Georgia Physician Magazine

Sandestin

A secret world on Florida's gulf
by K.K. Snyder

Imagine a place where every convenience and desire are within reach, where you can choose to play golf on a whim, go for a sail on a schooner or enjoy a gourmet meal prepared just for you. Now imagine you can toss your keys aside and be chauffeured from activity to activity, whether it's a movie on the lawn after dusk, a walk along the white sands of the Gulf of Mexico, live music in the nearby village or a street party, Mardi Gras style.

You don't have to imagine this paradise. Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is a 2,400-acre premier destination resort on the beaches of South Walton on the Florida panhandle. Encompassing some 1,400 accommodations spread among 30 charming village neighborhoods of hotels, condos, villas and single-family homes, Sandestin offers a wide range of accommodations and an endless list of things to do, from award-winning golf and deep sea fishing excursions to the finest in resort shopping and superb nightlife.

Nestled between the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the quiet shores of the Choctawhatchee Bay, Sandestin's superb natural location makes it a truly unique resort destination. With more than seven miles of sugar-white sandy beaches and bay-front properties, four championship golf courses, 15 world-class tennis courts, 11 swimming pools, a 98-slip marina, children's programs, 73 lakes, a fitness center and spa and 65,000 square feet of meeting space, Sandestin is a world all its own.

The resort straddles the Emerald Coast Parkway between Destin and the many beach communities along South Walton's Hwy. 30-A. Village of Baytowne Wharf is a pedestrian village featuring a host of boutique shops, casual and fine dining restaurants, nightclubs and bars that come alive with strolling musicians, street performers and lively festivals. For those who want to be right in the heart of the action, there are even accommodations located right in the village, says Christy Kearney, public relations coordinator for Sandestin.

"We like to say that this is where old Florida and New Orleans meet with the feel of Charleston," says Kearney. "We've brought in the tastes and the flavors from throughout the Southeast, because that's where so many of our visitors come from. And even for those from outside the area, it's easy to feel like you belong here. Others are beginning to recognize the comfortable feeling that radiates from the Village and through Sandestin."

To ensure resort guests get the most for their money, Sandestin offers a number of complimentary amenities, including use of the fitness center, bicycles, one hour of canoes, kayak and tennis court use each day, and a number of activities designed just for children. A number of special events throughout the resort are also included with your stay, such as the mini-Mardi Gras each Tuesday night during the summer, the year-round Wednesday night concert series and the sport-themed movies on the grass on Friday nights.

Of course, you can't visit Sandestin without enjoying the ocean. The beach is the best place to have fun in the sun. With the resort's convenient beachside service, you don't have to lose your spot in the sand. Rentals of beach chairs, umbrellas and cabanas are available. Aside from the natural wonders of family days at the beach, Sandestin offers lots of activities for kids of all ages. Be sure to explore the many beachside activities, such as the new EuroBungy, the Rock Climbing Wall, the Dunes Putting Course and the Segway trail. The bayside offers a handcrafted tree house and Jolee Island's specially designed pirate ship playground. Visitors can enjoy a fleet of trams that carries guests from point to point as well.

Sandestin offers shopping enthusiasts a variety of specialty shopping among more than 45 retail shops, including the Market Shops at Sandestin and The Village of Baytowne Wharf, which selected 30 special merchants from more than 1,000 who applied to be part of the Village. From art galleries and fine wine stores to cooking schools and tearooms, shoppers are sure to find the perfect buy. The resort also offers daily tram service to nearby Silver Sands Factory Stores, the Southeast's largest designer factory outlet featuring more than 100 designer and name-brand factory stores.

Once you've worked up an appetite, rely on the resort's creative culinary crew of more than 70 professionals. The resort features 19 of the area's best restaurants and eateries, ranging from casual to fine dining, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and plenty of snacks in between. Recently opened, Finz offers casual family dining, even if you've just walked in off the beach, or fine dining upstairs in the loft, where you can enjoy soothing live music while you dine. The menu of Chef Fred Heurtin of New Orleans is sure to delight even the pickiest palates.

Golfing Sandestin
Designed by three world-renowned golf course architects, each distinctive Sandestin golf course offers unique and thrilling challenges. All of Sandestin's courses make dramatic use of the surrounding landscape, from wetlands to marshes, beach to bay.

"We like to say that 'where you stay is a nine-iron away from where you play,'" says Craig Falanga, the resort's golf sales and marketing manager, who adds that the convenience factor is a tremendous benefit to staying and golfing at Sandestin. "There is a lot of variety here, all four courses are different and there isn't any repetition. It's all a high caliber of golf."

Falanga says Baytowne Golf Club is currently undergoing a redesign and is scheduled to reopen in October. Junior tees and walking paths are being added to the course to allow more opportunity for young golfers who are not yet old enough to drive the golf carts.

Shopping, dining, water sports, golf, tennis, sailing, hiking, biking, eco-tours and entertainment Ð the list is endless. With 13 travel packages from which to choose, Sandestin can meet the needs of even the most discerning traveler, whether he wants to stay for a weekend or the whole summer. Airports in Destin, Panama City and Pensacola are convenient for air transportation and car rentals.

Golf Course Overview
Sandestin offers 72 holes of challenging golf in the form of four championship, 18-hole courses: The Raven Golf Club, Burnt Pine Golf Club, The Links Course and Baytowne Golf Club.

The rolling fairways of the Baytowne Golf Club course are currently under redesign and are lined with tall pines leading to large, undulating greens that are moderate in speed. Water comes into play at 12 holes, and the entire course is heavily bunkered. The Baytowne Course plays from 4,862 to 6,890 yards and offers four sets of tees.

Burnt Pine Golf Club, designed by architect Rees Jones, is an 18-hole track with tumbling fairways. The course winds through wetlands and marshes. The many water features of this course come into play on 14 holes, and the bunkering is exceptional, making for a most challenging round of golf. Burnt Pine plays from 5,153 to 7,001 yards and offers four sets of tees.

Raven Golf Club is SandestinÕs newest course, having opened for play in March 2000. This course meanders through the wetlands of the Sandestin Resort and is noted for dramatic water features, challenging bunkering and fairways lined with tall pines. The large undulating Tifeagle greens are fast in speed. The Raven plays from 6,910 to 5,037 yards and offers four sets of tees.

The Links Course winds alongside the Choctawhatchee Bay. This is a shot-makerÕs course where accuracy and proper club selection are a must in order to outfox the prevailing Gulf Coast winds. The medium-sized greens are undulating and moderate in speed. Water hazards come into play at 13 holes. The Links Course plays from 4,969 to 6,710 yards and has four sets of tees. n

For more information, call (800) 622-1038. For reservations, call (800) 622-1038. The Village of Baytowne Wharf can be reached at (800) 277-0801 or www.baytownewharf.com. The number to arrange golfing is (877) 369-6246, and the Web site is golf@sandestin.com.