ATLANTIC BEACH, Fla. – A new country club is opening in Duval County. It's called Atlantic Beach Country Club and is located off Selva Marina Drive in Atlantic Beach.
It was once Selva Marina Country Club until it was bought and demolished to make way for a brand new facility.
We toured the property to see how construction is progressing at the new clubhouse. There are two buildings which total about 16,000 square feet. One will have a formal dining room for weddings and banquets as well as a large bar area. It will offer casual dining and an environment where golfers, swimmers and tennis players can relax after play. There will be a golf pro shop as well as locker rooms. There will also be a snack bar area to serve pool guests.
The second building will have a fitness center, locker rooms and tennis pro shop. There will be 7 tennis courts and a brand new 18 hole golf course. It will also have a junior olympic size pool with a zero gravity feature that allows a gradual depth entrance to the pool. There will also be a splash park feature for children.
"The club had a tired feel and it hadn't been kept up in recent years. It was time for something fresh and new," said Leed Silverfield about the decision to tear down what was Selva Marina Country Club. Silverfield is with Atlantic Beach Partners, which is the development team in charge of the project.
He says everything is brand new. The tennis courts and the swimming pool will be in different locations and the golf course has been torn up and is in the process of being re-done.
"We've got members from Ponte Vedra, Jacksonville Beach and people who live in town who have seen the plan together and are really excited about what we will offer here," said Silverfield.
The club is about three blocks from the ocean. The club broke ground last fall and is reportedly on schedule to open in November. Silverfield says they have 410 members and expect to reach their goal of 500 by November.
There are also 178 residential lots. Silverfield says 142 have already sold for starting prices in the $200,000 range and homes starting in the $600,000.
There are several membership categories:
A full membership includes unlimited use of the golf, tennis, fitness, pool and dining facilities.
Junior full membership is also available for anyone under the age of 36 years old.
Full and Junior membership has an initiation fee of $7,500 but if you sign up now you get a credit of $1,250. When the club opens in November, the fee will increase to $10,000 and post opening it will be $12,000.
A sports membership offers unlimited use of tennis, fitness, pool and dining facilities
Limited golf of 6 rounds a year on a space available basis with payment of green and cart fees.
Junior sports members is also available.
Initiation fee is $5,000 with a $750 credit while the club is under construction, once it opens the fee will increase to $7,500 and post opening is $8,500.
Social membership offers unlimited use of the pool and dining facilities, limited golf of four rounds a year on a space available basis with payment of greens and cart fees, limited tennis six times a year on a space available basis with payment of a court fee.
Social membership initiation fee is $2,000 with a credit of $250 during construction. It will increase to $3,000 when the club opens and post opening will be $4,000.
Home owner social membership unlimited use of fitness, pool and dining facilities, limited golf of four rounds a year on a space available basis with payment of green and cart fees, limited tennis of 6 times a year on a space available basis with payment of a court fee, members are required to be a home owner and the initiation fee is included in lot purchase price and pay dues for as long as they owner their home.
Memberships are transferable and members receive credit towards initiation fee for upgrade to higher category within 90 days of closing.
Monthly dues will range from $425/month for Full membership to $125/month for a social membership.
New general manager
The club just announced last Friday it has hired a new general manager -- Karen Donnelly -- as its first ever general manager.
According to the club's newsletter announcing her hire, Donnelly graduated from the School of Hotel Administration from Cornell University. She has managed top - tier clubs in a number of venues. With over 13 years of experience in the Private Club, Hospitality and Real Estate Industry, she has a strong background in hospitality leadership and developing and mentoring a cohesive team of service driven, high performing professionals.
For more information about club dues and what the club has to offer click here.