Bobby Jones Golf Complex – Gillespie 9 Executive Course

Robert Tyre Jones, the man, the myth, the legend is alive and well. Well, maybe not the man himself, but the legend lives on at Bobby Jones Golf Club in Sarasota, FL.  History abounds at the club that features the American 18; British 18; and the Gillespie Executive 9. Our round today today took us to the Gillespie Course and we were greeted by

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Hole #3 – Par 3, 124 yards

LIGHTS (the sun has set; the full moon has risen; and the course lights are turned on)! CAMERA (set to catch those spectacular evening shots)! ACTION (not too much action on my Pro V1’s because my rental clubs were so old the grooves had disappeared)!

Terrace Hill Golf Course is an executive nine (par 30) and has the distinction of being a lit (or is it lighted) course. My round started about 8pm in 60 degree weather. What a nice change after stepping off the plane from Colorado. My last round under the lights was 50 years ago. I remember it clearly as I embarrassed myself in front of my beautiful date. I also struggled this night in front of my BEAUTIFUL wife of 36 years. Either the course’s lights aren’t very good or my 67 year old eyes don’t see very well at night – probably the latter.

Hole #1 – Par 4, 292 yards (white). Hit & Hope!

Hit and Hope – that’s what it felt like as I addressed my first tee shot of the year at the par 4, 317 yard first hole. I hit a low screamer that somehow found the fairway but then proceeded to top my next two shots for my first bogey of the year. I blame my new glasses on those last two shots! We were treated to a fox sighting as he walked without fear across the green probably knowing full well that I had no chance of hitting the putting surface.

Holes #2, #3, #4, #5 are all par 3’s; my scores were all bogey 4’s. Five holes; five bogeys – I should have practiced some before this trip!

Hole #2 – Lights are on; moon is hovering over the green.

At night when you are one of the only a few golfers on the course, Holes 5 & 6 can be a little scary (and I mean frightening scary). I don’t know what’s (or who’s) living beyond the out-of-bounds fence, but as I shanked my tee shot into the trees, something big stirred. I didn’t stay around to investigate or try to locate my ball. Who knows what danger lurks (at least one fox) beyond the fence, so keep your shots to the left on these two holes.

Par:  Greens and fairways were in good shape. Not a course a scratch golfer wants to play for a challenging round. It’s a good course for the uniqueness of playing at night; for an evening out with the family; a date night with your wife; or a quick play to work on your short game.

What else is there to do in Tampa? It’s Florida; it’s warm; it’s March; it’s…Spring Training Baseball!! We cruised over to Clearwater to catch a Phillies game. A great afternoon was spent watching baseball, eating cheesesteak, and drinking Ballantine Beer (only kidding).

Phillies/Blue Jays Spring Training game

7740 Temple Terrace Hwy., Temple Terrace, FL 33637;  813-985-4653;  www.thgcgolf.com

Hole #3 – Par 4, 271 yards. Watch out for those two big trees to the left!

Water’s Edge Golf Course – sounds like a winner, even though the water is the Detroit River. After a drive through downtown Detroit; a walk along the waterfront; and a stop at Hitsville, USA, we made our way to Grosse Ile (pronounced Growz Eel) to give this course the Always Time for 9 test.  Read more →

Hole #2 – Par 4, 315 yards. Risk/reward hole.

Here are some of the comments I read about this course: a challenging track; need to think your way around the rolling terrain; name says it all – scenic & located on a high knoll; huge, undulating greens on which you will often three putt; difficulties include elevation changes, ponds, canals, side hill lies; and a good mix of short and long holes. But you can’t believe everything you read on the internet, correct? Read more →

Hole #4 – Par 4, 253 yards. Beware – Water front & back!

I didn’t know what to expect. I had never played a First Tee golf course. Is it only for kids? If it is open to everyone, does it offer diverse lengths of holes? Is it challenging for the better golfer? After speaking with Brant, the head professional, and playing the course, this is what I learned about Red Hawk Golf & Learning Center and The First Tee – Quad Cities.  Read more →

Santa Ana GC, Santa Ana Pueblo, NM. Land of Enchantment!

Standing on the first tee, you find yourself surrounded by the Jemez Mountains to the west, the Sangre de Christos to the north, and the Sandia Mountains loom to the east – welcome to The Land of Enchantment. As Steve and I started our round on the Star Course, it felt more like The Land of Bewitchment. Read more →