The Jungle Country Club History Project: Jungle Country Club Creek

On August 13th, Creek No. 9, often called the Farragut ditch, officially became Jungle Country Club Creek. The new name honors the Jungle Country Club's significance in St. Petersburg's history.

Saturday, August 13, 2022 | Farragut Drive N and 13th Av N

Creek No. 9 is now Jungle Country Club Creek

West side luminaries under the new "Jungle Country Club Creek" sign. Dr. Ed Carlson (president, Jungle Terrace Civic Association), Steve Elftmann (board member, Azalea Neighborhood Association), Dominick Griesi (president, Azalea Neighborhood Association), Robert Blackmon (former district 1 council member and mayoral candidate), Copley Gerdes (with daughter, district 1 council member), David and Catie Anderson (Jungle Prada tour guides), James Giering (South Pasadena historian).

Wood storks and egret enjoy the ceremonies.

Steve Elftmann and Robert Blackmon.

Egret on the railing at Farragut and 13th Av N

Dedication ceremony:

Opening remarks by Dominick Griesi, Azalea Neighborhood Association president and long time resident of Azaleaville.

Dominick introduces Steve Elftmann...

Good morning. Thanks for coming. My name is Steve Elftmann my family has lived on Farragut Drive for 24 years.

The Jungle is a two square mile area that has an incredible history. There is a nearly pristine Indian mound at the Jungle Prada Site. In 1528, Spanish conquistadors landed on our shores and four of them were the first from the old world to travel across the continent. The most famous celebrities of the Roaring 20’s came here to play. The Orange Blossom Special passenger train used to travel on what is now the Pinellas trail, and two of the twelve men who have walked on the moon are graduates of a school that is here in the Azalea neighborhood - Admiral Farragut Academy.

100 years ago, this creek was part of one of the most famous golf courses in America. The creek is the last remaining part of the legendary Jungle golf course. We are standing on the 6th fairway. Babe Ruth crossed this creek hundreds of times.

Many celebrities of the Roaring Twenties played here or were guests at the hotel – Walter Hagen, Gene Sarazen, Babe Ruth, Jimmie Foxx, Miller Huggins, Al Lang, H. Walter Fuller, Walter P. Fuller, Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis, Pop Warner and many others played on this course. 100 years later, you might not recognize all of those names, but they were the giants of American culture in their day.

Babe Ruth was actually considered one of the most popular golfers of the Roaring Twenties. He made the Jungle golf course famous by coming here every winter. Anyone in America who read a newspaper or went to the movies knew about the Jungle Country Club.

Babe Ruth had a lot of incredible moments on the baseball field, but when asked about his biggest thrills in life, he always included something that happened here on the Jungle country club course. In 1932, on his 38th birthday, he scored a double eagle on the 14th hole. A double eagle is a score of 2 on a par 5 hole - it’s practically impossible. Only a few professional golfers have been able to record a double eagle in tournament play. Babe Ruth considered this to be one of his greatest achievements.

If you want to learn more about our neighborhood’s history, you can google “Jungle Country Club Creek” and you will find the Jungle history website.

Also, there are free copies of the 12-page creek proposal at the event table. It has a lot of information about the neighborhood’s history.

Guest speakers:

Robert Blackmon:

My Saturday started out great at the sign unveiling to rename Creek no 9 “Jungle Country Club Creek”. This day has been years in the making, and was spearheaded by passionate neighborhood advocate Steve Elftmann. Thank you, Steve, for your diligence and allowing me to say a few words.

I hope this, coupled with the Jungle Prada sign dedication last year and the renovation of the neighborhood signs on 38th , will bring a sense of place and history to West St. Pete. Preservation can be peaceful- hopefully next up, the Bear Creek/ Pasadena walls on 64th Street!

Copley Gerdes

Steve's final remarks:

I want to thank the City of St. Petersburg for the grant that made this sign possible and I also want to thank all the people who have supported the creek name.

This creek attracts roseate spoonbills, snowy egrets, wood storks, turtles, great blue herons, ducks, ibises, great white egrets and many other birds and wildlife. Whenever I see these beautiful animals it lifts my spirit. We are truly fortunate to have a creek that attracts and supports this wildlife.

For too many years, people have been calling this creek a ditch. This is not a ditch. This is a protected wildlife area – animals are safe here. It is against the law to remove or harm any animals in the creek.

Now it’s time for the unveiling of the Jungle Country Club Creek sign.

A neighborhood’s history is an important part of its identity. This sign will remind us of the people and places that played a role in shaping our landscape.

Let the countdown begin! … 5-4-3-2-1 liftoff.

I now declare Jungle Country Club Creek open for your enjoyment. Thank you!