Ocala
might be best known as Florida’s horse country, but tucked away in this
quiet town is a golf course that ranks among the thoroughbreds of golf
experiences.
In the heart of Ocala’s On Top of
the World Communities lies
Candler Hills Golf Club,
one of the newest but most acclaimed golf courses in the Sunshine State.
Though only four years old, the course has
already played host to some of the state’s top events, including the North
Florida PGA Senior Open, the Ocala Open and the Florida State Women’s Golf
Association Tournament. And each and every time, the course has played to
rave reviews for its challenging design, immaculate conditions and
painstaking attention to detail.
Located just over six miles west of I-75
on a small portion of Circle Square Ranch, Candler Hills has a western feel
to it that will remind golfers more of Palm Springs than its actual Florida
zip code. Upon arrival, golfers will immediately notice the wide-open nature
of the course and the native grasses and large coquina boulders that lend
both atmosphere and challenge.
A Gordon Lewis-designed layout, Candler
Hills can stretch to more than 7,300 yards, emphasized by the 669-yard par-5
fourth, the longest par-5 in Florida. But by no means is Candler Hills
simply a “grip it and rip it” layout. In fact, the course places equal
emphasis on accuracy and creativity as it does length and power. To that
end, Candler Hills primary defense is its bunkers, which total 148,
including 10 on the very first hole. And these aren’t your garden-variety
shallow bunkers, but rather deep-faced “traps” that often times can prove
difficult to escape.
Further testing golfers’ short game are
the green complexes that are, for lack of a better term, enormous. Typically
greens average somewhere between 4,000 to 6,000 square feet. Candler Hills’
greens, however, measure between 7,000 and 11,000 square feet. Don’t let
three- and even four-putts get you down, they can be commonplace around
Candler Hills.
Much of Candler
Hills’ length and challenge is found in its memorable par-5s. In fact, the
top three handicap holes (fourth, sixth and 15th) are all par-5s and not one
of them measures under 570 yards from the back tees. Not to be outdone, the
par-3s all measure 200 yards or more from the tips and offer some of the
most breathtaking views on the golf course.
Lewis, a Naples resident, is well-known
for creating layouts with great variety and shot-making opportunities and
with Candler Hills he followed that same formula. Lewis built different
angles and placements into his five tee markers that, depending on the
prevailing wind, will force golfers to adjust the way they attack the
course.
Taken as a whole,
Candler Hills Golf Club
is a wonderful golf experience, but when looked at as 18 individual holes,
the course becomes so much more. Perhaps that’s why each hole at Candler
Hills has its own name that helps to expound upon the challenge that waits.
Take for instance, the aforementioned fourth hole entitled “Monster” both
for its 669-yard length and the six traps that guard the green.
The short par-4 seventh hole carries the
moniker “Let the Fun Begin” as golfers are tempted to reach the green that
sits only 307 yards from the “Green” tees and just over 335 from the tips.
The careful player will go 3-wood-pitching wedge, but the aggressive golfer
will pull the driver and, well, let the fun begin.
One of the most scenic holes on the
course, the par-3 eighth is named “The Beach” for the large waste area that
runs from the front of the tee box all the way to the green. At 200 yards
from the back tees, the eighth is actually the shortest of the par-3s, but
might present the most daunting of the tee shots on the short holes.
Given the length of the fourth hole, the
579-yard par-5 15th might not seem long, but its name “The Long and Winding
Road” is well earned. The second toughest hole at Candler Hills, this long,
tight par-5 offers plenty of danger should golfers find the OB on either
side of the fairway off the tee or one of the three deep bunkers that guard
the green.
By contrast, the 18th hole “Homeward
Bound” offers a wide fairway target off the tee, but golfers will only see
half the green on the approach shot.
The variety of holes and challenges at
Candler Hills is further magnifi ed by constant changes in the winds that
sweep across the largely open course. Depending on the direction and
consistency of the wind, Candler Hills can play as tough as any layout in
Florida, or can lay exposed to good scores.
But no matter the conditions, Candler
Hills will provide an enjoyable and memorable golf experience.
In addition to the course, Candler Hills
is also home to a world-class practice facility led by PGA Golf Professional
Jeff McDonald and LPGA Golf Professional Sally Collins. Both single and
multi-lesson packages are available as are group clinics and playing lessons
by appointment. The double-ended practice facility also features an
excellent sand-game area, a putting-only practice green and a chipping and
pitching undulated green that includes mounding around it.
|
Tee |
Par |
Yards |
Slope |
Rating |
| Black |
72 |
7333 |
120 |
73.9 |
| Green |
72 |
6725 |
117 |
70.6 |
| Blue |
72 |
6110 |
111 |
67.8 |
| White (L) |
72 |
5622 |
104 |
65.6 |
| White |
72 |
5622 |
114 |
70.7 |
| Red |
72 |
4877 |
106 |
66.7 |
