The construction of a new 18-hole golf course designed by Erik Larsen has begun, as ground is broken at the Atlantic Beach Country Club in Florida.

Built on the site of the old Selva Marina Country Club, Atlantic Beach will be home to a 6,815 yard, par 71 course, as well as a new 12,000 sq ft clubhouse.

Atlantic Beach is the first new course to be built in north east Florida for a decade, and is one of just a handful of member-owned private clubs under construction in the U.S.

Led by development professionals Rick and Susie Wood, Atlantic Beach Partners is the group behind the project.

The new course will replace the existing course on the site and bring about several environmental benefits. Upon completion, a recreation and greenspace easement will take effect, which will preserve more than 100 acres of natural greenery at the site.

Highly treated wastewater will be used as part of the course’s irrigation. The local city has estimated that once the infrastructure is completed in the summer, approximately half a million gallons of nutrient-rich wastewater will be used to irrigate the course daily.

The​ former Selva Marina course will undergo a complete rebuild and reopen as Atlantic Beach later this year

“It’s a classic win-win,” said Atlantic Beach Mayor Carolyn Woods. “That’s one-fourth of what we are currently discharging into the St. Johns River on a daily basis at Sherman Point. That nutrient-rich water is perfect for irrigation. And using it that way makes the St. Johns healthier.”

Among the plans for the site is the inclusion of 178 single-family home sites that will be surrounded by the golf course, as well as an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a tennis complex.

The course is scheduled to open in October 2014.