difficulty of champ course rotations

[golfing eagles]

I have my fiancee's brother in law coming for a month. Not only is he head pro at a country club up north, bet a good player, having qualified several times for the PGA of America national finals. What do people think are the most difficult rotations at our champ courses? My votes are:

Egret to Killdeer
Fort Walton to Pensacola
Calusa to Tequesta
Kilimanjaro to Kenya
Caroline to Virginia
Hibiscus to Jacaranda
Laurel to Riley
Lakes to Oaks

Not familiar enough with Glenview or Lopez to choose.
Any suggestions?
What do people think is the most difficult (from the black tees)

I'd like to give him a challenge

[dewilson58]

Glenview is one of the tightest courses.

[golfing eagles]

Glenview is one of the tightest courses.

You think so? I've found Tierra and Orange Blossom to be relatively tight

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I like Tierra del Sol. But just because he's an excellent player it doesn't mean that he won't enjoy all of the courses. When I was a good player, I was more interested in condition and design than difficulty.

The easiest courses can be the most difficult in a competition because you have to make birdies and go low.

People look at the tour and think that the par fives are the easiest holes. They are, but only in relation to par. If you have a 580 yard hole and much of the field is making four, making a par is not going to help you win the tournament. The most difficult holes are the ones that have the highest average score, not in relation to par.

[golfing eagles]

I like Tierra del Sol. But just because he's an excellent player it doesn't mean that he won't enjoy all of the courses. When I was a good player, I was more interested in condition and design than difficulty.

The easiest courses can be the most difficult in a competition because you have to make birdies and go low.

People look at the tour and think that the par fives are the easiest holes. They are, but only in relation to par. If you have a 580 yard hole and much of the field is making four, making a par is not going to help you win the tournament. The most difficult holes are the ones that have the highest average score, not in relation to par.

I don't think that came out the way you meant it. Obviously, a par 5 with a scoring average of 4.3 is easier than a par 3 with an average of 3.8

[PoolBrews]

I'm an 8 handicap, and for me Tierra Del Sol is the most "challenging" course here in The Villages. The combination of tree lined fairways, fast greens, good undulations, and trouble spots when you hit long or miss a shot to the side make this course great. It punishes you if you make a bad shot.

Glenview is my 2nd favorite for a challenge... although there is less trouble there, so I can typically recover from a bad shot fairly easily. The other champion courses are wide open for the most part - it takes the combination of a bad shot and bad luck to give you a lie you can't recover from.

If you're looking for real challenge for him, try Otter Creek at The Plantation in Leesburg - now that is a tight course! Haven't played there in about 6 months, so no idea as to what shape it is in.

My son played college golf, and was on the mini tours for several years... his favorite course in the area is The Country Club of Ocala. It's a legit challenge, and is gorgeous as well. They have a member for a day program where you can get a tee time and play. This course is amazing - when my son visits, we always try to get a round in there.

[dewilson58]

You think so? I've found Tierra and Orange Blossom to be relatively tight
yes


i stated "one of".............just an opinion, which i thought you were asking for


tierra is tighter, no black tees


oh well

[John_W]

Egret to Killdeer
Fort Walton to Pensacola
Calusa to Tequesta
Kilimanjaro to Kenya
Caroline to Virginia
Hibiscus to Jacaranda
Laurel to Riley
Lakes to Oaks

Not familiar enough with Glenview or Lopez to choose.
Any suggestions?
What do people think is the most difficult (from the black tees)

I'd like to give him a challenge

Your list are my favorite setups. The only change I would make is at Mallory (Amelia to Carolina), Virginia is one of the shortest but does require precision on those short holes. I hate Killdeer, which is good for you, Osprey is really nice, for beauty I would go with (Osprey to Egret), much nicer setup and #2 on Osprey is one of the toughest holes in TV. I score worse at Glenview, I like Tally Ho a lot, but when I play Fox Run to Stirrup Cup I shoot my worse scores and they have redone the sod at both of those in the last year or two.

[tophcfa]

Tierra Del Sol, Tally Ho to Fox Run At Glenview, and Caroline along with either of the other two 9 holes at Mallory. Also, Ashley to Tory at Lopez. Very nice new greens (the same kind of turf that is at Tierra), not difficult from the whites, but very challenging from the tips. Both Tierra and Lopez have the best greens in the bubble and would be appreciated by a very good golfer.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I don't think that came out the way you meant it. Obviously, a par 5 with a scoring average of 4.3 is easier than a par 3 with an average of 3.8

No it's not. If the scoring average on the par five is 4.3 then a player has to make a four to keep up with the field. On the other hand that same player can make a four on the par three that averages 3.8 and not lose any ground. It's not which hole is easier to make a birdie on, it which hole is it easier to make a four on.

[collie1228]

If you decide to include Glenview, be sure to include Stirrup Cup, which is more difficult than the other two. And I agree with the other posters concerning the Virginia nine on Mallory. Amelia is much more difficult, and in my opinion, a more interesting layout. But overall you have a nice list of courses that will present a challenge.

[Indy-Guy]

I realize you asked about golf courses in The Villages but I thought I would mention some top notch golf courses located within an hour drive of The Villages. These are not bargain golf courses just top tier courses at a price you would expect for top notch courses.

Home - Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge (https://www.ocngolf.com/)

Home - Celebration Golf Club (https://www.celebrationgolf.com/)

RedTail Golf - Luxury Golf Community in Central Florida (http://www.redtailclub.com/redtail-golf/)

Play at the Best Golf Course in Florida | Mission Inn Resort & Club (https://missioninnresort.com/golf/el-campeon/)

Lake Jovita – Golf & Country Club (https://lakejovita.com/)

https://www.juliettefalls.com/

All are worth the drive.

[golfing eagles]

I realize you asked about golf courses in The Villages but I thought I would mention some top notch golf courses located within an hour drive of The Villages. These are not bargain golf courses just top tier courses at a price you would expect for top notch courses.

Home - Orange County National Golf Center & Lodge (https://www.ocngolf.com/)

Home - Celebration Golf Club (https://www.celebrationgolf.com/)

RedTail Golf - Luxury Golf Community in Central Florida (http://www.redtailclub.com/redtail-golf/)

Play at the Best Golf Course in Florida | Mission Inn Resort & Club (https://missioninnresort.com/golf/el-campeon/)

Lake Jovita – Golf & Country Club (https://lakejovita.com/)

https://www.juliettefalls.com/

All are worth the drive.

Thank you. I've played all of them.

Juliette, El Campion, both courses at Lake Jovita, Red Tail, and Orange County National are all regular stops on the Golf Channel (now U. S. Am) tour. My favorite is still Juliette Falls, not only the course but the picturesque setting. It's hard to beat the history of Mission Inn. Tom Lehman's design at Lake Jovita is pretty challenging. I would add CC of Ocala to that list, and if you want to drive to the middle of nowhere for a unique challenge, I suggest the black course at Streamsong

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Has anyone played the golf channel's amateur tour?

Always curious about the quality in case i think more of my game than reality

sportsguy

[golfing eagles]

Has anyone played the golf channel's amateur tour?

Always curious about the quality in case i think more of my game than reality

sportsguy

Been playing it for 3 years, NBC/Golf Channel dropped its sponsorship, possibly due to liability issues with COVID, it is now called the U.S. Am tour. We play some nice courses, the one day tournaments are generally on Saturday and in our local area. The Orlando tour alternates weeks with the Tampa tour, some of those courses are further away. Then there are "majors" which are 2 day tournaments, usually with a one day Friday outing, then Sat/Sun. Courses for these have included Innisbrook/Copperhead, TPC Sawgrass, PGA National, and Pinehurst. There are tournaments all over the country every weekend.
There are 6 flights, 0-4,4-8,8-12,12-16, 16-20 and over 20 handicap, so the quality of play varies quite a bit flight to flight. There are at least 3 other Villagers who participate. It's a lot of fun, give it a try.

[Funkman]

Been playing it for 3 years, NBC/Golf Channel dropped its sponsorship, possibly due to liability issues with COVID, it is now called the U.S. Am tour. We play some nice courses, the one day tournaments are generally on Saturday and in our local area. The Orlando tour alternates weeks with the Tampa tour, some of those courses are further away. Then there are "majors" which are 2 day tournaments, usually with a one day Friday outing, then Sat/Sun. Courses for these have included Innisbrook/Copperhead, TPC Sawgrass, PGA National, and Pinehurst. There are tournaments all over the country every weekend.
There are 6 flights, 0-4,4-8,8-12,12-16, 16-20 and over 20 handicap, so the quality of play varies quite a bit flight to flight. There are at least 3 other Villagers who participate. It's a lot of fun, give it a try.And what's the usual yardage from the friendly tees at these events?

:icon_wink:

[golfing eagles]

And what's the usual yardage from the friendly tees at these events?

:icon_wink:

The top 2 flights usually about 6600-6700, middle 2 flights 6300-6400, and bottom 2, 6100-6200. Varies with course conditions

The friendly tee competition is held at the closest mini-golf location

[denniskathyb]

Tight yes but to short

[Rwirish]

Agree except for Kenya.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

There are 6 flights, 0-4,4-8,8-12,12-16, 16-20 and over 20 handicap, so the quality of play varies quite a bit flight to flight. There are at least 3 other Villagers who participate. It's a lot of fun, give it a try.

Now this is enticing!

[bowlingal]

you can golf on courses not in the villages. Many are available in other areas

[jbrown132]

I have my fiancee's brother in law coming for a month. Not only is he head pro at a country club up north, bet a good player, having qualified several times for the PGA of America national finals. What do people think are the most difficult rotations at our champ courses? My votes are:

Egret to Killdeer
Fort Walton to Pensacola
Calusa to Tequesta
Kilimanjaro to Kenya
Caroline to Virginia
Hibiscus to Jacaranda
Laurel to Riley
Lakes to Oaks

Not familiar enough with Glenview or Lopez to choose.
Any suggestions?
What do people think is the most difficult (from the black tees)

I'd like to give him a challenge
If you are looking to give him a challenge take him to Mission Inn in Howie in The Hills Fl. The course that you want to get him on is El Campeon. I am a 10 handicap in the Villages and this course gives me fits every time I play it. It will be a real challenge for him.

[golfing eagles]

If you are looking to give him a challenge take him to Mission Inn in Howie in The Hills Fl. The course that you want to get him on is El Campeon. I am a 10 handicap in the Villages and this course gives me fits every time I play it. It will be a real challenge for him.

Don't feel bad. I suck every time I've played it too. First time I played it I was a 3 handicap and shot 88!

[Guitarman1951]

I have my fiancee's brother in law coming for a month. Not only is he head pro at a country club up north, bet a good player, having qualified several times for the PGA of America national finals. What do people think are the most difficult rotations at our champ courses? My votes are:

Egret to Killdeer
Fort Walton to Pensacola
Calusa to Tequesta
Kilimanjaro to Kenya
Caroline to Virginia
Hibiscus to Jacaranda
Laurel to Riley
Lakes to Oaks

Not familiar enough with Glenview or Lopez to choose.
Any suggestions?
What do people think is the most difficult (from the black tees)

I'd like to give him a challenge
I can make any course here very tough. The only thing I do well is play golf badly! 🏌️😊🏌️

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

You think so? I've found Tierra and Orange Blossom to be relatively tight

Only four holes (11-13) of the back nine at OBH are tight. And they are poorly designed. There's a difference between being tight and sticking trees right in front of a good shot. Ten is not a bad hole except for the big palm tree in front of the tee. The rest of the course is pretty straight forward.I would call it difficult.

[Birdbathbabe]

Take him to play pickleball. Now that would be a challenge...lol

[Avella75]

If your looking for a course off the reservation, I hear, Candler Hills in Ocala is worth the drive.

[HIgolfers]

I have my fiancee's brother in law coming for a month. Not only is he head pro at a country club up north, bet a good player, having qualified several times for the PGA of America national finals. What do people think are the most difficult rotations at our champ courses? My votes are:

Egret to Killdeer
Fort Walton to Pensacola
Calusa to Tequesta
Kilimanjaro to Kenya
Caroline to Virginia
Hibiscus to Jacaranda
Laurel to Riley
Lakes to Oaks

Not familiar enough with Glenview or Lopez to choose.
Any suggestions?
What do people think is the most difficult (from the black tees)

I'd like to give him a challenge

FWIW I think Cherry to Laurel is much more difficult, Riley seems significantly easier and I believe the slope/rating bears this out (although I’m a woman so play from the Green tees) which may make a significant difference.

Would avoid Kenya- its in the worst shape of any Champ nine in TV. Terrible tee boxes and lots of bare areas with no grass.

[Paporter]

I have my fiancee's brother in law coming for a month. Not only is he head pro at a country club up north, bet a good player, having qualified several times for the PGA of America national finals. What do people think are the most difficult rotations at our champ courses? My votes are:

Egret to Killdeer
Fort Walton to Pensacola
Calusa to Tequesta
Kilimanjaro to Kenya
Caroline to Virginia
Hibiscus to Jacaranda
Laurel to Riley
Lakes to Oaks

Not familiar enough with Glenview or Lopez to choose.
Any suggestions?
What do people think is the most difficult (from the black tees)

I'd like to give him a challenge

GlenView and Tiera Del Sol the most challenging. Where ever you decide to play, be sure to have your future brother in-law show his PGA card, for discounted rate, as well as say howdy to the club Pro 😉

[Paporter]

FWIW I think Cherry to Laurel is much more difficult, Riley seems significantly easier and I believe the slope/rating bears this out (although I’m a woman so play from the Green tees) which may make a significant difference.

Would avoid Kenya- its in the worst shape of any Champ nine in TV. Terrible tee boxes and lots of bare areas with no grass.

Lovely, I’m playing there today. Havana isn’t my favorite, don’t care for the way the course is maintained. Grass is always very long.

[John_W]

I haven't played that many courses off campus, but one that I've played 3 times because my neighbor likes it, is World Woods in Brooksville. It's 36 holes and really looks like a northern course, one of the 18's is a top 10 Florida course. We always get the same 18 and it has more trees and sand, with a little water thrown in than any place around here. I've played Ocala National twice, that has a lot of trees as well. I can't even break 90 there and in TV I shoot high 70's low 80's from the whites, use to play the blues but my neighbor had hip replacement so we moved up. I was wondering if anyone has played that course and what they thought? It's a good hour plus drive to get there.

https://golfadvisor.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/411817a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/966x623+0+8/resize/930x600!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgolfadvisor.brightspotcdn.com%2 F39%2Fd6%2F3c4f8113002eeabfb13806710921%2F9261.jpg

[golfing eagles]

I haven't played that many courses off campus, but one that I've played 3 times because my neighbor likes it, is World Woods in Brooksville. It's 36 holes and really looks like a northern course, one of the 18's is a top 10 Florida course. We always get the same 18 and it has more trees and sand, with a little water thrown in than any place around here. I've played Ocala National twice, that has a lot of trees as well. I can't even break 90 there and in TV I shoot high 70's low 80's from the whites, use to play the blues but my neighbor had hip replacement so we moved up. I was wondering if anyone has played that course and what they thought? It's a good hour plus drive to get there.

https://golfadvisor.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/411817a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/966x623+0+8/resize/930x600!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgolfadvisor.brightspotcdn.com%2 F39%2Fd6%2F3c4f8113002eeabfb13806710921%2F9261.jpg

Played the Pine Barrens 18 twice, should have brought a chain saw instead of a driver:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

[Hape2Bhr]

I haven't played that many courses off campus, but one that I've played 3 times because my neighbor likes it, is World Woods in Brooksville. It's 36 holes and really looks like a northern course, one of the 18's is a top 10 Florida course. We always get the same 18 and it has more trees and sand, with a little water thrown in than any place around here. I've played Ocala National twice, that has a lot of trees as well. I can't even break 90 there and in TV I shoot high 70's low 80's from the whites, use to play the blues but my neighbor had hip replacement so we moved up. I was wondering if anyone has played that course and what they thought? It's a good hour plus drive to get there.

https://golfadvisor.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/411817a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/966x623+0+8/resize/930x600!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgolfadvisor.brightspotcdn.com%2 F39%2Fd6%2F3c4f8113002eeabfb13806710921%2F9261.jpg

Pine Barrons and Rolling Oaks...those are both great courses...RO being the easier of the two I think. You'll often find mini tour players practicing here. Their practice putting green is about an 2 acres in size! Also, Shell's Wonderful World of Golf once played here...Phil Mickelson and...(I forget).

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

If you want to go outside The Villages go to Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto. It's about an hour's drive and expensive but it may be the best course in Florida.

[vinnytalk]

Good chooses

[bilcon]

I'm an 8 handicap, and for me Tierra Del Sol is the most "challenging" course here in The Villages. The combination of tree lined fairways, fast greens, good undulations, and trouble spots when you hit long or miss a shot to the side make this course great. It punishes you if you make a bad shot.

Glenview is my 2nd favorite for a challenge... although there is less trouble there, so I can typically recover from a bad shot fairly easily. The other champion courses are wide open for the most part - it takes the combination of a bad shot and bad luck to give you a lie you can't recover from.

If you're looking for real challenge for him, try Otter Creek at The Plantation in Leesburg - now that is a tight course! Haven't played there in about 6 months, so no idea as to what shape it is in.

My son played college golf, and was on the mini tours for several years... his favorite course in the area is The Country Club of Ocala. It's a legit challenge, and is gorgeous as well. They have a member for a day program where you can get a tee time and play. This course is amazing - when my son visits, we always try to get a round in there.

I play in an outing at The Country Club of Ocala every year. It is really nice with beautiful scenery and homes around the course.