[Tommy Williamsen]

A friend is moving there. What do you know about the course?

[ward peyronnin]

It is a course I could play everday on a breathtaking property

[Tom_Doak]

It is a course I could play everday on a breathtaking property

The opposite of what Ward said.

[jim_lewis]

Tommy:

It has been about 8-10 years since I played Pablo Creek. I recall it being a fine course on a sandy site. The clubhouse was very undersated and I think your friend will enjoy the membership. I recall having difficulty finding the entrance which was unmarked at the time. David Duval's Claret Jug was sitting on the counter in the pro shop, so I guess it has been more than 10 years.

I believe the course was named best new private by GD about 1997 or so.
It was designed by Tom Fazio, which may account for Tom Doak's high opinion of it.
Jim

[jim_lewis]

I dug out some notes from my visit to Pablo Creek. I gave it high marks for routing and the fact that walking was encouraged. The setting is very natural, but there were a few too many trees in play. The greens were relatively tame compared to other Fazio greens I have seen. At the time, GOLF had it ranked in the top 100 in the US. I liked the course, but not nearly that much. But, that was a long time ago.
Jim Lewis

[Tommy Williamsen]

Gotta love Tom.  He calls em as he sees em.
Thanks guys.  I hope to get there sometime.

[Wayne Freeman]

One of my favorites in Florida...   wonderful walking layout with excellent caddies.  I believe it's in some sort of preserve, so there is
  only the natural setting of the golf course.  You just can't go wrong here.

[Peter Ferlicca]

This is where the PGA tours fearless leader, and my favorite person  Tim Finchem belongs.  When I was hosting him out in Colorado at Adams Mountain Country Club, he was talking about Pablo Creek the whole time. 

[Tom_Doak]

Gotta love Tom.  He calls em as he sees em.
Thanks guys.  I hope to get there sometime.

I just could not see how Ward described it as "breathtaking property".  There is an open view to tidal marsh on 2-3 holes at the start of the back nine, otherwise it's in the woods, with maybe 10-12 feet of elevation change over the entire property.  We must just have very different standards for "breathtaking".

It's a good to very good course, up to Tom Fazio's usual high standard.  I did not find any of the individual holes particularly memorable.  David Duval's Claret Jug was a rare attraction, but that doesn't make the golf course any better in my view.  It would be a 5 or 6 on the Doak scale ... which would make it the second best course in the area, behind the TPC, and probably on the same plane as Bay Hill or Loblolly Pines.

[Steve_Lovett]

I like Pablo Creek. It's a very good golf course.
I'm not wild about holes 3-6 in particular - they feel very "engineered" to me.
Generally, I think the back nine is better than the front.
Locally, in 10 rounds I would prefer to play Timuquana 8-2 over Pablo Creek.

[Carson Pilcher]

I like Pablo Creek. It's a very good golf course.
I'm not wild about holes 3-6 in particular - they feel very "engineered" to me.
Generally, I think the back nine is better than the front.
Locally, in 10 rounds I would prefer to play Timuquana 8-2 over Pablo Creek.

I am glad someone mentioned Timuquana.  I think it is a fantastic course.  Well designed, great conditions and a good group of guys in the club.  I go to visit the Jacksonville area about 3 times a year, and will always go play there when I can.

@ Tom - where would Timuquana fall on the Doak scale?

Sorry, for the diversion from the original posting...

[BHoover]

I like Pablo Creek. It's a very good golf course.
I'm not wild about holes 3-6 in particular - they feel very "engineered" to me.
Generally, I think the back nine is better than the front.
Locally, in 10 rounds I would prefer to play Timuquana 8-2 over Pablo Creek.

I am glad someone mentioned Timuquana.  I think it is a fantastic course.  Well designed, great conditions and a good group of guys in the club.  I go to visit the Jacksonville area about 3 times a year, and will always go play there when I can.

@ Tom - where would Timuquana fall on the Doak scale?

Sorry, for the diversion from the original posting...

I loved Timuquana when I played it last spring. To me, it felt more like it belonged in NC than in Jacksonville. I'm surprised it doesn't get more attention.

I don't know anything about Pablo Creek other than that I understand a number of Tour pros are members there. The only other thing I know is that the father of the girl who bought our condo in Columbus last spring is a member there. During the closing, we talked golf and courses the whole time.

[Jim Franklin]

Gotta love Tom.  He calls em as he sees em.
Thanks guys.  I hope to get there sometime.

I just could not see how Ward described it as "breathtaking property".  There is an open view to tidal marsh on 2-3 holes at the start of the back nine, otherwise it's in the woods, with maybe 10-12 feet of elevation change over the entire property.  We must just have very different standards for "breathtaking".

It's a good to very good course, up to Tom Fazio's usual high standard.  I did not find any of the individual holes particularly memorable.  David Duval's Claret Jug was a rare attraction, but that doesn't make the golf course any better in my view.  It would be a 5 or 6 on the Doak scale ... which would make it the second best course in the area, behind the TPC, and probably on the same plane as Bay Hill or Loblolly Pines.

Excellent assessment. Pablo does have a really good membership and finding a good game is easy. TPC is a better play, but I prefer Pablo over Bay Hill and Loblolly by a little. Timuquana is a little better than Pablo too. Old Ross if I remember correctly.

[Tom_Doak]

I am glad someone mentioned Timuquana.  I think it is a fantastic course.  Well designed, great conditions and a good group of guys in the club.  I go to visit the Jacksonville area about 3 times a year, and will always go play there when I can.

@ Tom - where would Timuquana fall on the Doak scale?

I've never been to Timuquana.  I had heard of it, vaguely, but it was never on my radar as a course to go and see.  If it's arguably better than Pablo Creek, I should go whenever I'm back in that area.  I doubt I'll have an invitation to get back to Pablo Creek now, anyway. 

[Gene Greco]

    I was at the Accenture in Tucson eating fried avocados around one of those firepits at the hotel next to Ricky Fowler and his good friend/business manager (?). They were sharing nachos and were both looking forward to going to Florida to escape the cold in AZ.

Of course, Ricky was going to play tournament golf on tour and at Seminole but his friend was looking forward to play on his own.  So I told his friend about the fabulous 36 hole facility at Streamsong and while in the area to make a trip to one of my faves, Mountain Lake.

We talked about other courses in Florida and the course he recommended to me - Timuquana CC - I had never heard of and now has come up here on GCA.

What is your number on the DS for Timuquana CC from those who have played it??

[Kris Shreiner]

Tom,

I believe you would enjoy Timuquana CC. Pablo Creek is one of Fazio's better efforts over what I would characterize as tame ground, save for the string of marsh holes. It reminds me a bit of a Florida version of Hidden Creek in its subtle nature, though I prefer the more stimulating bunker style of C&C and think HC has slightly more interesting greens. The rustic setting and golf-central focus has a Southern PV feel and the caddie staff is very solid, with perhaps only Old Memorial's program shading it of the Florida courses I've played.

Your placement of it behind TPC in that neighborhood is on point. Something tells me you'd rate Timuquana higher than PC.

Cheers,
Kris

[Wayne Wiggins, Jr.]

here's a photo tour of Timuquana from a year or so... http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,48232.0.html

Another good one that had a recent restoration/renovation is San Jose CC.  I here it's in the same "league" as Timuquana.

W

[Will Peterson]

Wayne - thanks for linking my photos. 

Timquana is a great place to spend a day.  The course is in spectacular shape, and has the best bermuda greens I've played.  They were the perfect color of light green and brown for the FL Mid-Am a few years ago.  They re-grassed the entire place about 18 months ago, and added a new grass around the greens.  It has much less grain around the turtle back greens, and brings many more choices into the mix.  The staff there is also great.  I played it a number of times over an 18 month period, and the guy at the bag drop remembered me each time.

It is my favorite course in FL.  It is on my short list for the "if you could only play one course" question.  I've played bigger names and arguably better layouts, but there is something about it that is just fun and enjoyable.  It's can be tough, but doesn't beat you up.  You can shoot good numbers, but you have to hit GOOD shots.  You won't lose a ball, but there is plenty of trouble.

I once read that the sign of a great course is that the only thing you want to do when leaving the 18th green is head to the 1st tee.  Timuquana does that for me, and I can't really explain why.

I jump at any chance I have to play there, and just wished they came around more often.

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