pine tree
world woods/pine barrens

The Bear's Club, Lost Tree, The Champ at PGA

There is little if any greatness in Florida, poor topography.

I'll add the Ritz to the list of the less than great, but very good

Also:

Southern Dunes
Mission Inn
Black Diamond
The Concession from what I've heard, haven't played it yet
Victoia Hills
Admirals Cove

There is little if any greatness in Florida, poor topography.

Cary,

Have you taken Matt Ward's login?  

World Woods has great topography and Mountain Lake's is pretty good too. Clearly you have not seen where Surgarloaf Mtn is being built, as it has remnants of Shinnecock in terms of the topography. What about Mission Inn El Campeón, which you turned me and others onto? It falls short of greatness on a few spots but topography is not one of them! That course rolls very nicely, and it is even steep on a couple of holes. Mission Inn might have been great one day, but the greens need to be expanded, my guess is the greens have been flattened, and the course needs a direct hit next hurricane season to take out some trees which were planted after the name change from the Floridian GC. It was designed by Charles E. Clarke of Troon, Scotland, so it also lacks the pedigree, but I think that course could be great.

Cary, it is time to leave the beach and head to the Mountains of Florida!

Dye Preserve and Old Memorial

I stand corrected. There are parts of the state that has good topographical movement.

I've not played Mountain Lakes nor Seen Sugarloaf, but World Woods, Mission Hills and the quarry portion of Black Diamond certainly have good topography.

Please never put me in Matt Ward's "know it all" category , who by the way was a no show at the Golf Show in Orlando.

What do I consider great topography??

Sand Hills
Ballyneal
Pacific Dunes
Portions of Friar's Head
Quarry at Giants Ridge
Yale
Tobacco Road
Augusta
Crystal Down
Highland Links

I solidly second Concession, a very good strategic golf course in a very natural yet flat property. Best greens and bunkering I have seen on a new course in Florida si a long time.

The ridge country directly east of US 27 has some great golf terrain down here in Lake Wales and apparently up toward Clermont where Coore and Crenshaw are building their next course.

There a lot of "not great but good" courses in the ridge area with courses by Raynor (Mountain Lake), Ross (Lake Wales CC) and Stiles and Van Kleek (Lekarica) around Lake Wales.

Southern Dunes is also in this region.

Some pictures of Lekarica, a good example of the nature of the terrain in the region.

9th tee shot, a dramatic uphill par 5 to a horizon green (for future reference, the carts and golfers are around the 13th green)


11th tee shot


12th tee shot, aim left of the ubiquitous water tower with a draw


The high point on the golf course from behind 12 green. 13 is down the left side, with the 12th fairway in the foreground and the back of the horizon 9th green just beyond the waste bunker in the center of the picture.

i'll second old memorial. a true golf club.

Quote from: Kyle Harris on February 02, 2007, 08:04:52 PM

Ross (Lake Wales CC) and Stiles and Van Kleek (Lekarica)

Kyle,

In the 10 round test, how would you split 10 rounds between these two and is the winner worth leaving the "compound" to play an afternoon round?

Mike,

I haven't played Lake Wales CC yet, but from what our assistant superintendent has said, it's nothing special in terms of Ross. Lekarica is definitely in HORRIBLE shape, but as you can see from the photos has some interest.

Based purely on what I am expecting from Lake Wales, I'd say 7-3 in favor of Lekarica.

Leaving the "compound" would be worth it for GCAers like you and I to see Lekarica, it's some interesting stuff.

Stiles and Van Kleek knew their way around a piece of property.

***3000th Post***

Good one, Mike Sweeney!  I was trying to think of a tactful way of bringing up that very subject.  Leave it up to Mr. Diplomacy!

Did anyone mention TPC, Sawgrass?

Fernandina Beach?  Where's Tommy to champion this legendary course?

I don't think TPC Sawgrass is finished evolving yet.  

How does "DTFC" translate to the DT Travel Agency?

I trust the logos on display appropriately represented Golf Magazine's Thrifty 50?
Did anyone spot the arcane Mount Shasta?

By my count, Mountain Lake has more GCA.com representation than Rustic Canyon now.
Perhaps, we should combine the GCA.com King's Putter & the 2008 DTFC edition to Mountain Lake?