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Indoor Trackman Driving Range coming to FWB Golf Club

The City of Fort Walton Beach is happy to announce we will be bringing a new indoor Trackman Driving Range to the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club.

The new indoor range will be in the space previously occupied by the old Edwin Watts pro shop and feature five separate golf simulator bays. Funding for the $320,000 project will come from Okaloosa County Tourist Development Tax revenues. Work is expected to begin in October 2026, with project completion in November or December of 2026.

The new indoor range is the second phase of renovation that began last year with the addition of 25 Trackman bays to the Golf Club’s outdoor driving range. The Trackman system uses Doppler radar to track every aspect of a golfer’s shot and displays the information on a 32-inch touchscreen located directly behind each tee box. 

“It tracks carry distance, total distance, ball speed, peak height, launch angle, launch direction, and distance from target,” said Golf Course Director Jacob Hill. “It will track all of your club data, and it gives you a shot tracer of exactly where you hit it.”

Hill said the new indoor range will be able to capture all that information and more, using a camera and infrared sensors to record golf swing and club data as well. 

“It will display a picture of the club face after your shot and show you the exact point where the ball hit on the club face,” said Hill.

Both the outdoor range and the new indoor range allow the golfer to play on virtual versions of well-known courses, ranging from Pebble Beach Golf Links to the Royal Troon Golf Club. Trackman will also be mapping the golf club’s Pines and Oaks Courses. Those courses are expected to be added to the library within 12 to 18 months.

The indoor range will be available in increments of 30 or 60 minutes. Like the Pines and Oaks Courses, pricing will be dynamic based on current demand, but Hill said he expects it to be in the $20 to $60 per hour range.

And both systems use the same Trackman app, available for both Apple and Android devices. While you don’t need the app to enjoy either range, Hill said it’s a powerful tool for measuring your progress over time.

"The Trackman app will track every shot you ever hit,” said Hill.

The Fort Walton Beach Golf Club is a municipal facility operated by the City of Fort Walton Beach and open to the public for play. It features two 18-hole golf courses and is located at 1955 Lewis Turner Blvd. The telephone number is 850-833-9664. For more information or to reserve a tee time, visit fwbgolf.com.

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Browse the Business Directory and view current News Releases, Job Postings, and Hot Deals from fellow members.

Ready to add your own? The tutorials below walk you through how to post and manage your own content on the Chamber Website.

Check out these short tutorial videos that provide a step-by-step guide on how to navigate through the online Member Information Center (MIC). These instructional videos will show you how to update your profile, add keywords, add job postings, register for chamber events/add your benefit discount, add events to chamber community calendar, pay invoices and much more!

The International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) Community Event is a free, family-friendly event that brings together community members, service providers, and local organizations to raise awareness about substance use, reduce stigma, honor those lost to overdose, and connect individuals and families with prevention, treatment, recovery, and support resources.

• Date: Thursday, August 27, 2026
• Time: 6-8 PM (Doors open at 5:30 PM; Dinner Provided)
• Location: Rigdon Center, 1958 Lewis Turner Blvd, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
• To learn more visit OCHIP: http://tiny.cc/g3k7101

Did You Know? - One in seven residents in Okaloosa County is a veteran, ranking it the #1 county in Florida for veteran-resident percentage. Okaloosa County has a dedicated staff that serves our Veterans and their dependents in obtaining benefits. All 67 counties in Florida have Veteran Services. This important service is funded with your general fund dollars (property tax dollars), staffed by veterans. It ensures our service members receive the benefits and assistance they deserve for serving their country.

Why are Veteran Service Officers Important?

One in seven residents in Okaloosa County is a veteran, ranking it the #1 county in Florida for veteran-resident percentage. Okaloosa County Veteran Service Officers have helped veterans obtain benefits since 1945. They are veterans themselves. They provide a service to veterans and their dependents who would not normally go through the painstaking process of applying for benefits themselves. All 67 counties in the state of Florida have a Veterans Service Officer.

Each Service Officer submits approximately 10 (and often more) benefits claims per week to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), with about half being accepted, resulting in around 250 claims per year. Each veteran who obtains benefits receives about $17,000 per year, which is used to help the veteran with groceries, healthcare, housing and utilities.

This has a substantial economic impact on the Okaloosa County economy, especially when you consider the total population of veterans in our area is nearly 40,000, many of whom receive VA benefits. Veteran Services is a department within the County that is funded out of the General Fund (property tax dollars).

Learn more about Okaloosa Veterans Services at https://myokaloosa.com/veterans/home

Coffee with a Firefighter coming to downtown Aug. 19, 2026

Join our Fort Walton Beach Fire Department firefighters on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. for Coffee with a Firefighter.

No agendas or speeches. This is just an opportunity to meet your local firefighters for conversation and coffee. Bring your questions, share your thoughts, or just drop by to say hello! We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Our host Beach Weekend Coffee is located in downtown Fort Walton Beach at 170 Miracle Strip Parkway SE.

OCSD Offers Back-to-School Tips to Help Students and Families Start the School Year Strong

The Okaloosa County School District is preparing to welcome students back to classrooms on Tuesday, August 11. We encourage families to take a few final steps to help ensure a smooth and successful start to the 2026–2027 school year. From establishing routines and reviewing transportation information to completing required forms and staying connected with teachers and schools, a little preparation can help students begin the year feeling confident, prepared, and ready to learn. Read more...

Okaloosa County School District Reminds Families to Take Advantage of Florida's Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday

As families prepare for the start of the 2026-2027 school year, the Okaloosa County School District encourages parents and guardians to take advantage of Florida's Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday, now through August 20, 2026. The annual sales tax holiday provides families with an opportunity to save on many of the essential items students need for a successful school year, including qualifying school supplies, clothing, footwear, backpacks, learning aids, and certain computers and computer accessories.



"Preparing for a new school year is an exciting time for our students and families," said Superintendent Marcus Chambers. "Florida's Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday helps make that preparation a little easier by reducing the cost of many classroom essentials. We encourage families to take advantage of this opportunity as we look forward to welcoming students back for another outstanding school year." Read more...

It’s easy to get stuck when you have a great business idea but aren't quite sure how to actually launch it.

We're hosting a three-hour workshop at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville to help you take that next step. We’ll walk through the practical basics you need to know, including how to find startup funding, how to handle the legal and tax requirements, and how to land your very first customers.

The session is on Tuesday, August 25, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM CT.

You can save your spot at http://tinyurl.com/sbdc-niceville