Atlantic Beach Country Club Bridges
A Seamless Blend of Coastal Charm and Engineering Excellence
Tucked into the golden sands and breezy palms of Florida's northeast coast lies the Atlantic Beach Country Club--a coastal haven where lifestyle and landscape merge. At the heart of this vibrant, masterfully planned golf community is a network of timber bridges designed and built by York Bridge Concepts YBC). These bridges do more than guide vehicular & foot traffic and golf carts across the club's gently winding waterways--they embody the timeless charm of Atlantic Beach, infuse local culture into every detail, and elevate the entire community experience.
This blog post explores the story behind the Atlantic Beach Country Club bridges--from the inspirations behind their design to their multi-functional performance and lasting legacy.
A Community Connected by Bridges
The Atlantic Beach Country Club is more than a golf destination--it's a lifestyle retreat where residents and visitors come to relax, play, and enjoy everything the Florida coast has to offer. Community design plays a central role in shaping that experience. YBC was brought on to design and built several key timber bridges across the property--structures that had to deliver much more than just functionality.
Each bridge serves as an essential connective element--linking the vehicular entrance, walking trails, and golf cart paths while preserving the natural contours of the coastal land and waterways. But beyond function, the bridges are visual landmarks--welcoming features that greet members and guests with elegant profiles and natural materials that feel right at home in a resort-inspired environment.
Vehicular Bridge
- Vehicular Width:
- 22’ (21’ clear)
- Golf Cart Width:
- (2) 9’
- Length:
- 55’, (4) 20’ Guide Rail Extensions
- Height:
- 7’ 8” above grade
- Capacity:
- HS 20-44 / 2 Ton GVW
- Construction:
- Ground Up
- Span Type:
- Free Span
- Material:
- CCA/CA-C Treated Southern Yellow Pine
- Foundation:
- Timber Piles & Abutments (Acrylic/Polymer Coated where exposed)
- Stringers:
- SYP S4S Glulam Stringers (Acrylic/Polymer Coated where exposed)
- Vehicular Deck System:
- 5-½” Timber Deck
- Golf Cart Deck System:
- 2-½” Timber Deck
- Guide Rail:
- Decero™ K-Style Design Series
- Handrail:
- Decero™ Horizontal Rail Design Series
- Crossing:
- Sherman’s Creek
Pedestrian Bridge
- Width:
- 8' (7'6" clear)
- Length:
- 58'
- Height:
- 8' above grade
- Capacity:
- 85 PSF
- Construction:
- Ground Up
- Span Type:
- Free Span
- Material:
- CCA/CA-C Treated Southern Yellow Pine
- Foundation:
- Timber Piles & Abutments (Acrylic/Polymer Coated where exposed)
- Stringers:
- SYP S4S Timber Stringers (Acrylic/Polymer Coated where exposed)
- Deck System:
- 2” Timber Deck
- Handrail:
- Decero™ Horizontal Rail Design Series
- Crossing:
- Sherman’s Creek
- Rick Wood, President, The Wood Development Company of Jacksonville- Rick Wood, President, The Wood Development Company of Jacksonville"The peace of mind that we have acquired through our association with York Bridge Concepts and the impeccable delivery of architectural structures that will outlive our generation are part of the legacy that Atlantic Beach Country Club hopes to leave its owners and members."
Inspired by Coastal Architecture
The design for the Atlantic Beach Country Club bridges began with a question: How can a bridge reflect the soul of the community?
YBC's Decero™ Studio Design Team answered the call with a vision rooted in Atlantic Beach's unique character. The bridges were crafted to echo the region's laid-back yet luxurious lifestyle. Every element--from the structural components to the final coatings--was carefully selected to harmonize with the surrounding environment.
Guiderail Design
The horizontal guiderail system was inspired by coastal shutters, a subtle nod to the breezy porches and board-and-batten facades common to Florida's beachside homes. This detail gives the bridges a residential scale and relaxed aesthetic.
Free-Span Substructure
A gently rolling, timber-clad substructure was chosen for both its visual appeal and its ability to free-span over waterways without the need for piling--an environmentally mindful choice that preserves the site's natural hydrology.
Color Palette
The bridges wear a palette of neutral earth tones, crisp white highlights, and subtle blue-green accents--colors that mirror the surrounding water, sky, sand, and native vegetation. This coastal color story enhances the bridges' integration into their setting while offering timeless visual appeal.
Legacy Series Bridges Built To Perform
These bridges are part of YBC's Legacy Series, known for their elegant profiles, enduring materials, and engineering versatility. Unlike standard trail or golf cart bridges, the Atlantic Beach Country Club bridges were built to support three distinct types of loading:
- Vehicular
- Golf Cart
- Pedestrian
This trifecta of use cases required careful engineering to meet load capacities without compromising the graceful design intent. Each bridge is built with Southern Yellow Pine--a timber species prized for its strength and natural durability--and fortified with advanced coatings for protection from Florida's high humidity, salt-laden air, and UV exposure.
Whether accommodating a maintenance vehicle, a golf cart full of players, or a strolling couple heading toward the clubhouse, these bridges deliver the same experience: smooth, secure passage with an undeniable sense of place.
Sustainable Design From The Ground Up
Environmental sensitivity was a critical part of the design and construction strategy. The Atlantic Beach Country Club lies in a region defined by its natural beauty--interwoven wetlands, tidal creeks, and preserved green space. YBC implemented its proprietary Deck-Level Construction methodology, a low-impact building technique that avoids unnecessary land disturbance and minimizes the need for foundation piling.
By working from the top-down rather than disturbing the site from below, this method:
- Preserves sensitive habitats along waterways
- Avoids costly and time-consuming wetland mitigation
- Accelerates permitting with local and federal agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers
- Maintains natural site drainage and hydrology
This sustainable mindset ensures that the bridges not only serve the community today--but protect the environment for generations to come.
A Signature Entrance To The Club
As much as these bridges are connectors, they are also statement pieces. The main entry bridge acts as a visual threshold--signaling to members and guests that they've arrived somewhere special. Timber's warm tones and rich texture contrast the manmade elements of the community's entrance, softening the arrival experience and anchoring it to the surrounding natural beauty.
The bridges elevate the overall branding and identity of the Atlantic Beach Country Club, supporting its commitment to high-quality design, modern luxury, and timeless charm. Their presence underscores a deep respect for craftsmanship--both in structure and style.
Client-Centered Collaboration
York Bridge Concepts worked closely with the client to bring this vision to life. The collaboration involved integrating architecture, civil engineering, and structural design into a seamless experience. Together, the team navigated site conditions, aesthetic goals, and regulatory approvals to produce a project that matched the spirit of the Atlantic Beach Country Club from every angle.
The results speak volumes.
Built to Endure: Materials That Last
In Florida's coastal climate, durability is non-negotiable. Each bridge was constructed with the following longevity-focused components:
Acrylic/Polymer Coated Timber
Protects the structural timber from moisture, rot, insects, and UV degradation while showcasing the wood's natural grain.
Precision Joinery & Reinforcement
Ensures structural reliability under mixed-use loading conditions, including HS20 vehicular standards.
Stainless Fasteners & Hardware
Corrosion-resistant materials that maintain structural integrity and appearance in salt-air environment.
These bridges are built not just for today's needs, but for future generations who will call Atlantic Beach home.
Enhancing Lifestyle and Mobility
In a resort-style golf community, lifestyle is closely tied to movement--morning walks to the fitness center, golf cart rides to meet friends at the clubhouse, and family strolls across the landscape. The bridges at Atlantic Beach Country Club are designed to enhance all these everyday experiences by making movement feel intuitive, beautiful, and safe.
They turn moments of crossing into moments of reflection and appreciation. With open views of the water and surrounding foliage, each bridge becomes a scenic experience in itself.
A Legacy of Place
At York Bridge Concepts, every bridge tells a story. The story of Atlantic Beach Country Club is one of relaxed elegance, natural beauty, and thoughtful design. The timber bridges built here don't just serve a function--they define the experience of the place.
From the Decero™ design process to the finishing touches of the coastal color palette, every detail has been curated to reflect and enhance the community. The result is a series of structures that deliver both performance and poetry--robust enough to carry the load, refined enough to carry the spirit of Atlantic Beach.
Conclusion
The Atlantic Beach Country Club bridges are in a showcase of what happens when design, engineering and environmental stewardship work in harmony. These custom-crafted timber structures elevate the community experience while preserving the beauty of the natural surroundings. For York Bridge Concepts, it's yet another example of our enduring commitment to building bridges that last--in every sense of the word.
Whether for golf cart paths, pedestrian walkways, or mixed-use crossings, our bridges continue to connect people to the places they love most--with elegance, strength, and sustainability at the core.
If you're ready to transform your community with bridge designs that reflect your environment and elevate your lifestyle, contact York Bridge Concepts today. Let's build the next legacy--together.
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