TALLAHASSEE, FL. – SouthWood Golf Club – the award-winning Fred Couples and Gene Bates designed course owned by The St. Joe Company and managed by Billy Casper Golf – is ranked No. 16 on Golf Digest’s list of “America’s Top 50 Courses for Women.”

Featured in the magazine’s June issue, the ranking reflects SouthWood’s female-friendly layout, atmosphere and golf shop, which includes women’s equipment and apparel. SouthWood is one of the few facilities in the country with a female general manager, Beth Murphy, and director of instruction, Becky Sauers.

“Whether it is providing multiple tee box options or offering female-specific instructional programs, we take great pride in making SouthWood a place where women enjoy their experience,” says Murphy. “We are thrilled to be included on Golf Digest’s list alongside world-class facilities like Bandon Dunes, Whistling Straits and Pinehurst.”

A panel of more than 100 female raters provided the feedback used to create the rankings. Each course on the list has at least one set of tees shorter than 5,300 hundred yards, two tees with Course and Slope ratings for women, and few or no forced carries. Course conditions and amenities were also taken into account.

The ranking adds to a long list of honors for Southwood, which was recently named one of Florida’s top 25 public courses by GOLF Magazine and hosted the 2011 Seminole Intercollegiate in March.

For more information about SouthWood, visit www.southwoodgolf.com or call (850) 942-4653.