quote author=Mark Saltzman link=topic=49159.msg1263128#msg1263128 date=1359250301]
Southampton
Goat Hill
Tallgrass
Mountain Lake
Sreamsong Blue
Lekarica
Bartow
Streamsong Red
Streamsong Blue
Lake Wales
Pinecrest
Jeff, can you give your thoughts on the courses you played around Streamsong? I don't need to hear about ML. [/quote]
Here you go Mark,
BTW, I enjoyed the tour of Palma Ceia, played there a couple of years ago-never knew it was on only 83 acres!
First of all a big shout out to Kyle Harris, whose past GCA references to these courses proved invaluable.
Lekarica--easily the collest clubhouse/pro shop area I've seen in a long time.Looked like right out of the 50's, and some of the merchandise was
Household refrigerator full $2 beers still in 6 pack rings. $2 off coupons behind register bringing prime time peak season green fee total to $25.
Stiles and van Kleek-greens have shrunk a lot, definitely have changed some holes-6 were closed and made into WW2 Victory gardens and replaced somewhat recently.(was a 12 hole course for many years)
Formerly valled Highland park
A very mature look to the place in many spots, nice sandy surrounds in a lot of roughs.
Conditioning a heavy rye overseed on both greens and fairways, surprised if greens had much grass come summer-many of the tees yielded challenging sidehill lies.
Very busy, yet play moved briskly- 3 3/4 hours in a foursome.
In need of a lot of TLC, but my kind've place.
Quite a few really cool holes, some surprisingly good scenery, and quite a bit of large elevation change.
If you can't handle meadowy fairways and greens running 6, play elsewhere.
Bartow-Donald Ross
a little more muni generic- good vibe in the restaraunt/bar-busy place frequented by locals, not just there for the golf.
Quite a few good holes-many mature live oaks draped with Spanish moss.
Again very busy, yet a brisk pace-under 4 hours for our foursome.
Decently conditioned overseeded greens, perhaps running 8-9.
I enjoyed it, not quite the eccentricity of Lekarica, but a good course.
Lake Wales-Donald Ross
Much more of a "south Florida" feel with the early front nine running through condos and houses.
Some pretty good holes starting on #5, once escaped the early neighborhood .
Private, Very busy, well conditioned-greens running 8-9.
Played back tees which were WAAAY back creating narrow, tree lined chutes on multiple holes, large gap from backs to blues.
Nice place,good course- perhaps a bit suburban/urban for my taste.
Pro was very accomodating
Pace of play quite good.
Pinecrest-Donald Ross (at least 9)
a bit of an enigma
easily the busiest course/parking lot I've ever seen.
Clubhouse classic muni-cooked and delivered 6 burgers in 7 minutes enabling us to make tee time, despite packed dining room and packed tee sheet.
6 some in front of us,played in 4 hours.
very well conditioned, fast,firm greens overseeded with bent 10.5-11.5.
several really cool holes, front nine weaves through orange groves, white OB stakes EVERYWHERE on 5-6 holes somewhat mar the landscape.
2 and 3 very good holes with #3 a cape over/around a marsh.
Back nine older, more mature oak trees. 4-6 good holes to start nine.
Perhaps a little repetitive finish with 3 similar par 4's to finish.
The scale(to say nothing of the atmosphere) of all four courses provided dramatic contrast to Streamsong