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jonathan_becker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Gainesville, FL
« on: November 12, 2009, 02:09:44 PM »
Hello everyone.

My boss has just informed me that I may be going to Gainesville, FL for the 2 weeks after Thanksgiving.  Any suggestions on courses worth playing in the area?  I understand the the UF course (Ross), is pretty good, but since I don't know any UF alumni, students, faculty, etc, I probably won't be playing there.  I also understand that I can always drive to Jacksonville or both coasts, but any hidden gems around? I would guess that I have 2-3 opportunities to play during my trip.

Thanks,

Jonathan

Jason Connor

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Gainesville, FL
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2009, 03:10:42 PM »
If you'll have a car, it's under 2 hours to the new Coore & Crenshaw Course at Sugarloaf Mountain.

We discovered that in good company there is no such thing as a bad golf course.  - James Dodson

jonathan_becker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Gainesville, FL
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2009, 03:22:07 PM »
If you'll have a car, it's under 2 hours to the new Coore & Crenshaw Course at Sugarloaf Mountain.



Jason,

I will have a car and Sugarloaf Mountain was actually what I was leaning towards.  From what I've researched, I'm going to have to drive at least an hour to get near any civilization outside of Gainesville.  There isn't much around and I didn't realize it was so isolated until I saw it on a map.

JC Jones

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Gainesville, FL
« Reply #3 on: November 12, 2009, 03:52:34 PM »
Pine Barrens at World Woods, if you're heading the Sugarloaf direction.
I get it, you are mad at the world because you are an adult caddie and few people take you seriously.

Excellent spellers usually lack any vision or common sense.

I know plenty of courses that are in the red, and they are killing it.

Bill_McBride

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Gainesville, FL
« Reply #4 on: November 12, 2009, 06:45:58 PM »
Hello everyone.

My boss has just informed me that I may be going to Gainesville, FL for the 2 weeks after Thanksgiving.  Any suggestions on courses worth playing in the area?  I understand the the UF course (Ross), is pretty good, but since I don't know any UF alumni, students, faculty, etc, I probably won't be playing there.  I also understand that I can always drive to Jacksonville or both coasts, but any hidden gems around? I would guess that I have 2-3 opportunities to play during my trip.

Thanks,

Jonathan

Bobby Weed did a very highly regarded renovation here several years ago.  You might try to Google the course, or even better talk to your new Gainesville friends - it's a pretty small town and someone should be able to get you on there.

World Woods (Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks) are pretty close, as is sleeper Seville Dunes that's nearby.

Mark Bourgeois

Re: Gainesville, FL
« Reply #5 on: November 12, 2009, 07:35:33 PM »
The recommendation here is to forget the golf and focus on setting a personal best in consecutive meals at Burrito Bros.

When you hit that wall your next goal needs to be the Theta house on Fried Chicken Night.

Access a problem on short notice -- NW like crazy at the Purple Porpoise and be skillful in the use of Tequilla.

Tiger_Bernhardt

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Gainesville, FL
« Reply #6 on: November 12, 2009, 08:11:13 PM »
There is also a good course in Deltona in that same few hours south. Also there is a pretty good course in Ocala. I guess you could mow Tebows yard and be blessed by the little shit.

Michael Blake

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Gainesville, FL
« Reply #7 on: November 12, 2009, 08:15:50 PM »
I don't think it's too far a drive NE to Tom Paul's favorite: Fernandina Beach Municipal Golf Course.  If it's still in existence.

Mike Sweeney

Re: Gainesville, FL
« Reply #8 on: November 12, 2009, 09:54:59 PM »
I drove up there once but did not have time to play Golden Ocala which is a Ron Garl course that replicates a bunch of famous holes from Augusta, Troon and some others. It is private community, but they definitely have some discovery packages and it is pretty close to Gainesville.

Ocala is horse country in Florida, but I have heard there are some good if not great courses there.

If you go to Sugarloaf, consider a 36 hole day and play the old course at Mission Inn.

John_Conley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Gainesville, FL
« Reply #9 on: November 12, 2009, 10:13:07 PM »
Fernandina Beach is pretty far away.  No.  Solid course though, at least if you play the right two nines.

Sugarloaf is excellent, but I wouldn't call it Gainesville or anything close.  Ditto World Woods.

This is my suggestion:

#1 on your list - The U of FL course, if you can access it.  Easy, its actually in Gainesville.

#2 is easily Golden Hills in Ocala, across the street from Golden Ocala.  They held a USGA event this year and definitely have a hidden gem.  It was a good course before a recent Rees-toration.  Very close to I-75, so you can get there in less than 40 minutes I'd think.  Very inexpensive as well.

#3 is Golden Ocala, if you can access.

#4 is probably Juliette Falls.  I love courses named after professional wrestlers and adult film stars.  Don't be weirded out by the strange name.  An excellent modern golf course.  Gainesville to Dunnellon is showing about an hour.

#5:  My recommendation here is sure to raise a few eyebrows.  The Country Club at Silver Springs Shores (I think that's the name) is a wild track designed by Desmond Muirhead.  It recently held the state HS tournament.  It surrounding area is a ghost town of condos, so the setting is odd.  Around Ocala, so also about 50 minutes from G'ville.

If you expand to a 90 minute radius you pick up all sorts of stuff like the Dunes, World Woods, Brooksville CC, and even El Diablo.  The latter once won a Best New award and has fallen into poor conditions (I'm told, haven't been there for years).

I think Keystone Heights may have a 9-hole course designed by Donald Ross.  If not him, it at least is from that era.  Be careful driving through Waldo and another neighboring town, though.  They are #1 and #2 on the list of worst speed traps in America.

Daylight is very short.  If you are working and only have a little time on the weekend it will definitely limit your golf options.

The CC of Ocala is a lot of fun to play and is considered a favorite by a lot of central Floridians.  I cannot comment on Haile Plantation, the private club in Gainesville, as I have not seen it.

Good luck.  If you do go to Sugarloaf, see if you can swing a doubleheader with Bella Colina.  It is very near.  Not to be forgotten, El Campeon at Mission Inn is actually a tad closer than either of these.  Of course, none are anywhere near Gainesville.





jonathan_becker

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Gainesville, FL
« Reply #10 on: November 13, 2009, 09:03:07 AM »
Thanks everyone for all the tips.

I guess Im bound to meet someone through work that could get me on the UF course, but if not, I have a lot to pull from this thread. 

A side note I was thinking about....as an Ohio State fan, I'm gonna have to shut my mouth and just go with the flow for obvious reasons.   :-X  ;D

Tom Roewer

Re: Gainesville, FL
« Reply #11 on: November 13, 2009, 10:00:56 AM »
John C, -  we used to play Silver Springs Shore in north Fla. Pro-Ams.  It is funky, but was always pretty much a dump as far as condition.  Haille Plantation is interesting only in that it has 6 par 3's, 6 par 4's and 6 par 5's.

John_Conley

  • Karma: +0/-0
Re: Gainesville, FL
« Reply #12 on: November 13, 2009, 10:16:11 AM »
John C, -  we used to play Silver Springs Shore in north Fla. Pro-Ams.  It is funky, but was always pretty much a dump as far as condition.  Haille Plantation is interesting only in that it has 6 par 3's, 6 par 4's and 6 par 5's.

Tom, they held the HS state tournament less than a month ago.  It probably is acceptable.  The only Muirhead course I have played.  Looking at the suggestions above, most are at least 90 minutes away.  There is no shortage of excellent courses if he's willing to drive that far, but I wouldn't consider Ocean Hammock "Gainesville".  Also, if he's driving that far why on earth pick Deltona Club over other options?  (He said he might get out three times.)

I'll stick by my recommendation to play the UF course, make a trek or two down to Ocala, and possibly squeeze in Juliette Falls.  If he wants to make one trip of over an hour I say Sugarloaf Mountain.

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