Palm Coast in Flagler County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
Turtle #10 - "Nancy Marie"
Photographed By City of Palm Coast
1. Turtle #10 - "Nancy Marie" Marker
The loggerhead is an endangered species of sea turtle where most nests in the U.S. reside in Florida. Artist: Bob Teller.
This turtle is a tribute to Nancy Lopez and Billy Casper, two distinguished golfers in the World Golf Hall of Fame. Nancy Marie Lopez was hired by ITT Community Development Corporation to be the Pro Golfer in Residence of the Palm Coast Golf Club now known as Palm Harbor Golf Club.
The first platted street of the ITT Levitt Development Corporation, the "Palm Coast Project" is Casper Drive named after Billy Casper and leads directly to the Golf Club. He is found on this sculpture sharing the course with Nancy Lopez.
Sponsor: Dr. Mery Gloria Gutierrez-Gable
A gift to the City of Palm Coast in recognition of this important part of our local history.
Public Sculpture Project by the Palm Coast Arts Foundation
Dedicated: May 2020
Erected 2020 by City of Palm Coast, Palm Coast Arts Foundation. (Marker Number 10.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Environment • Sports. A significant historical month for this entry is May 2020.
Location. 29° 34.21′ N, 81° 11.876′ W. Marker is in Palm Coast, Florida, in Flagler County. Marker is on 20 Palm Harbor
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Levitt & I.T.T. "Del Mar" Model and Palm Coast Golf Club (approx. 0.2 miles away); Levitt & I.T.T. 'De Bary' Model (approx. 0.2 miles away); Palm Coast, Florida (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic Fire Station 22 (approx. 0.8 miles away); Intracoastal Waterway (approx. 1.4 miles away); Flight Of Life Sculpture #7 (approx. 1˝ miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.6 miles away); The First Responders (approx. 1.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palm Coast.
Regarding Turtle #10 - "Nancy Marie". City of Palm Coast
History Repeats Itself at the Palm Harbor Golf Club
Palm Coast - The expression on Nancy Lopez's face said it all. With thoughtful nostalgia, this LPGA legend gazed across the crowd on this special day at the Palm Harbor Golf Club and you could see how her memories came flooding back.
"I remember that I owned my very first home here in Palm Coast," she told event guests who hung onto her every word. "And I also earned my first salary of my golf career at the Palm Coast Golf Club in the late 1970s. Looking around now, I honestly didn't think anyone would even
Photographed By City of Palm Coast
2. Turtle #10 - "Nancy Marie" Marker
On Sept. 29, Lopez, the city of Palm Coast, the Palm Coast Arts Foundation and a gathering of more than 100 guests dedicated the tenth turtle on the PCAF turtle trail. The trail is a project launched by the foundation. The turtle sculptures are timeless classic symbols located strategically across Palm Coast and Flagler County, images of creative art in public places. Each one brings color and imagination to its special site, making the turtles landmark points of interest.
This particular turtle celebrates the perpetuity of the city's history at the Palm Harbor Golf Club by honoring Nancy Lopez' career and her ties to the community. Artist and architect Bob Teller designed the loggerhead named Nancy Marie, honoring namesake Nancy Lopez on its shell. Donor, Dr. Mery Gable, directed Teller to re-create symbols representing decades of play at the Palm Harbor Golf Course. They signify Dr. Gables' fond memories of a storied Palm Coast history.
At Tuesday's ceremony, icon Nancy Lopez and her sculptured moniker, Nancy Marie, came together to memorialize Palm Coast's legendary golf course. The Palm Harbor Golf Club was built by ITT Corporation in 1971 to entice retirees from the northern U.S. to move to the city. The original course, with its magnificent design, treacherous trees,
Photographed By City of Palm Coast
3. Turtle #10 - "Nancy Marie"
And in 1978, ITT kept its promise, sponsoring LPGA Champion Nancy Lopez as the Palm Harbor Golf Club's official touring pro. Lopez moved to Palm Coast and her fame brought many nationally known golfers to the city. She also personally played alongside many original pioneer residents.
But the course's history moved in various directions. In the early 2000s, the property was purchased by a developer who was eventually unable to complete the construction project. The city quickly re-purchased the course and set about to renovate.
A beautifully revitalized 18-hole course slowly began to emerge in the summer of 2009. The course structure took on the characteristics of its predecessor, with fairways lined with towering palms, oaks and pines. Upgraded irrigation, reconstructed tees and greens, new clubhouse with a restaurant and extensive cart paths were added to once again offer quality golf to the public. The Palm Harbor course would finally emerge in November 2009 as a lovely, peaceful slice of recreation.
The grand opening of Palm Harbor also gave the residents of Palm Coast a brand new restaurant. Originally named Canfields (for the city's first mayor), the spot was eventually taken over by The Green Lion Cafe, an offspring of Flagler Beach's popular The Golden Lion Cafe. It's a unique dining experience in Palm Coast, tucked away in a spot that is subdued and relaxing. It's known for its eclectic meal selections and you can dine outside on an outdoor veranda, surrounded by the lovely Palm Coast landscape of a golf course.
Golf and all other elements of Palm Coast's history will be honored on Oct. 24 at the 50th anniversary event of the original Founder's Day. The Palm Coast Historical Society will share dialogue, exhibits and memories at the Palm Coast Community Center beginning at 1 p.m. More information about Founder's Day is available at www.palmcoastconnect.com/s/parks-and-rec and you can register at www.parksandrec.fun/events
When this historic event ended, Nancy Lopez once again looked around the golf course and even studied a collage of old photos hanging in The Green Lion Cafe. Those watching her could ascertain she was still fully engaged in memories. They could sense how glad she was to be back at the Palm Harbor Golf Course. And our community was glad to have her back.
Here are all of the turtles at city facilities:
Tiff - Long Creek Nature Preserve, 1050 Palm Harbor Parkway
Nadia - Palm Coast City Hall, 160 Lake Avenue
Garfield - Palm Coast Historical Society, 18 Florida Park Drive N (inside Holland Park)
Vincent - Palm Coast Community Center, 305 Palm Coast Pkwy, NE
Nancy Marie - Palm Harbor Golf Club, 20 Palm Harbor Drive
FROM: City of Palm Coast Website, October 1, 2020
Credits. This page was last revised on November 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2020. This page has been viewed 225 times since then and 33 times this year. Last updated on November 4, 2020, by George Edward Chuddy of City of Palm Coast, Florida. Photos: 1. submitted on October 1, 2020, by George Edward Chuddy of City of Palm Coast, Florida. 2. submitted on November 1, 2020, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. 3. submitted on October 2, 2020, by George Edward Chuddy of City of Palm Coast, Florida. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
