Stati Uniti d'America

White Pine National Golf Resort

You could say that golf course design was in their DNA. Brothers Bruce and Clem Wolfrom, the designers and shapers of White Pine National Golf Resort in Spruce, MI come from hardy stock. Their father, Clarence was a longstanding superintendent at Maple Lane Golf Course in Sterling Heights, MI, and a member of the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame. He also helped found the Michigan Turfgrass Foundation and assisted many turf professionals to get their start in the industry. Bruce admits he has always been intrigued by the possibility of taming Mother Nature. Before building White Pine National, Bruce served as Superintendent of Treetops in Gaylord, MI, and Clem was hired as superintendent of the private Detroit Golf Club. The biggest challenge the two faced in realizing their dream of building and owning a golf course was finding the right piece of property. Their goal was to find land that was “naturally laid out” and had the right soil and elevation. They looked at hundreds of sites and finally found a 400-acre site located in Hubbard Lake, MI. The land featured majestic white pine and oak trees, high terrain, and light sandy loam soil. The brothers purchased the property in 1991 and, after 21 months of construction and renovation, opened White Pine National Golf Resort in September 1992. At 6,762 yards (73.0/127), White Pine National isn’t going to overwhelm many longball hitters. Move up to the White tees if you’re looking to simply enjoy yourself and have a good time: and the yardage drops significantly to 5,896 yards (68.6/118). The Bentgrass fairways and greens feature a lot of undulation and the greens run at a 10 on the stimpmeter year-round. Four sets of tees provide suitable distances for every level of player. With all of the trees, sand bunkers, and smallish greens to keep your shots honest, the one thing you won’t find out here are water hazards, and with good reason. Bruce, who also serves as the Golf Course Superintendent at White Pine National, says that the course does not require any type of drainage system. Because of its high terrain and what Mother Nature has already provided, the turf is protected from disease and damage caused by heavy downpours and flooding. The course has only been closed once because of heavy rains since it opened, and that was only for a few hours. The first four holes consist of 2 par 5s and 2 par 3s and can help you get off to a fast start. Or not! The course follows the contours of the surrounding terrain and the greens have been placed in very natural settings. As you make your way around the layout, you’ll be presented with shots around and through majestic hardwood and pine trees. Don’t be surprised when you see deer grazing in the fairways, songbirds singing a tune for you, and eagles soaring overhead. It’s golf the way nature intended. Inside White Pine National’s pro shop you’ll find some of the latest equipment and logoed apparel from the top manufacturers in the golf industry for both ladies and men as well as balls, markers, and tees for your round. Consider a new polo, hat, or towel to commemorate your round! Whether it’s a quick warm-up before their round or some solid practice time, golfers from all over the area come to White Pine National to take advantage of their practice facilities. In addition to 3 target greens on the driving range, there’s a practice putting green and a 9-hole putting course to test your skills with the flat stick. Be sure to loosen up before heading over to the first tee! Most Memorable Hole: Number 12 is far and away my favorite hole on the entire layout and is one of the most unique driving holes I have ever played. For starters, it’s a long hole – 402 yards from the White Tees – with tall pine trees scattered throughout the landing area. If you can get through the trees off the tee, you’ll be left with a long, downhill approach shot into one of the course’s largest greens. Get used to it; you’ll also encounter a tall pine tree in the middle of the 18th fairway! Favorite Par 3: White Pine National’s second par 5 is followed by the second par 3. Number 4 plays 132 yards according to the scorecard yet it is significantly longer because it plays uphill. The green sits well above the fairway and anything hit short will likely funnel down to a collection area. The two-tiered green is long and narrow and anything over the green or in the bunker behind it spells trouble. Favorite Par 4: Number 16 is a fun par 4 and a great risk/reward hole Hitting it straight off the tee can pay large dividends. It’s a very narrow driving hole with trees on either side and at 251 yards from the White Tees, it is reachable. Once you reach the green and look back, you’ll notice that the hole plays downhill and that the green is surrounded by bunkers. Avoid the bunker off the tee and you should be able to post a good score. Number 11 is a scenic par 4, and a strong runner-up for Favorite Par 4. It’s a dogleg left that plays 371 yards from the White Tees. A good drive down the middle of the fairway will leave a mid-iron into a very wide green with little depth to it. The bunkers short of the green add to the aesthetics of this golf hole. The green has two distinct tiers and if you are putting uphill to a left pin, be sure to hit it hard enough or it’s coming back to you. Favorite Par 5: Number 3 is the second par 5 at White Pine National. This dogleg left plays 461 yards from an elevated tee box downhill to an awaiting fairway. You’ll need to be careful with your layup shot and playing it out to the right is a safe bet. On the left side of the landing area is a lot of mounding and bunkering that can add a lot of difficulty to the hole. The bunkers start about 80 yards from the green. Two successful shots will leave a short pitch shot into the green and set up a good birdie opportunity. The RoadHouse Restaurant is a great place to unwind after your round with your favorite libation or a delicious meal. RoadHouse is open for breakfast too and their Pulled Pork Hash and Eggs are delicious as is the breakfast flatbread. Lunch and dinner selections include your usual burgers and sandwiches as well as such novelties as Smoked Chicken, Smokehouse Pork and Peppers, and a Ribeye Steak. Whatever you choose, you’re sure to be pleased. White Pine National provides seasoned golfers with a formidable challenge and beginners with a great place to learn the game. They offer lodging on a limited basis in some tremendous local homes. Best to contact them for more information.

Gadsden Country Club

Gadsden may not be well known to people outside of Alabama, but this small town of about 36,000 not only played an important role in the Civil War, but it was an integral part of Alabama's rise as a southern industrial power, being home to steel, textile, and other manufacturing facilities. From the late 19th century through the 1980s, companies such as the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company and Republic Steel called Gadsden home. As the economy changed, these companies moved out, taking a lot of jobs with them, but one business that has survived is The Gadsden Country Club. The Gadsden Country Club was founded in 1919 on what was originally a peach orchard adjacent to the Noccalula Falls. The original club which included a 9-hole course was built on 50 acres of land, with an option of 50 more acres for 9 more holes at a future date. As it turned out, the other nine wasn’t built until 1942. Gadsden Country Club sits nestled in the beautiful foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. The clubhouse is situated at the peak of 110 rolling acres in an elegant residential area and is known for its spectacular view. Inside you’ll find a fine dining restaurant and some of the best banquet facilities in northeast Alabama. There’s a full tennis complex and an Olympic-sized swimming pool. The pool is a popular family gathering place from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Members and guests enjoy exceptional service while experiencing the ambiance one would expect from a casually elegant southern club. Gadsden’s CC’s tennis facilities include 8 Har-Tru soft courts, four hard courts, a fully stocked Tennis Pro Shop with racquet restringing capabilities, re-gripping, diagnostics, and the latest demos to try when it’s time for a new weapon on the court. Certified Tennis Professional Paul Robin coordinates all tennis operations such as private or group tennis lessons and a junior tennis program for all ages. Weather permitting, the tennis facilities are available year-round. The centerpiece of Gadsden Country Club is the 18-hole championship golf course. Since its original creation in 1919 by Scotsman George Black, there have been numerous changes; holes have been rerouted and the nines have been flipped. It is unknown who designed the second nine; some have attributed it to the infamous A. W Tillinghast who had visited the area years earlier and was thoroughly impressed. In 1997 world-renowned golf course architect Bill Bergin was brought in to weave his magic and reimagine the golf course. Gadsden Country Club offers members and their guests five sets of tees with yardages ranging from 6,657 yards from the Gold Tees (course rating 72.3/slope 130) to the Red Tees for Ladies and Seniors which plays 4,884 (65.7/121). At 6,101 yards (69.5/128), the Blue Tees offer a good challenge and still let you leave with a little bit of dignity. There are a lot of fun and challenging holes at Gadsden Country Club but none as memorable as the run from Number 15 through the 18th green. Make it around these four holes with a number around or below par, and you’ve probably had a pretty good round. Number 15 is the club’s signature hole, a picturesque par 3 over water that plays 157 yards from the Blue Tees. It’s one of only a few holes that doesn’t have a profound elevation change. It’s a 140-yard carry over the water with a small pot bunker in the back. Find the bunker and your sand shot can be intimidating with the water looming beyond the pin. Par is a good score here. Sixteen is a 352-yard par 4 that has one of the most intimidating and challenging tee shots on the golf course. The lake you see between you and the green is only about 230 yards away and when the fairways are hard, there is a lot of roll. If you’re hitting your driver well, take dead aim over the trees on the right side, up the narrow sliver of the fairway that leads to the green. Laying up short of the water will leave an approach shot of about 125 yards into a fairly level green. Another hole where a par is a good score. Number 17 is a dogleg left that plays 359 yards from the Blue Tees. The large pine tree in front of you screams “drive the ball over me, ” and if you do so successfully, you’ll have about a 100 – 110-yard pitch shot slightly uphill. The closing hole is the toughest on the inward nine and one that will surely test your mettle, Ideally, you want to play down the left side and find the fairway left of the fairway bunker on the right. Hit your drive right off the tee and the fairway falls off by the trees and cart path, leaving an extraordinarily hard second shot. Trees dot the landscape along the left side too and anything left of those trees will be tough as well. A good drive will leave a mid-iron into a small green protected by a bunker front right and a large overhanging oak tree front left. Once again, par is a good score here. Gadsden Country Club has some pretty impressive practice facilities including a full-length driving range where you can hit every club in the bag, a separate chipping area, and two practice putting greens. The course is open year-round, weather permitting, but bad weather isn’t necessarily a game-changer. You can move your game indoors and play or practice on the club’s TrackMan system. After your round, head inside the clubhouse for your favorite beverage and a bite to eat. When it comes to dining and good food, you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything better than what is offered at Gadsden Country Club. The dining facilities include a Gentleman’s and Mixed Grill, Casual Dining Room, Main Bar, and several private dining rooms that are used for banquet and private events. If you’re serious about your golf game and want to take it to the next level, PGA resident pro Matt Ganshaw can help. Using the Trackman launch monitor and indoor simulator, he can help fix any of your swing woes. The pro shop is fully stocked with logoed apparel from all of your favorite manufacturers as well as tees, balls, and other golf necessities. Gadsden Country Club is accepting new members and has a membership plan that will meet just about everyone’s needs and budget. Best of all, you don’t have to live in Gadsden to become a member, If you enjoy the social aspects of the club as well as the dining options and recreational opportunities they have, then this is the club for you. Gadsden Country Club offers several Membership categories including Resident, Non-Resident, Junior, Social, ad Corporate. There is typically a small initiation fee and quarterly F&B minimums but the low monthly membership dues will more than compensate. If you’re not quite sure about becoming a member, Gadsden offers a Trial Membership. For a $1,000 trial fee, you will receive 90 days of total access to the club including ALL of the amenities. Should you decide to join at the end of the trial period, your $1,000 fee will be credited o whichever program you choose.

Sun 'n Lake Golf Club

I heard it said years ago that by the year 2016, the population of the state of Florida would surpass the population of the state of New York. Not only were they correct, but five years later, the margin continues to widen. There are several reasons for this sudden influx of humanity, the climate is perhaps the biggest. Not having to pay state income tax has to rank up there as well. For golf enthusiasts, there’s no better place in the country to be, you can swing the sticks year-round if you don’t mind the heat and humidity of the summer. Take it from a golf lover who lived in Florida for 22 years, you can get used to it! Now that you’ve decided to make the move and join the hordes that are heading to the Sunshine State, you’ll need to decide where to go, east coast or west coast. The further south you go – on either coast – the more expensive things get. The price goes up as you get closer to the water, too. Private golf communities are a great option if golf’s a key reason for your move; it’s like one-stop shopping. There are some great values to be had inland on both real estate and recreation. Sebring is an area that’s often overlooked. The median home price is well below the national average and as far as golf goes, the area is referred to as “America’s Value Golf Capital. ” It’s also home to The Citrus Golf Trail, a collection of five local courses. One of the members of “The Trail” is Sun ‘N Lake, a golfing community. Sun ‘N Lake was once considered a retirement community but over the past few years, it has become a melting pot for both active adults and younger professionals. About 9,000 residents call Sun ‘N Lake home; many of them are snowbirds. The community is home to two championship golf courses, which have been voted the number one golf course in Highlands County for four years running, Deer Run and Turtle Run. Deer Run is considered the tougher of the two. The course was originally designed by Don Dyer in 1976; local golf course architect Ron Garl redesigned a couple of holes in 2003 and put his signature on it by converting the 18th hole to a par 3 with an island green. This championship layout plays host to qualifiers for the Web. com Tour, the Latin America Tour, and the Canadian Tour each year. Deer Run offers golfer 6 sets of tees with suitable yardages to fit every level of golfer. From the Black Tees, the course plays 7,202 yards with a slope of 134 and a course rating of 73.7. Ladies can play a manageable 5,046 yards; most members play from the White Tees which measures 6,170 yards (69.6/127). The greens are Champion Bermuda, and the fairways and roughs feature 419 Bermuda grass. Deer Run’s final three holes can make or break a great round. Number 16 is a par 4, dogleg right that plays 352 yards from the white tees and requires you to at least hit your tee shot to the corner of the dogleg. If you favor the left side off the tees, you’ll take many of the trees out of play and have a good look into the green. Be wary of the water and sand that guard the green. Number 17 is the toughest hole on the back nine and certainly the most challenging. The hole plays 379 yards from the White tees with a large pond in the middle of the fairway. Most golfers will be able to hit driver off the tee and should favor the left side of the fairway or risk being blocked out by trees. A good drive is still going to leave a long to medium iron into an elevated green protected on either side by sand. As referenced earlier, Number 18 is truly a unique hole to end a round of golf; after all, not many courses end with a par 3! From the white tees, the hole plays 128 yards to an island green. Choose your club wisely, hit a good shot and success can be yours. Find the water and you’re just another statistic! Turtle Run was designed by Charles Ankrom and opened in 1999. Golfers have 4 sets of tees to choose from: the back tees play 6,402 yards with a course rating of 70.7 and a slope of 127. The ladies’ tees play from 5,002 yards (64.3/114). Two other tee boxes offer yardages suitable for all levels of golfers. The greens are Tifdwarf Bermuda, and the fairways and roughs feature 419 Bermuda grass. The course is built in the middle of a Scrub Jay preservation area and provides safe shelter for this protected species; it’s also a beautiful setting for the golf course. Distance off the tee is not as important on Turtle Run as it is on her sister course. In fact, leaving the driver in the bag may be your best move on many holes. At just over 6,400 yards the course is not going to overpower the majority of golfers, regardless of the tees you choose. Landing areas off the tees are generous, the greens are incredible, and the emphasis is on the short game. Some greens are open in front and receptive to the senior-friendly bump-and-run shot; the majority are elevated with bunkers in front and require you to carry your approach onto the green. Distance is also key as many greens have multiple tiers and being on the same tier as the hole can shave several strokes. For me, the most memorable hole on Turtle Run is the par 5,14th. At only 481 yards from the White Tees, it’s definitely not the longest par 5, but for many players, it’s going to take a driver out of your hand because of the stream that crosses the fairway about 250 yards out. If you play down the left side of the fairway you can get 260-280 yards before you get to the wet stuff. A good line off the tee is the bunker on the right. Keep to the right with your layup and you’ll keep the water on the left out of play and then hit your approach shot to a slightly elevated green but beware of the deep, large bunker in the front left. Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club is a proud member of the Citrus Golf Trail, which has done a wonderful job of making the Sebring area a golf vacation destination. The Citrus Golf Trail offers a variety of stay and play golf packages that include rounds of golf at several local courses as well as accommodations at The Inn on the Lakes. Inn on the Lakes is a unique property; they have 155 spacious, beautifully decorated guest rooms and suites, and no two are the same. Their fine dining restaurant, Chicanes, offers delicious meals as well as a sumptuous breakfast menu. They are the preferred accommodations vendor of the Citrus Golf Trail. Sun ‘N Lake is not what they call a bundled community, meaning that you don’t have to join the club if you buy a home there. It seems to me that if you live there and play golf a membership makes sense, especially at the ridiculously low prices they charge! They are offering an introductory membership at 50% off that includes unlimited play on both courses including a trail fee for your private cart, a $200 driving range credit discounts on merchandise in the pro shop, and many other benefits. The first year will set you back less than $2500 for a family! There are also special rates for seniors, super seniors, and seasonal golfers as well. If you’re looking for an affordable golf vacation or somewhere in Florida that you can call home, check out Sun ’N Lake in Sebring.

The Golf Club Of Edmond

This is the best public course in the OKC metro. The staff is friendly, price is great, and course conditioning is very good. The golf carts have GPS and you can order food and drink from the screen. Really cool.

Tanglewood Golf Course

Tanglewood Golf Course is an eighteen-hole golf course in Taylorsville, Kentucky that isn’t easy to find. Unless you’re looking for it, you probably wouldn’t know it’s there but trust me, it’s worth the drive. And I’m not the only one that thinks so. According to General Manager Matt Puckett, year in and year out, groups come to Tanglewood from the surrounding states and the club’s 12 condos and 12 motel rooms start getting booked up for the year by the middle of April. Tanglewood is located a mere seventeen miles from Louisville, Kentucky, and I-265 (the Gene Snyder Freeway), The course is set on over 200 acres of “rolling terrain, ” and I use that term loosely. It’s probably as close to mountain golf as you can get to in this area. It was designed by Buck Blankenship and opened for play in 1994. From the White Tees, Tanglewood plays 6,202 yards; With a course rating of 70.9 and a slope of 129. There’s one par 5 on the front side, making it a par 35, and three par 5’s on the back for a par of 37. Ladies typically play from the Red Tees (4,802/66.8/117) with a par of 73. While there may not be a lot of bunkers on the course, the elevation changes and slope in the fairways and greens more than compensates. Narrow tree-lined ryegrass fairways that play along sloped hillsides produce those dreaded uneven lies and ultimately lead to fast, well-manicured Bentgrass greens. You’ll encounter numerous blind shots, so course knowledge is at a premium. Tanglewood is full of memorable holes. If you can get off to a good start on the first hole, you’ll probably have a good round. It’s long – 431 yards – from the White tees, with a blind tee shot and a semi-blind approach shot. Other than that, it’s a breeze! Number 4 is an interesting par 4. It’s only 324 yards but requires a tee shot from an elevated tee box, over a deep valley with a pond at the bottom to another left to right sloping fairway. It’s about a 200-yard carry from the tee to the top of the hill. Success off the tee will leave a short chip shot into a shallow green. Number 6 is Tanglewood’s signature hole and rightfully so. At 494 yards, it’s a 3-shot par 5 for just about everyone. If I were naming holes, this one would be called “Layup, ” because it’s all about the second shot. There’s a lake that sits about 140 yards in front of the green and forces the majority of players to hit a good layup shot which will leave anywhere from 130 – 150 yards into an elevated green that slopes back to front. Number 8 is a good risk/reward par 4 that plays 287 yards from the White tees. The green isn’t visible from the tees and those large trees you see directly ahead of you are in the middle of the fairway. Anything hit off the tee that goes past the 150-yard markers will make it difficult to get your approach shot up and over the trees. The other option is to go past them but hitting a driver is a big risk. Number 10 is a short par 4 (269 yards) is a risk/reward hole that begs long ball hitters to go for it off the tee. If there’s any doubt about reaching the green. Hit an iron off the tee. Everything slopes hard left to right, and if you hit it right, pars can be tough to come by! The green slopes back right to front left. Holes 11,12, and 13 define Tanglewood. Play these three holes at par or better and you’ll likely post a good score when all is said and done. You’ve probably played here before too! Number 11 is a 396-yard par 4 that is the course’s #1 handicap. It’s a very slight dogleg left, and the green is not the one you see in the distance; it sits below the second hill and behind the pond. A good drive will still leave a blind mid-iron shot into a green fronted by a small pond. The right side provides a bailout area and leaves a slightly uphill chip shot. The green slopes left to right and can make for some interesting putts. Number 12 is the longest par 3 at Tanglewood and because it plays uphill, it’s slightly longer than the stated yardage of 215. Anything that comes up short is going to leave an uphill pitch shot. The green slopes back to front, so anything over the green can leave a tricky up and down. I found Number 13 to be the most intimidating tee shot on the course. Off the tee, there appears to be little, if any, landing area. The fairway slopes dramatically left to right. If you’re a longball hitter, consider hitting your tee shot left and playing down the adjacent fairway. It’s not traditional but it worked for me! Find the fairway off the tee and you’ll need to play your layup shot to the left, again, to compensate for the sloping fairway. That will leave a short, slightly downhill chip shot into a large green that slopes modestly from back to front. Miss the green on your approach. Hard to believe it’s handicapped #7. Number 18 is a fun finishing hole and a good chance to get a stroke back on the last hole. It’s an uphill dogleg left that plays 278 yards from the White tees, over a pond. A good drive will leave a short pitch into a small green and a chance to at birdie with a good chip shot. Tanglewood taught me how to deal with blind shots, especially approaches into the green. What I discovered is that when in doubt, hit less club. There isn’t a lot of water to deal with and most of the “trouble is on the peripheries and behind the greens. Coming up short isn’t a bad thing; you’ll keep the same ball in play. I’m sure I would feel differently if I played the course regularly. Tanglewood is centrally located and within two hours of three major metropolitan cities: Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Nashville. They offer tremendous stay and play packages with lodging overlooking the #10 fairway and either hotel-style or condo accommodations. Packages start at $220 for a hotel-style room and include 3 days of unlimited golf with a cart and 2 nights stay. Condos start at $250. Tanglewood offers all guests a $10 breakfast buffet as well as buffet-style meal plans that feed groups for $10 per night. Small appetizers are available in the full-liquor bar. Tanglewood also offers some incredible membership rates. For example, you can play 7 days a week with a golf cart for $1400/year. If you average 10 rounds a month for 9 months, that’s a little over $15.00/round.

Victoria Hills Golf Club

Deland, FL is located about 30 miles north of Orlando, on your way to Daytona Beach along I-4. To many, it’s recognized as the home of Stetson University although golfers may recognize it as the home of one of golf course architect Ron Garl’s best designs. Victoria Hills opened in 2002 and has been delighting golfers of all abilities ever since. Over the years, the course has been awarded its fair share of accolades including a 4 1/2-star rating from Golf Digest Places to Play as well as several others including the 7th Best Public Access course in Florida (Golfweek 2004/05), and #41 in the Top 50 Public Courses you can play in the US by Golf World Magazine in 2010. It’s a perennial Florida favorite and has been consistently ranked in the top 12 courses in Florida, thanks to Ron Garl’s creativity. Victoria Hills is also enrolled in Audubon International's Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses to ensure that the course helps to protect our local environment, conserve natural resources, and provide wildlife habitats. The course sits on over 150 acres of gently rolling terrain that is typically not found in Florida. The land features lots of contouring and elevation, something not often seen in these parts of the state. Many golfers once considered Victoria Hills the best course in Central Florida with its rolling hills, lush vegetation, and finely manicured course conditions. Victoria Hills is surrounded by hundreds of oak hammocks and Augusta pines, and the course is delicately carved from a sandy terrain with pristine lakes and flowering green foliage throughout. The naturally rolling terrain and pine tree-lined fairways are more reminiscent of Pinehurst, North Carolina than Florida. Trees line the fairways of many landing areas although there are ample landing areas off the tees. However, on a few holes, clusters of bunkers on either side seemingly shrink the landing area. Around the greens, you’ll find a variety of swales, collection areas, and deep bunkers guarding many of the elevated putting surfaces. Straight putts are a rarity at Victoria Hills. The majority of greens have a good deal of slope and undulation to them. Florida golf courses are often defined by water, palm trees, and sand. That isn’t the case at Victoria Hills in Deland, FL, except for the sand. There are over 100 bunkers on Victoria Hills in a variety of shapes and sizes. Many of them are quite penal with thick, well-trimmed bunches of sawgrasses framing many of them. Clusters of bunkers dot the landing areas off of most tees, sometimes on both sides of the fairway. Water is basically non-existent and only comes into play on 5 holes. This beautiful 18-hole, par-72 golf course offers golfers five sets of tee boxes. The Champion(back) tees play 7149 yards with a course rating of 74.7 and a slope of 134. If you’re good enough to play from these tees you’ll face some formidable carries over the few water hazards that do exist, as well as ravines and sandy waste areas. Move up to the Challenge (Blue) tees (5967 yards/69.3/124) and most of these hazards are either not in play or out on the peripheries. Nonetheless, the course still offers a challenge for all who visit. The views are magnificent, and you’ll be tested with each shot you take! Like most Ron Garl courses, Victoria Hills has many holes that will stick in your memory for a while. Number 4 is a slight dogleg left that plays 361 yards from the Challenge Tees. By hitting your tee shot past the fairway bunkers on the right, not only will you take the lake on the left out of play, but you’ll also have an unimpeded shot into a well-undulated green. Number 5 is a long straight par 5 that, if I were naming holes, it would simply be called “Bunkers. ” There are no less than nine bunkers in the landing area and from the Challenge Tees, this demanding par 5 plays 520 yards. Even though it’s about as straight as a hole can be, it’s going to take three well-executed shots to reach the green, which is surrounded by bunkers on all four sides. If you can make a par or better, take it and be happy. The 8th hole is another picturesque hole with a landing area squeezed in by bunkers on either side. From the Challenge Tees, it plays 347 yards and from the tee box, it looks as if there is no landing area past the traps on the left. A good drive that finds the fairway is going to leave a short pitch shot into an elevated green with a false front. Bunkers protect either side and the one on the left is rather deep. Number 15 is an interesting dogleg left par 5 that plays 477 yards from the Challenge Tees. What makes this hole so interesting is the group of large oak trees on the left side of the fairway that comes into play with your tee shot. Long ball hitters that can guide their tee shot between the water on the left and the oak trees, can shorten the hole and have a go for the green in two. Higher handicappers that play down the right side the entire way take the water out of play. It’s a fun golf hole. Before your round, warm it up with a bucket of balls on Victoria Hills’ driving range. The practice facilities are pretty comprehensive and include a double-ended grass range with multiple targets,2 short game areas with sand bunkers, and a large putting green. After your round stop by for some delicious food and drink at Sparrow’s Grille. They offer a diverse menu, friendly service, and there are several dining venues available for different occasions. Sparrow’s main dining room is elegantly appointed and hosts some of the area’s most beautiful wedding receptions. Sparrow’s is open every morning for lunch at 11 AM and offers dinner Wednesday – Saturday nights. There’s also a Sunday brunch. Sparrow’s isn’t limited to your regular clubhouse food. For lunch try something different like the Soy-Chili Glazed Pork Riblets or the Egg Salad BLT. For dinner, there’s the Blue Cheese-Crusted Filet Mignon. It doesn’t matter what you choose, it’s all delicious! What you’ll find at Victoria Hills is a course with a lot of character. The rolling terrain the course is built on has a lot to do with that; it is anything but a flat, boring Florida golf course. Although there is ample room for error on many holes, a good short game is necessary if you want to score well. The course has been under new ownership since the beginning of 2020 and numerous changes have been made to maintain and continually improve the overall aesthetics and course conditioning for both members and guests. I spoke with several golfers who play the course regularly and they are excited about the continuous work and effort being done on a daily basis. If Victoria Hills is a course you like to play over and over, why not consider membership? There are several benefits to becoming a member including unlimited greens fees and tee times up to 14 days in advance. You’ll also receive discounts in the pro shop and restaurant. Fill out the form on their website for more information.

Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Wonderful experience, many years ago… I met there Arnold Palmer twice and he came to talk with me! We stayed in the lodge, beautiful…. Restautant is cosy, lovely atmosphere with excellent meals I bought many things from their Pro Shop, high quality Lovely memories.

Bright Leaf Golf Resort

The Bright Leaf Golf Resort in Harrodsburg, KY is a family-owned golf resort where the emphasis isn’t as much on golf as it is on having fun. Helen King, better known around Bright Leaf as Ree, is 93 years old. She can be found working in the pro shop in the mornings and then driving around the grounds on her lawnmower in the afternoon, helping keep things neat and tidy. Ree’s father, C.R. "Buck" Blankenship, bought the land where the resort is located and originally intended to farm it. After a few years, he decided that there was no money in farming and built the golf course. He had worked on a golf course while living in Los Angeles and building a course had always been a dream. The entire King family lives on the property around the golf course. Tia King Taylor - the granddaughter of Ree – does a little bit of everything at the resort, but for the most part, you’ll find her behind the front desk when you check in. Tia’s mother and father live right next door and in the event you see an airplane taking off or landing near the golf course during your round, don’t be alarmed. That’s just her dad, Cary. In all. 8 of King families live on or around the golf course and on any given day you can find four generations of Kings at the golf course. Bright Leaf originally opened as a 9-hole golf course and driving range on Memorial Day,1963 and the tee sheet was totally filled. Currently, there are 27 holes of championship golf as well as a lighted par 3. Although the driving range is gone, many players will arrive early and play the 9-hole par 3 course. At a total distance of 649 yards, it’s a great way to hone your iron skills before playing the big course. The short course is lit and can be enjoyed when the sun goes down. The original 9-hole course is still there. The first tee is directly behind the restaurant and you can bet there will be several people watching your tee shot! Although it plays less than 3,000 yards to a par of 36, don’t let the short distance lull you into a false sense of security. The holes are much tighter, there’s a lot more slope, and the greens a lot smaller, putting a premium on shot placement and accuracy. The championship 18-hole golf course at Bright Leaf is unique. The entire layout is pretty wide open with gently rolling terrain providing the dreaded uneven lie. The fairways and rough are sewn in beautiful Kentucky Bluegrass and the greens are Bentgrass and large for the most part. Water comes into play on at least 5 holes – more if you spray it – and the pace of play is good. At slightly over 6,400 yards from the back tees, Bright Leaf isn’t going to overwhelm many players, but then again, you’re not here to set course records, you’re here for fun and fellowship. On the front side, you get the par 3 and par 5 holes out of the way fairly quickly. Number 1 and Number 2 are both par 3s, something you don’t see every day. While I would much rather start the round off with a couple of par 4s or a par 4 and a par 5, Bright Leaf tests your mettle right off the bat! The 3rd hole is a challenging par 4 that is handicapped the toughest hole on the front side. It is long, playing 390 yards. That is followed by two par 5s that play 446 yards and 450 yards. The good news is that both par 5s are reachable with a good drive. Number 5 is a pretty par 5 with a white fence down the left side as well as trees. The fairway slopes left to right with a small lake at the bottom of the fairway that is reachable off the tee. The slope in the fairway isn’t steep enough to carry the ball down to the water. Number 9 is a good par 4 that plays 362 yards with a lake to carry off the tee. The hole plays uphill the entire way and the fairway has a fair amount of slope in it. The back nine also starts you off with a par 3 that plays 162 yards from an elevated tee box over water to an elevated green. There is a deep bunker on the left which can be tough to hit. Number 11 is another reachable par 5 at 419 yards from the White tees. This hole is all about your approach shot. The green is elevated and runs away on either side. If you don’t hit it and hold it, an up and down from below the green can be a tough ask! The stretch of holes from 12 thru 14 has the 3 toughest holes on the back nine in succession. The 12th hole at Bright Leaf has a couple of distinctions. First of all, it is the #1 handicapped hole on the golf course. It plays 371 yards from the White tees with a barbed wire fence and out of bounds running all down the left side. The green is well-elevated and usually requires an extra club. Hitting your ball over the barbed wire fence doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get it back. Every 100 feet or so along the fence are ladders over the fence. Be advised, the grass is long and there are a lot of cows in the pasture. Your ball may not be the only thing hiding in the grass! Number 13 is a legitimate par 5 that plays 533 yards from the White tees and is a three-shot hole for most players. Number 14 is a short,319-yard par 4 with a blind tee shot and then an approach into one of the course’s smallest greens. Number 15 is the only dogleg on the golf course, a dogleg left into a green that sits below the fairway. It happens to run parallel to the prettiest hole on the 9-hole course, Number 5, a 395-yard dogleg left par 5 with a green that sits even further below the fairway. Standing in the fairway on Number 15 and looking back and down the adjoining fairway is one of the prettiest views on the golf course. Number 16 is a 150-yard par 3 over water to an elevated green and can be fairly intimidating if you don’t like the water! As far as hazards go, there is only a handful of bunkers on the entire course that you will need to avoid and two of them are on the first hole. You are more likely to be impeded by water than sand. Bright Leaf Resort sells a lot of golf packages, in fact on my visit I didn’t speak with anyone that wasn’t there as part of a group. What I found was that most of the clientele is there for a good time, there just happens to be a golf course there and oh, by the way, golf and drinking just naturally go together. Bright Leaf Resort doesn’t have a liquor license and the majority of golfers know this; they simply BTOB (Bring Their Own Booze). I will say that for as much drinking and partying that was going on, the hotel was incredibly quiet after 9 pm. The people staying there are just plain friendly and courteous. You’ll find that most of the golfers at Bright Leaf are there on some sort of golf package. Bright Leaf offers full on-site accommodations, consisting of 95 hotel rooms and 10 villa suites each equipped with 51" flat-panel televisions and full kitchens. Amenities include a full-service dining room, snack bar, fully equipped health club, and swimming pool. The goal at Bright Leaf is to show their warm, southern hospitality! Start your morning off at Bright Leaf with their breakfast buffet at the 19th Hole Restaurant, featuring all of your breakfast favorites including made from scratch biscuits and gravy. After your round, there’s a southern-style dinner buffet with special themed nights. Friday night is Seafood Night with Fried Catfish while the Saturday Night Buffet features fried chicken and ribs. The 19th Hole also offers a complete menu.

Point O'woods Country Club

The special thing about this course is its history in relation to the architect, Robert Trent Jones Sr, and its role as a long time host of the Western Amateur golf tournament. Of RTJ Sr's course, this course is well known to be one of the remaining ones that has not been renovated or changed to a major degree, thus, it is a historical museum of a golf course representing the classic RTJ Sr style of the 1950's. Classic 'railroad' tees, Long par 4s, with large greens that emphasise the skill of 'lag putting', and 4 wonderful and unique par 3's. The weak part of the course is the par 5's, only 1 of which truly challenges the 2nd shot. The trees have grown in quite a bit over the years, and some tree trimming would enhance the course, and bring back some more angles of play, as some holes are very narrow, to the point that there is only 1 way to play the hole, and that is straight down the middle. It is a private club, and requires a members' invitation. However, if you are fortunate enough to gain such an invitation, accept it with excitement, as this course is worth playing.

Harbor Shores Golf Club - Lake Michigan

This golf course is more of a 'inner city renewal project' than pure golf course. In this goal, it has succeeded, as it took former industrial property and turned it into a golf course, and also created housing to support the local economy. Just evaluating the golf course, whilst the individual holes can be interesting, and challenging, the routing requires a buggy, and there are long rides at several parts of the property. So, its not recommended to walk. A couple holes peak over Lake Michigan, but most holes are situated more along wetlands, lakes and tidal rivers.