WORLD WOODS GC (PINE BARRENS/ROLLING OAKS)
Course Architect: Tom Fazio (Pine Barrens)
Year Opened: 1993
Location: Brooksville, Florida
Slope: 140. Rating: 73.7
Par: 71
Yardage: 6,902
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 406 Yds 10 - Par 3 191 Yds
2 - Par 4 453 Yds 11 - Par 4 403 Yds
3 - Par 3 157 Yds 12 - Par 4 470 Yds
4 - Par 5 494 Yds 13 - Par 4 429 Yds
5 - Par 4 383 Yds 14 - Par 5 547 Yds
6 - Par 5 532 Yds 15 - Par 4 330 Yds
7 - Par 3 207 Yds 16 - Par 3 224 Yds
8 - Par 4 402 Yds 17 - Par 4 404 Yds
9 - Par 4 424 Yds 18 - Par 4 446 Yds
Par 36 3,458 Yds Par 35 3,444 Yds
Key Events Held: Shell's Wonderful World of Golf (Mickelson vs. Toms), 2002;
PGA Tour School Tournament (2002).
Awards Won: Named America's Greatest Golf Courses (#75) by Golf Digest (1999);
Named Top 100 Golf Courses in USA (#38) by Golf Magazine (1999);
Named number one course in Florida by Golfweek (2000);
Ranked #76 Top 100 Golf Courses in World by Golf Magazine (2001);
Named Best Daily Fee Course USA by Golf & Travel Magazine (2001);
Ranked #10 course - Top 100 You Can Play by Golf Digest (2002);
Ranked #11 in America's Best Modern Courses by Golf Week (2002);
#37 Golf Magazine - Top-50 Greatest Courses last 50 years (2009);
Named best new golf course in USA by Golf Digest (1994).
Course Architect: Tom Fazio (Rolling Oaks)
Year Opened: 1993
Location: Brooksville, Florida
Slope: 136. Rating: 73.5
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,985
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 422 Yds 10 - Par 5 566 Yds
2 - Par 3 204 Yds 11 - Par 4 409 Yds
3 - Par 5 542 Yds 12 - Par 4 378 Yds
4 - Par 4 374 Yds 13 - Par 3 208 Yds
5 - Par 5 503 Yds 14 - Par 4 412 Yds
6 - Par 4 341 Yds 15 - Par 4 457 Yds
7 - Par 4 440 Yds 16 - Par 3 234 Yds
8 - Par 3 174 Yds 17 - Par 4 360 Yds
9 - Par 4 458 Yds 18 - Par 5 503 Yds
Par 36 3,458 Yds Par 36 3,527 Yds
Key Events Held: Senior PGA Tour School finals (2002);
Hooters Tour event (2002).
Awards Won: Named to America's Best Modern Courses (#59) by Golfweek;
Ranked #10 Daily Fee Course in the USA by Golf & Travel;
Ranked #73 Upscale Daily Fee Course in the USA by Golf Digest;
Named #8 new golf course in USA by Golf Digest (1994).
Ranked #46 course - USA Top 100 You Can Play by Golf Digest
(2002);
Ranked #83 in America's Best Modern Courses by Golf Week (2002).
Website: www.worldwoods.com
HISTORY: In 1991, the World Woods Corporation purchased 2,100 acres of
pristine land in the middle of the Sunshine State in an effort to build a
world-class facility. Internationally acclaimed course designer Tom Fazio was
brought in to carve out a pair of unique style courses in central Florida,
that
are just the opposite of what you might expect for this region. Two years
later, both courses opened with national acclaim and the Pine Barrens course
has already reached the lofty status of top-100 courses in America as ranked
by
Golf Digest. Not only does World Woods have two outstanding golf courses, but
the practice facility is second to none. The 22-acre practice park includes a
range set up in the shape of a square, with multiple teeing stations on each
side with a wide variety of target greens and fairways with numerous practice
bunkers. Also included is a 36-hole, 2-acre putting course which is
meticulously groomed. There's more!!! How about a 9-hole short course, which
combines styles of both the main courses with seven par 3's and two par 4's.
There's even three complete warm-up holes, a par 5, par 4 and par 3 to tune
you up as you prepare for your journey around World Woods. Plans for a third
18-Hole championship golf course and on-site accommodations and corporate
meetings rooms that compliment the current facility are in the works.
REVIEW: The Pine Barrens course, the focal point of this great venue, has
many, not just one or two signature holes. The first two that come to mind are
holes three and four. The third is a short par-3 of just 157 yards, however
water guards the entire left side through the green and with a left pin
placement, this hole can tear your heart out. The fourth is a risk-reward type
par-5. Only 494 from the tips, the player has a couple of options as he stands
on the tee. The hole swings from left to right with a waste area bunker
beginning at the tee on the right and ending at the front of the green. Play
left with a three-metal and play conventionally, or bombs away down the right
side and you'll have a shot at reaching the surface in two. Another
outstanding hole on the front side is the par-4 eighth at 402 yards. Although
not long, the eighth requires an accurate tee ball, as trees left and much
sand right come into play. The green, 34-feet deep, is once again fronted by
sand, making club selection a key. On the back side, the 12th ranks as the
hardest hole on the course. At 470 yards, this monster requires a long tee
shot and depending on which green is being used, an equally difficult approach
shot. The left green is long and narrow with no sand coming into play, while
the right putting surface is only 20 yards deep and plays uphill with sand and
scrub guarding the entrance. Making par on this hole could save your round.
The final five holes could be the toughest stretch in the South. The 14th is a
difficult, dogleg left par-5 of 547 yards. Teeing off out of a shoot of trees,
your first shot must favor the left side of the fairway, as a huge oak on the
right will block your approach shot. Going for this green in two not only
requires a huge tee shot, but an even longer second which must thread sand
left and right of the long narrow and undulating green. Laying up right is the
prudent play, leaving a sand wedge to the surface and possibly setting up a
birdie try. If you failed for birdie at 14, the 15th gives you another shot.
This hole also gives the golfer a pair of options with a split fairway. Just
330 yards, the player can go left with a medium to long iron to an elevated
plateau, leaving a simple pitch to a relatively easy green. Your other choice
is to go for the green with driver. But beware, sand once again can play havoc
as the right fairway is guarded by a large waste area of the white stuff. The
most difficult par-3 on the course is the 16th. Out of a shoot of trees, the
16th requires a long iron or fairway wood from the tee. This one shotter
features a 38-foot long green that slopes from left to right towards a trio of
bunkers, so hitting this surface does not guaranty par. Talk about a difficult
green, the 17th has just that as it slopes away on all sides. To make matters
worse, getting to the green is just as difficult. Your tee shot must favor the
right side, as stately oak trees guard the left and will come into play
depending upon pin placement. Sand once again is the main obstacle, as your
tee shot must carry well over 200 yards to safety. Your not done as you reach
the 18th tee as you'll need to take a deep breath before striking your final
tee ball. The 446-yard finisher is a dogleg left with a long sand bunker
guarding the corner 100-yards in length. Cutting the corner is risky with
stands of trees and sand, however its a must or else you'll have 200 plus to
the green. The putting surface is wide and deep but very undulating and is
guarded by, you guessed it, more sand. Par is great, but bogey is not a crime.
In complete contrast to Pine Barrens, the Rolling Oaks course is a traditional
venue featuring rolling hills and majestic Oak trees with Spanish moss draping
the limbs. The third hole is a beauty of a par-5 stretching 542 from the black
tees as it bends to the right. Four of the five fairway bunkers guard the
right side while stands of trees flank the left. Ample area awaits your layup
shot, however the closer you get to the green, the narrow your target gets.
The putting surface is long (40 yards) and slopes from back to front, making
approach putting very difficult. One of the most picturesque holes on the
course is the par-3 eighth. This downhill one shotter of 174 yards requires
pinpoint accuracy, as the putting surface is guarded by a pond in the front
and a stream to the left. Club selection will be key depending upon flag
placement. The green is 44 yards deep and slopes from back to front and to the
right. The front nine closes out with an outstanding four-par at 458 yards.
The tee shot must carry a lake on the left side as well as a bunker some 240
from the tee. Your left with an intimidating medium length iron uphill
approach to a long sloping green. The par-3 13th is another hole that
exemplifies this course. Completely surrounded from tee to green by large
Dogwoods, Magnolias and Oaks, this hole requires a long iron to a relatively
small target with a grass bunker and rocks fronting the putting surface. The
hardest hole on the course is the par-4 15th. As with most holes on this
course its carved out from the trees and requires extreme accuracy off the
tee. Length is also an issue as a bomb off the box is needed. To make matters
worse, the hole usually plays into the wind and features an uphill second shot
to a back-to-front sloping green. Be thankful if you make bogey or better. The
18th hole is an outstanding finishing hole at 503 yards. Don't get fooled by
the distance thinking that this hole can be easily reached. Your second and
third shots will be uphill to a narrow landing area and a small plateaued
green. Birdies can be had depending upon pin placement.
Your experience at World Woods Golf Club is not to be believed, it must be
experienced. Most people don't have the time to practice when they come to the
course, it's just rock and roll, however that's a mistake at World Woods. The
practice park is the best in the country, maybe the world with every possible
option afforded to the golfer, including multiple greens for chipping and
pitching along with three full length practice holes. After tuning up, you
have two courses to choose from, so why not play both, make it a day or two.
There's not doubt that the Pine Barrens course is the creme de la creme. The
signature course is a venue reminiscent of Pinehurst #2 and Pine Valley with
rolling fairways, tall pines, barren waste areas and sandy scrub. Fazio
utilized the natural lay of the region to enhance the beauty of the land. No
wonder why he called this "my best work." Although very difficult, the Pine
Barrens course offers four sets of tees, from 5,300 yards to 6,900 yards, so
choose wisely to enjoy one of Fazio's masterpieces. "We did not start by
designing golf holes. We began by viewing the big picture, the overall land
mass, the scale and the concept. We allowed the land to tell us what to do."
Rolling Oaks is a fine compliment to Pine Barrens. The course has some
dramatic elevation changes with stands of Oak trees from years gone by with
beautiful flowering vegetation. It boasts large, tiered greens and deep
bunkers as it traverses through Florida's rolling hills. Directions to the
course are simple from Orlando, Tampa and Clearwater, although it might take
as much as $4.25 in tolls each way on Veterans Memorial Expressway or two
hours in time from Disney. Whatever it takes, whatever you have to do, World
Woods Golf Club is a must for any golfer, not just the serious player.