PINE LAKES GOLF CLUB (386-445-0852)
Florida Golf Course Review
PINCES COURSE REVIEW
Pine Lakes Golf Club is an Arnold Palmer Signature design that features abundant water hazards and strategically placed white sand bunkering on the fairways and green-side.
As with the other layouts at Ocean Hammock Resort, the conditioning on this 4-star (golf Digest) is impeccable. Generous, rolling fairways and large undulating greens protected
by high lipped sand bunkers are characteristics that provide opportunities and challenges, and also make the Pines Course a memorable golfing experience.
At 7050 yards with a 139 slope from the blue tees (74.8 course rating) low handicappers will need their best game to score well here. Four sets of alternative tees allow mid to
high handicappers a good set of choices. The black tees measure 6586 (128 slope), the white's 6122 (122 slope), the gold's 5526 (117 slope) and the red's 5166 yards with a
124 slope for women. Resort golfers will appreciate the white tee boxes, which feature no par fours of more than 394 yards.
We found the layout to be more open and forgiving off the tee and any of the other designs at Ocean Hammock Resort with only a few tight, tree lined fairways. The opening hole
turns slightly left near the 150 stake, with bunkers protecting both sides of the green. There is plenty of room on the par three second and also off the tee on the third. The right side
is the place to be on this score-able dogleg left par five. Four bends in the opposite direction and is the course's number one handicap - at 435 yards from the tips. The water
hazard far left encourages a tee shot hit over the right fairway bunker on five, which presents one of many high-lipped greenside bunkers on this course. The wide fairway on six
narrows considerably past the 100 yard marker, with a water hazard on the right coming into play about 85 yards out. Stay left of center all the way to the green on seven, as the
water on the right is reachable off the tee and on the approach. Two formidable sand traps frame the green. After a simple par three, the closing hole on the front provides a nice
opportunity to go in strongly, as this mid length par four plays straight with a lone fairway and two greenside bunkers in the way.
Be aware of the yardage plaque on the tee box at ten - which will give you accurate distance to the water hazard. The lake on 11 cuts in towards the fairway on the right side past the
150 stake. Lay up to the stake and prepare for a tight approach to a putting complex perched right of the water hazard. A simple par three on 12 precedes one of the toughest
holes on the course. Again - be sure to check the plaque on the 13th tee box, which will provide accurate yardage to the hazard. A lay up left of the fairway bunker at the 150 stake is
the smart move here. Another water hazard on the left cuts in front about 120 yards from the green on 14 - with the 150 yard stake again providing a good target off the tee. The
fairway on 15 runs left, but the wise play is a shot aimed over the mounding along the right side - which may cut off a considerable chunk of yardage. Tee shots aimed for the left
side have a good chance of running through the fairway. Forget about going over the palms on the right however - as trouble lurks. The par threes at the Pines Course are very
score-able - and the 16th is no exception. The finishing holes offer a bit more challenge however. Seventeen doglegs to the right over water- with the thin, middle palm tree being a
good target for most golfers. Number 18 invites play along the left side, as water runs the length of the hole on the right side. The hazard juts into the fairway about 250 yards
away and again near the green on this 3-shot par five.
On Pine Lakes Golf Club you will find plenty of mounding and water hazards in the form of lakes, ponds, canals and creeks. The average player can take solace in that fact that
there are few forced carries, however. There is also plentiful fairway and greenside bunkering. It is a well conditioned golf course with enough variety that most golfers will use
every club in their bag throughout the round.
You will find an informational page for the Pines Course with a link to their website on our alphabetical and geographical listing sections for Florida Golf (click here).
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