Florida's Gulf Islands Visitors Guide® 2008 - (Page 27) TIME to take some Courses Play a Round 365 days a year Golf isn’t a hobby around here, it’s a way of life. Even if you failed to bring your clubs along (we forgive you), don’t let that stop you from experiencing some of Florida’s finest courses. Links enthusiasts can find close to 20 championship courses within 30 minutes from wherever you’re staying. Gems from worldfamous designers Legacy Golf Course such as Ted McAnlis’s Waterlefe Golf & River Club and Arnold Palmer’s Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch are among the halfdozen or so area courses to garner ratings of four stars or higher from Golf Digest. Pristine semi-private courses and walletThe Links at Green- friendly field Plantation municipal layouts offer additional golfing experiences stretching from Imperial Lakewoods Golf Club in Palmetto down to beginnerfriendly Manatee County Golf Course. Waterlefe Golf & River Club COURSE TYPE** YARDAGE* Buffalo Creek Golf Course 8100 - 69th St. E., Palmetto, 941-776-2611 Great golf value, fair and challenging. Grass driving range, practice green and pitching area. 18 P 72 72.1 7003 E-3 David Leadbetter Golf Academy 5500 - 34th St. W., Bradenton, 800-872-6425, www.imgacademies.com Five days a week, morning is training and afternoon tee-time. D-6 MAP GRID RATING* HOLES PAR* The Golf Club at Cypress Creek 1011 Cypress Village Blvd., Ruskin, 813-634-8888, www.cypresscreekgolfclub.com An 18-hole, semi-private championship golf course, located just 25 minutes north of Bradenton. 18 S 130 71.7 6369 G-1 Heather Hills Golf Club 101 Cortez Rd. W., Bradenton, 941-755-8888 This course offers seven par fours and the rest are par threes. Complete with water and sandtraps. par for the course SNOWBIRDS AREN’T THE ONLY SPECIES OF ANIMAL LIFE YOU’LL ENCOUNTER ON AREA GOLF COURSES. THE FOLLOWING FAUNA SIGHTINGS ARE COMMON: BALD EAGLES: FLORIDA IS HOME TO THE SECOND HIGHEST NUMBER OF BALD EAGLES OF ANY STATE IN THE COUNTRY. KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR NESTS ATOP TALL PINES AND POWER POLES. WHITE-TAIL DEER: MORE COMMON ON COURSES EAST OF I-75, THESE SKITTISH MAMMALS ARE USUALLY FOUND ASSISTING IN THE MOWING OF FAIRWAYS. ALLIGATORS: THESE PREHISTORIC REPTILES POPULATE LAKES AND MARSHES THROUGHOUT THE BRADENTON AREA. FEEL FREE TO EMPLOY THE “PREDATORY ANIMAL FREE DROP RULE” ALLOWED BY THE USGA. 18 S 61 58.6 3521 E-5 Imperial Lakewoods Golf Club 9680 Buffalo Rd., Palmetto, 800-642-2193 Ranked highly by Golf Digest, this challenging and well-kept, a proven favorite for golfers of all skills. 18 P,S 72 71.0 6218 D-3 Legacy Golf Club at Lakewood Ranch 8255 Legacy Blvd., Bradenton, 941-907-7067, www.legacygolfclub.com 4 1/2 stars by Golf Digest Places To Play and one of Zagat’s America’s Top Courses ’08. 18 P 72 71.9 6684 H-6 The Links at Greenfield Plantation 10325 Greenfield Blvd., Bradenton, 941-747-9432, www.linksatgreenfieldplantation.com The Links offers a rare mix of championship golf, excellent course conditions and competitive rates. 18 P,S 72 70.0 6,262 G-4 Manatee County Golf Course 6415 - 53rd Ave. W., Bradenton, 941-792-6773, www.mymanatee.org A regulation par 72 with teeing areas for everyone, even beginners. Great golf at a fair price. 18 P 72 121 6195 D-5 Palm View Hills 5712 - 28th Ave. E., Palmetto, 941-722-2392 Family-owned. Built in 1960. Pretty greens, challenging yet fair. 18 S 63 3800 E-3 Palmetto Pines Golf Course 14355 Golf Course Rd., Parrish, 941-776-1375, www.palmettopinesgolfcourse.com A nice little golf course in the country. 36 P 73 65.8 5358 G-2 Peridia Golf & Country Club 4950 Peridia Blvd. E., Bradenton, 941-758-2582, www.peridiagcc.net A challenging par 60 course, it offers something for every level of golfer. 18 S 60 57.9 3364 G-6 Pinebrook/Ironwood Golf Course 4260 Ironwood Cir., Bradenton, 941-792-3288, www.pinebrookironwood.com An 18-hole executive course. Par three, four and five. 18 S 68 101 3950 D-5 The River Club 6600 River Club Blvd., Bradenton, 941-751-4211, www.riverclubgc.com Four-star Golf Digest course. Five sets of tees. 18 S 72 74.6 7026 G-5 River Run Golf Links 1801 - 27th St. E., Bradenton, 941-708-8459, www.riverrungolflinks.com Amenities include a fully stocked pro shop and snack bar. Rental clubs are also available. 18 P 70 70.9 6293 D-5 The Riverside Golf Course One Pier Dr., Ruskin, 813-645-2000 An 18-hole semi-private golf course. 18 S 70 6117 G-1 Rosedale Golf & Country Club 5100 - 87th St. E., Bradenton, 941-753-6200, www.rosedalegcc.com One of the most challenging and well maintained courses on the Suncoast. Manicured greens. 18 S 72 71.1 6337 G-6 Every Bradenton area course boasts its own unique feel, but a combination of year-round sun and lush landscapes make for one constant – impeccable course conditions and 365 days of playing time. Oh yes, there’s one other constant – enough watery danger to make any prudent golfer buy an extra sleeve of Titleist at the pro shop. Stoneybrook Golf Club 7515 Grand Harbour Pkwy., Bradenton, 941-746-2696, www.stoneybrookgolfbradenton.com It’s a true golfers’ course encouraging a variety of clubs and shots to put you in position for your approach. 18 P 72 74.8 7131 G-5 OSPREY: THIS SMALLER, DARKERFEATHERED COUSIN OF THE BALD EAGLE CAN BE SEEN PLUCKING FISH FROM PONDS AND MANGROVE SWAMPS ON AREA COURSES. Terra Ceia Bay Country Club 2802 Terra Ceia Bay Blvd., Palmetto, 941-729-7663 Challenging course. Fifteen have water obstacles. Views of Tampa Bay and the Sunshine Skyway. 18 P,S 62 58.5 3927 E-3 Timber Creek Golf Course 4550 Timber Ln., Bradenton, 941-794-8381 Unique par three. Get your short irons on track. 9 P 27 1043 D-5 University Park Country Club 7671 The Park Blvd., University Park, 941-355-3888, www.universitypark-fl.com Golf Digest four stars, Sarasota Magazine 2007 Best Place to Play Golf and Tennis and Best Neighborhood. 27 S 72 74.0 5,511- F-7 7,001 71.2 6,908 G-4 Waterlefe Golf & River Club 1022 Fish Hook Cove, Bradenton, 941-744-9771, www.waterlefegolfandriverclub.com Public 18-hole, par 72, championship course designed by Ted McAnlis, on the Manatee River. *Par, rating and yardage based on men’s tee. **P: Public; S: Semi-Private 18 P,S 72 www.FloridasGulfIslands.com | Page 27 http://www.imgacademies.com http://www.cypresscreekgolfclub.com http://www.legacygolfclub.com http://www.linksatgreenfieldplantation.com http://www.mymanatee.org http://www.palmettopinesgolfcourse.com http://www.peridiagcc.net http://www.pinebrookironwood.com http://www.riverclubgc.com http://www.riverrungolflinks.com http://www.rosedalegcc.com http://www.stoneybrookgolfbradenton.com http://www.universitypark-fl.com http://www.waterlefegolfandriverclub.com http://www.FloridasGulfIslands.com
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