THE GOLF CLUB AT NORTH HAMPTON (904-548-0000)
Florida Golf Coruse Review
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 very reasonable and 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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