By Barbara Palmgren
Words from a famous poem Sea-Fever by John Masefield echoed in my ear as I approached the Seascape Golf Course.
“I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky. And all I ask is a tall ship and the sky.”
I have always been drawn to the beautiful seas that are our Emerald Coast. And when I hear the nearby surf as I leave my car to interview Ryan Hillstrom, I smile and know that this special golf course is changing soon. Changing so there is an even more exciting reason for golfing families to visit the Emerald Coast again. Visit not just for the ocean, but for the new golfing amenities that await.
Last year, the Seascape Golf Course at Seascape Resort, one of the oldest courses along the Emerald Coast, was an 18-hole golf course. The Osborn Investment Group made a decision to change it to an 18-hole Par 3 course within the next two years. The back nine is still open for play today while the front nine is being turned into land to support condominiums, leaving the driving range for concerts and festivals. With several 18-hole courses nearby, this unique new Par 3 will be the only one in Walton County.
This venue will challenge golfers who prefer a short hole golf game or don’t have time for a long day on an 18-hole course. I remember with fondness the Executive Par 3 on Okaloosa Island, enjoyed before land was needed for the county convention center. What isn’t going to change is the presence of Ryan Hillstrom, golf manager for Seascape Golf for more than seven years.
Ryan serves as golf manager and golf instructor. He bravely takes on the challenge of helping new or novice golfers eliminate bad habits and create a better swing and golf game. Of course, golfers of all ages and skills who need help with some aspect of the game, well, they can call Ryan too. On-course instruction with group and family lessons are available as well as post lesson video analysis. Ryan has been teaching golf for over 20 years. So, he developed a series of solid instructional tips.
Ryan always loved golf and knew he would spend his life playing or teaching golf. On the college team at Virginia Tech, Ryan played golf on several mini-tours after college. He told me Seascape Golf is busy right now offering tee times for nine holes of the back nine. The price is a reasonable $39 for play with a cart included. Morning tee times are popular during the summer.
This new creation of golf, entertainment and beautiful condos should add to the attraction that is a mecca for Destin and our surrounding area. I’m sure tourists will be echoing these words,
“I must go down to that sea again, the Seaside Golf and Resort. And all I ask is the perfect swing to help me hit this drive.
I must go down to that sea again, the Seaside Golf and Resort. And all I ask is the perfect putt to help me lower my score.
Of course, the lovely beach is calling with outlet malls nearby, but I must go down to that golf course again near azure seas and sky.”
I congratulate the developers and the golf staff as they begin this new chapter that will change and enhance golf for our area.
