VIERA EAST Golf Club (321-639-6500)
Florida Golf Course Review
Viera East is a beautiful championship golf course located about 35 miles east of Orlando. . It has been rated 4 stars by Golf Digest. Designed by Joe Lee, Viera East features
generous landing areas off the tee and large undulating greens guarded by numerous bunkers. Native marshlands and considerable water hazards, alongside gorgeous housing
developments, give this course a "coastal feel". Sweeping vistas of the many lakes, and towering pines and cypress trees add to the aesthetic beauty. The layout rewards good
shots, challenging low handicappers with a variety of risk/reward options. The novice golfer will find wide fairways and bail out room to make their rounds enjoyable. After playing,
we agreed with the many publications honoring Viera East as one of Florida's beat values, and the Best in Brevard County. With wonderfully conditioned, elevated greens, short
Bermuda rough, and well defined fairways and bunkers - this is a "must play" for the Orlando area. Green fees (with cart) in 2003 range from $49 to $59 for non-Florida residents
during prime season - making this one of the best bargains in the Southeast.
The opening hole is open off the tee and plays to an elevated green. A good start is possible on this par five. The second plays from an elevated tee and is beautifully bunkered.
There is more roo to be long on your approach than it appears. Another mid-length par four follows, with water all along the right side, and a ridge just short of the green. The first of
two relatively easy par threes is next. Large green-side bunkers mean your mid iron tee shot must be accurate. Numbers 5 and 6 play extremely tough. A par five that plays at just
over 500 yards features a challenging double dogleg. This is a beautiful hole, with a lake and cypress trees left and more bush to the right. The # 1 handicap sixth demands that
you are long and straight off the tee. This dogleg right cannot be cut off, and narrows considerably on the approach. Pay attention to the pin placement on this plateaued putting
surface. The seventh is a reasonable par three, unless the wind is up. A mid iron tee shot will be all carry over water, unless you choose to bail out to the left. Eight features a wide
open tee shot and a narrow approach to a well-bunkered green. This short par four provides one of the course's best birdie opportunities. The finishing hole on the front is a
challenging par four, with water along the left side intimidating your approach. Hit your tee shot long and right center and aim for the back bunker with your second shot, avoiding
the trees to the right and water in back left of the green.
The back side opens with an extremely tough par four. The water on the left creeps close to the fairway, and the lake on the right discourages the average golfer from trying to cut
the corner too closely on this long dogleg right. An easy par and possible birdie awaits on the par 5 eleventh. Grip it and rip it as there are no hazards, save for a small pond very
short left. Aim over the 150 yard stake and avoid the fairway bunkers left on twelve, and you should also score well here. The par three 13th plays long, but presents little difficulty.
Water to the right is aesthetically beautiful, but does not come into play. These 3 relatively easy holes are followed by another challenging par 5. Two long and accurate shots,
avoiding the fairway bunkers and pine trees guarding both sides of the fairway, should put you in position for a short iron or wedge to a green almost totally surrounded by water.
There is bail out room to the right for those who need it. The fifteenth is a short par four that plays tough because of fairway bunkers near the 150 yard marker, and the three traps
protecting the green. Use 1 extra club and a birdie is possible on the short par three 16th, which plays slightly uphill. The eighteenth handicap is next. This short dogleg right par
four demands a tee shot over a sawgrass wetland, with bunkers everywhere on the approach (9 total). This green is plateaued. The closing hole on Viera East demands a long tee
shot and accurate approach, avoiding the water hazard right and bunkers long.
We found our experience at Viera East to be totally enjoyable. The service was friendly and efficient. The golf course was expertly manicured from tee to green, with a great pin
placement system and fairway yardage information. The 150 stakes yard were very visible and made for great targets on many holes - particularly for newcomers like ourselves.
The green depth charts on the pin placement sheets were especially helpful. Excellent practice facilities include a full range, 8,000 sq. ft. putting green and short game area.
Mulligan's Grill and Restaurant and a fully stocked pro shop round out the facilities. This is a highly rated golfing experience - at a fantastic price. If we lived in the area - it would
surely become one of our "home" courses! Rated 4 stars and voted "Florida's Best Public Golf Course under $50" by Golf Digest - and conveniently located just east of I-95
between exits 73 and 74. Look for our informational page and web link for Viera East and other top Florida courses in our upcoming (late summer 2003) Florida Golf Vacation destination site.
Click here to visit the Two Guys Who Golf Detailed Information page with a link to this course's web page (if available).
|
