Considered one of America’s finest private clubs, Jupiter Hills Club will host the 2008 Florida State Amateur Championship on June 19-22.

Several different events occurred in 1968 that would eventually lead to the formation of Jupiter Hills Club. In 1968, George Fazio was playing in the Bing Crosby Pro-Am at Pebble Beach and was talking to his group that included Bill Ford, Jimmy Demaret and Jackie Burke about building a course in the warm climate. Later that year, Fazio contemplated moving his golf course design business from Philadelphia to the South where there would be more business prospects. Also in 1968, Don Moe, a former Walker Cupper, stopped by Fazio's lunch table and tried to interest him at looking at some property that could be made into a fantastic golf course. Fazio agreed to go to the site on his way out of town the next day.

Fazio fell in love with the land and after some dealings with the state, the land was his. He called his buddies from the Bing Crosby Pro-Am and sold them on the idea of forming the club. Along with Ford and Hope, Bill Elliott agreed to join in and be the leading partners and Jupiter Hills was incorporated in February 1969 and the land deal closed two months later.

In May, the Hills Course construction began and was completed in a little over 90 days. The Hills' design was Fazio's but his nephew, Tom did most of the work. During the 1970's, the Hills Course underwent numerous renovations while the Village Course was being constructed. George's other nephew and Tom's brother, Jim Fazio was involved with the many projects on the Hills Course and construction of the Village Course. By 1979, the Village Course opened with 18 holes that resembled an English inland course coupled with some holes reminiscent of Pine Valley. The Fazio name became a major force in golf course design and Jupiter Hills had two championship golf courses situated on the dunes and rolling hills of Florida’s coast.

Jupiter Hills has hosted many prestigious tournaments including the 1987 United States Amateur Championship, the first time the Championship was played in Florida. For the second consecutive year, United States Open Sectional Qualifying will be played on the Hills Course this year as golfers attempt to advance to the United States Open Championship. The FSGA also visited Jupiter Hills in 2007 for the Four-Ball Championship.

Florida's finest amateur golfers will battle it out at Jupiter Hills in the 91st Florida State Amateur Championship. The Amateur Championship is the oldest continuous sporting event in the state of Florida. Jacksonville’s A.C. Ulmer won the inaugural championship in 1914.

Players must first attempt to qualify at one of 13 sites across the state.

State Amateur Qualifying Sites

May 27 - Ironhorse, West Palm Beach
May 28 - The Bayou Club, Largo
May 28 - Victoria Hills, DeLand
May 29 - Club at Renaissance, Fort Myers
June 2 - North Hampton, Fernandina Beach
June 2 - CC of Ocala, Ocala
June 2 - Sara Bay, Sarasota
June 3 - Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Beach
June 5 - GC at Bridgewater, Lakeland
June 6 - Legacy Golf & TC, Port St. Lucie
June 9 - Shula's, Miami Lakes
June 9 - Grande Pines, Orlando
June 10 - Southwood, Tallahassee

Click here to learn more about the Florida State Amateur Championship.