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Florida Golf - the Dream 18!Playing the State by the NumbersBy James Y. Bartlett, Member of the Golf Writers Association of America With more than 1,000 golf courses in the
state and counting, picking the best 18…by hole number…is no
easy task. Playing them might be harder!
The result? Our imaginary championship course plays to 6,975 yards from the tips. We think shooting even par would test even Florida’s own Tiger Woods. No. 1. New Course, Grand Cypress Resort (www.grandcypress.hyatt.com, 407-239-3853), Orlando. Par 4, 362 yards. Jack Nicklaus designed this homage to Scotland’s famed Old Course at St. Andrews, and while it’s tough to recreate North Sea conditions in balmy central Florida, this first hole is a pretty faithful rendition. Short and wide open, it’s the second shot across the local variation of the Swilcan Burn that calls for precision. No. 2. Belleview Biltmore Golf Club (www.belleviewbiltmore.com, 727-373-3000), Clearwater. Par 4, 408 yards. This jewel of a course, designed by Donald Ross, is a centerpiece of the historic old resort. The second hole, long, narrow and tightly guarded by trees and ponds, sets the tone. And the typically tiny crowned green will repel all but the most accurate approach shots. No. 3. South course at PGA Village (www.kolterresorts.com, 772-466-6766), Port St. Lucie. Par 4, 414 yards. The PGA of America’s excellent golf facility boasts three courses, a short course and a world-class practice and teaching center. Tom Fazio designed the South course as a typical Florida track: rolling terrain with lots of wetlands, palms and palmettos. The third, a brawny par-four, calls for a carry over water from the tee to a divided fairway and heavily bunkered, rolling green. No. 4. Pine Barrens at World Woods (www.worldwoods.com, 352-796-5500), Brooksville. Par 5, 494 yards. This great Tom Fazio-design utilizes sandy, scrubby waste areas like Pine Valley in New Jersey. This risk-and-reward par-five allows a safe route, but those who want to challenge the sandy wasteland can get home in two for a possible eagle with two strong shots. No. 5. Ocean Links at Amelia Island Plantation ( www.aiplf.com, 904-261-6161), Amelia Island. Par 3, 152 yards. While many of the holes on this Bobby Weed-designed course look like typical Lowcountry golf, skirting wild marshes and stately live oaks, this hole and three others border the broad Atlantic beachfront. Open to the breezes, club selection on this hole is always tricky. No. 6, Championship course, Bay Hill Club and Lodge (www.bayhill.com, 407-876-2429), Orlando. Par 5, 558 yards. Always a highlight hole during the PGA Tour’s annual stop on Arnie’s home course, the long, narrow fairway wraps around a lake from tee to green. Players have to decide how much water to cut off…twice. John Daly guessed wrong during one tournament: He plunked several balls in the drink on his way to a fat 18. No. 7. Blue Monster at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa (www.doralresort.com, 305-592-2000), Miami. Par 4, 428 yards. The once fearsome Blue Monster course has been tweaked in recent years to return it to architect Dick Wilson’s original design, and the teeth added to the seventh is typical of the changes. The drive must be threaded past newly deepened fairway bunkers on the way to a green cut in size by a third. No. 8. Rolling Oaks course at World Woods (www.worldwoods.com, 352-796-5500), Brooksville. Par 3, 174 yards. If Tom Fazio designed the adjacent Pine Barrens course to resemble Pine Valley, he is said to have had Augusta National in mind at Rolling Oaks. This devilish short hole resembles Augusta’s famous No. 12 – over water to a narrow green, with swirling winds. Take a three and move on! No. 9. Ocean Hammock Golf Club (www.oceanhammockresort.com, 386-445-3000), Palm Coast. Par 4, 468 yards. This fairly
No. 10. Lagoon Legend at the Bay Pointe Resort ( www.marriottbaypoint.com, 850-236-6000), Panama City Beach. Par 4, 376 yards. Lagoon Legend is hyped as one of the toughest courses in Florida, and this hole is indicative. Not overly long, the tee shot must carry a watery wetlands, avoid both sand and water, leaving a shortish approach to green tightly guarded by more water. Bring a straight game or stay home! No. 11. The International course at ChampionsGate (www.championsgategolf.com, 407-787-4667), Kissimmee. Par 5, 550 yards. Australian star Greg Norman laid out this course in open, windswept, treeless terrain, and this long par-five, with water lurking down the left, and scrubby waste areas just off the fairway, can play into the teeth of the prevailing wind. No. 12. King and Bear course, World Golf Hall of Fame (www.worldgolfhalloffame.org, 904-940-4123), St. Augustine. Par 4, 412 yards. This co-design by Nicklaus (Bear) and Arnold Palmer (King) is a most enjoyable ride through the piney woods and wetlands. On this hole, a good drive over a pond sets up a challenging approach to a small green bordered by more water. No. 13. Emerald Dunes (www.emeralddunes.com, 888-650-4653), West Palm Beach, Par 4, 395 yards. One of the state’s top daily-fee courses, this Fazio design is well worth playing. The unlucky thirteenth wraps around a lake on the left tee to green, but it’s the approach to a tiny green that looks like its floating in the lake that can test the nerves of the coolest golfer. No. 14. Burnt Pines Golf Club, Sandestin Resort (www.sandestin.com, 850-267-8000), Destin. Par 3, 212 yards. Just one of 18 great holes designed by Rees Jones on Chocktawatchee Bay, this is a hit-and-hope shot across the wetlands marshes with the bay and its breeze in the background. The shot must carry at least 200 yards to avoid disappearing in the marsh. No. 15. TPC of Tampa Bay ( www.tpctampabay.com, 813-949-0090), Lutz. Par 4, 452 yards. The closing stretch of holes at this Bobby Weed/Chi Chi Rodriquez course is among the toughest in the state and annually challenges the Champions Tour players. The tee shot must avoid the lagoon and a large bunker down the left, find a rare flat spot in the rumpled fairway and then the approach is to a narrow green with that lagoon lurking and a stand of cypress behind. No problem! No. 16. Copperhead course at the Westin Innisbrook Resort (www.westin-innisbrook.com, 877-752-1480), Tarpon Springs. Par 4, 460 yards. Good finishing holes should have drama and increasing difficulties, and this one has both. From a hilltop tee, the narrow fairway is protected by water to the right and trees to the left. Finding the ribbon of fairway is just the first problem: One must then thread a long-iron through a narrow gap in the trees to find a two-tier green. Par is a great score on this hole. No. 17. Stadium course, TPC at Sawgrass (www.sawgrassmarriott.com, 904-285-7777), Ponte Vedra Beach. Par 3, 132 yards. Arguably the most famous golf hole in the world, Pete Dye’s infamous island green gives even seasoned golf pros shivering fits at the annual Player’s Championship. Check the wind, pick the right club and try to make a smooth swing. No. 18. Champions course, PGA National Resort (www.pgaresorts.com, 561-627-2000), Palm Beach Gardens. Par 5, 528 yards. In a state filled with great closing holes, this one reigns supreme. Rather than brute strength, one must carefully plan the attack. With thirteen bunkers, lake from tee to green, and an S-shaped fairway – not to mention a usual breeze – it takes three carefully crafted shots to reach the green, which is tiered and tricky. |
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