Latest news with #SantaRosaBeach
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Santa Rosa Beach hosts first AJGA tournament
SANTA ROSA BEACH, Fla. (WMBB) – With talk of a potential PGA event coming to the panhandle, Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club hosted an American Junior Golf Association tournament attracting young golfers from around the world. The Santa Rosa Golf & Beach Club welcomed the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) by hosting a three-day open tournament that drew top junior golf talent from around the world. The AJGA, based in Braselton, Georgia, is recognized for organizing some of the most prestigious junior golf events in the United States. The organization provides a platform for young athletes to earn status, which can lead to participation in more rigorous matches and increased visibility among college recruiters. Among the standout athletes was South Walton rising sophomore Neely Kight, who tied for second place. 'My short game was pretty good today, except for a few three-putts,' Kight said. 'My drives were strong, but my irons were a little off, so I had to get up and down more than usual. Since the tournament was local, I was able to get in some extra practice rounds, which definitely helped. I love this course, it's beautiful out here.' As it was the first year the golf club had hosted an AJGA tournament, the groundskeepers paid special attention to detail to ensure the course was in pristine condition with hopes of being selected to host again. 'The biggest thing about this golf course hosting the event is supporting junior golf, not just with our members, but across the sport,' a staff member said. 'We renovated the entire course in 2021, so we wanted players and families to experience it and give feedback.' The effort was noticed and appreciated by both players and their families. 'The juniors love it out here,' said Mary Caines the tournament director. 'I've received so many compliments from parents and players, they say it's one of their favorite courses. The atmosphere is really special.' Krishny Elwin, a rising junior from Puerto Rico who resides in Orlando, claimed first place in the girls division and credited the course for complementing her style of play. 'Playing on this course felt like it was built for me,' Elwin said. 'It's definitely challenging, if you don't hit it straight, you're in trouble. But it was in perfect condition, and I played really well.' The event was viewed as a major success and is expected to bolster Santa Rosa Beach's position as a premier venue for future junior golf competitions. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Mussett Bayou wildfire: 5 years later
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – On the afternoon of May 6, 2020, South Walton Fire District first responders answered a call regarding an illegal burn. In just an instant, the wildfire spread 343 acres. Officials said they had an eye on the red flag weather conditions before the fire erupted. 'The cards were absolutely stacked against us, if you will. You know, so that particular day, we had very, extremely low relative humidity levels, rather uncharacteristic and very dry conditions, and strong winds. All of those things together cumulatively created very challenging conditions for us as fire spread,' South Walton Fire District Fire Chief Ryan Crawford said. 115 structure firefighters and around 50 Florida Forest Service personnel were on the scene trying to control the flames. Young family loses everything in Mussett Bayou Fire That evening, residents across Santa Rosa Beach and the Mussett Bayou area were ordered to evacuate their homes. 'When we showed up on scene, you could tell this fire was going to be a containment issue. It actually jumped 98 well before fire ever got to the north side of 98. It was already south of 98. And it was definitely a fire that was going to have our hands full that day,' Florida Forest Service Forestry Supervisor Walter Bowers said. After three hours of battling flames, it had been contained. Following the fire, damages were assessed. Investigators found that 59 properties, 34 homes, and over 300 acres of land were damaged or destroyed during the wildfire. Officials said the community support is what helped them prosper. 'Here are people losing everything they've ever lived for. And they're the ones that are leading the charge with the supplies and the food, and the drinks. And it was just overwhelming,' Fire Marshal Sammy Sanchez said. Man accused of starting Mussett Bayou fire pleads no contest Since then, the area has been rebuilt. New homes have gone up, trees have grown, and fire mitigation efforts have expanded. 'We enhanced our capacity to be able to respond to these types of incidents here in South Walton. We have predetermined mechanisms in place. It's important that we do what we can to prevent history from repeating itself here because it can happen,' Crawford said. A week after the fire, authorities arrested Santa Rosa Beach resident Allen Boyd Smith and charged him with reckless burning of land, burning illegal materials, and an open burning violation. Two years later he was sentenced to one-year probation and 100 hours of community service. And was ordered to pay $15,500 in restitution. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Walton County announces Alaqua Dog Park temporary closure
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Walton County Public Works will temporarily close Alaqua Dog Park at 342 JD Miller Road, Santa Rosa Beach, FL, starting May 27. According to a news release, the dog park will remain closed until some much-needed work is completed. The decision was made with the purpose of alleviating the recurring flooding issues. The plan is to raise the site to direct floodwater more efficiently, which will extensively enhance the dog park's condition during heavy rainfall. Additionally, new fencing and sidewalks will be added to improve the safety and accessibility of the dog park. Sea turtle nesting season begins in Panama City Beach The goal of the construction is to make the park more user-friendly so that everyone can enjoy their time. 'We understand that this may cause some inconvenience, but we assure you that the end result will be worth the wait. We are excited about these improvements, and we hope you are too! We appreciate your understanding and patience during this time,' Walton County Public Works said. All planned construction activities are weather-dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. For questions or concerns, please contact Walton County Public Works at (850) 892-8108. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
