The St. Johns Golf & Country Club in St. Johns County announced a $2.5 million clubhouse renovation and expansion to begin in late June to upgrade the 18-year-old semiprivate club's property.
Plans include renovating the restaurant and dining areas, expanding the kitchen and adding a reception hall, large event lawn, outdoor patio bar and a deck overlooking a lake and 18th hole, social gathering areas and fire pit.
The kitchen and dining areas will remain fully operational during the construction. Completion is expected by year-end.
Jacksonville-based ELM | Ervin Lovett Miller is the architect and Sauer Inc. is the building contractor. Micamy Design Studio is the interior design firm.
The 222-acre club is at 205 St. John Golf Drive at southwest County Road 210 West and Interstate 95, near St. Augustine.
“We must keep learning and evolving to attract new members, all while instilling the faith our current members have in us,” said Ben Pasquith, general manager of the club, in a news release.
St. Johns Golf & Country Club, owned by St. Johns Golf LLC and managed by Virginia-based Billy Casper Golf LLC, was purchased from The St Joe Co. in 2009. “The renovations and expansion demonstrate our commitment to remaining the top golf and specialty events destination in Northeast Florida,” said Dan Zimmer, vice president of operations at Billy Casper Golf.
Pasquith said funding was from internal sources and not member assessments.
He said the club has 225 members, with about 30 to 40 percent of them living in the club's 800 homes.
According to the release, the owner has been exploring renovation options since 2015 and began to develop the current scope of work in 2017. Designs were completed this year.
Phasing has not been determined.
The announcement said one reason for the project is to offer events, such as weddings. The club now shuts down other functions to accommodate events.
The restaurant and dining area seats 125 people. A 3,000-square-foot addition will increase capacity to about 300 seats.
The banquet hall will be able to operate as a large area adjacent to the new large lawn event area or be partitioned for multiple uses. The lawn event area, accommodating 350 people, will overlook the lake at the 18th hole.
According to the release, the design concept demonstrates “farmhouse industrial, farmhouse theme with rustic and industrial elements. Pasquith said the design will use reclaimed wood and metal accents.
St. Johns Golf & Country Club completed a $300,000 course renovation in November.
