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Florida's Dream 18
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!
In assembling the Dream 18, I've tried to achieve a certain amount of balance. It would be easy to
construct a course with 18 of Florida's longest holes, but a good golf course has a balance of good
short and long holes…those with lots of water and those with tricky doglegs or deep bunkers. I've tried
to create a standard par-72 course, and to select holes from every corner of the state. And it goes
without saying that these are all courses the public can play.
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.
Florida house rental and 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.
Florida house rental and 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.
Florida house rental and 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.
Florida house rental and 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.
Florida house rental and 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.
Florida house rental and 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.
Florida house rental and 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.
Florida house rental and 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!
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