BLACK BEAR GOLF CLUB (800-423-2718)
Florida Golf Course Review 1/15/06
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 702 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 one ach cart provide info on the day's hole locations.
Only three holes have water in play, but 117 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 locker rooms with showers.
There also is a restaurant/lounge serving beverages 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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