 WORLD WOODS GOLF CLUB ROLLING OAKS COURSE (352-796-5500)
Florida Golf Course Review
World Woods Golf Club in Brooksville (north of Tampa and about 70 miles from Orlando) is simply put, one of the finest golf facilities in the country! The property currently consists
of two Tom Fazio designed championship courses, a 9-hole short course plus comprehensive practice facilities that include a three hole practice course (with a par 3, 4 and 5), a
23-acre grass range with 2 adjacent short game areas featuring sand bunkers, and a 36-hole 2-acre putting course. There also is an iron range and additional practice greens
near the opening hole of both courses.
Clubhouse facilities include a nicely stocked pro shop, restaurant/lounge, banquet/outing facilities, plus locker rooms with showers for men and women. Future plans call for the
addition of on-site accommodations along with meeting facilities that will expand World Wood's allure to the corporate world. A third championship course is also in the planning
stages. Currently the property boasts and outing capacity of about 240 guests. The property has a wonderful website that features hole descriptions plus a program that allows
visitors to view all 18 holes on both courses in virtual reality. Click here to access this website.
Tom Fazio has said that the World Woods designs represent "his best work"! Sports Illustrated Magazine's Tom Garrity considers the practice facility here as one of the most
pleasurable he has visited in the world. The awards for the golf courses are too many to mention...but here are a few: Pine Barrens - # 75 on list of America's Greatest Courses by
Golf Digest (1999); # 38 on list of Top 100 Golf Courses in the Country by Golf Magazine; # 1 in Florida by GolfWeek in 2000, # 76 on list of Top 100 Golf Courses in the World by
Golf Magazine in 2001. The Rolling Oaks Course has been named #59 of America's Best courses by GolfWeek; #10 Daily Fee Course in the Country by Golf & Travel; # 46 in the
Top 100 Courses in the USA by Golf Digest. The golfing public however will probably remember World Woods as the host to the 2002 Shell Wide World of Golf Tournament
between Phil Mickelson and David Toms in 2002.
ROLLING OAKS Review
Both courses are well marked with yardage plates posted on the fairways at 100, 150 and 200 yards, plus sprinkler heads that are measured to the center of the green. The
Rolling Oaks Course features 4 sets of tee boxes that play to distances and slopes measuring 7032 yards/132 slope, 6520 yards/125 slope, 6069 yards/119 slope, and 5245
yards with a slope of 123 for women from the forward tees.
Rolling Oaks, as the name implies, features a rolling topography that is highlighted by an abundance of towering oaks draped in Spanish Moss. This is a more traditional design
than that of the Pine Barren Course, with generous sloping fairways leading to undulating greens that are often framed by deep sand bunkers. In total more than 70 sand traps line
the landing zones off the tee or are situated greenside, with a lake alongside the 8th and 9th holes providing the only 2 water hazards. The rich green fairways contrasting with the
white sand bunkers and abundant azalea bushes that are featured near the tee and green complexes, provides an environment reminiscent of the landscaping of Augusta National.
The front nine consists of a fairly even terrain while the back nine is considerably more mounded with a mixture of uphill and downhill lies. Bunkering plays a significant roll in
challenging golfers of any skill level from any position on the course. The greens are protected well by these bunkers but they are otherwise approachable with not much
mounding in front. This course presents something for everyone - challenge from the tips, scoring opportunities from the middle tees, and a player friendly experience for ladies
playing from the forward tees.
World Woods is the most highly regarded golf facility in the area with 36 championship holes and a first class practice area which is considered to be the best in Florida. This is a
MUST PLAY - and certainly worth the reasonable drive from the Tampa or Orlando areas. For more info, visit our page for the course, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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