THE GOLF CLUB AT NORTH HAMPTON (904-548-0000)
Florida Golf Coruse Review 2/22/04
The Golf Club at North Hampton is an Arnold Palmer Signature design featuring outstanding variety on two
distinctive nines. The front side traverses a woodland setting with fairways carved out of heavily forested land,
while the back is reminiscent of Scottish links seaside layouts - with wild grasses and rolling hills formed by dune
formations and flanked by numerous water hazards. On either side, golfers will be challenged by undulating
green complexes - with some incredibly devilish pin placements available. A general rule to abide by here - keep
it below the hole, as putting downhill on many of these back to front sloped Tif Eagle greens will lead to frequent 3 and 4 putts.
The amenities of this great value golf experience include wonderful clubhouse facilities with men's and women's
locker rooms and showers, pro shop, restaurant (open for breakfast and lunch) and lounge, plus outdoor patio.
The practice facility includes a complimentary range and huge putting and chipping green. All carts include a
weather cover for inclement weather, and a yardage/diagram booklet which provides valuable info - especially
for those visiting for the first time. On course golfers will find that the course is well marked, with 150 yard stakes
on all par fours and fives, sprinkler heads measured to the front, middle and back of the greens, and color coded
flags indicating daily pin placements. There are also color coded stakes on each tee box providing yardage to the center of the green. The course is aesthetically beautiful!
The opening hole is a fair starter, a number 12 handicapped par four inviting a tee shot to the left center of a
wide fairway. The second demands a tee shot over a marsh to an another ample fairway, and also requires a
long second shot that approaches the 150 yard area over the left fairway trap. Anything hit short or right will
require a lay up and a wedge approach for a hopeful up and down,,,tough hole! The third is a par three fronted by
a huge bunker complex, and is followed by the longest par four on the course. Number four demands a tee shot
placed in front of the second fairway bunker, leaving a long iron approach to an elevated putting surface. Players
on the two back tees need to navigate a marsh off the tee on five, while those from the white tees up catch a
considerable break. The green is long, narrow and is well protected by bunkers. On six the fairway is wide, but a
creek crossing past the 150 and a pond situated to the right from 120 in makes this short par five challenging
nonetheless. The seventh is a pretty par three over water, with bail out room short right. This precedes two of the
most score-able par fours of the layout. Eight presents a wide fairway, with room to about 65 out on a peninsula
to the right. The approach is a beauty over water to an undulating, double tiered putting surface. The ninth also
presents a generous landing area lined by dunes and natural grasses along the left. Tee shots can approach the
100 yard area before finding the hazard on the right. The approach must navigate a rock wall with grassy dunes behind and ample room short left.
Number ten is a short par four with an undulating fairway leading to an elevated green that slopes down
immediately towards a hazard behind. Stay below the hole here! Tee shots hit over the water and to the left of the
fairway trap will cut off some distance and leave a simple uphill approach on 11. Take an extra club here. The
fairway narrows about 200 yards out on 12, with water on both sides. The approach to an elevated back to front
sloped putting surface demands a shot landing below the hole - once again. The par four 13th is a tight one and
the uphill approach leads to an undulating green with some bail out room right. Number 14 is a tough par three
which requires an accurate tee shot. Water right and bunkers left both short and long leave little room for error.
The serpentine par five 15th is a true 3-shot hole, with the generous fairway tightening about 200 out. The large
undulating putting surface is well guarded by sand traps. 16 is the number one handicapped hole - very
demanding from the tips. The tee shot must land safely on a peninsula fairway, which approaches to within about
70 yards of the hazard. The approach will be with anything from a mid to short iron, with plenty of room short and
left of the green. Seventeen plays from a number of isolated tee areas, each providing downhill shots to a
beautiful green complex fronted by a pond with bunkers left. Take the right club and go for the pin with your
favorite wedge or short iron. There is plenty of fairway on the closing hole - a long par four with water hazards on
both sides. The approach is to a large, elevated green with sand traps protecting on both the right and left sides - great finishing hole!
A round including cart at The Golf Club at North Hampton is priced at $55 weekdays and $65 weekends in 2004.
This rate is more than fair...as this is a top quality golf experience. Come out early to enjoy the comp range balls
and to use their spacious putting green. A warm up is recommended - this is not an easy golf course - you will
have to earn your birdies, and if you are able to record your handicap for a round here, you have done a good day's work!
Click here for our informational page for North Hampton, which also features a link to their web site.
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