Destin, Fla. (February 19, 2018) – Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club will host their 20^th Anniversary Celebration beginning on Thursday, March 15, 2018 through Saturday, March 17, 2018. In recognition of the significant anniversary, the Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club 20^th Anniversary Celebration, presented by Destin Custom Home Builders, Everglades, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, Legendary Marina, Legendary Marine, Legendary Yacht Club, Okaloosa Heart & Vascular Center, ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals, and Wyndham Vacation Ownership, will benefit One Hopeful Place and Emerald Coast Honor Games.

The concept of Regatta Bay was born in 1994. The developer, Legendary, and the landowner, The Coleman Kelly Testamentary Trust, wanted to create a world class residential, commercial, and golf community.  The idea was to create a lifestyle compatible with nature and surroundings that would enhance residential living and recreation along the Emerald Coast of Northwest Florida. Regatta Bay would be a development that offered mixed use development and communities, along with golf, tennis, shopping, boating, office and dining.  This concept has led the community of Regatta Bay to live by its mission, “Live, Shop, Dine, Play, Never Leave Regatta Bay.”

In July of 1995 the team of consultants from multiple industries including golf, construction, engineering, architecture and land planning met in the offices of Legendary to launch the process. In 1996 the first home sites were sold, with new home construction following immediately thereafter. During this time, Robert Walker, former head design professional for Arnold Palmer Golf, worked with Legendary executives to plan, route, and develop the 6,900-yard golf course and in March of 1998 Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club opened for play to new members and the general public. From its inception, Regatta Bay has garnered accolades including “Best Golf Course on the Emerald Coast” for over 12 years and one of Golf Digest’s “200 Best Courses in North America.” Today, the club has over 250 members and the public contributes over 25,000 golf rounds.

Over the past 23 years, in addition to world class golf, the Regatta Bay community has grown to include the world’s largest indoor boat storage facility, Destin Commons shopping center, Regatta Commons Office Park, Legacy on the Bay Apartments, LuLu’s Destin, and Legendary Marine, one of the country’s largest boat dealerships. Today, Regatta Bay is still growing with 21 new homes under construction in the newest community, The Preserve, designed by Destin Custom Home Builders, and plans are underway for a new 65-unit housing development named Tradewinds.

“It is such a tremendous milestone for us to have reached our 20-year anniversary,” said Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club Head Golf Professional, Mike Giammaresi. “The community is the reason we’ve grown throughout the years, so we felt it was imperative to give back to the community that has supported us for so long. One Hopeful Place and Emerald Coast Honor Games are two charities that deserve a tremendous amount of support, and it’s our hope to raise a substantial amount of funds for them all while celebrating the 20^th year of Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club.”

One Hopeful Place is currently a 20-bed residential housing facility for men experiencing homelessness and veterans desiring to make a change in their lives. Their mission, to be the front door into permanent housing and to end the cycle of homelessness for those experiencing housing loss in Okaloosa County, is lived out every day with their Fort Walton Beach facility and their new 75-bed facility currently under construction.

Emerald Coast Honor Games is an annual fitness competition that combines CrossFit-style workouts to raise funds for defenders of the front line. In its first year the Emerald Coast Honor Games raised over $50,000 for four local charities: Okaloosa Sheriff’s Star Charities, Healing Paws for Warriors, Special Forces Association, and the Combat Control Association. The Emerald Coast Honor Games aims to grow even bigger in the years to come in hopes of raising more funds for their mission.

The celebratory weekend will begin with the Parade of Homes and Champagne Toast on Thursday, March 15, 2018 with a parade of homes by Destin Custom Home Builders from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Participants will enter at the guard gate where they will receive a punch card notating the homes to visit. The Parade of Homes will conclude at the clubhouse of Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club, where the Champagne Toast and celebration will continue from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Guests will join area Chambers, the Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club team, and other community members to enjoy light bites, libations, and live music by David Seering. Those who successfully visit all of the homes with a full punch card or who donate $100 to the charities will be entered to win a plethora of lavish prizes. The Champagne Toast event, sponsored by Destin Custom Home Builders and Legendary Marine, will be open to the public and free to attend.

On Friday, March 16, 2018 guests are invited to the Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club Celebrity Pro Am Live Auction beginning at 6:30 p.m. Held outside on the driving range in a lavishly decorated tent by Gulf Coast Tents, the night will be highlighted by food and drinks by Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club and live music by the renowned ten-piece brass band, Masterpiece. A live auction hosted by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce’s President, Ted Corcoran, will be held that evening in which celebrities and golfers will be auctioned off to join player’s teams for the Celebrity Pro Am Golf Tournament being held the next day. Celebrities thus far include two-time major champion professional PGA golfer, John Daly, former MLB second baseman and major league hall of famer, Bill Mazeroski, former MLB player, Greg Litton, Big Break Star and LPGA Pro, Fiamma Felitch, former NFL linebacker, Keith Brooking, FedEx Executive VP, Mike Glenn, former MLB first baseman, Todd Helton, and former CFB head coach, Tommy Tuberville, among many others.

The main event, the Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club 20^th Anniversary Celebration Celebrity Pro Am Golf Tournament, will take place on Saturday, March 17, 2018. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. with a shotgun start at 10 a.m. Entrance fees are $650 to the public, and $500 for Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club members to sign up individually, or $3,000 to sign up a foursome. All those participating in the golf tournament will choose a $470 retail value VIP tournament gift package option of their choice at the Friday night celebration sponsored by Callaway Golf. All tournament players will receive complimentary meals, cocktails, and an invitation to the after party and awards ceremony following the tournament at the Regatta Bay Clubhouse. The tournament and after party are open to the public. Golfers can register a team or individually by emailing Lexi@ProffittPR.com or at the Regatta Bay Clubhouse.

A number of local businesses and community sponsors have already stepped forward as sponsors of the upcoming 2018 20^th Anniversary Celebration including Eagle Sponsors Destin Custom Home Builders, Everglades, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, Legendary Marina, Legendary Marine, Legendary Yacht Club, Okaloosa Heart & Vascular Center, ResortQuest by Wyndham Vacation Rentals, and Wyndham Vacation Ownership.

Sponsorships are selling rapidly and only few remain. For more information on sponsorship, volunteering, or to register to play, please contact Lexi Willcoxon at Lexi@ProffittPR.com or call (850) 460-7777.

To learn more about the Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club’s 20^th Anniversary Celebration and to purchase tickets to the Friday night event, please visit: www.regattabay.com/20^th-anniversary.

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About Regatta Bay
Regatta Bay is a private, gated community development in Destin, Florida. With a renowned golf course, shopping, dining, and boating all at the member’s fingertips, Regatta Bay leaves little to be desired. For more information call (850) 337-8080 or go to www.regattabay.com. Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube.