The Golf Club at South Hampton's ownership would like everyone to meet Wally and Carol.
They're part of the changes at the Northern St. Johns County club as it nears the end of its four-month, $2 million renovation project, with an opening scheduled for late September or early October.
Part of the changes are a new club logo that will adorn merchandise and pin flags, which will be silver, gold and teal to denote the hole location ― the teal a nod to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Prominently featured on the logo is a 10-point buck named "Wally" and a hawk sitting on top of Wally's head named "Carol." The logo has a double meaning: to represent the wildlife that frequents the course and to honor the founders of DWA Golf, Wally and Carol DiStefano, whose
sons Derek and Willy are the managing partners of the company that bought South Hampton in 2012.
And it's looking greener than ever, with changes mostly to the greens complexes and bunkering that still maintain the architectural integrity of the 1998 Mark McCumber design.
Derek DiStefano said the changes have taken a course known for its playability and diverse holes and made it even more user-friendly.
"We think this is going to be one of the best courses in the area for the average golfer, and one of the most fun," he said.
It also will be fun after the round, with changes made to the clubhouse and The Grille at South Hampton.
MacCurrach Golf Construction did the heavy work, and DiStefano said working with the long-time area company was a matter of "two minds that really clicked well."
Most of the greens have been lowered between 12 and 18 inches, and bunker lips and faces softened. The modifications are the most noticeable, for example, at the first, third, eighth and 10th greens. All of the greens have been re-grassed with TifEagle Bermuda.
The bank bunker at the ninth hole has been brought down 4 feet, and the severity of the left bunker at No. 10 has been reduced.
Changes to the finishing holes include dropping the bunker in front of the 17th green and enlarging the narrow green to offer more hole locations and putting in a false front at the 18th green, which has been moved forward to allow for more sunlight. In addition, a berm has been added at No. 18 to hide the parking lot.
There are enhanced membership packages available for those who join before Oct. 1. Information is available by calling (904) 287-PLAY or by emailing General Manager Jim Houston at jhouston@dwagolf.com.
St. Augustine Amateur registration open
The 21st St. Augustine Amateur has opened registration for the Dec. 4-6 tournament at the St. Johns Golf Club in Elkton.
The tournament has been a World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) event for 20 years and is one of the few high-level amateur events scheduled for the last month of the year. The dates for the first weekend in December fall between seasons for college golfers and high-level juniors.
University of North Florida senior Adam Vermutis the defending champion. He birdied the final hole to defeat Jake Moffitt by one stroke at 7-under-par 206.
Last year there were 45 players currently or recently ranked in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. The field of 84 represented 20 states, nine countries and 47 colleges.
For tournament information and registration, visit staugustineamateur.com.
Frank Frangie coming up aces
It took Frank Frangie more than 40 years of playing golf to get a hole-in-one.
He's got two in the span of five months ― both at the same hole.
The Jacksonville Jaguars play-by-play radio voice, Frangie got his first hole-in-one at his home course, the Jacksonville Golf and Country Club, on March 7 at the third hole. He used a 6-hybrid from 165 yards out to a back-left pin, with the ball landing and rolling across the green and in.
It happened again on Aug. 15. Playing 155 yards on that day, with a middle-right pin, Frangie used a 7-hybrid, with the ball hitting the green, taking two hops, striking the pin and falling in.
His advice to anyone getting frustrated about making a hole-in-one: "Do it during an afternoon round … cuts down on the bar bill."
Bad luck with the weather
Bishop Kenny freshmanJay Huntley of Jacksonville Beach was cruising along in the Florida Junior Tour 13-15 Reunion Open at the Orlando course during the second round. He started the day three shots off the lead, then went on a tear, making birdie at Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11, then taking a three-shot lead with three shots to play.
Then it began raining. And didn't stop. Tournament officials eventually called the tournament and the results reverted to the 18-hole scores, which left Jayden Wei of Lake Mary (67) the winner. Huntley had a bogey-free 70 in the first round and finished tied for third, and Christopher Grota of St. Augustine (71) tied for fifth.
Huntley's luck has to change at some point. He has four runner-up finishes in FJT events, losing three of them by one shot and another by two. He does have one FJT victory, the Shell Point Open in Fort Myers in 2025, when he beat Wei by one shot.
Chloe Pierce of Ponte Vedra Beach won the girls division at Reunion with a 72.
Del Rocco, Carter in Senior Amateur
Michael Del Rocco of Jacksonville and Steve Carter are playing in the U.S. Senior Amateur beginning on Aug. 29 at the Baltimore Country Club. Del Rocco qualified by finishing tied for second with a 71 at Stillwater on June 29 and Carter was the medalist with a 68 at Tequesta on July 30. … Jaden Nacional of St. Augustine tied for second in the FJT 16-18 Okeeheelee Open, making a playoff with Jacob Menard of Sarasota and Mason Ledwez of Davenport at 1-under 143. Menard won with a birdie on the third playoff hole. Jack Nelson of St. Augustine and Landon Pittman of Callahan tied for fourth (144) and Gavin Daino of St. Augustine tied for sixth (145).
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Golf Club at South Hampton close to re-opening after renovation project
