Posted on November 26, 2022February 18, 2024 by Robert — Leave a comment

Play Golf in Volusia County Florida on Your Vacation

Where to Plan your Golf Vacation in Volusia County, Florida

Are you planning your vacation to Volusia County? Maybe you will be visiting for one of the NASCAR races or motorcycle event. You or your children might be attending a convention at the Ocean Center. Perhaps you or a family member attend Stetson University or Bethune Cookman University. Maybe you are looking for the opportunity to drive on the “World’s Most Famous Beach.” Find the best spot for your game and make time to play golf in Volusia County, Florida.

Whatever your reason for being in Volusia County we welcome you. Now, what do you do if you are a golfer. If you have a few hours there are multiple options available for you to consider so be sure to pack your clubs!

Below is a listing of golf courses located in Volusia County. I have chosen to make this list alphabetical by city and then by course. Here you’ll find an address, website information, and a brief bit on the course/s.

This list should help you find the right course and help you get the most out of your golf game in Volusia County.

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach Golf Club North 600 Wilder Boulevard https://www.daytonabeachgc.com/

The North course was designed be Slim Deathridge in 1946. Mr. Deathridge served as Head Professional at the time. The course was rebuilt in 1997. This is a par 72 course with the longest tees being 6,413 yards. This is considered to be the tougher of the two Daytona Beach Golf Club courses.

Book your tee time online, take advantage of the putting green and driving range, sign up for individual instruction, or shop at the pro shop for all your golfing needs or for club repair. Grab a meal at the Sand Trap Bar and Grill.

Daytona Beach Golf Club South 600 Wilder Boulevard https://www.daytonabeachgc.com/

The South course was designed by Donald Ross and measures in at 6,229 yards with a par of 71.

Donald Ross Courses Everyone Can Play — Donald Ross Golf Courses Everyone Can Play

Ever wonder what it would be like to play the same golf courses as celebrities such as Tiger Woods, Gary Player, Mark O’Meara, and even Babe Ruth? A celebrity in his own right, Donald Ross created many of the best golf courses ever designed. Here is the definitive collection of golf courses in the United States created by Ross, the most prolific and renowned golf course designer of all time. Paul and B. J. Dunn have collected all the information you need in order to find and play the more than one-hundred public, semi-private, and resort golf courses in the United States, all designed by Ross.

Get your own copy of this beautiful book HERE!

LPGA Hills Course Hole 8, one of the premier locations to play golf in Volusia County, Florida. — The Eighth hole on the LPGA Hills course

LPGA International Hills Course 1000 Champions Drive https://lpgainternational.com/

Playing just under 7,000 yards, the Arthur Hills designed course is a par 72 that has been rated 4 stars by Golf Digest. Hills designed this course around nature. As such it features wetlands, pine trees, and water hazards.

Memberships are available at multiple levels. Practice with ten target pins or on the six putting greens, several with sand bunkers allowing for additional practice opportunities. Book your tee time online and enjoy a delicious meal at Malcolm’s Bar and Grill.

LPGA International Jones Course 1000 Champions Drive https://lpgainternational.com/

The Rees Jones designed course is considered a favorite among touring professionals. This 7,100-yard, par 72 course is challenging enough to have earned a 4 star distinction from Golf Digest who also named it number six in its 2010 listing of top 50 American courses for women.

Pelican Bay Golf Club 350 Pelican Bay Drive https://golfatpelicanbay.com/

Bill Amick designed this 6,800-yard, par 72 course. This course has served as host to two Senior PGA Tour events.

Book tee times online. The practice facility includes target greens, a pitching complex, a practice bunker, driving range and two putting/chipping greens. After a round of golf enjoy lunch at The Pub.

Daytona Beach Shores

Oceans Golf Club 2 Oceans West Boulevard http://www.oceansgolfclub.com/

This public course is a 13-hole, par 3 course that measures about 1,150 yards. This might be an option if you are pressed for time.

This is a walking course only. Club and bag rental are available.

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DeBary

DeBary Golf & Country Club 300 Plantation Club Drive https://www.debarycc.com/

This semi–private course has been rated 4 stars by Golf Digest. At almost 6,800 yards at its longest, this par 72 features water on the 9th and 18th holes. The course is a past US Open qualifying site.

Book your tee time online or sign up for private instructions. A restaurant with an extensive menu is available. You can make restaurant reservations online if you wish.

DeLand

Victoria Hills Golf Club 300 Spalding Way http://www.victoriahillsgolf.com/

This 7,150-yard course was designed by Ron Garl is located on over 200 acres. The course features both water and sand hazards. Golfweek has called this course among Florida’s top 15 public courses.

Book your tee time online or over the phone. Lessons and personalized instruction are available. Do you have a big event coming up? Consider hosting it onsite. Multiple locations with scenic views are available. Be sure to grab a bite to eat at the Sparrow’s Grille Restaurant.

Deltona

The Deltona Club 1120 Elkcam Boulevard https://thedeltonaclub.com/

Reserve your tee time online. Golf lessons are available from club pros. After your round drop into the Deltona Club Café for a meal.

New Smyrna Beach

Hidden Lakes Golf Club 35 Fairgreen Avenue http://www.hiddenlakesgolfclub.com/

Playing at almost 5,900 yards at its longest, this par 69 is a favorite of the many snowbirds who arrive each winter in New Smyrna Beach. Despite the somewhat short distance the course features three, par five holes.

Book your tee time online, lessons are available for golfers of all ages and abilities, and when you are finished stop in to the 19th Hole Restaurant for a full assortment of foods that will leave you satisfied.

Play golf in Volusia County at the New Smyrna Golf Club. — Play golf in Volusia County at the New Smyrna Golf Club

New Smyrna Golf Club 1000 Wayne Avenue http://newsmyrnagolfclub.com/

This public course was designed by Donald Ross and opened to the public in 1953. The course was renovated in 2016. This is a par 72 course with a distance of slightly over 6,500 yards. Reasonable rates and large numbers of snowbirds make early tee times difficult during the winter months. Be sure to grab lunch and a beer at Tiano’s.

Book your tee time online (this course gets very busy in the winter) and be sure to stop in to the pro shop for all your equipment needs. Amenities include a driving range, putting green, practice bunker, chipping green, and professional lessons. Stop in at Tianos for delicious Italian themed food after your round.

Are you in New Smyrna Beach and looking for pizza? Tiano’s is a great option. Take a look at my NSB pizza recommendations and find the perfect dinner for your family! You won’t find any of the big chains on this list. Be sure to support your local restaurant owner.

The Preserve at Turnbull Bay 2600 Turnbull Estates Drive https://www.thepreserveatturnbull.com/

This 6,600-yard, par 72 course, designed by Gary Wintz, runs through the Turnbull Bay nature preserve. Water is to be found throughout the course.

Book your tee time online for this beautiful course. Stop in to the Pro Shop for all your last minute needs: clothes, balls, bags, shoes, gloves, and any other golf supply you can think of. The club features a snack bar with a basic lineup of quick foods. Beer and wine are available.

Play golf in Volusia County at Venetian Bay Golf Course in New Smyrna Beach. — Venetian Bay, one of the premier places to play golf in Volusia County, FL.

Venetian Bay 63 North Airport Road https://venetianbaygolf.com/

Designed by CEC Design, Venetian Bay, considered by many the premiere course in New Smyrna Beach, Venetian Bay measures almost 7,100 yards from the back tees and shoots a par 72. You start right out of the gate with an incredible 500+ yard par 5.

Book your tee time online then show up to the well stocked Pro Shop. Here you will find all the top names in golf equipment and apparel. They can even regrip your clubs for you. Private lessons are available at varying price points. Dining is available in the Champions Grille Restaurant. Members have access to the swim club and other amenities.

Ormond Beach

Halifax Plantation Golf Club 3400 Clubhouse Drive https://www.halifaxplantationgc.com/

This Bill Amick designed course plays at 7,100 yards at its longest with a par of 72. The course is noted for its picturesque views and rolling terrain. New grass in 2021 has increased the quality of play.

Reserve your tee time online. A PGA certified instructor is on staff to help you improve your game with private lessons. The Tavern Restaurant offers golfers and excellent meal option. The restaurant has varied hours by day.

Riviera Country Club 500 Calle Grande Street https://www.rivcc.com/

Expanded to 18-holes in 1954, this course has been updated several times by golf architects including Mark Mahana, Dave Wallace, and Lloyd Clifton. The course measures 6,250 yards and is a par 71. This family owned course is part of the Florida Historic Golf Trail.

Call to reserve your tee time. Once there, get a bucket of range balls and warm up on the driving range. Most greens fees include cart rental. Stop in at the Pro Shop for all your golfing needs from top manufacturers. Breakfast and lunch year round, and it appears there is a dinner buffet during the winter months.

Port Orange

Crane Lakes Golf & Country Club 1850 Crane Lakes Boulevard https://www.cranelakesgolf.com/

This is a semi-private 18-hole course designed to challenge any skill level. Rates depend upon season and time of day. Par 66 course that measures 5,186 yards from the furthest tees.

Reserve a tee time online then head over to the Golf Shop for any items you may need for your bag: clubs, balls, gloves, you name it. Practice facilities include a driving range, chipping green, and a putting green. Crane’s Roost Bar & Grill offer golfers a place to rest and unwind after playing 18.

Cypress Head Golf Club 6231 Palm Vista Street https://www.cypressheadgolf.com/

Designed by architects Arthur Hills and Mike Dasher in 1992 this is a public course owned by the City of Port Orange. This course measures in at just under 6,800 yards from the longest tees with a par of 72.

Book your tee time online. Improve your game by signing up for one of the many clinics offered onsite. After shooting 18, finish your day at Flagsticks at Cypress Head.

Spruce Creek Country Club 1900 Country Club Drive https://www.sprucecreekclub.com/

This semi-private course was designed by Bill Amick. The back tees are slightly over 6,800 yards with a par of 72. You may encounter arriving or departing planes as the course is adjacent to the fly-in. Trees and water hazards highlight the course.

Reserve your tee time online. Call to reserve you table at the Prop n’ Fore Bar and Grille with salads, sandwiches, and full entrees. After playing and eating, you may want to look into a membership which is available at different levels and perks.

Thank you for reading my round up of golf courses in Volusia County. Now you should be able to find the best course to match your skills and be ready to play golf in Volusia County during your next vacation.

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Posted on November 20, 2022April 15, 2024 by Robert — Leave a comment

Daytona Cubs Intern Ejected Over “Three Blind Mice”

Every professional baseball player is going to have a run in with an umpire at some point. Umpires are human and are going to make bad calls. Calling balls and strikes at 95+ miles per hour is subjective no matter what the official baseball rule book might say. Bang-bang plays at a base can be just as difficult as an umpire may be partially shielded and at times, they just make a bad call. Modern replay and the challenge system are helping to lessen the impact of these calls but in years past, player or manager confrontations with umpires were more commonplace. In 2012, a sensitive umpire ejected a Daytona Cubs intern for playing the song Three Blind Mice.

Usually not a lot comes of it. The player may argue for a bit while walking away. When a call appears to be particularly egregious the manager may come bolting out of the dugout. Usually, he already knows he is going to get tossed but these actions are not meant to change calls but to support and fire up his team and their fans.

Some managers have been known for their tantrums. Bobby Cox holds the all-time record for most ejections with a whopping 162, equal to the number of games played in a complete season. Others well known for arguing calls and being ejected are Tony La Russa, Lou Pinella, and Bruce Bochy.

You can review career ejection numbers on this page.

Watch as Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon gets ejected in this classic clip.

For players, coaches, and umpires, life in the minor leagues can be a drag with long bus rides, low pay, and the reality that very few of them will ever make it to the majors. Umpires have an approximately three percent chance of making it to the “show.” It’s a dream though that dozens chase every year. In fact, Daytona Beach is home to one of the most famous umpiring schools; the Wendelstedt Umpire School.

Want to know more about what it is like to be a Major League umpire? Read **Called Out but Safe: A Baseball Umpire’s Journey.**

For fans, these minor league games can be quite entertaining. Teams run fun promotions, there’s a chance to see legitimate major leaguers on a rehab assignment, and prices are usually very reasonable, especially in comparison to major league prices.

Late Innings August 1, 2012

Fans at Jackie Robinson Ballpark were treated to some unexpected entertainment on August 1, 2012. That night during a close game between the home team Daytona Cubs and visiting Fort Myers Miracle in a Florida State League game, fans witnessed an ejection that could not have been predicted.

To learn more about historic Jackie Robinson Ballpark, click HERE.

With the game hanging in the balance during the top of the eighth inning, Miracle batter Andy Leer grounded a pitch to Cubs shortstop Tim Saunders, who threw low to first base. Field umpire Ramon Hernandez ruled that first baseman Taylor Davis bobbled the throw and called Leer safe.

Brian Harper was the Daytona Cubs manager when an intern was ejected for playing Three Blind Mice — Brian Harper of the Chicago Cubs poses during Photo Day on Monday, February 27, 2012 at Hohokam Stadium in Mesa, Arizona. (Photo by Ron Vesely/MLB Photos via Getty Images)

Daytona Beach Cubs manager, and former major leaguer, Brian Harper came out to argue the call with Hernandez while home plate umpire Mario Seneca stood by taking stock of the situation.

The Daytona Cubs Intern is Ejected

Seated in the press box was twenty-one-year-old intern Derek Dye, who attempted to poke some home-team humor at the umpires and over the public address system played the children’s song “Three Blind Mice.”

Seneca was in no mood for humor and turned to the press box, picked out the culprit, and yelled out, “You’re gone,” motioning the ejection. Seneca took his ire even further, silencing the sound system for the remainder of the game. That’s right. No announcing of batters, no music, no between innings sound system. Nothing but silence.

At first there was a bit of confusion. Those in the press box through that Harper had been ejected despite not vociferously arguing. They quickly realized it was University of Illinois senior, intern, Dye that had been given the boot.

The small crowd of less than 1,000 reacted as would be expected, showering the umpiring crew (all two of them) with boos. Cubs staff was quick to improvise however and a staffer in the grandstand took to shouting the names of each batter in turn. The tired crowd played along clapping and stomping their feet, showing support for their beloved Cubs.

When the final batter struck out in the top of the ninth inning, the Cubs were 2-1 winners over the Miracle and fans left Jackie Robinson Ballpark with a story that almost had to be seen to be believed. Want to see it? Watch below!

The Cubs and Miracle took to the field the next evening with the same umpiring crew. Intern Derek Dye was not in the press box however. Feeling lighter in the wallet thanks to a $25 fine from the Florida State League, Dye was handing out wristbands, helping identify fans as being 21 years or older in order to participate in the “Thirsty Thursday” promotion that evening.

Dye, and some fans in attendance, questioned the authority of Seneca to eject a non-participant in the game. Dye was quoted afterward, “I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t think the umpire had that sort of jurisdiction. I haven’t seen the flow chart of who has what power.”

While Dye may have questioned Seneca’s judgement, it appears that the umpire was well within his authority, and was not the first to do such. In an article in Bleacher Report they cited three rules Seneca invoked.

Paraphrased:

Rule 4.06(a)—participants should not incite or try to incite a demonstration by spectators

Rule 9.01 (b)—umpires have the duty to order a player, and others, to do or refrain from doing anything that impacts the administration of these rules and to enforce penalties

Rule 9.01(c)—umpires have authority to rule on any point not specifically covered in these rules

So, while Seneca may have seemed thin-skinned and quick on the trigger, Dye’s actions were considered worthy of ejection by the league who handed down the token fine. For Dye, he received an immediate, if short lived, burst of fame. It was reported that interview requests were submitted by ESPN and the “Good Morning America” show and the young intern signed several autographs for knowing fans.

Neither Mario Seneca or Ramon Hernandez was able to beat the odds. Neither umpired in the major leagues. Their having ejected Daytona Cubs intern Derek Dye for a game is the reason they are remembered in baseball today.

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Posted on November 19, 2022May 10, 2023 by Robert — Leave a comment

Abraham Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address November 19, 1863

In a speech of just over 250 words, and only two minutes long, President Abraham Lincoln provided a “few appropriate remarks” summarizing the national situation and reminding those in attendance that the work started must be completed. Union forces must continue to fight in order to preserve the nation.

While Lincoln was in Gettysburg, he stayed at the David Wills House, located in downtown Gettysburg at Lincoln Square. The house is operated by the National Park Service and admission is free. It is recommended to check the website before visiting as hours do change throughout the year. Here, you can visit the room where President Lincoln put the final touches on what might be his most famous speech.

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The text below is quoted from the Bliss Copy of the address as provided by the National Park Service. To learn about the five differing versions of the Gettysburg Address please visit Abraham Lincoln Online.

Gettysburg Address

Delivered at Gettysburg, PA

Nov. 19th 1863

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate — we cannot consecrate — we cannot hallow –this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Lincoln’s speech, which is often quoted, has been analyzed and interpreted since it was given. There are several worthwhile books on the subject of the address and the creation of the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Below are several I recommend.

The Emerging Civil War Series is highly respected for the continual high level of scholarship these books include. Dr. Brad Gottfried is a respected academic who has served as a professor, college president, and author. His book Lincoln Comes to Gettysburg is a perfect introduction to the topic. At less than 200 pages and around $15 this is an amazing value for anybody interested in the Civil War, Gettysburg in particular, or Abraham Lincoln.

Perhaps the standard work on the topic is that of Gary Wills and his masterful Lincoln at Gettysburg.

By examining both the address and Lincoln in their historical moment and cultural frame, Wills breathes new life into words we thought we knew, and reveals much about a president so mythologized but often misunderstood. Wills shows how Lincoln came to change the world and to effect an intellectual revolution, how his words had to and did complete the work of the guns, and how Lincoln wove a spell that has not yet been broken.

For those a bit more advanced in your studies, I recommend seeking out The Gettysburg Gospel by Gabor Boritt.

The words Abraham Lincoln spoke at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery at Gettysburg comprise perhaps the most famous speech in history. Many books have been written about the Gettysburg Address and yet, as Lincoln scholar Gabor Boritt shows, there is much that we don’t know about the speech. In The Gettysburg Gospel he tears away a century of myths, lies, and legends to give us a clear understanding of the greatest American’s greatest speech.

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Posted on November 4, 2022 by Robert — Leave a comment

Library Additions: Lady Rebels of Civil War Missouri written by Larry Wood

Lady Rebels of Civil War Missouri

Wood, Larry, Lady Rebels of Civil War Missouri. Charleston: Arcadia Publishing. 2022. 154 pages, 129 pages of text. Bibliography, notes, index, b/w photos. ISBN 9781467150095, $23.99.

Thank you to my good friends at Arcadia Publishing for providing a complimentary review copy. A more detailed review will be forthcoming.

Although war was traditionally the purview of men, the realities of America’s Civil War often brought women into the conflict. They served as nurses, sutlers, and washerwomen. Some even disguised themselves as men and joined the fight on the battlefield. In the border state of Missouri, where Southern sympathies ran deep, women sometimes clashed with occupying Union forces because of illegal, covert activities like spying, smuggling, and delivering mail. When caught and arrested, the women were often imprisoned or banished from the state. In at least a couple of cases, they were even sentenced to death. Join award-winning author Larry Wood as he chronicles the misadventures and ordeals of the lady rebels of Missouri.

You may review other blog posts related to Arcadia Publishing by clicking HERE.

To learn more about the military role of Missouri in the Civil War I recommend The Civil War in Missouri: A Military History written by Louis S. Gerteis.

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To keep up with some of the best current writing on the Civil War, I strongly recommend a subscription to Civil War Monitor I have subscribed for several years and the content is always top notch. Every other month you will get articles written by some of the most knowledgeable historians in the field. These articles are not written for academics but rather for a broader audience. The book reviews will guide you to some of the best in Civil War scholarship from a variety of academic and trade publishers. Click the link or image below for exclusive savings.

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Posted on October 31, 2022 by Robert — Leave a comment

Library Additions: Civil War Generals of Indiana

Kramer, Carl E. Civil War Generals of Indiana. Charleston: History Press. 2022. 140 pages, 136 pages of text. Bibliography, b/w images. ISBN 9781467151955, $23.99.

Thank you to the good folks at Arcadia Publishing/History Press for providing a complimentary copy of Civil War Generals of Indiana. A book review will be coming in the near future.

When the Civil War erupted, the Union and the Confederacy faced the challenge of organizing huge armies of volunteers with little or no military experience. Crucial to this task was finding generals, and Indiana answered this call with approximately 120 of them. Though a competent division and corps commander, Ambrose E. Burnside’s leadership of the Army of the Potomac at Fredericksburg proved disastrous. Jefferson Columbus was a relentless commander but murdering his superior in a Louisville hotel halted his probable rise to major general. As commander of the Louisville Legion, Lovell H. Rousseau was the only Civil War general commissioned by a city.

Compiling years of research, historian Carl E. Kramer provides biographical sketches of every identifiable Indiana general who attained full-rank, brevet, and state-service status in the tragic struggle.

You may find more information on Dr. Kramer by using this link.

To view similar posts including prior reviews of Arcadia Publishing titles, please CLICK HERE.

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Posted on October 24, 2022March 24, 2024 by Robert — Leave a comment

Ormond Indian Burial Mound Historic Marker

Ormond Indian Burial Mound

In May 1982, when Dixon H. Reeves, and his wife Harriett, paid contractors to break ground on a house site at the corner of south Beach Street and Mound Avenue in Ormond Beach, they did not fully comprehend the damage they were going to do to an irreplaceable cultural artifact. In fact, once the city manager issued a stop work order, the Reeves sued the city for damages. The property ownership reverted to Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Barron, who the Reeves purchased the property from, and the Reeves eventually received a $4,000 settlement from the city.

Where the Reeves wish to build their home was the site of a Timucuan Burial Mound. Timucuan society did not bury the dead. Instead the Timucuans placed bodies on top of the ground and piled dirt on top. In some instances, the flesh was allowed to decay, and the bones were bundled and placed at the mound site. Items owned by the deceased were broken and included in the interment.

Despite the mound having received considerable damage through the years, including digging by “pot hunters” and construction of adjacent roadways, archaeologists believe as many as 125 Timucuans had been buried on the site. For anybody caught digging on this, or similar sites, you will more likely than not be charged with a third-degree felony. See this link for additional information.

With a lack of consensus among city leaders, a fund was started to help purchase and preserve this sacred site. The Barron’s agreed to sell the property to the city for $55,000. Despite confirmation on the importance of the site from professional anthropologists and archaeologists, it took an anonymous donation of $30,000, along with the fundraising drive, to help secure the sale as shortsighted elected city officials balked at the price and potential ongoing costs.

Today, the City of Ormond Beach owns this site and is a park in a residential area. Visitors can see the mound from all sides, surrounded by roads and houses. Parking is available across the street at Ames Park so please do not park on park lands or in the yards or drives of nearby property owners. Please do not climb on the mound as it is a fragile archaeological site.

Sign Text

Prehistoric people of this area constructed the Ormond Burial Mound sometime after A.D. 800. The skeletal remains of more than 125 early native (sic) Americans are buried in this sand burial mound. Interring bodies in earthen mounds was a common burial practice in the late pre-historic period. The bones of most of the deceased were “bundled” and buried during special ceremonies. As more bodies were buried and covered with layers of sand, the mound grew over time. The Mound is preserved as one of the finest and most intact burial mounds in Florida through the efforts of the community that worked to save this site in 1982.

City of Ormond Beach

Ormond Beach Historical Trust

The City of Ormond Beach placed this marker and is not a part of the Florida Department of State marker program.

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If you wish to learn more about Timucuan culture there is an excellent book I can recommend.

Perhaps the definitive book on the subject is written by Dr. Jerald Milanich, The Timucua.

This is the story of the Timucua, an American Indian people who thrived for centuries in the southeast portion of what is now the United States of America.

Timucua groups lived in Northern Florida and Southern Georgia, a region occupied by native people for thirteen millennia. They were among the first of the American Indians to come in contact with Europeans, when the Spaniard Juan Ponce de Leon landed on the Florida coast in 1513. Thousands of archaeological sites, village middens and sand and shell mounds still dot the landscape, offering mute testimony to the former presence of the Timucua and their ancestors.

Two hundred and fifty years after Ponce de Leon’s voyage the Timucua had disappeared, extinguished by the ravages of colonialism. Who were the Timucua? Where did they come from? How did they live? What caused their extinction? These are questions this book attempts to answer, using information gathered from archaeological excavations and from the interpretation of historical documents left behind by the European powers, mainly Spain and France, who sought to colonize Florida and to place the Timucua under their sway.

I also recommend taking a look at this page from the National Park Service.

Timucua Mode of Drying Fish, Wild Animals, and other Provisions Courtesy Florida Memory — Bry, Theodor de, 1528-1598. XXIV. Mode of Drying Fish, Wild Animals, and other Provisions. 1591. State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory. Accessed 22 October 2022.

The State Library and Archives of Florida (Florida Memory), has an excellent page of Theodor de Bry’s Engravings of the Timucua. These incredible works of art date from before the year 1600. The 42 pieces are all available for viewing and low resolution copies are available for download. A sample de Bry image is seen at the left.

Sources:

Daytona Beach News Journal

Florida Master Site File VO00240

Ormond Beach Historical Trust, Inc. “The Story of the Timucua Indian Burial Mound in Ormond Beach, Florida.” Pamphlet published April 2000.

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Posted on October 16, 2022 by Robert — Leave a comment

Dr. Paul J. Croce: Stetson University Professor; William James Scholar

Dr. Paul J. Croce Image Courtesy Stetson University

Professor Paul J. Croce has been a mainstay in the History and American Studies departments at Stetson University for over thirty years. To say that he has positively impacted the lives of thousands of students would not be an understatement. I am one of those students.

When I was a student, Dr. Croce taught several of the courses I took. Recently, he and I had the opportunity to reconnect and now may have a chance to do a bit of collaboration in the future. I jokingly reminded him I may have been his poorest student ever. He was quick to say it wasn’t necessarily that. He said he remembers seeing I had the interest and potential but that I wasn’t engaged. There was something else going on at the time.

Dr. Croce made the point that education and teaching are the long-range game. Results are not always immediate, and just like in my case, the results may show years down the road and that is part of what is so rewarding about being a professor. For students attending Stetson University, I can strongly recommend carving out a time to take one of Dr. Croce’s courses. You will learn a lot and appreciate the time you spent in his classroom. I remember him as being a caring and concerned instructor. He wanted you to succeed but yet made you think and examine issues for your self. He always had time for students as well.

Dr. Croce is one of the leading scholars on William James, the founder of American psychology and pragmatism. James’ twelve-hundred-page masterwork, The Principles of Psychology (1890), is a rich blend of physiology, psychology, philosophy, and personal reflection that has given us such ideas as “the stream of thought” and the baby’s impression of the world “as one great blooming, buzzing confusion” (PP 462).

Dr. Croce received his B.A. degree from Georgetown University and his Ph.D. from Brown University. He began his career at Stetson University in 1988. He was the 1998-1999 and 2010-2011 recipient of the Hand Award for Research, Creative, and Professional Activity at Stetson. He is a past President of the William James Society and currently serves as a Fellow for the organization. You can learn more about Dr. Croce at his website, Pub Classroom. This site is an interactive effort. As Dr. Croce states, he wants to hear from you. He goes by the mantra made famous by the beautiful Pat Benatar, “Hit Me with Your Best Shot.”

As mentioned, Dr. Croce is a scholar of William James and has published extensively on James. I recommend reviewing Croce’s Google Scholar page to review the impressive list of journal articles he has penned. His full-length works are referenced below.

Science and Religion in the Era of William James. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press. 1995. ISBN 9780807845066, $49.95.

In this cultural biography, Paul Croce investigates the contexts surrounding the early intellectual development of American philosopher William James (1842-1910). Croce places the young James at the center of key scientific and religious debates in American intellectual life between the 1820s and 1870s. Early in the nineteenth century, most Americans maintained their scientific and religious beliefs with certainty. Well before the end of the century, however, science and religion had parted company, and, despite the endurance of religious convictions and widespread confidence in science, professionals in both fields expressed belief in terms of hypotheses and probabilities rather than absolutes. Croce highlights the essential issues debated during this shift by investigating the education of James and the circle of intellectuals of which he was part. In particular, the implicit probabilism of Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection, especially as interpreted by Charles Sanders Peirce’s recognition of the fallibility of knowledge, set the stage for James’s reconstruction of belief based on uncertainty.

Young William James Thinking. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. 2017. ISBN 9781421423654, $57.00.

By going to the sources, Paul J. Croce’s cultural biography challenges the conventional contrast commentators have drawn between James’s youthful troubles and his mature achievements. Inverting James’s reputation for inconsistency, Croce shows how he integrated his interests and his struggles into sophisticated thought. His ambivalence became the motivating core of his philosophizing, the heart of his enduring legacy. Readers can follow James in science classes and in personal “speculations,” studying medicine and exploring both mainstream and sectarian practices, in museums reflecting on the fate of humanity since ancient times, in love and with heart broken, and in periodic crises of confidence that sometimes even spurred thoughts of suicide.

To keep up on all aspects of modern psychology, I recommend a subscription to Psychology Today. Psychology Today Magazine unveils the latest discoveries in psychological research and helps you apply the results to your own life.

Posted on October 13, 2022 by Robert — Leave a comment

Orlando Magazine-A Great Option for Locals and Tourists Alike

I recently came across Orlando Magazine and want to share this with my readers. I think many of you might be interested.

Orlando Magazine provides readers with a diverse look at all that is happening in the “City Beautiful” and the surrounding areas. This is a magazine that is perfect for locals and visitors alike. They cover a wide array of subjects; it’s not strictly business, tourist, or real estate driven.

Orlando Magazine is a monthly city magazine with eye-catching, contemporary design and compelling content that is both entertaining and informative. The arts, news, dining, travel, entertainment, style, people and trends – if it’s part of Orlando’s lifestyle, it can be found in Orlando Magazine.

The issue I picked up includes the “Ultimate Farm Guide.” This article includes a look at multiple farms including Southern Hill Farms (be sure to check out their Fall Festival), Wild Flower Farm, Uncle Matt’s Organic (the juices sound delicious), Webb’s Honey, and more. As residents we already know that Central Florida is home to a diverse agricultural economy. It is sometimes easy to forget this though and by highlighting just a small handful of these stories it reminds us how important it is to support our local growers.

For those of us into arts and culture, the 2022-2023 Season Preview is a must read. From Broadway Shows at Dr. Phillips Center (Hamilton is coming back to Orlando) to the Orlando Museum of Art will be hosting a tour of drawings from the Casa Buonarroti Museum in Florence which promises to be a real treat, Orlando is offering top level cultural events. Orlando Shakes is making their return after being shutdown due to COVID-19. Lovers of art, theater, dance, and other cultural activities should review the list. Orlando is truly alive with culture for everybody.

Prior issues have included best burger, a look at Ocala horse country, a celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Greater Orlando Sports Commission, and more. The October 2022 issue takes a look at the fifty most powerful people in the community, a guide to the best haunts is available just in time for Halloween (think Cassadaga, the Oviedo Lights, the Annie Russell Theater, Greenwood Cemetery, and other places that might make your skin crawl, and includes an excellent events calendar.

Great magazines at low prices for students & educators. Click to save up to 90% off the cover price.

Posted on October 5, 2022October 16, 2022 by Robert — Leave a comment

Florida State Poets Association to Hold Slam Competition in Daytona Beach Shores

On October 20-23, 2022, the National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) in cooperation with the Florida State Poets Association (FSPA) and Bethune-Cookman University (BCU) is holding its first annual national championship slam poetry competition in Daytona Beach Shores, Florida. Competitors are expected from across the country and will be limited to 40 of the top spoken word poets.

A Youth Poetry Mini-Festival (under 21 years) will be held as a part of the overall event. Creative Happiness Institute and Bethune-Cookman University will conduct the youth events on behalf of the NFSPS and the FSPA, which will include workshops, a National Youth Poetry Slam, and a National Youth Open Mic.

Are you a poet? You should consider subscribing to Poets & Writers, the primary source of information, support and guidance for creative writers. Founded in 1970, it is the nation’s largest nonprofit literary organization serving poets and writers.

Location

Our host hotel, the Residence Inn by Marriot Daytona Beach Oceanfront, will be the site of many festival events. Other festival events will take place on and around the campus of Bethune-Cookman University. All room rates at the Residence Inn include free parking, hot breakfast buffet, free coffee/tea bar, Wi-Fi, and unlimited access to the resort pool, spa, and beautiful beach with no resort fees. This event will be held in conjunction with the FSPA annual convention. The competition will take place over 3 days, with preliminary rounds on Thursday and Friday nights culminating in a finals stage of 12 poets and one sacrificial poet on Saturday night.

Right To Cancel

NFSPS reserves the right to cancel the competition in the event of weather, public health, or any other major problem. Full refund of all registration fees will be paid within 7 days of the cancellation.

Prelims

There will be two venues hosting 2 bouts apiece the first two nights: an early bout from 6pm to 8pm and a late bout from 8:30pm to 10:30pm. In other words, there will be a total of 4 bouts each of the first two nights. The venues will likely be in the host hotel and on and around the campus of Bethune-Cookman University. 10 poets will compete in each bout. There will be two rounds in each bout, with the order in the first round taking place by random draw and the order in the second round determined by first round finish (high score goes first in second round). There will be five (5) judges scoring each poem on a scale of 1 to 10, utilizing one decimal place to give further nuance to the scores. For example, one poem may score a 9 while a slightly better poem may score a 9.1 or 9.2. All five judges will give a score but for prelim purposes the highest score and the lowest score will be dropped. The remaining three scores will be added to give the poet a score for the round. The scores for each of the two rounds will be added together and the highest cumulative score shall be given a ranking of 1, the next highest a ranking of 2, and so on, with the lowest cumulative score awarded a ranking of 10. After 2 nights of prelims, the 12 highest ranked poets (lowest numbers) will advance to the Finals with the 13th highest poet serving as the sacrificial poet to begin finals rounds. Ties for final stage will be broken by comparing the cumulative scores of the poets in question over both days of prelims. If there is still a tie, the dropped judges scores over the two days will be added back in and the resulting new cumulative scores will be compared. If there is still a tie, there will be either an additional poet added to Finals, or a tie break slam held to determine who advances. Poems may not be repeated in any prelim round, including any tie break round.

Finals

Finals will be held on Saturday night on the campus of Bethune-Cookman University in the Mary McLeod Bethune Performing Arts Center. Finals will consist of three rounds. Scores are cumulative. Order in the first round will be by random draw. Order in the second and third round will be determined based on the cumulative scores of the poets, from high score to low score. After the first round, the highest 8 scoring poets progress to the second round. After the second round the top 4 scoring poets advance to the final round. Scores are cumulative. The highest cumulative scoring poets wins. Poems from prelims may be repeated in the Finals.

Admission

All Blackberry Peach preliminary rounds will have free admission. Admission to Finals will be ticketed and tickets can be purchased here: https://BBPFinalStage.eventbrite.com

Want to read some of the best new poetry available? Take a look at The Best American Poetry 2022.

For The Best American Poetry 2022guest editor Matthew Zapruder, whose own poems are “for everyone, everywhere…democratic in [their] insights and feelings” (NPR), has selected the seventy-five new poems that represent American poetry today at its most dynamic. Chosen from print and online magazines, from the popular to the little-known, the selection is sure to capture the attention of both Best American Poetry loyalists and newcomers to the series.

Are you a poet looking for outlets for your work? You won’t find a better resource than Poet’s Market.

Want to get your poetry published? There’s no better tool for making it happen than Poet’s Market, which includes hundreds of publishing opportunities specifically for poets, including listings for book and chapbook publishers, print and online poetry publications, contests, and more. These listings include contact information, submission preferences, insider tips on what specific editors want, and–when offered–payment information.

I also strongly recommend a subscription to Writer’s Digest, the leading bi-monthly magazine for writers of all types, including poets.

Author: Robert

Play Golf in Volusia County Florida on Your Vacation

Where to Plan your Golf Vacation in Volusia County, Florida

Daytona Beach

Daytona Beach Shores

Subscribe to Golf Digest and save off the cover price
from: College Subscription Services LLC

DeBary

DeLand

Deltona

New Smyrna Beach

Ormond Beach

Port Orange

Thank you for reading my round up of golf courses in Volusia County. Now you should be able to find the best course to match your skills and be ready to play golf in Volusia County during your next vacation.

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