Course Map

• Blue 400
• Green 364
• White 348
• Red 324

History

Hole One is a great starting hole. A par four that challenges you to stay left of the possible water hazard along the right side of the fairway. If you can reach the water, and preferably on the left side, you leave yourself with a generous approach shot of about 150 yards. Designed to introduce the golfer to the need for straight driving here at GCI. Absolutely no truth to story that the lake is there to collect the new ball you just bought.

Requirements

Straight or slight draw from tee. Crisp, high short iron (6 to PW) to green. Good lag putt if approach leaves you above hole.

Difficulties

May lose ball on range to the left or in the lake to the right. Hard to stop ball on green coming in over the right front trap. Hard to birdie from back of green.

Suggestions

Use 3-wood or long iron from whites. Don’t over-club second shot. Be satisfied with par, ’cause you’re even so far.

Observations

It is 210 from the yard-arm to the lake. Most golfers under-club 90% of the time. It sure is a beautiful day.

• Blue 558
• Green 485
• White 448
• Red 384

History

This hole was built with an argument going on all the while. The builder, Charles Maddox, succeeded in getting the maker to leave the huge oak tree that guards this green and gives this hole real character. This gambler’s-dream hole invites you to go for eagle and often gives you double-bogey.

Requirements

Average drive kept to right of fairway traps. Good fairway wood or long iron kept to right of big tree. Approach pitch kept left and below hole. Your usual good putting stroke. Self-control on second shot.

Difficulties

You are “dead” when you go left. Poor drive leaves a tough second over creek. Many will try to get home in two, but bogies often and eagles are few!

Suggestions

Use your head on this hole. If your drive is short or left, lag up short of creek and punch in a 6-iron or fly a 7-iron up over the big tree.

• Blue 231
• Green 201
• White 174
• Red 163

History

The original owners felt that there should be a good par 3 as one of the first three holes. Well, here you are. This hole has a reputation for being a “spoiler” in the Florida scrambles, because it gives up precious few birdies. Most of us hit 3 or 4-woods, even from the yard-arm. If the wind is from the east, you’ll think that they used a 5-ft. yardstick when they measured it.

Requirements

Good, solid 2 or 3-iron from the whites, or straight 4-wood. Ability to prove that you are the best putter in your group, especially if you must putt from upper-left part of green, because it is a treacherous side-hiller and usually slick.

Difficulties

Very difficult to get up-and-down if you miss green to the right. 12% slope from back to middle of green. Putts and chips are hard to stop close to hole.

Suggestions

Use enough club.

Observations

If you make par, smile, and explain it to others. If you make birdie, try to be humble, even if you are great!

• Blue 412
• Green 382
• White 350
• Red 270

History

After a fairly easy par 4, a gambler’s par 5, and a tough par 3, it is time to get on with your golfing test. Here is one of the least forgiving holes on the course, as far as driving is concerned. Handicapped as number 3 hole, many of us think it deserves its ranking as one of the toughest on the course.

Requirements

Good drive with no hint of a slice. Second shot needs to hit and hold on green, because terrain falls away sharply on both sides and in back.

Difficulties

Water in first lake is crystal clear, but just as wet as water in second lake, which is always muddy. White stakes are O.B., so a gentle draw is fine, but a pull-hook is costly. Don’t try to hit it over the lake from blues or into west or south-west wind. Don’t fall into lake getting ball if you can’t swim.

Observations

When you make 3 here, it may win you a beer. Besides, it will set you up great for the next hole. Some kind

• Blue 464
• Green 454
• White 413
• Red 341

History

Every fine golf course must have a par 4 that is way-to-hell-and-gone from the tee. Here at G.C.I., #5 is just that and justifiably is handicapped #1. Coming out of this natural chute of huge trees, it demands both distance and direction on your drive and second shot. The fairway traps were moved to the right a few yards and flattened to make it a bit less severe.

Requirements

Long drive with slight draw being rewarded. Good second shot (generally a wood) if drive is short of traps. Green is one of the easiest to putt, but is 3 or 4 clubs deep, thereby asking good judgment on second.

Difficulties

Long and uphill all the way. Two hooks will get you in the water twice. A slice will get you on #2 fairway, if it somehow misses the big tree by the bridge. Traps are big and deep.

Suggestions

Smoke your tee-ball 280 yards. If you don’t keep, your next shot to the right of the second lake.

Observations

Make par and the day will be sunnier; make “bird” and your jokes will be funnier – to you at least.

• Blue 564
• Green 532
• White 501
• Red 430

History

Looky here! Another hole designed for you “long-knockers,” or so it seems. But wait. Here are some answers to your questions before you ask them. Yes, you can reach the water with your drive. No, you won’t knock it home in two very often. Yes, this hole does have water (twice) and sand and trees and beauty. No, it isn’t this close to the clubhouse in case you slash your wrists.

Requirements

Good straight tee-ball. Ability to judge distance so you can hit second shot. Third shot with “stop” on it. Ball retriever. Smooth putting stroke.

Difficulties

Length. Severe penalty for poor shots and poor judgment. Elevated green is tough to hold and tough to putt. Third shot from the fairway is usually impossible.

Suggestions

Play this hole for par, and you may get punished with a seven.

Observations

Every shot in golf makes someone happy.

• Blue 384
• Green 350
• White 316
• Red 230

History

Some of the local yokels call the water “Loner’s Lake” – something about the water-gods devouring his 7-iron. Almost everyone looks at this lovely little hole and starts humming “It’s Birdie Time”. Sometimes they’re right, but “sometimes” isn’t “most-times.” Anyway, you’ve probably developed a healthy respect for G.C.I. by now, so a little shorter hole won’t hurt anything. You “bombers” have had your play, now let the “stylists” have their day.

Requirements

No slice on drive. Short iron that stays on smaller green. Use your best putting stroke from anywhere on tricky pad.

Difficulties

Hard to hold green. Going left is no place to be. Over the green to the left and you’re liable for 6.

Suggestions

Hit iron from tee if you tend to slice woods. Play second shot high and “pinch” it pretty good, because this is a hard hole to play back to.

Observations

According to a recent survey, at least 87% of the putts left short don’t go in the hole.

• Blue 158
• Green 126
• White 126
• Red 110

History

The idea behind this hole is that part of a good golf test is to have holes wherein difficulty is found in something besides distance. This short “one-shotter” is based on such a premise. Tightly guarded by traps and water, this hole rewards the good iron player’s finesse.

Requirements

High iron shot with lots of “whoa” on it. Many times a good sand shot is necessary, especially from the right front trap. Use that smooth stroke that has put you ahead in this match.

Difficulties

Tough traps. Low, punch shots tend to scoot over the back into traps or “boonies.” Wind never seems to help on this hole.

Suggestions

Pay attention to your own game. Hit the club that you know will enable you to float it onto the “dance floor”. Consider playing to the “fat” of the green if the cup is tucked in behind right bunker.

Observations

Check the line, your stance and grip; now swing back slow and let ‘er rip!

• Blue 409
• Green 376
• White 352
• Red 340

History

If you’re playing the ball “down,” you may know of the attitude of the man for whom this hole is named. He feels that moving the ball is a travesty and an abomination. His explanation is interesting and makes a lot of sense. Any way, and moving right along, this hole was designed as a fine finish to your front nine. For simple beauty – the picturesque clubhouse in the distance, the lake, the rolling fairway, the creek, the ravine, and, yes, even the beckoning traps – this hole ranks high on the list at G.C.I. It is even a lot prettier if you’ve got your opponent “dormie” or closed-out in the match!

Requirements

Fairly long drive with no slice. Sense enough to lay-up short of creek if drive is missed. Courage if you get in the gulch. Money for the drinks if you win or lose.

Suggestions

Don’t try to overpower this hole. Keep the ball out of the right rough. Use enough club on second, because the green looks closer from the top of the hill.

Observations

Many horses lead at the half-way pole and finish last.

• Blue 383
• Green 347
• White 330
• Red 312

History

The back nine begins with this apparently easy hole, and it does give up quite a few birdies. However, they did put subtle difficulties here that keep it a very respectable part of this “track.” Since distance is not the primary problem, you will find that staying awake here is extremely important.

Requirements

Well-placed drive to left of center. Fine second shot that doesn’t go over green, because it is a “no-chance” shot coming back. Putting stroke must be stellar, as usual.

Difficulties

The traps are quite deep, and require a good shot every time. If you drive into the right rough, it is well-nigh impossible to get it close. The green has undulations to help you 3-putt – if you need any help.

Suggestions

Try to keep your ball off the practice range, even if the black-striped ones are better than the one you’re using. Trot out your best short-iron game, and get your opponent one-down real quick.

Observations

Of all the sports, golf is the truest mirror of an individual’s character and personality.

• Blue 383
• Green 347
• White 330
• Red 312

History

This is the first of six holes on the back nine that incorporate the creek as an integral part of the design. The main difference here is that the hooker is punished more than the slicer, because here at GCI, the creek trouble is usually to the right. If you hook it here, you lose the ball, unless you knock it into #15 fairway and that is no place but double-bogey-land any way you look at it. Don’t feel left out, right-wingers, because if you whip it out to the “bad-lands”, you can make six, too!

Requirements

Big tee shot kept in the fairway. An extra ball if you hook it into the “crick.” Good middle iron.

Difficulties

Wind–always, in your face. Creek–lost ball. Rough–‘n-tough. Traps–sandy. Green–unforgiving.

Suggestions

Pay little or no attention to difficulties listed above. Crank it out there 240, about 10 yards to right of traps. Drill a 6 or 7 in there about 15 feet short but dead on line. One putt and cross out above section.

Observations

Charge your putts if you insist, 5 feet comebacks are often missed.

• Blue 525
• Green 395
• White 347
• Red 330

History

Once again the “birdie” comes into play, but this time, it figures into the entire hole. Designed to test the accuracy of the second shot, this par five rewards control, rather than length. The rough to the right may invite you to go that route, which is shorter, but that escapade is usually most unrewarding.

Requirements

Fair tee-ball, dead straight. Well judged second that opens up the green, about a 4-wood to 5-iron. Soft, high approach and putt.

Difficulties

Second shot has many chances to find trouble. Tree in fairway can get in way also.

Suggestions

Stay in control. Try to favor left side all the way. Enjoy this hole fully, because the next one is a “bear.”

Observations

Lost concentration for duffer or master, results in one thing – utter disaster!

• Blue 211
• Green 197
• White 169
• Red 127

History

One of the things Drex and Mickey wanted at GCI was to build a course that would test the pros and low-handicappers in all championship events. They wanted respect for the course in general, and for some of the holes in particular. They put in #13 and go more than respect – they got some genuine fear. Not only is it long, it is uphill all the way.

Requirements

From the Blues more club than you’ve got in your hand. Strong south wind. From the yardarm, anything from 5-iron to 3-wood, depending on wind and weather conditions.

Difficulties

Yes, obviously!

Suggestions

Try to be straight off the little peg. Don’t worry about knocking it over. If you make a par here, you’ll probably win this hole.

Observations

Negative thoughts are the most destructive forces in golf.

• Blue 575
• Green 545
• White 512
• Red 446

History

This hole looks innocuous, maybe even simple. But looks can be deceiving, and as the man for whom this hole is named did on the courses he designed, Mick and Drex used the natural terrain, the creek, and the trees in many subtle ways to create this demanding par five. Notice how the line of trees makes a “jail” for the slicer. Look for the creek to be just where it should (or shouldn’t) be, depending on how you hit your second. Consider how you’ll pay if you snap it ugly left.

Requirements

Arrow-straight drive. Good judgment on the tee.

Suggestions

Don’t fight this hole. Take a birdie with pride, and take a bogey in stride.

Observations

If the measure of a man’s character can be found in what he would do if he knew he would never be found out, then golf gives him a perfect “yardstick” with which to measure.

• Blue 400
• Green 364
• White 348
• Red 324

History

Well, you don’t always handicap a hole right the first time, and this hole soon proved to be tougher than its #10 rating. Now it is #4. Here they have utilized the creek and sloping terrain to present a difficult driving hole. The ball with slicing spin on it runs into the “swamp” and you need your club with the 12 foot shaft.

Requirements

Howitzer-straight or drawn slightly. Extra-good second. Ability to get up-and-down from anywhere because it you miss the green, there are no good places from which to play.

Difficulties

Damn creek, damn rough, damn long, damn tough. Damn! Damn! Damn!

Suggestions

Have a strong, reliable partner, who is saddle-broken, ’cause if you “cut” it here, you’ll need a good horse.

Observations

If this were the last hole to play, many of us would break 80 today.

• Blue 426
• Green 393
• White 364
• Red 312

History

This “treacherous devil” or “sweet darlin,” depending on how you stand in the match after finishing the hole, deserves its low handicap rating. This hole leaves little margin for error, and punishes the sin of straying from the straight-and-narrow with Old Testament severity.

Requirements

Number in order of importance and/or occurrence after you play the hole: ( ) ball and tee, ( ) ball retriever, ( ) straight tee shot, ( ) another ball – no tee, ( ) brilliant 6 or 7-iron on pad, ( ) hustler’s nerves, ( ) one-putt green, ( ) priest, ( ) higher handicap, ( ) modesty.

Difficulties

None – if you don’t go into the creek, the nursery, the lake, the fairway traps, the green bunkers, or 4-putt. Note: you are allowed to 3-putt this hole every other time.

Suggestions

Drive it like Trevino, approach, like Watson, and putt like Casper. On second thought, do everything like Nicklaus.

Observations

The meticulous care they take of this course is evident everywhere!

• Blue 181
• Green 138
• White 138
• Red 116

History

Jewel-like beauty, especially from the new elevated tee, number 17 is both pleasing to the eye and deceiving in difficulty. Since the artist of the present uses the paints of the past, much of how you see this hole or any hole, depends on what has happened here in other rounds, but most of all on what happened on the hole you’ve just played. If you have just won the hole, made a birdie, or can bogey-out for your best score ever, then the beauty of this hole is greatly enhanced.

Requirements

Control. control of the mind-play your own game. Control of the body-take a smooth pass at the ball. Control of your emotions-avoid undo displays of elation for (1) closing out opponent on #16. (2) hitting the green. (3) money. (4) women. (5) beer. (6) all of the above.

Difficulties

Green looks closer than it is from elevated tee. Very hard to ricochet off pilings onto green.

Suggestions

Refer to previous section.

• Blue 438
• Green 377
• White 346
• Red 260

History

Every fine course needs a finishing hole that’s demanding enough to settle matches and tournaments, yet pretty enough to invite the golfer to…see the clubhouse, the crowd rimming the green, the television cameras, the fore-caddies waiting and the marshals *everything, just as it is supposed to be, think! *pumped-up, easy, smooth, choke? *quit it, drill it out there to right of bunkers, good! *relax, great lie, great course, 6? *no, pumped-up, draw seven in over right trap, pinch it some, smooth, there, hot damn! *modesty, victory, 3-putt? *quit it! *microphones, get it close, line, distance smooth, go in! *birdie!! *play this course again!

Requirements

Drive, middle-iron, good stroke on very tricky green.

Difficulties

Creek catches many missed second shots. Trap at back of green is really tough.

Observations

Golf is a microcosm of life and besides that, it’s fun.