Played this course a few weeks ago based on positive comments here on GCA. The price was $45, very good for south Florida. The course as has been mentioned was recently renovated by Bobby Weed. I hadn’t played the course before the renovation, but I understand that three or four new holes were created and that a lot of waste areas were created. The site is probably the most sandy site I have seen and the creation of the waste areas seems to have required little more than uncovering the existing sand and shaping it. It certainly has increased the aesthetic appeal of the course (assuming you like sand). The course played fast and firm as I would expect with the sand base and the semi-dormant Bermuda.
The course has substantial elevation changes, perhaps up to 60 or 70 feet, and is therefore atypical for south Florida courses. Also atypically, it has just as many holes that go uphill as go downhill. It is not a course that’s all out there in front of you. There are lots of fun and challenging holes, but the last hole on each nine is a bit of a letdown. They seem squeezed in, perhaps creating some room for further housing development around the clubhouse.
Although it is sited in an old middle class housing area with bungalows on large lots, the housing does not intrude on play at all. Sadly, in the current economic times a lot of those houses seemed to be up for sale or lease.
The 1st is a mid-length par 4 to a green benched in a small ridge. Not an easy starter. And, houses in the trees to the right might play in the minds of (RH) slicers off the first tee.
Strategically, a drive down the left side laying up in front of the fairway bunkers provides the best angle, but a pretty long second to the green.
The 2nd is a mid-length par 4 that legs hard right around the first of the many large waste areas. Flirting with the waste areas will leave a shorter second to the green.
The second is an all carry shot over a deep, but fairway grassed ravine to a green that slopes significantly back to front.
The 3rd is a mid-length par 3, downhill to a green sloping a bit away. Interesting use of waste areas to disguise the municipal road that crosses behind the green and in front of the next tee.
The 4th is a long tough uphill par 4. The hole favours a draw off the tee and you must avoid the waste areas to have a reasonable chance to hit the green.
Looking back down the fairway on the 4th.
The 5th is a shortish par 5 that’s downhill off the tee and then uphill to a well protected dell green benched in the hill. Intimidating off the tee, especially when you want to grip it and rip it to take a shot at going for the green.
A view from the LZ.
If you come up short on the second the green is blind up the hill.
The 6th is a longish par 4 that bends left, but with a LZ that slopes off to the right.
The good line is up the left, but the trees on the left and the cant of the fairway to the right conspire to make that a very difficult shot to achieve. From the right side of the fairway, the green is partly blind behind an intimidating ridge featuring a large waste area.
The 6th green is bunkerless and runs away from the player further complicating the approach shot.
The 7th appears to be a short par 5 on the card at 466 yards from the second-from-the-back tees, but plays significantly longer up a steeply pitched hill. The tee shot also requires a well placed fade off the tee. Anything left will be blocked out by trees if the waste areas are avoided,
The second is severely uphill.
The third is blind if you come up short.
Looking back down the green to the fairway.
The 8th is a driveable par 4 at under 300 hundred yards from an elevated tee across the municipal road. The landing area is pinched by waste areas and trees, but recovery shots are possible.
A closer look at the approach to the green.
The 9th is a short par 3 to a push green. A bit of a disappointment to finish the nine.
(to be continued ………….)