Enjoy the dinner’s five delectable courses, each of which will be paired with a Rocca delle Macie wine. Guests will also be treated to an appearance by Vito Candela of Rocca delle Macie, who will discuss the evening’s wine selections at the dinner. Don’t wait for your ticket! Space is limited to the first 50 people.

Saturday, May 18

Morning Golf at Slammer & Squire (for tee times call 904-940-6088)

$99 per person (+ tax)

Take in a morning round on the popular Slammer & Squire course, just steps from The Renaissance Resort. Be sure to take advantage of this special rate, which will only be offered during the Golf & Wine Fest weekend.

Afternoon Wine Tasting, 1 pm – 4 pm

Renaissance World Golf Village Resort

$40 per person in advance/$45 per person day of (+ tax) Don’t miss a variety of more than 100 wines as well as cuisine samplings from several local restaurants and the area’s most breathtaking views. Wine will be served outside of The Renaissance Resort between the Slammer & Squire and the Walk of Champions. Attendees must be 21 and older.

Sunday, May 19

Morning Champagne Brunch, 8 am – 10 am

Villagio Italian Grille $39.95 per person (+ tax)

Gather for a relaxing and delicious Sunday morning brunch featuring a lavish Villagio Italian Grille menu and a glass of the bubbly.

Guests may choose to check out one or all of the various happenings. You may enjoy the “Sip & Play Package”, which includes Morning Golf and Afternoon Wine Tasting for just $119 per person (Saturday only).

Weekend Room Packages are also available at the Renaissance World Golf Village Resort. Visit www.renwgv.com and click on “Room Packages” for more information.

For reservations, tee times, and menu information, contact Jessica.Wyneken@jqh.com or 904-342-6251. You may also go to www.wgvwgf.eventbrite.com  to make Golf & Wine Fest reservations online.

Davidson Realty President Sherry Davidson and I were excited to get a personal tour of Palencia Elementary School (PES) from Principal Don Campbell. Don has been in education for more than 40 years and specializes in opening new schools, such as Wards Creek Elementary in World Golf Village, and now Palencia Elementary, which opened in August of 2012. Palencia Elementary is one of our most leading edge St. Johns County Schools and caters to 738 students. Come along with us for a tour!

Palencia Elementary offers state-of-the-art technology resources for all of their students. As Don explains in the video, PES is an all-digital school, which means all the student’s textbooks are online. They can access their textbooks by computer or iPads in the classroom or at home. But, just because they are at the forefront of digital technology doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate a good ol’ hardback book. We stopped by their Media Center where Don tells us that 60% of their books are available in hardback form.

PES was built to Green Building Standards and is applying to receive the LEED Award (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) in 2013. Part of their green standards is recycling and reusing. They compost food to use in their gardens to grow corn, beans, vegetables and fruits for the cafeteria.  Don also points out the ice storage machines that make ice at night to cool the entire school building down during the day, saving on energy costs.

PES is very dedicated to their arts and music programs. They have full-time art and music as well as physical education and a Lego Lab. Most PES students start their day with exercise by walking or riding their bikes to school!

To learn more about living in St. Johns County or to visit Palencia Elementary School give one of our Davidson Realty agents a call at (904) 940-5000 or stop by Davidson Realty at 100 East Town Place, St. Augustine, 32092.

Davidson Realty launched their non-profit foundation, Davidson Cares, in November of 2013 to offer support for local schools in the World Golf Village area, including Mill Creek Elementary, Wards Creek Elementary, Palencia Elementary and Pacetti Bay Middle School. Davidson Cares has given a total of $11,300 to the four schools mentioned above in less than six months!

Davidson Realty President Sherry Davidson presented the remainder of the Davidson Cares money at Pacetti Bay’s Arts Around the World Event last week, where all four schools were represented. Davidson Cares donated $4,800 in grants to each of the schools based on video submissions in February and the remainder of the money was divvied up based on total school votes for the grant videos. Palencia Elementary received $2,275, Wards Creek received $1,625 and Mill Creek and Pacetti Bay each received $1,300 for a total of $6,500!

Davidson Cares is looking forward to raising even more money in their second year of fundraising! To stay up-to-date on fundraisers or to learn more about Davidson Cares, please visit www.davidsoncares.com or call Peyton Davidson at (904) 940-5000.

First of all, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to chat.  How long have you lived here in World Golf Village?  “I was born and raised here.  I live in GroveWood in the King & Bear with my mom, an uncle, and a cat-brother Hubert.  They are very good servants except for Hubert, who is decidedly unaccommodating.  Mom keeps saying I have a new brother or sister coming soon, but I don’t know how to feel about that.”

What do you enjoy most about living in World Golf Village?  “I would have to say my family and great neighbors. My uncles, grandparents, and great grandparents also live in World Golf Village.  So, I get lots of attention… and treats.  Also, there are always neighbor kids and friendly dogs playing outside that I get to greet and smell. I get to explore World Golf Village on my walks and chase fox squirrels, birds, and lizards. The streets are very safe and private, so my mom doesn’t have to worry about me too much.”

Take us through a typical day in the life of Ernie.  “My mom and I go to work at Davidson Realty every morning where I get lots of treats from my grandpa and spoiled by all my co-workers. I spend most of the work day snorting and napping. Davidson’s ‘Wine Fridays’ are my favorite because that’s when I get to play in the office courtyard and enjoy cheese and pickles (my favorite treats).  In my free time, I enjoy charming passersby at outdoor restaurants, frolicking on the beach, and playing rope tug-of-war.”

What is your professional background?  “I am technically unemployed, but I’d like to think I’m a mascot of sorts for the Davidson office and an important contributor to their great morale. I put in eight hours a day at the office with my mom.  For any potential employers, my skill set includes running in circles, taking long naps, begging for food, and being adorably distracting during marketing meetings. What can I say…I’m the life of the party and the office!”

What’s something your World Golf Village friends would be surprised to know about you?  “Though I am often confused with a pug, a pig, or even a gremlin, I am actually a French Bulldog.”

I have eaten there twice now – once for the grilled table experience and once for a sushi lunch date. The hibachi grilled table experience is always a blast at any restaurant that offers it, but the food, chef and service here exceeded my expectations. A family with two young kids dined next to us and the kids were so mesmerized by the Hibachi “show,” they didn’t seem to mind eating their veggies! The sushi is extremely fresh and presented beautifully. If you’re not in the mood for sushi at lunch, dine in at the grilled table. They will do the whole show for you for only $10.95 or have your choice of two meats for $12.95. Not all of us can handle a hibachi meal at lunch time without a nap, so if that’s not your speed try any of their other lunch specials including the Teriyaki Lunch, Tempura Lunch or Katsu Lunch all for $9.95. They also offer a Lunch Bento Box, udon noodles, and fried rice.

Sumo Sushi is located at 107 Nature Walk Parkway in St. Augustine, FL. They are open for lunch Monday to Saturday 11 am to 3 pm and Sunday from noon to 3 pm. Dine in for dinner on Monday through Thursday from 4:30 to 9:30 pm, Friday and Saturday from 4:30 to 10:30 pm and Sunday 4:30 to 9 pm. Stop in for lunch, dinner or call them at (904) 230-1999 to ask about catering. You won’t be disappointed!

This year there are over 20 vendors offering a variety of products for sale. You won’t want to miss the chance to browse, shop and get expert advice from this all-women group of vendors:

• Cousart Studios & Go Fish (photography and women’s fashions) – Christine Cousart
• Jewel Kade (handcrafted jewelry and Poetry Custom Canvas line) – Kelly Watson
• Turtle Treats (gourmet chocolate and designer soaps) – Rose Hester
• Sweet Mamas (southern treats) – Johanna Sims
• Seize It Live It (lifestyle apparel) – Brandee Brennan
• Tastefully Simple (easy-to-prepare food and gifts) – Elaine Daniels
• Mary Kay (cosmetics & skin care) – Bethany Lee
• Donna Mancini Staging & Redesign (interior design) – Donna Mancini
• PartyLite (candles and accessories) – Shannon Rogers
• Gold Rush America (gold for cash) – Beverley Downs
• Sweet Tooth Candy Buffet (candy) – Cindi Taylor
• Stella & Dot (jewelry and accessories) – Peyton Davidson
• Rodan + Fields (skincare) – Jennifer Chapman
• Silpada (jewelry) – Pauline Cake
• Dynamite Health (Mila, a health food product) – Cheryl Benyacko
• Nerium (anti-aging products) – Jenna Daily
• Thirty One (bags and totes that can be monogrammed) – Dana Boggs
• Village Chiropractic Center (chiropractic care and massages) – Michelle Berry & Kim Lyons
• Natural Element Creations (custom designed water fountain art) – Lorrie Goss
• Origami Owl (custom jewelry) – Kelli Tyson
• Cup of Cake and More (custom cupcakes) – Missy Farina
• With Alacrity (fashion accessories) – Rola DeLamielleure & Carri Grass
• Pampered Chef (kitchen essentials and accessories) – Lynda Mann

Many vendors have donated items for raffle with proceeds going to Davidson Realty’s non-profit foundation, Davidson Cares, which benefits our local St. Johns County public schools including Wards Creek Elementary, Mill Creek Elementary, Palencia Elementary and Pacetti Bay Middle School.

Some of the great family-friendly activities include a kids’ casting tournament, kids’ fish tank fishing experience, opportunities for pictures with alligators and other reptiles, a variety of delicious food and merchandise vendors, music, raffle prizes, and more! The Humane Society will be present with a pet adoption tent for all you animal lovers.

Interested in fishing in the tournament? The tournament begins at safelight and weigh-in starts at 3 pm. The cost is $120 per boat – $2,500 is guaranteed payback to first place and $1,000 is guaranteed payback for big fish of the tournament! There is a five fish limit and $250 cash drawing following the tournament.

Thanks to past support, the fishing tournament is growing every year and the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors’ Charitable Foundation has been able to donate approximately $161,519 over the past nine years to Haven Hospice and the Roberts Care Center in Palatka. Haven Hospice’s mission is to honor life by providing comfort, care and compassion to those they serve. Not only do they take incredible care of our loved ones, they also provide support for children and teens who have lost a loved one through Camp Safe Haven. Haven Hospice’s Camp Safe Haven is a free day camp for children suffering the loss of a close family member or loved one.

For more information on the 10th Annual Bass Fishing Tournament, please visit http://www.nefarbass.org/.

We are back with President of Legacy Builders of North Florida John Unkefer to explore how the custom home building process differs from buying a production home with a national builder. As John explains in the video, many people are intimidated about the custom home process, but Legacy Builders of North Florida walks you through the entire process step-by-step.

For those of you in the buying market, it is very important to know that building custom does not mean more expensive. It means you have more choices and the opportunity to spend money where you want to in the house and also economize in other areas. Throughout the design and specification process, you decide if you prefer granite in the kitchen, the bathrooms or both. You choose the level of cabinets and decide tile versus wood. John and his team use all that information to help you lay out your perfect home on a budget that works for you!

For Legacy Builders of North Florida, building is a team sport and their clients are a part of the team. Part of that team process, is multiple walk-throughs to make sure everything is the way your family desires. John does walk-throughs before construction begins and throughout all of the different stages of the house including framing, electrical, shelving and glass.

If you are interested in building custom, remodeling or adding on to your current home, please give one of our Davidson Realty agents a call at (904) 940-5000.

The proposed project envisioned a 28,000 square foot Hall of Fame, 350 room resort hotel and an 18-hole golf course. The location selected was just south of the I-295/I-95 intersection in southern Duval County. Deane announced the project with great fanfare and support from the city of Jacksonville. Fortunately for the St. Johns Harbour project, the site selected by the TOUR presented significant environmental challenges. In anticipation of these project permitting issues, we decided to incorporate the PGA TOUR Hall of Fame concept in our approval process. We estimated completion of our approval process to be at least one year prior to any possible approvals being granted to the TOUR at the other site.

In September 1991 we received the bulk of our final approvals, other than the Corps of Engineers and proceeded to present the opportunity for a change in venue to Deane. On the day Deane chose to visit our site, the sun was shining and there was wildlife everywhere. Mother Nature closed the deal for us. Now we had an anchor and a new name, “Saint Johns- Home of the PGA TOUR Hall of Fame”.