| Melbourne/Viera Florida Golf Course Details at Viera East
 Native Americans first reached Florida 10,000 years ago, with the Seminoles establishing permanent settlements along Florida’s East Coast around 3,000 B.C. As the Europeans moved in during the mid-1800s, they gravitated toward St. Augustine, Daytona Beach and West Palm Beach. The sandy cape separated from the mainland by the Indian and Banana Rivers, jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean between Titusville and Melbourne was left untouched. So was the mainland adjacent to it. When the railroads expanded into Florida in the late 1890s, hotels were built, golf courses were established and before long, tourists from the north inundated the state. Still, the area remained a quiet region with little development.
By the turn of the century a small colony of homes was established along Rockledge Drive, which follows the Indian River. The 100 historically interesting buildings, many in the Revival style are along one of the most scenic and historic roads in Florida.
In 1911, Andrew Duda brought his family and a dream from Czechoslovakia to Oviedo, Florida. The small celery farm that Duda began grew into one of the world’s largest and most respected family-owned agricultural enterprises.
Now Mr. Duda’s descendants are using their talent and effort to create The New Town of Viera, which has been carefully planned to realize the potential of East Central Florida.
In the interim, the area has been discovered. The United States military first took an interest in the region, as the Cape was ideal for testing missiles. Still virtually undeveloped in the early 1950s, it enabled personnel to inspect, fuel and launch missiles without danger to nearby communities. The area’s climate also permitted year-round operations, and rockets could be launched over water instead of populated areas.
An Army team from White Sands conducted the first rocket launch from Cape Canaveral on July 24, 1950. The rocket was called Bumper 8 and the original launch facilities contrast sharply with those in use at the Kennedy Space Center today. For that primitive launch, Army technicians employed a painter’s scaffold as a gantry to service the rocket before launch, and the control center was a converted tar paper bathhouse surrounded by sandbags. Today’s facilities are quite a bit different, and provide a terrific nearby destination for inquisitive children. Starting with the Duda family dream in the early 1980s, the development of Viera will eventually encompass 38,000 acres centered around a vibrant Town Center. The surrounding communities will be filled with wildlife habitats, golf courses, woods, lakes and miles of trails and recreational parks. Many of the phase one homes are now occupied and golf course architect Joe Lee has provided them with an exciting and vibrant golf course for their recreational pleasure. Come see for yourself.
Gold: yards 6669 , rating 72.2, slope 132
Blue: yards 6449, rating 71.3, slope 129
White: yards 6231, rating 70.3, slope 128
Silver: yards 5694, rating 67.5, slope 123
Orange: yards 5231, rating 70.3, slope 123
Red: yards 4884, rating 68.2, slope 121
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