Florida Women's Golf Earns No. 2 Seed To NCAA East Regional In Athens, Ga.

GAINESVILLE, Fla.

The fourth-ranked University of Florida women’s golf team officially earned a bid Monday to the NCAA East Regional to be played, May 8-10, at the University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens, Ga.

The Lady Gators, champions of the Southeastern Conference, received a No. 2 seed in the regional. Duke, the Atlantic Coast Conference champion, earned the No. 1 seed in Athens as the nation’s top-ranked team.

A total of 21 teams and three individuals will take part in the event with the top eight teams and the top two individuals who are not part of those eight teams, advancing to the NCAA Championships, May 20-23, in Albuquerque, N.M. A total of 324 participants have been selected for regional competition across the nation at the three regional sites.

UCLA is the top seed in the Central Regional in Austin, Texas, and Southern Cal is the No. 1 seed in the West Regional to be played in Lincoln, Calif. A total of eight SEC teams earned regional bids.

Other teams in the NCAA East Regional include: 3. Georgia, 4. Auburn, 5. Wake Forest, 6. Tennessee, 7. Virginia, 8. New Mexico, 9. Vanderbilt, 10. Louisville, 11. South Carolina, 12. Furman, 13. East Carolina, 14. Georgia State, 15. UCF, 16. Missouri, 17. Indiana, 18. North Carolina-Wilmington, 19. Jacksonville State, 20. Charleston Southern and 21. Jackson State.

Joining Duke and Florida as conference champions and automatic qualifiers in the East field are New Mexico (Mountain West Conference), Furman (Southern Conference), North Carolina-Wilmington (Colonial Athletic Association), Jacksonville State (Ohio Valley Conference), Charleston Southern (Big South Conference) and Jackson State (Southwestern Athletic Conference).



Florida is seeking its third national title and first since capturing consecutive championships from 1985-86. The Lady Gators have reached an NCAA regional for the ninth consecutive season and the 15th time in the past 16 years.

Ultimate springtime golf fitness tips for "real" golfers

By Tim McDonald,
National Golf Editor

For those of you unfortunate enough to live in the North, you must be salivating at the thought of the spring golf season.

Hold on, Tiger. You ain't the man you used to be. You can't just jump up and go straight to the golf course after a long winter of sloth and mold.

Now, you will find any number of charlatans willing to sell you their total golf fitness regimens. These sleazoids always assume you're a golfer interested in a cleaner, healthier way of living and golfing. I've seen you out on the course, and I know that's not the sort of thing you're "into."

So here is my total golf fitness regimen for the "real" golfer:

• For God's sake, you have to strengthen your core! This involves eating really hard food, like jawbreakers. Eat a bag of those and have your neighbor punch you in the gut to see if your core is all it can be.

Options: Month-old fudge, Purina Dog Chow, pine bark.

• You also have to really work your obliques, I mean really work the hell out of them. Here's the perfect exercise for that. Lie flat on your back with knees bent slightly wider than your hips. If you have really fat hips, you're either going to have to really stretch your knees like in a cartoon, like The Elastic Man from India, or just skip this exercise. In fact, if you have really fat hips, just skip playing golf, nobody wants to see you out on the course.

Now, you slim-hipped people reach your hands to the ceiling like you're crying out for the Lord Jesus Christ to spare you from your miserable existence. You can hold light hand-weights, or not. What do I care? Lift your head and chest toward the ceiling and rotate to reach both hands just outside of your fat, right knee. Repeat on the left side. Now, take a breather. Ask Christ for forgiveness.

• Breathing exercises: Breathing properly and deeply is critical, especially for those tense moments on the course when normally you would start crying.
This deep-breathing exercise involves attending your local adult movie house, or calling up one of those sites on your Internet browser. Follow your instincts. It's either that or follow mine, and then you're looking at jail time.
• Horizontal abduction/adduction: I can't give you much help here, because I always get "horizontal" confused with "vertical," and I have no idea what adduction is. Who came up with that word, anyway? It's a stupid word and should be eliminated from the English language, if it's even English.

• Standing hip rotation: Don't do this. It makes you look like a girl.

• Alcohol fitness: How many times have you lost $2 Nassaus because while you were getting hamboned, your playing partners were just holding up that bottle of Jack Black pretending to drink?

Well, no need to waste good liquor. You can still drink and maintain your competitive edge. You just need to build up a tolerance. Stand upright in a dark closet, with a wide stance, and suck it down. Keep drinking until your wife leaves you.

• Aerobics: Ha! Don't make me laugh. This is golf!

• Putting: Don't bother to practice putting. Putting in golf is overrated. I play golf maybe 200 times a year and I've yet to meet anyone who can putt. You either make it or you don't. If you miss, just keep putting until the ball goes in the hole. Simple.

• Seniors: As we age, our bodies react differently, so seniors must prepare for golf differently than young punks. An important thing to remember is that there is an inverse relationship of increased ear hair to laughably short drives off the tee.

So keep those ear hairs trim and neat. If you're proud of your thick mane of ear hair, don't sweat it. If you're short off the tee, you're probably small in other areas, and I think you know what I'm talking about.

• Excuses: A healthy psychological outlook is a must for Better Golf. If you can convince yourself that the snap hook you hit into the weeds over there is not your doing at all, you'll retain the confidence needed to excel in the game.

The first time you smack one of your all-too-typical lousy shots, turn to your playing partner and snarl," "Will you stop that!" Look at him, looking all hurt and everything. Who would have thought golf fitness could be so much fun?

• Torque development in the downswing: This is so important, I can barely contain myself. This is vital to any golfer who has ever wanted to improve his score. You could even say it is absolutely critical in terms of reaching your full potential as a golfer and knowing what it is to be truly human.

• Alignment and posture: Face the target squarely and stand erect, with your rump jutting out slightly. Feels a little silly, doesn't it? Can you think of another situation in life where you would position yourself in such an odd manner? I can't.

Immelman’s Steely Nerves Win Masters

Trevor Immelman's swing has been compared to Ben Hogan by one of golf's great players, Gary Player, a three-time Masters Champion.

There is another quality Immelman shares with Hogan that until Sunday at Augusta National Golf Club probably had not received enough attention.

Hogan, also a Masters Champion, was recognized as golf's Wee Ice Mon for his steely nerves. Immelman demonstrated over 72 holes at Augusta National that he has the same kind of determination and cool demeanor.

Immelman shot a final-round 75 Sunday for a 280 total, eight-under-par, and a three-shot victory over four-time Champion Tiger Woods. It is the highest final round score by a winner since Arnold Palmer shot 75 in 1962.

Immelman made it look easy at times, but everybody knows winning the Masters certainly is anything but. He showed resolve and perseverance at every turn. When he needed to hit a key shot or make a clutch putt to ward off challengers, he did. It was quite a display of golf.

Immelman underwent surgery last December 18 to remove a non-cancerous tumor lodged beneath his ribs. He didn't touch a golf club for six weeks and then only was allowed to hit a few pitches and chips.

Now, less than four months later, he is at the pinnacle.

"I made a pretty fast recovery, got back out on tour eager to play, but my game wasn't quite there," he said. "I wasn't happy with the way I was playing. I felt I had to start from zero again. Here I am after missing the cut last week Masters Champion. It's the craziest thing I've ever heard of."

Immelman knew the conditions would be difficult, with a blowing, swirling wind.

"It was a tough day out there," Immelman said. "I knew it was going to be tough out there for us and I knew I had to stick to my game plan, play one shot at a time, and just be tough. I'm proud of myself for doing that.

"This has been the ultimate roller coaster ride and I hate roller coasters."

Two American challengers with six Masters titles between them - Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson - were poised to challenge Immelman but came up short.

They shot even-par 72 in the final round. Woods was runner-up by three shots; Mickelson finished at 286, six strokes behind the winner.

"I just didn't quite have it this week," Woods said. "I didn't make the putts I needed to make this entire week."

Mickelson, winner in 2004 and 2006, posted three rounds at par or better, including a second-round 68. His inability to play the par 3s with efficiency was costly. He made double-bogey and bogey the final two rounds at the 16th hole. He also had two bogeys each at the par-3 sixth and 12th holes.

"I hit two good shots today and made bogeys on four and 16, putting them in a tough spot and three-putting," Mickelson said. "Another three feet and the ball could have rolled down and I could have had a good opportunity (for birdie) both times. Some of it might have been play but some of it might have just been unfortunate."

Mickelson's most unfortunate break came at the par-5 eighth hole during Saturday's third round. His third shot hit the flagstick and caromed away. Instead of a short birdie putt, he three-putted. His charge had ended and try as he might, there was little he could do in the final round.

"I was hoping to make more of a run than I did," Mickelson said. "But it was a tough day and I felt like I had to fight pretty hard to keep it around par. But I certainly had some chances that could have brought it lower. It just doesn't look like it would have been enough anyway.

"I thought I struck the ball pretty well this week and it's encouraging that playing the majors I'm striking the ball better than probably I ever have. My chipping came around this week. It hasn't been where I wanted it."

Vartan Kupelian is the golf writer at The Detroit News.

Wetterich's mission: master the weekend

Jupiter's Brett Wetterich found out last year why there's only been one player to win the Masters in his first try in the past seven decades.

Few pro golfers have had a wilder ride than Wetterich in their first trek to Augusta National. The Jupiter resident was tied for the first-round lead with Justin Rose at 69, then shot a 73 to take a one-shot lead after 36 holes as he tried to join Fuzzy Zoeller (1979), Gene Sarazen (1935) and Horton Smith (1934) as the only rookies to win the Masters.

But Wetterich's lack of course knowledge caught up with him on the weekend. He closed with rounds of 83 and 77 to finish tied for 37th. Still, he has learned something important about himself as he prepares for a return trip for this week's Masters.

"I know I have the ability to play that golf course," Wetterich said by phone Friday from Humble, Texas, where he is playing in the Shell Houston Open. "It's obviously one of the tougher ones we play all year. It was nice to play well the first two days and have a chance on the weekend. At least I didn't play horrible and was back home after two days."

Wetterich knows all about making quick transitions. In late 2005, he was back at the PGA Tour's Qualifying School after he lost his card, but less than a year later he was representing the United States on the Ryder Cup team. That's how quickly things can change in this game.

But there's no bigger stage in the golf world than the Masters. Having a chance to lead the most famous golf tournament for two days is an experience few pros enjoy. Wetterich still laughs when he tells a story about how a buddy of his was in the Florida Keys last year when he asked a guy at a bar who was leading the Masters.

"When he was told it was 'some guy named Wetterich,' he was like, 'Are you kidding me?' " Wetterich said. "That was the one of the neatest things - I did lead the Masters for two days. It's documented. Nobody can take that away from me."

But Wetterich thought for several months this year he wouldn't get a return trip to Augusta National because he was told he likely would need season-ending surgery for a torn labrum in his left shoulder. He admitted the prospect of no Masters hurt him almost as much as the shoulder.

"I was really down for a while, because I didn't think I would be able to play this year, and who knows if I would ever get back," Wetterich said. "Ever since that tournament ended last year, I've really been looking for my chance to go back."

Wetterich admits he learned plenty last year. He said his biggest mistake was to try and pretend this was just another golf tournament on just another golf course. That obviously is not the case.

"The first couple of days I got by because I was hitting the ball good and making some key putts when I needed to," he said. "But it caught up with me on the weekend. This course is so totally different than any one we play on Tour. I can't play as aggressively as I normally do by going at pins. I'm still going to be aggressive when I can, but you've got to pick your spots."

At 34, Wetterich believes he'll have more return trips to the Masters. But who knows how many chances he'll have to contend? There's plenty of top pros who had that one chance at the green jacket but never got another sniff. At least he won't be as wide-eyed this time around.

"Last year was a great experience," he said. "To have that many eyes watching me was a pretty neat thing. I can't wait to get there."

Hoover captures Ladies Club Championship

HOOVER CAPTURES LADIES CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE

Sonja Hoover overcame two double bogies on par 3's in the final round to win the 2007 Ladies Club Championship. This was Hoover's first club championship title. Peggy Radcliffe finished second with former champion Suzi Davis in third.

RESULTS:

GROSS DIVISION:

1st Sonja Hoover, 2nd Peggy Radcliffe, 3rd Suzi Davis

NET DIVISION:

1st Van Perkins, 2nd Dorothy Maurer, 3rd Maggie McGory

Sheila Johnson Adds Fla. Golf Resort to Portfolio

Black Entertainment Television co-founder Sheila C. Johnson, who has ownership stakes in three Washington professional sports teams, yesterday added a PGA Tour championship golf course in Florida to her hospitality company's growing portfolio.

Johnson's Salamander Hospitality bought the the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Tampa for $35 million from Golf Trust of America, according to a spokesperson for Johnson. Golf Trust, founded in 1996, is a publicly owned company that manages upscale golf courses.

The move is the latest in a series of acquisitions by Johnson, ranging from a multi-million dollar investment in the sports teams to an upscale food service and high-end resorts.

Prem Devadas, president of Middleburg-based Salamander Hospitality, which is Johnson's holding company for her resorts, said Innisbrook's golf locale will dovetail with the celebrity glamour generated by Johnson's interests in Washington sports teams. Johnson is part-owner of the Washington Capitals, the Washington Wizards and the WNBA Mystics.

"Innisbrook now gives us a property that we envision becoming one of the top golf destinations in the country," Devadas said. "A hospitality company with that type of diverse portfolio is what we set out to do and we are in a growth mode. I expect in the next five years, we are going to add several other very special properties to our portfolio."

That marketing strategy was in evidence at Monday's announcement, which was attended by former Washington Redskins Darrell Green, Art Monk and Charles Mann.

"She is one of the most interesting people in Washington," said Carol Joynt, owner of Nathan's Restaurant in Georgetown and host of an online interview show. "She is a house on fire. When you've got money, you've got to spend it."

Innisbrook is a 900-acre resort with four golf courses, and is consistent with Johnson's latest ventures into tourism and entertainment. The resort's signature course is Copperhead, which hosts the PODS Championship event.

Johnson plans to renovate Innsbrook's tennis and fitness facilities and develop a luxury spa in the next two years.
Johnson's company is currently developing Salamander Resort & Spa, a 168-room luxury resort on 340 acres in Middleburg, Va., scheduled to open in the fall of 2009. Salamander Hospitality also owns and operates Woodlands Resort & Inn, near Charleston, S.C.

Salamander Management Services, a subsidiary of Salamander Hospitality, is helping develop the Royal Cosmopolitan Hotel in New Orleans, and The Colosseum in Blacksburg, Va. The company has also launched a division of gourmet prepared food markets called Market Salamander with locations in Middleburg and Palm Beach, Fla.

Johnson two years ago bought into Lincoln Holdings, the umbrella company AOL mogul Ted Leonsis formed several years ago for his local sports team interests, which includes the Capitals, Mystics and minority shares in the Verizon Center and Wizards. Johnson holds the titles of president, managing partner and governor for the Mystics.
--Thomas Heath

Argos Finish Third in the Samford Intercollegiate Golf Tournament

ONEONTA, Ala. - In a field of predominately Division I opponents, the Argos out-shot fourteen teams, and finished just behind New Orleans and Eastern Kentucky. The Argos team score of 867 was only seven strokes behind New Orleans, and just four strokes back of Eastern Kentucky. Meanwhile, Tobias Rosendahl (Fr. / Haljarp, Sweden) had the best individual round of the tournament, with a seven under par, 65, to climb all the way into second place overall. His outstanding round helped the Argos out-shoot every team except New Orleans in the final round.

Josh Gallman, from USC-Upstate, was the overall winner with an eight under par, 208 total score. Gallman put together rounds of 69, 71, and 68 to capture the title. Rosendahl tied for second place overall with Trey Bowling (Eastern Kentucky) and Hector Arias (New Orleans), with a total score of six under par, 210. Rosendahl's third round score of 65, was one stroke better than Bowling's round of 66, also in the final round.

The West Florida team was in fourth place after round one, only four strokes behind the team leader Eastern Kentucky. West Florida had a team score of 292, while EKU led with a 288, and USC Upstate and New Orleans are tied for second with a team score of 289. The host school, Samford, was fifth with a score of 295, which put five schools within seven strokes of each other. At the end of round two, the Argos had slipped to fifth place, but within eight strokes of leader Eastern Kentucky. New Orleans was in second place, and they would surpass EKU in the final round, while the Argos would surpass both USC-Upstate and Samford in the final round.

Matthew Galloway (Sr. / Valrico, Fla.) recorded a hole-in-one during round two, on his way to a second round score of 75. Galloway would finish the third round with a one under par 71, for a combined score of 220, which tied him for 16th place overall. Meanwhile, Otto Bonning (Fr. / Skanor, Sweden), recorded the second best round for UWF, with his two under par, 70, during round two. Bonning would finish the tournament tied for 29th best, with a total of 224.

Kyle Scott (Fr. / Edenvale, South Africa) and Federico Damus (Sr. / Posadas, Argentina), had the Argos best scores in round one, with even par scores of 72. Scott would finish the tournament tied for 23rd best, with a six over par total of 222. Meanwhile, Damus put together a strong final round score of 73, which helped the Argos to catapult past two teams in the final round. His total three round score of 227 was good for 40th best in the tournament. Seventeen teams and 88 total golfers teed off on the 6,987 yard par 72 course. The outstanding finish by the Argos, followed previous tournament success that included a team victory in the Argonaut Invitational, and an individual championship for Matthew Galloway, in the tournament at Lakeland, Florida last month.

Golf: Norman, Dye play new Tuscany Reserve

Pete Dye was amazed. He may have been impressed by his co-design of Tuscany Reserve with Greg Norman. But it was the condition.

Specifically, it was the seadwarf paspalum, a saltwater-tolerant grass on the Tuscany Reserve layout in North Naples, that the noted architect couldn’t stop raving about during an appearance at the 2-year-old course on Friday.

“I haven’t seen a golf course like this anyplace in the world in as good a shape and condition as this one. Ever,’’ Dye said. “I mean anyplace. Really. And I’ve seen a few.’’

So has Norman, who enjoyed working with Dye at The Medalist, Norman’s course on the East Coast.

“I’ve always been a huge fan of Pete’s, ever since day one when we worked on The Medalist,’’ Norman said after playing the course with Dye. “To hear what he sees, it’s just phenomenal. I watched him go around today and he’d kind of disappear and go look at something. You say ‘OK, now, what’s he looking at?’ He’s got that mind that continually works and works and works.’’

The appearance of Norman, 53, and Dye, 82, came less than two months after the reported sale of the property ended. In early January, an e-mail was sent to the prospective buyer from a community sales agent saying developer WCI Communites Inc. “is no longer looking to sell it” and that marketing is gearing up again.

WCI invested hundreds of millions in the community to create an authentic Tuscan village with arched stone bridges, towering fountains, pavers and lush landscaping, including an impressive barrier berm of bushes and trees facing Interstate 75.

Later in the afternoon, Norman and Dye met with members, and WCI executives David Fry and Ed D’Alessandro.

Friday capped a big week for Norman. A week ago, he played in the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico on a course he designed. It was his second PGA Tour event of the season — the most official events since he played two on the PGA Tour and two on the Champions Tour in 2005.

He’ll also play in the BMW Asian Open in Shanghai in April, and would like to play in the British Open and Senior British Open in the summer.

“In May, I might try to play a couple,’’ he said, before catching himself. “I’m getting too far ahead of myself. I feel like I’m back on the tour.’’

Earlier in the week, Norman found out he’ll get to be closer to the tour.

He was named the captain of the International Team for the 2009 Presidents Cup at Harding Park in San Francisco. Fred Couples will captain the U.S. Team.

The PGA Tour runs the Presidents Cup, meaning Norman dealt with commissioner Tim Finchem, with whom he’s had a frosty relationship over the years.

“Very good dialogue with Finchem for about two weeks,’’ Norman said. “I’d ask him questions and he’d come back with the answers and I’d have more questions after the answers. The process was handled well, professionally. That’s why, at the end of the day, after sitting down and figuring it all out, it was probably the right decision to make.’’

Norman wanted to make sure everyone was aware of what the expectations were for him and of him, and how those would fit in with his various business and golf interests.

“I do travel a lot, a little different than Freddie in that regard,’’ Norman said.

The Presidents Cup will be in October, less than two months before Norman’s Merrill Lynch Shootout at Tiburon in North Naples. Couples has been a frequent competitor in the unofficial PGA Tour event as well.

Woody Austin and Mark Calcavecchia won the two-person event over Norman and Bubba Watson in December.

“I still continue to get notes from players or volunteers or corporate sponsors,’’ Norman said. “All of the players write back and say what a great week it was. We always try to make the next year better than the year before.’’

Up To Par: Good lies in this Hammock

The complementary landscaping has resulted in Hammock Bay being declared a Gold Sanctuary course by the Audobon Society.

Despite all the surrounding developments (of both Hammock Bay and Marco Shores), there’s not a hole on the course that makes one tentative for fear of sending a ball through someone’s window.

In The Beginning

Local golfers affectionately called it the Shores.

Officially, it was called Marco Shores Golf Club, a course devoid of any great character, but popular because of its wide open fairways that invited pulling out a driver on almost every hole.

Truth be told, though, Marco Shores was beginning to show its age as the new Millennium rolled in.

The clubhouse had a diner-type feel, the pro-shop was rudimentary to say the least, and the practice facility was limited to a putting green.

Play was decidedly weather-dependent, meaning that when it had rained, some of the holes sported instant water hazards.

Nobody who remembers the course, for example, would deny squelching through the marsh that masqueraded the 10th hole after even moderate downpours.

Landscaping was incidental, too, with the course apparently plunked down in cleared land off the then SR951, about four miles down the drag from Marco Island.

Change was in the air, however.

WCI Communities moved in on the cusp of the wave of development that pervaded in the early to mid 2000, and announced plans for a new 247-acre community of towers and townhouses anchored by a brand-new and exclusive golf course.

Existing low-rise condos and townhouses along Mainsail Drive would not be affected by the plans, but their assorted golf course views certainly would.

The Changes, The Result

Four years ago, PGA tour veteran Peter Jacobsen and his colleague Jim Hardy officially opened up the Hammock Bay course with a flurry of media attention.

The twosome had completely redesigned the course to the extent that it would be virtually unrecognizable from the original.

In a truly mammoth operation, thousands of tons of dirt was excavated to form new lakes and irrigation reservoirs, allowing the eventual creation of undulating -— and indeed even hilly — fairways on the new course.

At the same time, the various buildings had forged ahead, and the newly-created private and gated community took shape to the West of the property.

In tandem with a still-to-be constructed golf clubhouse is a sport and recreation center that comprises tennis, spa facilities and a tropical lagoon-style pool.

Tour de Fours (and Threes and Fives)

A year-and-a-half at the helm of the golf club and sports complex, General Manager Rick Rainville enthuses about the condition of the course, the omnipresent drought threat notwithstanding.

A PGA golf professional formerly from Rhode Island, Rainville is more than happy to take time out from his busy administrative schedule to show off a couple of holes.

The course’s trump card, he says, is the intuitive use by Jacobsen and Hardy of South African-developed seadwarf paspalum grass, which, above all, is salt-tolerant.

“It helps water management, and can be mowed at different heights, so the tees fairways and greens are all paspalum,” he says.

Bottom line, he adds, is that you hit the fairways, you’ll have good lies as the ball sits beautifully up.

Immediately evident, too, is the judicious combination of fairways and attractive waste areas that are dotted with native vegetation.

It makes economic sense to place fairways where they’re logically needed, Rainville says, but a feather in the course’s cap is that the complementary landscaping has resulted in Hammock Bay being declared a Gold Sanctuary course by the Audobon Society.

Out on one of the holes, member John McMillan stops Rainville to compliment him and his staff on the course’s condition.

A five-time-a-week player, McMillan reckons the course compares with the best in Southwest Florida.

“And abroad,” says the Scottish-born Marco resident.

About A Round

Starter John Rewald gives the full course run down before dispatching you to the first tee — pin positions for the day, divot procedure (don’t replace, use sand) and what to expect on the greens on this particular day.

“You’ll enjoy the front nine,” he says, “but the back nine is where the course really comes alive.”

He’s talking, one discovers, about the amazing peaks and valleys the designers achieved with all that fill.

Despite all the surrounding developments (of both Hammock Bay and Marco Shores), there’s not a hole on the course that makes one tentative for fear of sending a ball through someone’s window.

At the same time, the longer holes almost all tantalizingly suggest: “use a driver, use a driver,” but that’s where the tried-and-trusted notion of course management holds true.

Some fairways are obviously wide enough to give it a full go, but others (in hindsight) are deceptive, and when you pull out a slightly more accurate long iron you can almost sense designers Jacobsen and Hardy nodding in agreement.

Five sets of tees on each hole elevate or diminish the degree of difficulty, but the greens turn out to be the great levelers.

Fast, but true, many of them have undulations that require a lot more than the cursory quick assessments that most casual golfers make before committing to putts.

Thus, they can be infinitely satisfying or beyond infuriating, particularly if one has made a green in regulation.

But that’s the essence of the game, and, as the saying goes, there’s always that one shot that will bring you back for more.

Hammock Bay is a private club with non equity, refundable fees of $50,000 and $21 in cart fees year-round per game. There are no assessments, and no minimums for food and beverages.

Some reciprocals (primarily with other WCI Communities clubs) are available.

Outside memberships are available, and the overall cap is 375 members.

The club’s Website is hammockbay.com.

FWSGA District 2

The FWSGA District 2 tournament was held on February 25, at Marsh Landing Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach. The format for the District 2 tournament was Individual Stroke Play. The one day district tournaments are designed to give opportunities to FWSGA members to play in championship caliber events in their local areas. A “Closest to the Pin Contest” was conducted on all the par 3 holes at Marsh Landing. The winners were Cynthia Hastings hole 3, Shirley Budden hole 7, Susie Fonde hole 11, and Denise Carr hole 17. Congratulations to all the “Closest to the Pin” winners! The low net and gross winners of the District 2 Tournament will move on to play in the Overall District Championship at Falcon’s Fire Golf Club on December 1^st, 2008.

Full Results

Championship Flight

1^st Gross Therese Quinn 74

1^st Net Shirley Budden 74

2^nd Gross Rhonda Ferguson 78

2^nd Net Tama Caldbaugh 76

First Flight

1^st Gross May Jacques 75

1^st Net Susan Rampelberg 73

2^nd Gross Elizabeth Breza 83

2^nd Net Jan DeMarco 74

Second Flight

1^st Gross Suzanne Gray 86

1^st Net Karen Tutwiler 76

2^nd Gross Kaye Boyer 90

2^nd Net Emily Brown 77

Third Flight

1^st Gross Lois Wilhelm 89

1^st Net Denise Carr 76

2^nd Gross Kileen Kaufman 93

2^nd Net Dorothy Johnson 78

UCF duo shared medalist honors at UCF Rio Pinar Invitational

IRVING, Texas (www.ucfathletics.com) - One day after sharing medalist honors at the UCF Rio Pinar Invitational, junior Greg Forest (Palm City, Fla./Martin County) and sophomore Mike Stern (Miami, Fla./Killian) of UCF were named Conference USA Men's Golfers of the Week on Wednesday. The two Knights helped UCF claim the tournament title at the 18-team event as they shared co-medalist honors.

Forest and Stern both finished at 205 (-11) at the three-round event, which featured four of the top-40 squads in the nation. The tournament victory was the first for the Knights since they won the same event in 2005. In the second round, both players equaled the UCF 18-hole record with respective scores of eight-under 64.

Stern closed the event by carding a two-under 69 in the final round, while Forest posted a one-under 71. The tournament victory was the first for both players. Prior to the event, no Knight had taken medalist honors at a tournament since 2005.

The C-USA honor is the third of Forest's career and the first for Stern. UCF players have garnered weekly honors from the league on three occasions in 2007-08. A week ago, junior David Johnson (Palm Bay, Fla./Melbourne) was recognized by the conference office.

Following the tournament victory, the Knights moved to 20th in the Golfstat national rankings. The UCF Rio Pinar Invitational served as the second event of the spring campaign for the team.

The Knights will not be in action again until March 23, when they compete at the Hootie at Bulls Bay in South Carolina.

For the latest news and information on the Knights, tickets or apparel, log on to www.ucfathletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. Also check out www.ucfphotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.

Five sunshine state resorts where kids and clubs can live together in harmony

By Alan Bastable and Joe Passov

The great Chevy Chase proved in National Lampoon's Vacation that family trips are a little tougher to get right than buddy trips, corporate retreats and couples escapes. An ideal family trip requires three elements: breathing room for mom and dad, a fine golf course, and plenty of activities for the kids. This handful of Florida resorts proves that you don't have to choose between babies and birdies.

Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club
Palm Harbor
800-456-2000, innisbrookgolfresort.com
Busch Gardens Get-a-Way Package rates start at $309 per night, two-night minimum
This is about as good as it gets if your kids are into golf and baseball. Within a few minutes drive from this Tampa resort you'll find the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies in spring training. It's also just 45 minutes to Busch Gardens, and the package here includes suite accommodations with a kitchenette, two adult tickets (kids tickets available at the front desk) and a Kids Club gift at check-in. The golf is pretty darn good, too. The Copperhead course tops the list of four layouts here, and has long been a PGA Tour stop. The Island course was recently renovated, while the Highland North and South tracks are no pushovers, even if they lack the challenge of their siblings. Kids will have to pay to play in the high season of March, but it's free in summer.

The Breakers
Palm Beach
888-273-2537, thebreakers.com
Room rates in March start at $550 per night
Despite its museum-like facade and interiors that epitomize Palm Beach's Old World elegance, The Breakers is remarkably family-friendly. March rack rates might alarm conservative spenders, but at least children under 16 stay free in the same room as their parents. There's a dizzying array of activities for kids, starting with a 6,160-squarefoot Family Entertainment Center that includes a heated oceanfront pool, a movie room, and a game room with Playstation 2 and Xbox. Kids 3 to 12 can enjoy the Coconut Crew Interactive Camp (scavenger hunts and waterfront activities), while the whole family can mix it up in the Breakers Fun Zone with its arcade games. The Breakers' Ocean course is one of the state's oldest, a pint-sized pearl that dates to 1896. If the kids aren't up to the rigors of this short, tight track, the Palm Beach Par-3 course is just down the road, while the private Breakers Rees Jones Course is a 20-minute drive from the resort.

Ginn Reunion Resort
Reunion
888-418-9611, reunionresort.com
Ultimate Family Package Rates start at $179 inclusive, per person per night
The Family Package at this Orlando-area resort includes a one-day pass per person to any Walt Disney Theme Park and a one-day pass to either Universal Studios, Universal Islands of Adventure or Sea World. On-site you'll find complimentary "dive-in" movies (films are shown to guests floating in the pool) and access to a five-acre water park, fitness center, bicycle rentals and spa. The "Kids Crew" supervises guests aged 4-12, giving parents time to enjoy themselves alone. On the course, the Arnold Palmer Legacy layout has kidfriendly tees and a resort credit issued at check-in gives junior golfers a discount. If Dad needs more of a challenge, he'll find it at Reunion's two other courses: the Independence, a Tom Watson design, and the newer Tradition, a Jack Nicklaus creation. Watson's layout is the most distinctive, a faux-links that's liberally sprinkled with mounds, bunkers and greenside chipping areas. The Palmer and Nicklaus tracks offer a more traditional Florida experience, with roomy fairways accented by lakes and flowers.

Amelia Island Plantation
Amelia Island
888-261-6161, aipfl.com
All-Inclusive Package rates start at $767 per night
With the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Intracoastal Waterway to the west, Amelia has plenty of aquatic appeal, with boating, fishing and kayaking among the popular options. The golf courses are worthy of the kid's activity menu, too, particularly Pete Dye's Ocean Links, which has tees of 4,341 and 5,007 yards for junior to tackle. Oak Marsh, another Dye layout, along with the newly acquired Amelia River and the private Long Point courses round out the options. With the All- Inclusive Package, you get unlimited green fees per night of stay, plus access to bikes and tennis, the Health & Fitness Center, Kids Camp Amelia (nature clinics, games, arts and crafts for ages 3-10), and most nature tours.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
Destin
800-622-1038, sandestin.com
Family Golf Package rates start at $363 per night
The leading golf resort in northwest Florida has four courses, including the Raven, a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design that hosts the Champions Tour. Parents might be more interested in the Baytowne course, which offers free golf to children under 12 (when accompanied by a paying adult) and rental clubs from U.S. Kids Golf. The junior tee box is a manageable 3,002 yards and kids get their own yardage guide and scorecard. Off-course attractions include a sailing program that specializes in courses for children and teens, a five-acre nature park, plus a beachside, landscaped putting course. The adult golf also includes the resort's original course, the Links, and the Rees Jones-designed Burnt Pine.

Seminoles Finish In 2nd Place At Season-Opening Gator Invitational

All-American Blixt leads three Seminoles in top-10 of the individual standings.

Feb. 10, 2008

GAINAESVILLE, Fla. - The No. 13 Florida State men's golf team, with three individuals earning top-10 placings, finished in second place in the final standings at the SunTrust Gator Invitational at the University of Florida Golf Course. Senior All-American Jonas Blixt and sophomore Seath Lauer finished in a tied for sixth place while freshman Drew Kittleson finished in a tie for ninth place in the individual standings.

Florida State, which is ranked No. 13 in the latest ranking by GolfWeek Magazine and No. 15 by GolfStat, finished with an eight-under par team score of 832. They finished behind the host Gators and ahead of five other teams ranked in the nation's top 30 including No. 9 Duke who finished in a tie for sixth place in the team standings. The Gators entered the event ranked No. 12 in the GolfWeek poll and No. 18 by GolfStat. Duke's Michael Schachner and Zach Sucher of UAB were co-individual medalists with identical scores of seven-under par 203. It was decided not to play a playoff and the two shared medalist honors.

"While I am disappointed that we did not challenge Florida in the final round, I am proud of the way we finished the final nine holes," said Head Coach Trey Jones. "This team loves to compete and never quits. When you have three guys finish in the top 10 and four in the top 21, it shows that our young guys are beginning to show signs of improvement. There were not two players in the field who played as well as Seath and Drew over the final 36 holes of the event."

Blixt (Hammaro, Sweden) earned his 13th career top-10 finish as he closed the event with a three-under par total of 207. His 207 total ranks as the best three-round score of his career and is six strokes better than his 213 total which earned him medalist honors at the 2007 Gator Invitational. Blixt carded back-to-back scores of 67 in the first and second rounds of the event.

Lauer (Huntington, Ind.) tied his career low with a 67 in the final round of the event and finished with a career-low score of 207. His tied for sixth place finish is the second best of his career - behind only his tied for fourth place finish at the spring 2007 Linger Longer Invitational. Lauer finished the event with scores of 68 in the second round and 67 in the third round and moved up 15 positions in the individual standings after beginning the final round in a tie for 21st place.

Freshman Drew Kittleson (Scottsdale, Ariz.) earned the first top-10 finish of his young career as he closed the event with a two-under par 68 to finish with a career best 208 total and a tied for ninth place finish. He closed the event with consecutive scores of 68. Kittleson's scores of 68 marked career-low scores for the freshman and were five strokes better than his previous low of 73 which he carded during the first round of the fall 2007 Isleworth/UCF Collegiate Invitational.

Junior All-American Matt Savage (Louisville, KY) finished in a tie for 21st while junior Nicholas Smith finished in a tie for 57th and Cameron Knight placed 65th. Savage played his best round of golf in the final round as he closed with an even par score of 70.

The Seminoles continue their spring schedule as the play host to the Seminole Intercollegiate at Golden Eagle Country Club in Tallahassee on March 2-4.

SunTrust Gator Invitational/Par 70/Final Team Scores
University of Florida Golf Course/Gainesville, Fla./Feb. 9-10, 2008
2/14.   Florida State    278   276   278   832
T6.     Jonas Blixt      67    67    73    207
T6.     Seath Lauer      72    68    67    207
T9.     Drew Kittleson   72    68    68    208
T21.    Matt Savage      67    75    70    212
T57.    Nicholas Smith   72    73    77    222
65.     Cameron Knight   76    73    77    226 *
* competed as an individual

SunTrust Gator Invitational/Par 70/Final Team Scores
University of Florida Golf Course/Gainesville, Fla./Feb. 9-10, 2008
1.   Florida            820   T6.   Louisiana State     853
2.   Florida State      832   9.    Coastal Carolina    856
3.   Mississippi State  842   10.   Georgia Southern    861
4.   UAB                844   11.   Ole Miss            862
5.   South Alabama      851   12.   North Florida       865
T6.  Duke               853   13.   South Florida       873
T6.  Wake Forest        853   14.   Georgia State       888

LPGA Playoffs 2008 begins this week

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – LPGA Playoffs 2008 gets underway this week with the prospect of a $1 million payout looming large for the third consecutive year. Last season, Lorena Ochoa used the $1 million ADT Championship paycheck—only the second in women's professional golf history—to set an LPGA record with more than $4 million in season earnings. But as the old adage goes, records are meant to be broken and beginning this week, players are eager to start earning points toward a spot in the ADT Championship, held November 20-23, 2008, at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla.

LPGA Playoffs 2008 is a yearlong competition that splits the season into two halves and features 13 Winner Events, defined as official LPGA Tour events with a purse of at least $2 million. The first half of the season starts this week at the SBS Open at Turtle Bay and concludes in June with the McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola. A total of 15 players will qualify in the first half—eight via Winner Events and seven via ADT Points. The second half of the season begins at the Wegmans LPGA and will feature five players qualifying via Winner Events and 10 through the ADT Points designation. Following the end of the second half of the season at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Corona, two wildcards will be selected to complete the 32-player ADT Championship field.

The ADT Championship will feature three days of “playoffs,” with a final-round shootout. During the weekend, the scorecards will be wiped clean for both the third and final rounds. After 36 holes, the first cut will be made to the low-16 players, with a sudden-death playoff used in case of a tie. The third round will be played in eight groups of two, with all players starting with a fresh scorecard. After 54 holes, another cut will be made to the low eight players, again using a sudden-death playoff to break any ties for eighth place. For the second consecutive year, a live draw will take place with the final eight players immediately following the third round, where players will draft their own tee time based on their third-round finish.

The final round will be played in four groups of two, with all players starting with yet another fresh scorecard. The player who records the lowest score in the final round will win the ADT Championship and $1 million.

San Filippo, Logue, Ciampi claim titles in PGA Quarter Century event--Two Floridians Win

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Mike San Filippo, Hobe Sound, Fla.; Jim Logue, Canton, Ohio; and Nunzio Ciampi, Palm City, Fla., were the major winners Jan. 15, in the 54th TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Quarter Century Championship.

San Filippo, 55, a conditional player on the Champions Tour, fired a bogey-free 5-under par 67, breaking out of the pack to finish at 136, low among age groups 49-under through 60-64 on the Ryder Course at The PGA Golf Club.

On the adjacent Wanamaker Course, Logue, 67, shot a 72, for 142, the lowest score for age groups 65-69 through 90-over. Ciampi, 71, totaled 152, the best among eight players who have been members of The PGA of America for at least 50 years.

The PGA Quarter Century Championship, for PGA Professionals with a minimum of 25 years of membership, drew 194 entries. It is the second of six tournaments that comprise the 55th annual PGA Winter Championships. The PGA Senior-Junior Team Championship follows at The PGA Golf Club, Jan. 22-25.

San Filippo, one of seven players to shoot 69 in the first round, got off to a good start in the final round with birdies on the second and fourth holes. "That was important, because the first four holes played into the wind," San Filippo said. "To be 2-under early was a good start, and I played solid all day," adding birdies at Nos. 6, 11 and 15.

Logue, former PGA head professional at Brookside Country Club, was low for the older divisions for the second year in a row. He shot 67-69--136 on the Ryder Course last year as well. "The wind made a huge difference today," he said after a round of just one birdie, a five-footer at the fifth hole, and one bogey, three-putting No. 8.

Ciampi had just achieved his 50-year PGA membership in April. He had spent 50 years at Glen Head Country Club on Long Island, N.Y., the last 35 as the PGA head professional before he retired in 2002.

These were the fourth Winter Championship victories for San Filippo and Logue, and the second for Ciampi. San Filippo won the PGA Stroke Play Championship in 1992, and the PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship in 2004 and 2006. This was the first year he was eligible for the PGA Quarter Century Championship. Logue was the junior member of the winning PGA Senior-Junior Team Championship in 1971, captured the PGA Senior Stroke Play Championship in 2005 and the PGA Quarter Century Championship last year. Ciampi was the senior member on the winning PGA Senior-Junior Team Championship in 1987.

San Filippo and Logue received $1,500 apiece for their overall victories. The balance of the $52,000 purse was distributed among the 10 age groups. Ciampi was fourth in the 70-74 division, earning $850.

The overall and age group winners:

TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Quarter Century Championship
The PGA Golf Club - Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Ryder Course (par-72, 6,626 yards)
Overall -- Mike San Filippo, Hobe Sound, Fla., 69-67--136, $1,500
49-under -- Larry Emery, Carterville, Ill., 73-70--143, $500
50-54 -- Gary Robison, Canton, Ohio, 72-68--140, and Bob Boyd, Wilmington, N.C., 69-71--140, $1,050
55-59 -- Mike San Filippo, Hobe Sound, Fla., 69-67--136, $1,850
60-64 -- Bryan Abbott, Stuart, Fla., 71-70--141, $1,500

Wanamaker Course (par-72, 6,037 yards)
Overall -- Jim Logue, Canton, Ohio, 70-72--142, $1,500
65-69 -- Jim Logue, Canton, Ohio, 70-72--142, $1,500
70-74 -- Dick Hendrickson, West Chester, Pa., 71-77--148, $1,500
75-79 -- Bill Erfurth, Northbrook, Ill., 71-80--151, $1,000
80-84 -- Ray Montgomery, Fort Pierce, Fla., 75-79--154, $750
Half-Century -- Nunzio Ciampi, Palm City, Fla., 73-79--152

Wanamaker Course (par-72, 4,941 yards)
85-89 -- Manuel de la Torre, Milwaukee, Wis., 85-88--173, $250
90-up -- Duffy Martin, Guthrie, Okla., 99-96--195, $250

Morris-Bensel duo win PGA Senior-Junior Team Championship

Kevin Morris of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., made a three-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole, Jan. 25, as he teamed with Frank Bensel of Greenwich, Conn., to win the 50th anniversary TaylorMade-adidas Golf PGA Senior-Junior Team Championship. The Championship features teams paired of a PGA Professional 50 or older and a younger counterpart.

Morris and Bensel outlasted brothers Jerry Tucker of Stuart and Mike Tucker of St. Louis, Mo., after they tied at 28 under par 260 when they matched nine under par 63s the final round on the Wanamaker Course at The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The two teams began the final round four strokes behind the leaders.

It was the second win in three years for Morris and Bensel, an unprecedented achievement in the historic championship. For the first 46 years of the four-ball stroke play event teams were formed by blind draw, hence it was unlikely the same two players would ever paired up more than once. They won with a 261 in 2006.

In the playoff, all four were in the fairway off the tee at the par-5 first hole. Only Bensel came close to reaching the green in two, his second shot landing in a swale in front of the green. Morris hit a 4-hybrid second shot and a 105-yard wedge to just below the hole and sank the putt after both Tuckers were in the hole with pars.

"We both played great today and the conditions were tough with the wind and cold weather," said Bensel, 39, an assistant professional at Century Country Club in White Plains, N.Y. Bensel made four of his five birdies on the front nine. Morris, 56, had all four of his birdies on the back. They made one team bogey in 72 holes.

It was Bensel's third victory in the PGA Winter Championships, counting the two Senior-Juniors and the 2004 Match Play Championship. Morris has the two team titles. Bensel grew up playing at Westchester Hills in White Plains, N.Y., where Morris was the head professional for 30 years before he retired in 2006.

Don Brigham and Jamie Fordyce of Port St. Lucie, the third-round leaders who both consider The PGA Golf Club courses home turf, made only one birdie on the first 13 holes before the former birdied the 14th and 15th holes and Fordyce the 16th. They finished third with 68-261.

Morris and Bensel earned $3,500 apiece from the $89,180 purse. Brigham and Fordyce received $2,500 each.

Nicklaus/PGA teaching grants awarded to 18 chapters of The First Tee --Clearwater Chapter is Recipient

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- The PGA Foundation, in conjunction with golf legend Jack Nicklaus, has begun the 2008 golf season awarding teaching grants totaling $90,000 to 18 chapters of The First Tee representing 14 states.

To date, 155 of the 206 active chapters of The First Tee nationwide have been recipients of either a PGA of America or Nicklaus/PGA teaching grant. The combined PGA and Nicklaus/PGA grants total $1,810,000.

Since 2001, The PGA of America and Nicklaus have partnered to create a $2 million endowment to provide teaching grants to certified chapters of The First Tee that utilize PGA Professionals for instruction.

"The PGA of America is proud to kick off this New Year with our partner Jack Nicklaus to extend Nicklaus/PGA Teaching Grants coast to coast," said PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb. "The wonderful messages and reports we receive are that these grants continue to produce success stories in communities. The First Tee momentum has helped grow the game of golf and brought many young people into the game."

The program continues to highlight The PGA of America's commitment to partner with its PGA Professionals to grow participation in golf.

The current Nicklaus/PGA teaching grants totaling $5,000 each have been awarded to The First Tee Chapters in California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas and Washington.

Since its inception in 1997, there are 206 chapters of The First Tee in operation and 264 golf-learning facilities that have introduced the game of golf and its values to more than 2.2 million participants and students (which include the students of the National School Program). The focus is to give young people of all backgrounds an opportunity to develop, through golf and character education, life-enhancing values such as honesty, integrity and sportsmanship.

The PGA Growth of the Game Program is one of a number of initiatives administered by The PGA of America through its PGA Foundation

The PGA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity, is dedicated to enhancing lives through the game of golf. The Foundation provides people of every ability, race, gender, and social and economic background an opportunity to experience the game and learn vital life lessons. The PGA Foundation achieves its mission through programs which provide instruction and access to playing the game of golf along with enriching those lives by providing educational, employment and scholarship opportunities.

For more information about the PGA Foundation, visit www.pgafoundation.org, or call (561) 624-7612.

Nicklaus/PGA of America Teaching Grant - $5,000 awarded to each chapter
The First Tee of Greater Trenton - Hamilton, N.J.
The First Tee of The Tri-Valley - Pleasanton, Calif.
The First Tee of Myrtle Beach - Myrtle Beach, S.C.
The First Tee of Columbia Basin - Pasco, Wash.
The First Tee of New Orleans - New Orleans, La.
The First Tee of Albany - Albany, Ga.
The First Tee of Clearwater - Clearwater, Fla.
The First Tee of Modesto - Modesto, Calif.
The First Tee of Metropolitan NY/Essex County - Newark, N.J.
The First Tee of Northern Nevada - Reno, Nev.
The First Tee of Eagle County - Edwards, Colo.
The First Tee of Idaho - Boise, Idaho
The First Tee of the Lake Norman Region - Cornelius, N.C.
The First Tee of Central Louisiana - Pineville, La.
The First Tee of Harford County, Md. - Aberdeen, Md.
The First Tee of Metropolitan NY/Nassau County - East Meadow, N.Y.
The First Tee of Metropolitan NY/Golf Club at Chelsea Piers - New York, N.Y.
The First Tee of Brazoria County - Lake Jackson, Texas

Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $195 billion golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere.

The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.

My Round at: Sugarloaf Mountain

The newest Coore-Crenshaw course transports you to another state

By Tom Cunneff

During the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., the hottest ticket in town (next to a table at Roy's) was a round at Sugarloaf Mountain, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw's first design in Florida. These two minimalist masters are very selective about the sites on which they choose to build, so anytime a course of theirs opens, industry cognoscenti beeline it to the 1st tee.

Typified by large sandy areas and native grasses, the 7057-yard course is beguiling, and not just because of its natural setting and shot values, but because it's so unique for Florida. The private club, which will allow some resort play, is situated on the 312-foot namesake mountain, the highest point on peninsular Florida. (As for the name, that elevation is a hill in most places, but it's positively Himalayan in flat-as-a-scorecard Florida.) From the site of the proposed clubhouse, the panoramic views of Lake Apopka and even downtown Orlando, 25 miles away, are unlike any in Florida.

I was in another state—of mind, that is—during the round. I don't think I've ever enjoyed playing a new course more. The sandy areas give the fairways wonderful definition but are never excessively punitive like desert golf. The ball doesn't bound away, yet the sand is firm enough to allow for clean lies. The layout was challenging but extremely fair. There are a few blind shots, but those can be fun, especially if you play the course regularly.

The 433-yard opener (left) sweeps down and to the left, making for a fairly easy par. The approach shot on the downhill 405-yard 4th is one of the prettiest on the course, with moss-draped oaks and a small lake framing the green. The 200-yard 5th doesn't play its length because you can land the ball short and right of the Redan-inspired green and count on a big kick to the left. After the short dogleg-left 7th, you begin a gentle climb back up to the turn with a long par 4, medium par 3 and reachable par 5.

The back nine proves a little more difficult. One of the highlights is the 507-yard 13th. “First time I've ever played a par 4 over 500 yards,” said my playing partner. In fact, it's the longest par 4 in Florida, but the blind tee shot plays severely downhill, reminiscent of the 10th at Augusta National, so the hole plays quite a bit shorter. If the drive comes off the slope correctly, the approach can be as little as a wedge.

In a dramatic demonstration of the variety presented by the course, the longest par 4 in Florida is followed two holes later by one of the shortest. The 283-yard 15th plays steeply uphill, so only the longest hitters will be able to reach the putting surface with their drives.

The highlight was having Bill Coore (below, left) walk a few holes with us on the back nine and provide some insight into his design. He said that the biggest challenge was the routing because of the elevation changes. Part of the answer came from the common-sense solution of following paths carved by animals. “Nature won't steer you wrong,” he said.

Neither will a Coore-Crenshaw design.