Teeing-off Historically

(Ladies tee-off in 1902 at the historically challenging Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine.)

With a name like Florida’s Historic Coast, it’s not surprising that nearly every

attraction has a long history. Golf is certainly no exception. Today, history is

made each year at THE PLAYERS Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach and the

ultimate shrine to the game and its greatest contributors is the World Golf Hall of

Fame in St. Augustine. But golf’s beginnings here go back much further to a time

when Henry Flagler transformed sleepy, little St. Augustine into a winter getaway

for the superstars of the Gilded Age. The 1888 opening of his magnificent Hotel

Ponce de Leon brought folks of incredible wealth and fame to the Oldest City to

enjoy the mild winter weather and an occasional round of golf. First, the grounds

of the historic Castillo de San Marcos were “modified” for challenging golf in a

memorable setting – including a 17th century moat as a trap. More courses were

to follow to set the stage for the area’s current status as one of the world’s great

golf destinations -- a place where even golf is not the same old story.

April 3, 1513, Is Only A Few Days Away

500 years to the day, it’s happening again. A Spanish vessel will float in St. Augustine Bay with anticipation, its crew ready to disembark upon La Florida. Except this time, the Bridge of Lions will already stand. Cannons will fire from the Castillo de San Marcos, just a few blocks away. And crowds of people from around the world will be there to watch – this time.

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, Florida’s Historic Coast is celebrating the 500^th Anniversary of Florida’s discovery with a day full of reenactments and festivities this April 3.

The conquest begins at 9 a.m. with a full-fledged reenactment of Ponce’s landing, as described above. Then one hour later, crowds will congregate around the Ponce de Leon statute overlooking the east side of the Plaza del Constitución. There, a ceremonial wreath will be placed on the statute, and speeches will be given by City of St. Augustine Mayor Joseph Boles and Mayor Santiago Baeza Benavides of Santervas, Spain – Ponce’s birthplace. At 11 a.m., Bishop Estevez will lead a commemorative mass at the Cathedral Basilica. And at 12:30 p.m., the United States Postal Service will unveil the La Florida commemorative stamp during a program at Flagler College’s Lewis Auditorium. And it’s all open to the public.

It’s a day that’s going to be packed with culture, color and a history 500 years in the making. And it’s a celebration that’s sure to prove once more that our history is not the same old story.

A Fort That Fought A Different Sort Of Battle

Although now happy and serene, Florida’s Historic Coast was once a place of persistent territory grabs, cannon fire and mighty warships on the hunt. As a result, the landscape remains dotted with several weathered, mysterious forts – many now preserved as parks or attractions.

One such fort was Fort Mose (pronounced Moh-say). But this fort didn’t fight the usual Spain-versus-France-versus-England sort of fight. Fort Mose fought for freedom, acting as one of the northernmost gateways of the Underground Railroad for slaves who fled south, rather than north.

Established in 1738 by the Spanish Colonial Governor, Fort Mose was originally titled Gracia Real de Santa Teresa de Mosé. It offered freedom to ex-slaves, but with a slight caveat – freedom was exchanged for allegiance to Spain and a stint in the military. Compared to previous conditions, at least it was a job that paid, in a beautiful land, with the promise of freedom. In other words, it was better than slavery. As a result, word of Fort Mose spread rapidly throughout the British Colonies. Its influence as a citadel of freedom remained strong for decades, and today, many historians consider it America’s Birthplace of Freedom.

Archeologists uncovered artifacts from the fort in 1986 and were able to pinpoint the former structure’s exact location. Shortly thereafter, the state protected the area and created Fort Mose Historic State Park. Set in a wildlife preserve in a verdant Florida marsh, it’s now one more chapter in our long running story and one more slice of evidence that our history is not the same old story.