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The region was first settled in 1768 by Scottish physician Dr. Andrew Turnbull, who named it New Smyrna Beach in honor of his wife's Greek heritage and birthplace. NSB was incorporated in 1887. Five years later, railroad magnate Henry Flagler made it a featured stop on his Florida East Coast Railway.
The development of Sugar Mill was started in 1968 by Rolling Hills Enterprises, Inc. Rolling Hills had previously purchased the property from the Ford Philpot Evangelistic Institute in Lexington, Kentucky. Joe Lee was awarded a contract to design an 18-hole golf course, and land clearing began the same year.
Sugar Mill Country
Club, and 18-hole golf course, laid out by famed course designer Joe Lee,
opened in 1970. Lee once described it as “a player’s dream layout, with a lot
of good, old-fashioned character. The real golfer likes it.” Shortly after the
opening of the White and Red course, a clubhouse was completed and 34
single-family homesites were marketed. In addition, three “speculation” homes
were constructed on Clubhouse Boulevard. 
No further development was attempted by Rolling Hills,
and the property was purchased in 1973 by the Florida Gas Company. After
several months of very careful planning by Florida Gas, the townhouse village
of Pine Valley was begun. Single-family homesites were placed on the market and
Sugar Mill was on its way.
Famed
golf course architect Joe Lee, designer of Sugar Mill’s golf course, signed on
for his second course at Sugar Mill CC. What is now known as the Blue Course,
Lee noted that “rarely does an architect have the opportunity to work with such
a fine natural setting. Finding the holes as nature built them and arranging
them in a sequence that leads a golfer through areas of distinct character has
given Sugar Mill a test of golf with a distinct personality unlike any other in
the state.”
That same year the golf car program launched. Sugar Mill residents were encouraged to
use electric golf cars for transportation within the golf resort community to
reduce noise, pollution, and traffic dangers. Ed Patton, Sugar Mill’s Project
Manager, said “using golf cars for transportation within Sugar Mill is probably
the greatest single step a resident can take to make our community a pleasant
and safe place in which to live.”
The newly remodeled and renovated Clubhouse opened November 1 to rave
reviews for its architecture, decoration, and landscaping, and above all, its
atmosphere.
The new 9 hole Blue Course was opened with the play of the couples event
on December 31st, 1982. The setting of Oak Trees, Palms and ponds
make the course completely different from the original Sugar Mill Course.
Tom Parton of Basel, Switzerland, and also a property owner in Brae
Burn, together with some of his Canadian colleagues began the Canadian –
American Tournament on New Year’s morning. The tournament began with one
Canadian inviting one American and the Canadians chipped in and bought a few
prizes for presentation. This has always been a fun time and a get acquainted
session for the people of the two countries.
Sugar Mill Country Club’s Board of Directors installed a new management system that puts responsibility for day-to-day
operations in the hands of professional department heads. At the same time, a
new organization, the Member Advisory Board, replaced the Member Management
Committee that’s been in operation since June, 1983. The Member Advisory Board
serves as advisors to the Directors and the staff, with particular
responsibility for member input and reaction.
HOA releases right to club to Members to become Member owned.
January 1, 1990, Sugar Mill Country Club, Inc. begins
its first year as a member-controlled club.
The original tennis facilities at Sugar Mill were
provided by the developer in the early 1970s and in 1990 when the Club
purchased all of the facilities from the developer, they included four asphalt
courts, the pagoda, the parking area, and miscellaneous equipment such as
brushes and squeegees.
The Clubhouse added a 3rd Venue, Sunset Lounge, that used to be
an open-air patio by enclosing it fully and making it into a Sports Bar Lounge. The Activity Center was built the same year which has an aerobics room, Treatment room,
Locker rooms w/ saunas and a fully equipped state of the art fitness center.
Three Pickleball courts were added to the Tennis area which has helped to increase the number of members participating in Tennis and Pickleball. Once a month all members are invited to get together for Tennis and Pickleball open play and socials. Our Tennis Professional, Steve Schwartz, has had a great hand in creating a welcoming environment for anyone who wishes to play.
The Overlook Terrace was added to the Clubhouse, just off of the Clubhouse entrance. This is a great spot to enjoy outdoor dining, relax with friends, or watch members tee off of the Red #1 Tee Box.
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