Selva Marina Country Club

November 1955

The Bull Family donated 160 acres of land to build the club

August 1957

Land is cleared to begin construction
(click here to read an article from the Florida Times Union)

Golf Course of Early 20s Being Used for Selva Layout

from the Sunday, November 24, 1957 edition of the Jacksonville Times Union

Some of the land in the Old Atlantic Beach Golf Course, a World War I casualty, was begin shaped up as part of a new 18-hole links for the Selva Marina Country Club. The new layout will be a far cry from the one which was enjoyed by many Beach residents and visitors early in the century before it folded around 1917. The Selva Marina Club will include the $125,000 golf course, a $150,000 clubhouse, an Olympic swimming pool, and four tennis courts. Total development costs are estimated at $600,000. The earth-moving equipment now is digging what wil be four bodies of water on the links and near the clubhouse and is clearing land for the fairways. The course will cover approximately 150 acres north of the Bull Airport near Mayport Road, and east to the end of 18th Street. (Editor's note: The Bull Airport was located about 500 feet west of hole #8 fairway. The main runway ran north and south and is now the site of the Selva Linkside development.) The course was designed by E.E. Smith, formerly of Manchester, England, who is also supervising construction. He has been connected with 13 golf courses through the years. Smith said the links he has designed call for distance for tournament play of about 7,000 yards and for regular play of 6,000 yards. Distance for ladies play will be around 5,800 yards. Work is scheduled to start on the clubhouse next March and the entire development being build for the country club by Selva Marina Company will be finished next August. Hide

July 1958

The first building constructed was the present-day Golf Pro Shop and Midway snack bar

August 1958

Golf course, designed by E.E. Smith, was completed (click here to read an article from the Florida Times Union) Fred Wampler was hired as the first golf professional Selva Marina's Ladies Golf Association was formed

Selva Marina Grand Openning

from the August 31, 1958 edition of the Jacksonville Times Union

The Selva Marina Country Club opened Saturday less than a year after ground was broken on the 160 acre tract covered with whispering pines and stately palms. Bill Nimnicht, the second president of the club, Joe Adeeb, Chairman of the Board, and Dr. Nathaniel Jones and A.L. Waldo Stockton, members of the board, surveyed the layout Saturday from the air-conditioned pro shop. They spoke with justifiable pride of what had been accomplished since the first spade of dirt was turned on November 4, 1957. Ninmicht stated that the golf course and pro shop were just the first phase of a program which eventually is to include a clubhouse, Olympic-styled swimming pool, and a battery of tennis courts. All club officials present at the Saturday opening expressed a desire to make the layout a distinctive one by having the golf course bounded on the south by an airplane landing strip and to the north by a yacht basin. The landing strip covering 23 acres is already a reality having been in use since June 1950. Hide

1960

First annual stockholders meeting was held Henry Issacs, the first general manager, was hired. The first phase of the Clubhouse was constructed - from the 19th Hole to the Cafe Marina. Two tennis courts were constructed and Swimming pool opened.

March 1965

Bert Weaver won the Greater Jacksonville Open at Selva Marina with 15,000 in attendance

1966

Architect Louis Holloway, Jr. directed construction of the remainder of the Clubhouse Golf Pro Shop was moved to the breezeway, where main office is now located.

March 1966

Selva Marina hosted the Greater Jacksonville Open for the second year, with over 20,000 attending.  Doug Sanders won, finishing 15 under.  It was at this event that Jack Nicklaus recorded his first double eagle on #18.

1973

Selva Marina's competitve swim team, The Mariners, was formed.

October 1973

Six new tennis courts were added Col. J.P. Feigenbaum was hired as the first Tennis Professional Tennis Pro Shop was opened using a corner of the golf cart shed.

November 1975

Lady Jacksonville Open was held at Selva Marina, making it one of the few clubs in the country to host both a men's and women's professional tournament.

April 1977

Four clay tennis courts were added.