Westminster Golf Club in Lehigh Acres, Florida is a semi-private club that was designed by Ted McAnlis and opened for play in 1996. Westminster plays 6833 yards from the back tees for a par of 72. The course rating is 72.9 and it has a slope rating of 129.
Generous landing areas make Westminster both beautiful and player friendly. The course travels around a number of lakes, so don’t be surprised to see a few gators along the way. Strategically placed sand bunkers as well as the aforementioned water hazards make for a challenging round of golf.
The most feared hole here is the #4, a 440-yard, par 4. Its fairway and green are lined with water, and sand bunkers will definitely intimidate any chip onto the green.
There is a good sized driving range right behind the pro shop; not one that you have to hop in a cart to reach. A short game area with a practice bunker is right beside the driving range as well as a practice putting green.
Memorable Holes(All Yardage is from the Blue Tees)
Number 1: Par 4, 382 yards. A long, challenging par 4 to start; this hole pays much longer from the back tees. Out of bounds and condos make up the right side of the fairway; you’ll find woods a little farther down. Off the tee, you’ll need to avoid the large fairway bunker on the left; it should be easy to carry. Your approach shot is to an elevated green with a false front. Greenside bunkers are located front left and right; the bunker on the right is deep and could pose a tough up and down depending upon pin placement. Par is a good start.
Number 2: Par 4, 391 yards. This long, straight par 4 is wide open; if you can’t find the fairway here, you’ve got bigger problems. Sand comes into play off the tee on both sides of the fairway no matter which tees you are playing from. A good drive will leave an approach shot of about 150 yards. There is no trouble around the green which slopes gently from back to front.
Number 3: Par 5, 501 yards. Number 3 is a narrow driving hole with woods and wetlands right and more trouble on the left, as in out of bounds. The layup shot is wide open. Play your approach shot to an elevated, odd shaped green which slopes back right to front left. The front is guarded on both sides by bunkers.
Number 7: Par 3, 183 yards. A long par 3 over water that plays 212 yards from the back tees. Your tee shot has to carry the water with little margin for error.
Number 10: Par 5, 464 yards. This straight, no nonsense par 5 has water all the way down the right side. Keep your drive down the left side; hit it well and you stand a good chance of getting on in two. If you’re not prone to hit it long off the tee, you’ll need to avoid the fairway bunker on the left side. Water comes in tight on the right side up at the green; the bunker will grab anything short and left. This is an easy par 5 to kick off the inward nine.
Number 13 Par 4, 406 yards. This dogleg right has water all down the right side. Try to play your tee shot out between the traps and the 150 yard marker. Your approach shot will be slightly uphill over a small creek.
Number 15: Par 3, 192 yards. A long par three that plays slightly uphill has sand on the right side and out of bounds on the left. Anything left of the cart path will lead to unwanted strokes.
Number 17: Par 4, 369 yards. Hit your tee shot between the two large pine trees but avoid the sand trap on the right. Should you go left off the tee, you’ll need to go over some large oaks to get on the green in regulation. The green is protected by a bunker in the front left and another one back right. The green slopes gently form back to front.
Number 18: Par 4, 422 yards. Number 18 is a long, slight dogleg right to finish up the round. The right side spells trouble on this hole; condos/out of bounds, a large bunker and trees make up the right side on number 18. The left side is no bargain either; you’ll find water if you happen to hit it left. Your approach shot opens up to large green.
Last Word: At $20.00 including cart during the summer months, this course is not to be missed. It’s a nice layout with 6 sets of tees to challenge players of all skill levels. They also run a tournament on the first Saturday of every month – The Westminster Open. It’s a shotgun start and includes not only golf, cart fees and range balls, but also a buffet afterwards, prizes for the top 3 finishers in each flight and a raffle.
The course is in really good shape. You will usually find a gentle breeze blowing throughout your round, but it is nothing to be overly concerned about. Water only comes into play on about 7 or 8 holes; sand comes into play (especially off the tee) on many more. Many holes are wide open off the tee allowing you to go all out with you tee shot.
All in all, Westminster is a good course for the beginner or the seasoned player; you can never get enough practice. You can reach Westminster at (239) 368-1110 or visit their website at www.westminster-golf.com.
