Plantation Palms Golf Club, designed by David Harman, is the centerpiece of the Plantation Palms master-planned community. The course opened for play in 2000 and has been surprising golfers ever since. The links-inspired course plays 6831 yards from the back tees for a par of 72; the course has a rating of 73.4 and a slope of 139. Four sets of tees make the course enjoyable for everyone from the seasoned, skilled player to the newcomer.
Along the way at Plantation Palms, you will encounter many elevation changes. Although not profound, it provides a welcome change from the mundane, flat courses that Florida is known for. Both pine trees and the more popular palm tree come into play as do wetlands, some serious water hazards and large white sand traps. The greens are quick and, due to the elevation changes, offer some nice undulations. It takes a well positioned shot to leave a flat putt.
Perhaps one of the highlights of Plantation Palms is the par three holes; two playing in excess of 200 yards; the shortest at 166. Number 7, which to me is the signature hole, plays 221 yards form the back tees and is all carry over water. For the most part, the fairways are wide open off the tees with few forced carries of any significant length. Approach shots are mainly hit to elevated greens, however that is not uncommon here in Florida.
The amenities at Plantation Palms Golf Club include a comprehensive practice facility that includes a grass range, a short game area with sand bunker and a large practice green. Within the clubhouse you will find a pro shop with all the latest gear, men’s and women’s locker rooms with showers, and a restaurant/lounge with an outdoor patio that serves a lunch as well as your standard bar fare.
Memorable Holes:
Number 2: Par 4, 411 yards. For some reason I find that no matter how good I hit my tee shot on this hole, I am always left with a long approach shot. The best line is down the left side of the fairway but not too far left or you will be in the houses and out of bounds. Your approach shot will be a mid to long iron, shooting slightly uphill to a very large elevated green that has a couple of subtle breaks in it.
Number 4: Par 3, 205 yards. This par 3 is just a warm up for the next one. Play your tee shot slightly downhill to a large green protected on the left by water and sand. The green looks real big off the tee; putting your tee shot on it is another story. Take a par and run.
Number 7: Par 3, 221 yards. For my money, this is the signature hole. You start by teeing your ball up way back of the cart path (almost 30 yards behind the white tees) and then proceeding to hit your tee shot to a small green well over 200 yards away. Did I mention that the green is well elevated and protected by water and sand on the right side with houses (i.e. OB) on the left? There is a tiny bail out area short and left. Most people that land in it do so by mistake. Par here is awesome; birdie should win you a lot of skins.
Number 8: Par 4, 437 yards. Number 8 is one of those holes where control of your tee shot is critical. Too far left and you are in the housing development and out of bounds. Too far right and you risk finding the water; best case scenario you are behind trees. From there you must navigate your approach shot over the natural wetlands that have claimed their fair share of golf balls. Your approach shot to a green that is slightly downhill; anything that clears the wetlands but lands short will require an uphill chip shot. The green is fairly large and features several subtle breaks.
Number 9: Par 5, 512 yards. You will need to bomb a drive to get home in two on this par 5, slight dogleg left. The line off the tee is a little left of the flagpole you will see in the distance. From there you will have a long second shot downhill to another large green that is fronted by a pond and sand right. You’ll pretty much need to carry the green on your second shot. Joe Average will play his layup shot out to the right to more or less take the water out of play. From there a short pitch shot is all that is left to the green.
Number 12: Par 3, 189 yards. This is another par 3 where accuracy off the tee is at a premium. The shot is all carry over wetlands to a small, rather flat green that sits about 6 feet above the fairway. Anything not on the green leaves a tough chip shot and greatly decreases your shot at making par.
Number 14: Par 5, 551 yards. Don’t let the scorecard fool you; the green is realistically reachable in two shots. You will need to hit a tee shot of around 270 yards (to not quite go in the water) From there you will have a shot, albeit long, over a small pond (emphasis on small) to a green that is guarded on the left by this same pond and on the right by sand.
Number 15: Par 4, 347 yards. This is one of those holes that you know you should birdie or at least par every time, but somehow never do. Water comes into play left off the tee with out of bounds right and more water a little further down on the right. A tee shot in the neighborhood of 200 yards will leave an approach shot of less than 150 yards. The green is long and narrow and features three distinct tiers. A deep bunker guards the left side.
Number 16: Par 4, 437 yards. The number 1 handicap! A long, sweeping dogleg right that has houses on the right side that catch any wild slices. A large fairway bunker hugs the right side of the fairway. The left side is made up of a marsh area that travels the length of the fairway and sees its share of traffic. A long fade is the preferred tee shot. From there you will still have a long approach shot to a green that sits about three feet above the fairway. The green is large and flat but still the hole for some reason doesn’t give up a lot of pars.
Last Word:
Plantation Palms Golf Club provides every golfer with a challenging and rewarding golf experience as well as great value. Tee times can be booked on most of the online discount tee sheets. The course is extremely well maintained and finely manicured. Water can be found on all but two holes and the par threes are something else. Doubles and triples are the main fare on number seven regardless of the tees you play. The par five holes are reachable in two with the possible exception of the starting hole. Because of mounding on the fairways on several holes you can also find yourself with another rarity in Florida; the “uneven lie.” Ponds and wetlands add to the aesthetic beauty and to the challenge of the layout. Plantation Palms is one of those courses that will grow on you. By the end of the round, you’ll want to play it again. Plantation Palms can be found online at http://www.plantationpalms.net or give them a call at (813) 996-7122.
