Snag our 'Endless Summer' shirt collection!
Search
Close this search box.
Subscribe

New Eglin golf course partner selected

To: Daily Rundown Readers

May 28, 2026   |   Reading time: 12 mins

SPONSORED BY

Good morning (happy last day of school)!

The Air Force has selected the American Dunes Foundation as its partner to lease and enhance the Eglin golf course, beginning negotiations on a project that could span up to 603 acres. Sen. Rick Scott joined local officials in Destin to kick off a hurricane preparedness push ahead of the June 1 start to storm season, and crews are beginning drainage work near Cinco Bayou as the Eglin Parkway resurfacing project moves forward. The Bob Hope Memorial Charity Golf Classic raised over $105,000 for the Air Force Enlisted Village, and we take a look back at the top 15 Okaloosa and Walton sports highlights of 2025-26. Also, catch up on the “How I Work” series, and today’s weather outlook.

WEATHER

Sen. Rick Scott joins local officials in Destin to kick off hurricane preparedness push

Sen. Rick Scott speaks at a hurricane preparedness press conference Wednesday at Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant in Destin, joined by Okaloosa County Director of Public Safety Patrick Maddox, Sheriff Eric Aden, Parker Destin, Emergency Management Chief Ryan Prince, Dewey Destin, Congressman Jimmy Patronis, Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, Commissioner Trey Goodwin, Lisa Greer of the American Red Cross and Commissioner Paul Mixon. (Courtesy of Okaloosa County)

Sen. Rick Scott brought his annual Hurricane Preparedness Tour to Dewey Destin’s Seafood Restaurant on Wednesday, joined by Congressman Jimmy Patronis, Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden and other local officials days before the June 1 start of hurricane season.

Scott urged residents to prepare now and not wait until a storm is approaching, citing the 151 lives lost when Hurricane Ian struck Fort Myers in 2022.

  • “If you don’t get prepared, there’s nothing law enforcement or fire department can do for you,” Scott said. “In the middle of the storm, they can’t come get you.”

Patronis encouraged residents to use their cellphones to video the inside and outside of their homes now and email the footage to themselves, giving them photographic evidence to share with insurance adjusters if a storm destroys their property.

Sheriff Aden noted that tornadoes touched down across the area over Memorial Day weekend, serving as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability. Destin Fire Chief Kevin Sasser urged anyone who stays during a storm to be prepared to survive on their own for seven days.

Patrick Maddox, Okaloosa County’s director of public safety, highlighted the coordination framework that guides local disaster response, built around what the federal government has identified since 2017 as community lifelines — critical functions including safety and security, health and medical services, food, shelter, fuel, power, communications, transportation and water systems.

SPONSORED

It’s the perfect season to tee up and enjoy the ride.

It’s the perfect season to tee up and enjoy the ride.

  • With auto loan rates as low as 4.74% APR, Eglin Federal Credit Union can help you go farther—for less.

Shop for your new or used vehicle at any participating dealer to apply for on site financing with Eglin Federal Credit Union, or apply online at eglinfcu.org/auto.

Your best round starts with a great drive.

Eglin Federal Credit Union. Where members matter most.

GAMES

WordroW: May 28, 2026

WordroW is brought to you by Fort Walton Beach Chiropractic – keeping your mind sharp and your spine aligned, one game at a time.

Can you guess today’s 5-letter word in six tries?

WordroW is Get The Coast’s daily word puzzle featuring local words, places, and phrases from our community. You have six guesses to find the mystery word – green letters are correct and in the right spot, yellow letters are in the word but wrong position, and gray letters aren’t in the word at all.

HOW I WORK

Missed an interview? Catch up on How I Work

“How I Work” is brought to you by the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce. Join the most influential organization in Okaloosa. Learn more here.

Ever wonder what gets our community’s top leaders out of bed in the morning—or what keeps them sharp when the pressure’s on?

In partnership with the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, we’re sitting down with the people shaping our local business landscape and asking them the questions that rarely make it into a boardroom: What does your morning routine look like? What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? What do you do when you’re not working?

From CPAs to principals to entrepreneurs, these conversations reveal the habits, philosophies, and unexpected quirks behind the professionals you see around town. Some start their days before sunrise. Others swear by a particular podcast or a walk on the beach. All of them have something worth learning from.

HOW I WORK: An inside look at how Nick Tomecek blends storytelling, public service, and local connection in Okaloosa County

Read more

HOW I WORK: An inside look at how Dr. Chad Marshall blends precision, mentorship, and family-first values in oral surgery

Read more

HOW I WORK: An inside look at how marketing agency founder Shantelle Dedicke balances client campaigns with cooking and crosswords

Read more

HOW I WORK: An inside look at how Warren Averett’s Stephen Perkins starts early, solves big tax questions, and loves local

Read more

SPORTS

The best of 2025-26: A look back at the top 15 Okaloosa & Walton sports highlights

Contributed photos

The 2025-26 high school sports season was one for the books across the local area. For my first year covering high school sports, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

From historic championship runs to breakout programs making their marks, here’s a look back at the top 15 highlights from across Okaloosa & Walton.

Thanks for a great school year!

– Travis Espy, Sports Reporter for Get The Coast

TRAFFIC

Crews begin drainage work near Cinco Bayou as Eglin Parkway resurfacing project moves forward

Crews install underground drainage infrastructure near the south end of the Cinco Bayou Bridge as part of FDOT’s $11.6 million Eglin Parkway resurfacing project. (FDOT)

Crews are installing underground drainage infrastructure near the south end of the Cinco Bayou Bridge as part of the $11.6 million resurfacing project on Eglin Parkway.

  • The Florida Department of Transportation said workers are putting in stormwater components designed to direct runoff and support long-term roadway performance along State Road 85. Proper grading and drainage are critical to protecting the roadway structure and improving safety during heavy rain, according to FDOT.

Drivers may encounter intermittent northbound outside lane closures on Eglin Parkway between Yacht Club Drive NE and the Cinco Bayou Bridge during nighttime hours between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m. The entrance to Laguna Landing Condominiums will be temporarily closed during the work, with residents accessing Eglin Parkway via Yacht Club Drive NE.

The resurfacing project stretches from U.S. 98 to Richbourg Avenue and includes sidewalk and crosswalk improvements, signalization upgrades, stormwater management enhancements, and new signing and pavement markings. Construction is scheduled for completion in late 2027.

GIVING BACK

Bob Hope Memorial Charity Golf Classic raises over $105K for Air Force Enlisted Village

From giving back to investing in the future, FPL is powering strong communities. Learn more here.

Contributed photo

The 23rd Annual Bob Hope Memorial Charity Golf Classic raised just over $105,000 to benefit the Air Force Enlisted Village, organizers announced following the two-day tournament held May 15-16 at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club.

  • Presented by USAA, the event drew 144 golfers to the Pines Course on Day 1, with teams flighted for Day 2 competition. The tournament concluded with an awards luncheon recognizing champions, contest winners and the sponsors who supported the event.

Proceeds support the Air Force Enlisted Village, which provides housing for surviving spouses of retired enlisted Air Force members at Bob Hope Village and Hawthorn House in Shalimar.

Several distinguished military guests attended, including CMSAF No. 22 David Wolfe, CMSAF No. 14 Gerald Murray, CMSAF No. 15 Rodney McKinley and CMSgt Paul Norris, representing the U.S. Space Force.

Winning teams in each flight received embroidered shoe bags, Worldwide Golf gift cards and rounds of golf from courses across the Emerald Coast.

WEATHER

Today’s weather outlook

TODAY: A chance of showers and thunderstorms before 1pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 82. Southwest wind 0 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 50%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

TONIGHT: A slight chance of showers and thunderstorms before 7pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 75. Southwest wind 0 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 20%. New rainfall amounts between a tenth and quarter of an inch possible.

PROMOTED BY HCA

New ER now open in DeFuniak Springs

The new HCA Florida DeFuniak Springs Emergency is now open, bringing 24/7 emergency care to Walton County. Located at I-10 and U.S. 331, the facility features 10 private patient care rooms, board-certified emergency physicians and on-site diagnostic services including CT scan and digital X-ray.

MILITARY

Air Force selects American Dunes Foundation to lease Eglin golf course

U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.

The Department of the Air Force has selected the American Dunes Foundation to lease and enhance Eglin’s Golf Course and surrounding property, according to a news release from the 96th Test Wing.

The process of transitioning the golf course to a public or private partner was announced in August 2025. The DAF is now in negotiations with the foundation to lease up to a 603-acre parcel as part of a golf course improvement project.

The project includes financing, permitting, development, construction, maintenance and operations through the DAF’s Enhanced Use Lease program. The EUL program enables the Air Force to make non-excess, underutilized property available for compatible commercial development in return for lease payments to the DAF.

OK, that’s all I have for you this morning! I hope you have a great Thursday. Help us shape the future of local news and make a meaningful impact on your community. Click here to learn how you can support us!

p.s. What did you think of this morning’s newsletter? Hit the reply button and let me know!

Jared

Published with ♥ by Get The Coast.

Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe here.

124 Eglin Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

Join Our Newsletter

Join the best local newsletter read by thousands of locals each weekday morning. Best of all, it’s free!

Subscribe for free!
Facebook Instagram Youtube Twitter Linkedin
© 2026, Get The Coast LLC. All Rights Reserved
Free Newsletter Signup
Search

GET OUR FREE LOCAL NEWSLETTER

Get the weekday email that actually makes reading local news enjoyable again.
Subscribe for free!