World-class golf isn’t a feature. It’s the entire point.
Keith and Riley have one directive: build the kind of golf course that our members will want to come back to, over and over again. Build in the mysteries that reveal themselves only after years of walking its fairways. Build in the nuance and the evolving challenge.
Our guys know their craft. By combined total, they may have shaped more Top 100 course fairways and greens than just about any design team out there.
They are artists. They are field designers. They work with the land they’re given. And we’ve given them one helluva property to work with. That was our job. Now we stay out of the way.
We want a golf course that stands the test of time. That’s really the only design direction. Everything else is fair game. If it’s great but might be controversial, put it in. If it’s fun but some might complain, put it in. And if it’s a choice between the long par 4 or the short par 5, give us the par 5. The big boys will play it as a 4 anyway, and we short knockers like to hit a green in two every now and then. The point is to have fun. Indeed that’s the entire point. And this is going to be fun.
Elevation. In Florida.
We’ll just leave this here. For our friends on mobile that’s 240 ft. above sea level at the top, and about 68 ft above sea level at the bottom. The top is where you’ll find The Hammock, and the rest of the humps and bumps are the golf course itself.
Clockwise from top left: Cabot Cliffs (with Coore & Crenshaw), Sheep Ranch (with Coore & Crenshaw), Winter Park 9 (original design), The Bootlegger at Forest Dunes (original design)
Rhebb & Johns
Keith Rhebb and Riley Johns have been at this for a long time. Most of it (more than a decade apiece) was spent alongside Coore & Crenshaw as shapers on masterpieces like Cabot Cliffs, Streamsong Red, and Sheep Ranch. More recently, they've proven to be incredibly skilled lead architects in their own right, winning acclaim for their designs at Winter Park 9, Forest Dunes, and others. They are, quite simply, two of the best and most sought after designers in the world, and we're absolutely thrilled to be working with them. Their style and approach (and personalities, for that matter) fit perfectly with our ethos, and we can't wait to see what they cook up at Old Charlie.
A lot of our excitement about the golf we owe to the land we've given Keith and Riley to work with. It's a dream canvas of sandy forest, with lots of natural internal movement and over 100 ft. of total elevation change. It is a rare site, in Florida especially, and it's a perfect match for Rhebb and Johns' work with the land you're given approach. Our property isn't as big as some others, so we'll draw a lot of inspiration from older, more intimate courses where tees are steps from the previous greens and you can see a lot of the rest of the course as you play. It will play fast, will be very walkable if you're so inclined, and will be an absolute blast to experience. We can't wait to see it take shape.
The Property
The Location: 30A and The Emerald Coast
Old Charlie will feel tucked away and secluded, but in reality it is anything but. We’re located less than an hour from some of the most beautiful beaches and vacation spots in the country. The region is called The Emerald Coast, and for good reason. The sand is sugary and the surf is a beautiful emerald color that you don’t often see in Florida or anywhere else. We’ve included links below for tourist information and spots we think are worth a visit. We’ll update these as we go along so this page can serve as a resource for our visitors.
Old Charlie approximate location indicated by red star
Getting Here:
Old Charlie is about a four hour drive from Jacksonville to the east, Atlanta to the north, and New Orleans to the east. There are three airports that are each about an hour away (PNS, VPS, ECP), and between them direct flights can be had from most major US cities.
More about The Emerald Coast, 30A, and Other Regional Highlights:
We're close to Destin, Panama City, and the 30A corridor. There are several beach towns within an hour from Old Charlie, each offering its own character and charm. There truly is something for everyone here, whether you like your vacations laid back or full tilt. You can explore some of the best historic cities here, or take a look at more general area guides featuring The Emerald Coast, 30A Corridor, and Panama City Beach.
Area Golf:
There is a ton of good golf in the area. Watersound has three golf courses, including a recently opened Davis Love III design simply called The Third. Windswept Dunes is in nearby Freeport, there are several clubs at the Sandestin Resort, and there is even more golf further east near Panama City.
Finally, the newly announced Dream Golf development, Old Shores, will be approximately 45 minutes east. Their first announced course is being built by Tom Doak, and we expect they'll break ground around the same time we do at Old Charlie. We can’t wait to play it!