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Jay Flemma

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Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« on: December 17, 2009, 09:31:32 PM »
Or on the way to/from Key West and Miami?

Thanks.  By the way, roll call if you're from Southeast  Florida...
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Mackenzie, MacRayBanks, Maxwell, Doak, Dye, Strantz. @JayGolfUSA, GNN Radio Host of Jay's Plays www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner

Shannon Wheeler

Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2009, 09:36:40 PM »
Ocean Reef, Key Largo
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Bill_McBride

  • Total Karma: 1
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2009, 09:59:49 PM »
Quote from: Shannon Wheeler on December 17, 2009, 09:36:40 PM
Ocean Reef, Key Largo

You liked Ocean Reef, Shannon?  I was extremely disappointed and paid $150 each for my wife and I to play.

Jay, there is one course there and I don't know anything about it but I'll bet it's pretty flat.

Key West is for Cuba Libres at Sloppy Joe's, sunsets at Duval Pier and general decadence.  Check out the Truman White House (Coast Guard commandant's house), the heart pine floors brought tears to my eyes.  The cats at Hemingway's house all have six toes.
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Jay Flemma

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #3 on: December 17, 2009, 10:11:36 PM »
Hem's house and Cuba Libres afre on the list...any good stone crabs?
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Mackenzie, MacRayBanks, Maxwell, Doak, Dye, Strantz. @JayGolfUSA, GNN Radio Host of Jay's Plays www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner

Bill_McBride

  • Total Karma: 1
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #4 on: December 17, 2009, 10:42:22 PM »
Quote from: Jay Flemma on December 17, 2009, 10:11:36 PM
Hem's house and Cuba Libres afre on the list...any good stone crabs?

There are crabs of all types - watch yourself!
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Chuck Brown

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #5 on: December 17, 2009, 11:20:05 PM »
Is Jimmy Ballard still giving lessons at Ocean Reef?

Anyway, I'd think that a lesson with Jimmy is the only reason to take your clubs on a drive to Key West.
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John Moore II

Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2009, 11:23:42 AM »
Yeah, I think there is a Rees Jones club actually down in Key West, but other than that, there is nothing. I think there might be one or two others on the keys somewhere, but from the looks of them, they are nothing special. Seem to be getaway/tourist dives.
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Patrick_Mucci

Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2009, 11:30:55 AM »
Bill,

Which course did you play, there are several.

I thought the Card Sound course was supposed to be the best of the bunch.

I was a member of Ocean Reef in the 80's.
It'a a great spot, isolated, beautiful, but close enough to Miami if you wanted to leave the compound.
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Mike Vegis @ Kiawah

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2009, 12:12:09 PM »
Make sure you stop at Alabama Jack's at the base of the Card Sound bridge.  Great dive bar.  Used to spend afternoons there drinking beers, eating conch fritters and watching the manatee swim buy.   Also make a stop at one of the greatest beaches in the world at Bahia Honda.  It's just on the far side of 7-mile-bridge (I believe it's at mile marker 37).  Once in Key West, make sure you make it to Turtle Crawls and the Half Shell Raw Bar near the marina...  My wife used to manage a store there for a year when I worked in Miami so I was down there every other weekend...

As for golf, not much in that neck of the woods.  I'd play in the Crandon State Park course (nee Links at Key Biscayne) in the Miami area.  They used to play a Senior's Tour event there...
« Last Edit: December 18, 2009, 12:13:54 PM by Mike Vegis @ Kiawah »
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M. Shea Sweeney

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Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2009, 01:03:56 PM »
Jimmy Ballard is in Key Largo, and does golf schools at Ocean Reef.
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Bill_McBride

  • Total Karma: 1
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2009, 01:45:05 PM »
Quote from: Patrick_Mucci on December 18, 2009, 11:30:55 AM
Bill,

Which course did you play, there are several.

I thought the Card Sound course was supposed to be the best of the bunch.

I was a member of Ocean Reef in the 80's.
It'a a great spot, isolated, beautiful, but close enough to Miami if you wanted to leave the compound.

We played the one that had the platform tees out over the swamp.  That's really about I remember about the course, it was very bland.

I've probably played 20 Florida courses I thought were better.  Do not make me list them.
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Jay Flemma

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2009, 03:08:51 PM »
anyone have pics of crandon park?  of key largo?
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Mackenzie, MacRayBanks, Maxwell, Doak, Dye, Strantz. @JayGolfUSA, GNN Radio Host of Jay's Plays www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner

Bill_McBride

  • Total Karma: 1
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #12 on: December 18, 2009, 03:25:12 PM »
Quote from: Jay Flemma on December 18, 2009, 03:08:51 PM
anyone have pics of crandon park?  of key largo?

Google "Key Biscayne golf" and "Ocean Reef golf" I would think.
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Jay Flemma

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #13 on: December 18, 2009, 03:30:33 PM »
not like you guys come up with...I get thumbnails
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Mackenzie, MacRayBanks, Maxwell, Doak, Dye, Strantz. @JayGolfUSA, GNN Radio Host of Jay's Plays www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner

Patrick_Mucci

Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #14 on: December 18, 2009, 03:41:24 PM »
Bill,

I thought the platforms were really strange.

I still don't see the harm of crafting a grass tee in the swamp, ala The Medalist (# 9) for example.
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Bill_McBride

  • Total Karma: 1
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #15 on: December 18, 2009, 04:58:06 PM »
Quote from: Jay Flemma on December 18, 2009, 03:30:33 PM
not like you guys come up with...I get thumbnails

Did you try double clicking on the thumbnails?
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Bill_McBride

  • Total Karma: 1
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #16 on: December 18, 2009, 04:59:38 PM »
Quote from: Patrick_Mucci on December 18, 2009, 03:41:24 PM
Bill,

I thought the platforms were really strange.

I still don't see the harm of crafting a grass tee in the swamp, ala The Medalist (# 9) for example.

I don't have a problem with that either, but the platforms really were puzzling and didn't add a thing to the golf.  Just goofy with the astroturf.

Were the other Ocean Reef courses any better?
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Matt_Ward

Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #17 on: December 18, 2009, 05:06:20 PM »
Jay:

The only solid performer on the way to the keys is the former Key Biscayne -- now Crandon Park.

The only other golf alternative wiorth the $$ when going to the Keys is the putt-putt variety. ;D
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Jay Flemma

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #18 on: December 19, 2009, 02:51:55 AM »
Quote from: Bill_McBride on December 18, 2009, 04:58:06 PM
Quote from: Jay Flemma on December 18, 2009, 03:30:33 PM
not like you guys come up with...I get thumbnails

Did you try double clicking on the thumbnails?

Yes...I should have said "tiny pictures." :)  Great idea by their website guy.  Hey! We've got some pictures, lets make sure no one can see them.
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Mackenzie, MacRayBanks, Maxwell, Doak, Dye, Strantz. @JayGolfUSA, GNN Radio Host of Jay's Plays www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner

cary lichtenstein

  • Total Karma: -3
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #19 on: December 19, 2009, 05:14:02 PM »
Quote from: M. Shea Sweeney on December 18, 2009, 01:03:56 PM
Jimmy Ballard is in Key Largo, and does golf schools at Ocean Reef.

I took a golf school with Jimmy Ballard eons ago. He said to fire my right side. Is that still how he teaches? Anyone?
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Live Jupiter, Fl, was  4 handicap, played top 100 US, top 75 World. Great memories, no longer play, 4 back surgeries. I don't miss a lot of things about golf, life is simpler with out it. I miss my 60 degree wedge shots, don't miss nasty weather, icing, back spasms. Last course I played was Augusta

Jonathan Cummings

  • Total Karma: -4
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #20 on: December 19, 2009, 06:48:14 PM »
The Rees course in KW is dreadful...
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David Hargrove

Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #21 on: December 19, 2009, 07:56:42 PM »
There are three courses at Ocean Reef. The Dolphin and Hammock courses are available to resort members and guests while Card Sound is a private club. All the courses were designed by von Hagge and Devlin. The Dolphin and Hammock courses were built in 1969 with the Dolphin course replacing a 9 hole course that dated from 1955. The Dolphin course was renovated in 2000-2001 by Chip Powell. The Dolphin course is better than the Hammock course which is the one with the elevated platform tees. Zoning is particularly restrictive in that area of the Keys and undoubtedly a tee built in the mangroves would be a tough battle. In fact there used to be a driving range at the Hammock course but it was closed as it disturbed the natural habitat of some endangered wildlife.

The Card Sound course has also been renovated with improved bunkering and tees. It is by far the best course at Ocean Reef with the best conditioning and the best greens. While it is very flat it can be challenging when the wind blows. For those that like to fly as well as golf the runway at Ocean Reef runs along the left side of the 7th, 16th and 17th holes. 
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Jay Flemma

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #22 on: December 20, 2009, 10:26:10 AM »
I dunno...other than Crandon Park, it sounds like a whole lotta nuthin'
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Mackenzie, MacRayBanks, Maxwell, Doak, Dye, Strantz. @JayGolfUSA, GNN Radio Host of Jay's Plays www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner

Anthony_Nysse

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Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #23 on: December 23, 2009, 07:34:35 AM »
Jay,
  Sorry I wasnt able to post early as I was back in Michigan. I actually played both Card Sound and Ocean Reef Hammock Creek about a month ago. If you get a chance to play, you will feel like you're the ONLY person at the Hammock course..seriously. Card Sound GC is just flawless when it comes to conditioning and a course that is challenging enough, but you wont feel beat up after your round. Here are some pics from my round along with the "PLATFORM" tees.

#1 from the fairway at Card Sound


#1 Green


#9 from the fairway


#4 platform tee at Ocean Reef


#14 platform tees at Ocean Reef
« Last Edit: December 23, 2009, 07:40:55 AM by Anthony_Nysse »
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Anthony J. Nysse
Director of Golf Courses & Grounds
Apogee Club
Hobe Sound, FL

Jay Flemma

  • Total Karma: 0
Re: Are there any courses worth playing in Key West?
« Reply #24 on: December 23, 2009, 07:37:06 PM »
Yuck...platform tees...man if that's what I have to look forward to, where's I leave my skis? ;D
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Mackenzie, MacRayBanks, Maxwell, Doak, Dye, Strantz. @JayGolfUSA, GNN Radio Host of Jay's Plays www.cybergolf.com/writerscorner
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