The establishment known as The Moors Golf and Racquet Club will soon be reopened. The club has a new owner. Brian DeMaria, local property developer and business owner, took ownership of the three hundred sixty acre property, two hundred acres devoted to the golf course. DeMaria said he will reopen the restaurant, driving range and lodge straight away in order to bring life back to the establishment as soon as possible. He said he is interested in keeping The Moors Golf and Racquet Club name because it is well established in the area. He said his interest in the property came from a brochure from a golf course broker forwarded to him by a friend.
“I saw a diamond in the rough location which had been besieged by traffic congestion on Avalon, a major north and south connector. Adding two more lanes and replacing bridges will resolve this problem and make this one of the most accessible locations in the two county area,” said DeMaria. “I want to see this site once again be an economic driver for the area,” he said. According to county records, DeMaria purchased the property for a recorded $1.5 million.
Although the club at one time brought in Pro Golf Association Professionals to compete, The Moors fell on hard times and closed in 2010 because of lack of business.
DeMaria said his plans for his investment is not only to open the driving range, restaurant, and lodge, but to include creating a banquet, art, music venue with an indoor and outdoor option, utilizing the cart barn and green space.
“The reopening of the golf course is being explored as well as alternative development ideas, with a retirement community and mixed usages,” said DeMaria. He said operations will be year round.
DeMaria moved to Pensacola in 1977 with his family. He said his father was transferred from Connecticut to work for American Cyanamid in Milton. He said he’s worked in real estate for 28 years and although he doesn’t get a chance to play golf often, he does enjoy watching the Masters.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: The links are back