VICTORIA HILLS GOLF CLUB (386-738-6000)
Florida Golf Course Review
Victoria Hills Golf Club in Deland about 30 miles north of Orlando, is a Ron Garl designed championship course that upon opening (in 2002), was honored as the best new course
in the state by the Florida Golf News. Rolling hills, lush vegetation and finely manicured course conditioning and landscaping highlight this superb golf environment. The course
annually receives a 4 1/2 star rating from Golf Digest Places to Play! Other awards include mention as "Best Public Course in the Greater Orlando Area "(Orlando Sentinal 2005),
7th Best Public Access course in Florida (Golfweek 2004/05), and Top Ten You Can Play (Golf Magazine 2003). The course also served as a Senior US Open Quailfying site in
2004 and 2005. Victoria Hills has been honored as # 41 in the Top 50 Public Courses you can play in the US is 2010 by Golf World Magazine. It is also annually recognized as
one of the top 12 courses in Florida!
On property is a full service clubhouse featuring a beautiful restaurant/lounge that is open daily for lunch, with a Sunday brunch plus dinner menus Wednesday through Saturday
from 5 to 9 pm. Corporate outings and functions are a specialty of Victoria Hills. There also is a pro shop and locker rooms with showers for both men and women. Practice
facilities include a double-ended targeted grass range, 2 short game areas with sand bunkers, plus large putting green.
The layout is quite a challenge from the back tees, with some formidable carries over sand waste areas, ravines and water hazards. From the whites and forward tees however,
many of the hazards are out of play or located only along the perimeter. There are over 100 sand bunkers of various sizes and shapes - many of them penal in nature - with
trimmed pampas bushes lining the walls and creating even more of a challenge.
Water comes into play on four holes on the front and just one on the back nine. For a number 15th handicap, Hole #5 is one of the toughest par threes we have encountered - as it
plays to 221 yards with a forced carry over a natural area leading to a well bunkered, undulating green complex. On the front side, a right to left shot shape will come in handy as
the 3rd, 6th and 7th holes all bend in that direction. The par four 13th and 17th also dogleg to the left.
Generally speaking, there are sufficient landing zones along the tree lined fairways, but golfers will have to avoid the many sand traps that squeeze the playing surfaces. Greenside
- collection areas, swales and deep bunkers serve to protect the large sloping putting surfaces, with the green complexes often raised as well. There is room for error, but a good
short game is necessary to score well here.
Five sets of tee boxes play to distances and slopes measuring 7149 yards/ 142 slope, 6495 yards/136 slope, 6065 yards/131 slope, 5500 yards/124 slope for men and 128 for
women, and 4852 yards with a slope rating of 125 for ladies hitting from the forward sets. Uplink GPS is standard on the fleet of upscale golf carts, providing accurate info from tee
to pin. There are 150 yard stakes, 100, 200 and 250 yardage blocks, and sprinkler heads on all par fours and fives are measured to the center of the green.
Elevation changes are mild, but the topography is constantly rolling - not your typical Florida golf environment. Players will experience uneven lies and inevitably will be required to
escape from fairway bunkers. This is a beautiful course and extremely interesting layout that can be enjoyed by all levels of players - choose the correct tee area! The Blues are just
over 6000 yards, but the slope rating is 131 - enough of a challenge for the average golfer. For more info, visit our page for the property, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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