What do dancing shoes, swimming trunks, and a laptop computer have in common? No, this is not one of Mark’s "unique" jokes… they are all things you might want to bring along this winter to enjoy the new features at the Sebring Lakeside Golf Resort.

We’ve kept and enhanced all of your favorite features of the property. Also, there are a few new amenities we think will help you relax and enjoy our little resort all the more. Interested in learning more about our efforts this summer? Then please read on…

The scenic view of the white sandy beach and placid waters of Lake Sebring remains, with an added 100 feet of open access to the lake shore. Feel free to walk barefoot along the shoreline of the whole property.

As you’re roaming the beach, we’d also suggest that you enjoy what has been named one of the most scenic vistas in all of Florida. We were honored when the Palm Beach Post named the Celebrity Suite as one of the Top Ten Rooms with a View in the sunshine state. With all the lovely coastlines, historic ranches, unique Everglades, and 5-star resorts in Florida, we’re proud that our cozy little slice of land on tranquil Lake Sebring won this recognition.

Given its newfound publicity and statewide recognition, the Celebrity Suite is enjoying a little celebrity status of its own. However, it has some new competition for best feature of the Inn. The newly renovated Tea Room and an expanded Ballroom now share the view of Lake Sebring. Maria has returned the Ballroom to its original 1926 design, with room for 145 more guests. She has also added new equipment in an expanded kitchen, and promises new scrumptious choices on the menu for the upcoming season.

The Ballroom also features french doors that open onto the surrounding courtyard, beach, and breezeway. But which direction to go? With so many difficult choices, perhaps you might just stay inside under the nine new sparkling chandeliers that illuminate the hardwood dance floor.

With all these new features in the Tea Room, don’t be surprised if Maria and her team cook up a few new ways to enjoy the renovated Ballroom! Stay tuned… (But the restaurant is not just for afternoon tea anymore! New for the 2004 season, the Tea Room will be open for dinner two nights each week. Our sparkling chandeliers will light the dance floor as guests enjoy an expanded menu and the finest nighttime dining Highlands County has to offer. We look forward to hosting you and your party in the ballroom this winter.)

The oversized swimming pool also shares a view of Lake Sebring, and in keeping with the rest of the property we have done some work to spruce it up. The pool renovation has just been completed and boy is the water refreshing! It has been resurfaced with DiamondBrite, which makes the surface almost as smooth to the touch as the water itself. There are also two new submerged lights which rotate between different colors. Be sure to carve out some time to enjoy the pool when the Florida sun heats up!

You may lose track of time while relaxing around the property, but that doesn’t mean you have to be out of touch for too long. Each of the rooms now features a highspeed wireless internet connection, so if you have a laptop, be sure to bring it down. You can check email or the weather to your heart’s content… although Mark promises only warm temperatures and sunshine.

Mark Twain was right on the mark when he quipped that "Golf is a good walk spoiled." While we can’t improve your score, we have worked hard to make your walk as pleasant as possible. There’s a lot to see, but we think many of our golfers will find it easier to count the new landscape features than their own strokes. Ours is a cozy little course, but we’ve dotted the landscape with lovely flowering plants and garnished the ponds with new cascading fountains. But not to worry, the layout of the course remains the same. We have resisted every urge to add new hazards or to make the course play a little harder.

It promises to be another action-packed season on the golf course. We plan to continue the Winter Benefit Tournament Series, which generated lots of interest last season. The monthly four-person scramble is gaining steam as an annual tradition, and bragging rights have never been higher. But competition aside, we hope compassion has a little something to do with the tournaments as well. We raised over $8,000 for local charities last year due to the commitment and generosity of so many of you. With your help, we hope to increase that figure to contribute more to these deserving local causes: