EAGLE LANDING GOLF CLUB (
eaglelandingonline . com , 904-291-5600 ) in Orange Park is located west of Jacksonville and is surrounded by Jennings State Forest within the Oakleaf Plantation residential community .
This par-72 daily-fee course offers six sets of tees with course yardages of 7,037 yards ( back ) to 5,142 ( forward ) and 2,729 yards ( youth ). Clyde Johnston built the course 16 years ago , incorporating some of the world ’ s classic hole designs into the layout .
Eagle Landing ’ s signature 17th hole is a 535-yard , par-5 design with a nod to Oakmont Country Club . Several pew bunkers line the right side of the hole for errant shots missing the ample fairway landing area from the tee .
The relatively flat course features pine and palmetto tree-lined fairways with 12 holes that either have water in view or in play . Greenside bunkers were recently renovated .
“ It ’ s a fair , fun course to play with a design that offers a chance for recovery , rather than punishment for bad shots ,” said general manager Jim Hahn . “ We are a popular golf course , but our pace of play is around four hours because of the course ’ s playability .”
The Golf Club at South Hampton was designed by former PGA Tour professional Mark McCumber .
management around South Hampton ’ s water features .
South Hampton offers six sets of tees . The course ’ s signature hole is No . 6 called “ Lightning Strike ” because the par-5 hole was originally designed around two lightning-struck oak trees standing in the fairway . A hurricane has since taken out one tree , leaving only one remaining .
“ The golf course is player-friendly and very different from each tee that you play ,” said PGA professional Derek DiStefano , managing partner of the course his family purchased in 2012 . “ The back tees , at around 7,000 yards , is a completely different golf course than the tees played by the average golfer . If you play the [ forward ] gold tees , every fairway bunker is in play .”
South Hampton ’ s practice grounds feature a double-ended teeing area with 85,000 square feet of turf . Target areas , a
multi-purpose short-game practice area , a practice bunker and two large practice greens provide plenty of options for preseason tune-up .
ST . JOHNS GOLF CLUB (
sjgc . com , 904- 209-0350 ) in Elkton , is a municipal public course located five miles west of St . Augustine and nearly 10 miles from both the St . Johns River and the Atlantic Ocean .
This par-71 layout was designed by Robert Walker in 1988 and will host the 17th annual St . Augustine Amateur in November . The course has five tee options , ranging from 6,700 yards ( back ) to 5,300 yards ( forward ) and is a First Tee facility for juniors .
The practice area features a double-ended , all-grass range that is 100 yards wide by 320 yards deep with a two-tiered chipping green and practice putting green .
St . Johns ’ signature 15th hole is a risk-reward drivable par 4 that is the only forced carry on the golf course . Off the tee down the right side tempts a closer shot to the elevated green , but with waiting water features to consider . Wetlands border the right and left of the green .
“ This is not your typical Florida golf course because there ’ s not a lot of penalty areas ,” said Wes Tucker , director of golf . “ It ’ s very playable for the public .”
While Florida has lifted the most restrictive COVID-19 measures practiced for most of 2020 , all of the listed courses plan to continue sanitization of golf cars and high-touch clubhouse areas into the new year . Many are still using a touchless flagstick system and most request that guests wear masks indoors .
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE COURSES
THE GOLF CLUB OF SOUTH HAMPTON (
golfsouthhampton . com , 904-287-7529 ) in St . Augustine is a unique family-owned and operated golf course in the suburban Jacksonville and St . Augustine areas .
Opened in 1999 and designed by Jacksonville native and 10-time PGA Tour winner Mark McCumber , the par-72 semi-private course is known for its large lipped bunkers and expansive greens . A premium is placed on the golfer ’ s fairway bunker game here , as well as on-course
St . John ’ s Golf Club offers a wide-open course that is very playable for the public .
vsga . org J ANUARY / F EBRUARY 2021 | V IRGINIA G OLFER
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