BLACK BEAR GOLF CLUB (352) 357-4732
Florida Golf Course Review
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.
Six sets of tees provide players with choices of playing to distances and slopes measuring between 7041 yards/140 slope/rating of 74.1 from the championship tees to 3723
yards/110 slope/rating of 62.3 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. Only one hole has water in play, but 100+ 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. 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 P.D 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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