When Joe Wyzkoski found Magnolia Point Golf and Country Club in Green Cove Springs, he ended a four-year search that had taken him from Texas to Florida and up the east coast as far as Washington, D.C.
“I looked at 30 courses before I bought Magnolia Point,” he said. “Nothing is perfect, but this is close enough. I think it was the best-kept secret in North Florida.”
The thing that most appealed to him was that his new course would eventually be 27 holes.
“I took over on May 1, 2004 and we opened the third nine the following July. Basically, it allows us to have three different courses,” he said. “That gives us incredible flexibility since you can play a different course every day.
“It also allows us to have public events while our members play at the same time. In the golf business, that’s huge. The only thing better would be to have 36 holes. Entertaining outside groups is important because every guest is a potential new member.”
In addition to completing the third nine holes, Wyzkoski also added a new lower level to the clubhouse, enlarging the existing “19th Hole” and making space for more meeting rooms. The club also offers seven clay tennis courts, a tennis pro shop and staff, a large swimming pool and complete food and beverage services.
Another thing that helped him decide to choose Magnolia Point was the setting. Even though the club is within the Green Cove Springs city limits, “This isn’t your typical development,” he said. “On 23 of the holes, there’s nothing behind the green except tall pines, oaks and Spanish moss. There’s only one spot on the course where you can see another hole and most of the homes are set back at least 50 feet from the golf course easement.”
Since he moved here from Virginia, where he owned two clubs, Wyzkoski has discovered North Florida wildlife.
“I never knew there were so many kinds of turtles,” he said. “The 26 lakes on the course are stocked with bass, so we see members fishing just about every night, and we’ve even seen flocks of wild turkeys crossing the fairways.”
Magnolia Point head pro Travis Wilson was previously at Sawgrass.
“I hired him because he was at the other 27-hole complex,” said Wyzkoski. “He’s one of the best instructors I’ve ever known. We have two Class A pros and an apprentice on staff. Our members can’t get enough of them. They spend a lot more time on the course than in the pro shop.”
Wyzkoski said the club has added a new junior membership for young executives.
“If you’re under 40 years old, we offer reduced golf fees and dues and you can finance the initiation fee for 24 months with no interest,” he said. “It’s a way for them to experience the service and atmosphere of a country club. Young executives are the future of our business.”
Reduced rates are also available to Magnolia Point residents, military personnel, law enforcement and firefighters.
“Our plan is to go back to being a private club,” he said. “The more people who are exposed to this atmosphere, the closer we’ll be to achieving that.”
The club is attracting new members from Palm Coast and the Tampa area, Wyzkoski said, as well as golfers from the Gulf Coast whose home courses were destroyed by hurricanes this year.
“They enjoy the tax benefits here in Florida and they’ve discovered this area like I have,” he said. “We have a little bit of a season change, but the weather is really mild. I love to have a morning cup of coffee by the fire in January, but we can still play golf. How good is that?”