BLACK BEAR GOLF CLUB (800-423-2718)
Florida Golf Course Review
December 26, 2011 - special news regarding Black Bear Golf Club - click here!
Black Bear Golf Club in Eustis (north of Orlando) is a par 72 links style championship design with undulating fairways and Tif Eagle greens, developed
along a dramatic terrain featuring significant elevation changes from tee to green. This course has served as a qualifier for the Florida USGA Publinks
Championship, Hooters and Canadian tours and for the Florida PGA.
Four sets of tees provide players with choices of playing to distances and slopes measuring 7062 yards/134 slope, 6394 yards/127 slope, 5975 yards/124
slope and 5044 yards with a slope of 121 from the forward tees .On course yardage markers are posted on the fairways at 50, 100, 150 and 200 yards,
and sprinkler heads are measured to the center of the green. Pin placement sheets on each cart provide info on the day's hole locations. Only three holes
have water in play, but 127 sand bunkers/waste areas provide challenge near the greens and along the landing zones on the fairways.
On property is an expansive practice facility with double ended grass range, 40,000 square foot short game area with sand bunker and putting green, and
the clubhouse features a pro shop plus a restaurant/lounge serving beverages, breakfast and lunch items, plus a spacious outdoor patio that also helps to
service outings and tournaments. There also is a "19th hole" to settle shootouts... We recommend that the warm up time include some work with the
wedges, particularly the lob - as high arcing shots that land softly will come in handy on this layout.
The terrain is very rolling, with many elevated tees that lead to platform green complexes protected by bunkers, slopes, swales and collection areas. The
putting surfaces can be quite narrow and undulating, and up and downs from offline approaches are often a tricky proposition. The fairway bunkers are
often penal in nature, as many are set in mounding complexes. The surrounding bermuda rough - as is the case with many central Florida courses, goes
dormant during the winter months, but is extremely playable.
Due to the tight green complexes, scoring well here demands an efficient short game. Golfers will find ample room on the fairways, with quite a few
bordered by slopes and mounds that create sort of a bowl effect. Located 40 minutes from Orlando, Daytona Beach or Ocala, this Pete Dye designed
course is one of Central Florida's best golfing values. Visitors will encounter wonderful service and great playing conditions on a fun course that will tempt
players to come back for more. For more info, visit our page for Black Bear, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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