By Tara Roberts

Even if you aren’t a golf fanatic, you have probably heard the name Robert Trent Jones Sr. Motorists traveling through Alabama will no doubt recognize road signs pointing out various courses running along the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail – a total of 378 holes of some of the best golfing in the world.

Considered the grandmaster of golf course design, having designed or redesigned more than 500 courses worldwide, Jones has the added distinction of having two sons who are equally famous for their own golf course designs.

Robert Trent Jones Jr. and Rees Jones have expanded their father’s legacy with a combined effort of designing and renovating more than 300 additional courses throughout the world.

The two brothers have definitely made their mark on the Emerald Coast having designed two separate courses at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort – Burnt Pine and The Raven.

Burnt Pine’s 18th hole abuts the Raven’s 11th, making Sandestin the only place in the world where the work of the Jones brothers converge.

The Raven
The newest of a quartet of courses at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, the Raven, designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr., was constructed in 2000. The Links, Baytowne, and Burnt Pine round out the full course offering.

Host of the 2006 Boeing Championship at Sandestin on the Senior PGA Tour, the 6,900-yard, par-71, Raven follows along the picturesque Choctawhatchee Bay presenting water features on 13 of its 19 holes. Golf Channel commentator David Marr dubbed the course, “the favorite spot on the tour.”

The Raven is unique in that the course offers two alternate 16th holes – 16A is a 228-yard par three and 16B is a 172-yard par three.

Jones’ approach to course design follows his father’s. In an interview conducted during the opening of the Raven course, he explained that his first step in planning a course was to view a topographical map of the proposed site. From this he can see the natural lie of the land and follow the inherent flow when mapping out the course.

“The Raven weaves its way through Sandestin’s wetlands, marshes and thick stands of pine trees,” Jones said in describing his design. “The course has lush landscaping with thousands of natural grasses and plantings, dramatic water features and varying bunker patterns that I hope will provide each hole with a personality all its own. Golfers will discover a beautiful, enticing, fun-to-play golf course that they will want to play again and again.”

The United States Golf Association gives The Raven an overall rating of 73.8 from the championship tees with a bogey rate of 99.3 and a slope of 137.

This course is open to the public and offers annual pass memberships and single round pricing.

Tee times are open year round from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. based on availability. Cost is $15 for two hours, and club rental is offered at $40. Guests can take advantage of the practice facility before heading to the course, and there is a full service pro shop available.

For information about the Raven, call Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort at (850) 267-8155.

Awards:

• #1 in Northwest Florida, Florida Golf News 2003
• Ranked #14 in Florida, Florida Golf News, 2003
• Named in the Top 30 in Florida, Florida Golf News, 2002
• #3 in Northwest Florida, Florida Golf News, 2002
• Best New Course in Florida, Florida Golf News, 2000
• Top 75 Golf Resorts in America, Golf Magazine, 2004
• Rated 4.5 stars “Places to Play,” Golf Digest, 2002, ‘04 and ‘06

Burnt Pine
A traditionalist, Rees Jones grew up learning both the game of golf and how to design for golfers. While his courses may not be as showy as some others, his will challenge players and force them to work the course and not just play it, approaching each hole in a different way.

The 7,001-yard, par-72 Burnt Pine opened in 1994. The USGA gives the 18-hole course an overall rating – from the championship tee – of 74.7, with a bogey rating of 101.5, and a slope of 44. The course is considered the more challenging of the two Jones brothers’ designs. Golf Magazine hailed the course as the “Crown Jewel of Florida Golf.”

Using the natural contours of the site, this course also makes good use of the nearby Bay.

Surrounding by water and pines, this course is a golfer’s workout. Maneuvering through doglegs and around bunkers, as with The Raven, club choice can make or break the round.

Membership to Burnt Pine is open to Sandestin property owners and by owner invitation. Both resident and non-resident memberships are available and include access and preferred pricing on other recreational facilities, dining and merchandise purchases.

Non-members tee times are available before 8 a.m. and after 1 p.m.

For more information on this course call Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort at (850) 267-6505

Awards:

• #14 in Florida Top Public Access Courses, Golf Week, 2004
• Top 150 Resort Courses in America, Golf Week 2003
• #1 in Northwest Florida, Florida Golf News 2002
• Top 20 in Florida, Florida Golf News 2002
• Top 30 Courses in Florida, Golf Digest, 1999
• #19 in Florida, Golf Digest, 1997
• Top 75 Upscale Courses in America, Golf Digest, 1996
• #3 New Resort Course in America, Golf Digest, 1995
• Crown Jewel of Florida Golf, Golf Magazine
• Rated 4½ stars “Places to Play”, Golf Digest, 2002 and ‘06
• Ranked in America’s top 100 Resort Courses, Golf Magazine, 2005

Links and Baytowne
The influence of the Jones family is felt throughout the resort with the spirit of the brothers and the father in each of the 73 holes at Sandestin.

Jones Sr.’s former chief designer, Tom Jackson, designed the remaining two courses, the Links and Baytowne Golf Club. Jackson first joined Jones’ design firm straight out of college. He has been in the golf course architecture design business for the past 33 years, developing more than100 course projects.

The Links has maintained its reputation as a top course not only in Northwest Florida but also in the entire state. Built against the backdrop of the Baytowne Marina and Choctawhatchee Bay, five holes run along the bay shore giving players a different challenge each time they play, all depending on which way the wind blows.

Awards (Links):

• Top 5 in Northwest Florida, Florida Golf News, 2000
• Top 100 in Florida, Florida Golf News, 2003
• Top 15 in Northwest Florida, Florida Golf News, 2000-03
• Rated 4 stars “Places to Play,” Golf Digest, 2002, ’04, and ‘06

Considered the most popular of the Sandestin courses, Baytowne underwent an extensive renovation in 2005. Jackson, the original course architect, oversaw the updates.

Positioned between Mexico Beach and Choctawhatchee Bay, Baytowne offers a game that all levels of players can enjoy.

During renovations, a fifth junior tee was added to help make the course a good choice for both beginners and for those who just want a quick afternoon executive round.

Awards (Baytowne):

• Top 100 in Florida, Florida Golf News, 2000
• #13 Top 18 Holes in NW Florida, Northwest Daily News
• Rated 4.5 stars “Places to Play”, Golf Digest, 2002 and ‘04
• Rated 4 stars “Places to Play”, Golf Digest, 2006

Florida Caverns Golf Course
If you want to have a try playing courses designed by all three Jones legends, you don’t have to go far. Along with the two courses in Destin, a short nine-hole course, designed by Jones Sr. is an hour drive east along Interstate-10 in Marianna.

Located at Florida Caverns State Park, the public course, which opened in 1938, was given a USGA overall rating of 70.4 (from the Gold tee), with a slope of 120.

For more information on this course, call (850) 482-4257.

To find out more about The Raven and Burnt Pine, or other golfing adventures along the Emerald Coast, visit Emerald Coast.com Golf.