OMNI AMELIA ISLAND PLANTATION - Oak Marsh Course 904-261-6161
Florida Golf Course Review - This is a private & members only golf club located at Omni Amelia Island Plantation.
Resort Information
Oak Marsh is a classic Pete Dye design and is one of two championship courses at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort. Located just north of Jacksonville, the resort features a
variety of accommodations situated on 1350 acres adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean. Amenities at this AAA-Four Diamond property include 23 clay tennis courts, a health and fitness
center, full service spa, fine shops and dining options, heated outdoor and indoor pool areas (with lap lanes) with Jacuzzis, a beach, conference and meeting facilities, seven
miles of bike trails, plus fishing and sailing charters. For photos and information on the resort and to log on to their website by clicking here. Keep in mind - You Must Stay Here To
Play Here, as golf course play is available to guests and members only!
Oak Marsh Golf Club
The Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort features 36 holes of golf, including the Oaks Marsh and Long Point layouts. The golf courses here are serviced by one clubhouse with
a shared practice area, including grass range plus putting and chipping greens. There is a restaurant (open for breakfast and lunch) and lounge, with a full service pro shop
featuring sportswear, golf accessories and equipment rentals. On course golfers will find that both courses are well marked with 150-yard stakes, yardage blocks in the middle of
the fairways, and sprinkler heads measured to the center of the green. Each tee box also provides measurements to the center of the green. Daily information is provided for the
different sets of rotating pin placements. As with many of Florida's top courses, all three layouts at Omni Amelia Island Plantation feature golf carts with rain covers to protect clubs
during inclement weather.
We were told beforehand to expect tight fairways and challenging green complexes on Oak Marsh. The moss-draped heritage oaks and serpentine salt creeks are trademarks of
Amelia Island, and they certainly add to the beauty and difficulty of the golf course. A variety of sand bunkers and numerous bulkheaded putting surfaces are often surrounded by
grassy swales and collection areas, making for some interesting up and downs - even when misses are relatively near the green. The course has earned a 4 star rating from
Golf Digest Places to Play, and was recently selected as the 16th best course in the state of Florida by the Miami Herald. It also played host to the USGA Women's Mid Amatuer
(1998), 1991 PGA Section Championship and 1992 Society of seniors Championship.
Four sets of tees on Oak Marsh intersperse the yardage evenly, with about 500 yards of distance between each set. The blue tees play to 6500 yards and a 134 slope rating, and
the whites are a good challenge and are recommended for the average golfer at 5999 yards/128 slope. The green tees measure 5568 /120 slope and the forward tees are 4983
yards with a 115 slope rating.
Hole number one is a simple par four that is best played from the left center of the fairway. Pay attention to the day's pin placement on this elevated two-tiered green. The second is
a tree lined par five that is rated as the course's # 1 handicap. The fairway slopes toward the pond about 125 out on the left, making the right side the preferred area for the
approach. The par four 3rd is just 317 yards from the tips (293 from the white tees) but presents a putting complex that is well protected by traps and undulations/mounding. A soft,
high arcing shot is necessary to get anywhere near the pin. The green is also well guarded by bunkers on the par three 4th, and the trees on the right also help to create a
demanding shot. On the par four 5th, the left side of the fairway is the preferred landing area, as the fairway that slopes from left to right will guide any balls hit down the center to
the right side, where the approach will be blocked by trees. From the tee on six, the water hazard that comes into play past trees is not readily visible. The safe approach is to the
right side of the extremely challenging putting complex, bordered by the hazard and a bunker left, and trees on the right. The seventh is a pretty par three that features a tee shot
over a lake to a green defined by a wood retaining wall and serpentine sand bunker. There is bail out room short right for those faint of heart. Number 8 is a beautiful par four, that
demands a tee shot hit the center landing area about 80-130 out. The approach is a tight one - over water to a deep green with the hazard in play along the left and behind. If too
short on the drive or if along the right side, trees will block the second shot. The front side finishes with a tough par five with a long salt marsh running the length of the hole along
the right side. Do not miss the green on the right, as the slope drops straight down towards the hazard.
The back side begins with a short par four with a figure 8 shaped green. If the pin is on the right side behind the water hazard, the approach can be quite interesting. Eleven is
another challenging five par that is best played as a three shot hole. The pond on the right comes into play about 120 out, and the putting complex is fraught with bunkers and
collection areas. Twelve is a par three to a tight green complex, and is followed by a tricky dogleg left par four. This hole turns abruptly near the 100 yard marker, and demands an
accurate wedge or short iron to reach the well protected putting surface. The fairway narrows past the 150 stake on 14, with trees right and a waste bunker left running the length of
the hole. On 15 a tee shot aimed at the left fairway bunker (about 100 yards out) will leave the best approach. The par three 16th does not present much room for error, with trees
on both sides and a marsh intimidatingly close along the left. There is a little bit of room to miss on the right. The two closing holes bring the salt marsh directly into play. Number
17 is especially tough as the hazard must be carried off the tee, and again on the second shot, for all except those tee shots played long and to the extreme right of the fairway. The
par five 18th will be played as a three shot hole for most golfers. The fairway s open off the tee, but getting as close as possible to the marsh on the second shot is a priority. The
preferred landing area is about 120 out on the left, to about 80 yards out along the far right. This will leave a simple wedge or short iron and a decent scoring opportunity on the
number two handicapped hole.
Oak Marsh will definitely test your shot making ability. A good short game will come in handy, and those adept with the lob wedge will certainly save some strokes. This is an
interesting course - with some extremely unique and beautiful scenery - great par threes and tough par fives. This is quite a different layout compared with the Ocean Links which
we played the previous day - an example of the variety one will encounter at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort.
Visit our page for this course by clicking here.
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