Featured Golf Course

The Eagle Springs Golf Course is located in the City of DeFuniak Springs in Walton County. In 1920, a group of progressive businessmen recognized that golf links would draw winter tourists to their community, and sought to organize a golf and country club for the benefit of tourists as well as locals. The McKaskils Golf Course was established soon after, but did not last long.

It wasn’t until 1924 when Mr. W.B. Harbeson of the Harbeson Lumber Company donated 160 acres of land and provided financial support for a nine-hole golf course that construction got underway. With his son, Walter Harbeson, in charge, by August of that year 40 acres had been cleared, stumped and then leveled and covered in Bermuda and carpet grass. Good turf was expected by Christmas, and Harbeson intended to have the course open, completed, and ready for tourist golfers by the first of the year, however the exact date of the golf course opening is still unknown.

According to the 1930-1931 American Annual Golf Guide the DeFuniak Country Club was listed as a 9-hole, par 36 golf course with sand greens playing to 3,347 yards. Walter Harbeson was listed as the club president. In 1934, 40 Federal Emergency Relief Administration (FERA) workers were brought in to enlarge the tees, improve the greens and build a practice putting green along with a number of other renovations. For reasons unknown, the club and golf course closed down in the late 1930s or early 1940s. Backed by a number of local golf enthusiasts, the golf club reorganized in 1945 under the direction of club president Charles King. Club members raised money for constructing a new clubhouse and rebuilding the fairways and greens. The golf course remained a 9-hole layout until 1997.

In 2019, Walton County purchased the former DeFuniak Springs Country Club and surrounding property, the 190-acre site included an 18-hole golf course, public swimming pool and clubhouse. It was renamed the Eagle Springs Golf Course and Recreational Center. Future expansion plans include fishing docks, walking trails, basketball courts, tennis courts and more. “We’re trying to make it a recreational facility where people can come out there enjoy the family, be outdoors and it’s safe and not expensive,” stated Public Works Manager Shane Supple. The county has already begun making improvements to the course and plans on renovating the golf club in the coming years.

1920 Newspaper Article about the Formation of the DeFuniak Springs Golf and Country Club

1924 Newspaper Article Describing the Country Club Under Construction

Golfers on the old 7th Green (current 5th) at Eagle Springs Golf Course in the 1920s

1930-31 Description of DeFuniak Country Club

FERA Crews Improve Club's Golf Course

1949 Aerial of Eagle Springs Golf Course