North Course at Highlands Ridge
About
Highlands Ridge offers 36 holes of championship golf, which form the centerpiece of the upscale residential community. It's one central Florida's most popular golf destinations. The courses, the North and the South, share the same scenic landscape but they provide very different rounds. The North Course is known for its outstanding conditions. The designer, Dave Harman, modeled the course after Kauri Cliffs in New Zealand, which was recognized as the Best New International Course in 2011 by Golf Digest. The layout is not as challenging as the South Course, making it more appealing for beginners. Water hazards come into play on a few holes and there are some strategically placed bunkers to contend with. There is also rough along the fairways and greensides that can be particularly punishing.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 72 | 7141 yards | 74.7 | 138 |
| Blue | 72 | 6703 yards | 72.6 | 135 |
| White (W) | 72 | 6122 yards | 76.0 | 135 |
| White | 72 | 6122 yards | 70.2 | 126 |
| Gold | 72 | 5374 yards | 66.3 | 117 |
| Gold (W) | 72 | 5374 yards | 71.4 | 125 |
| Red (W) | 72 | 4887 yards | 69.1 | 117 |
| Red | 72 | 4887 yards | 63.8 | 116 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black M: 74.8/140 | 392 | 411 | 419 | 558 | 408 | 190 | 528 | 214 | 436 | 3556 | 423 | 422 | 418 | 213 | 444 | 569 | 187 | 413 | 496 | 3585 | 7141 |
| Blue M: 72.6/136 | 379 | 391 | 376 | 539 | 376 | 176 | 500 | 201 | 408 | 3346 | 378 | 392 | 399 | 185 | 411 | 553 | 169 | 389 | 481 | 3357 | 6703 |
| White M: 70.2/128 W: 75.7/132 | 344 | 364 | 326 | 493 | 364 | 157 | 460 | 170 | 385 | 3063 | 330 | 378 | 361 | 172 | 356 | 504 | 158 | 335 | 465 | 3059 | 6122 |
| White/Gold M: 68.4/124 W: 73.8/127 | 344 | 364 | 326 | 442 | 330 | 129 | 389 | 156 | 352 | 2832 | 330 | 346 | 361 | 137 | 324 | 447 | 158 | 335 | 440 | 2878 | 5710 |
| Gold M: 66.7/119 W: 72.1/124 | 305 | 299 | 298 | 442 | 330 | 129 | 389 | 156 | 352 | 2700 | 284 | 346 | 307 | 137 | 324 | 447 | 118 | 271 | 440 | 2674 | 5374 |
| Gold/Red M: 64.9/116 W: 69.9/120 | 305 | 299 | 298 | 432 | 330 | 129 | 362 | 156 | 301 | 2612 | 284 | 291 | 307 | 137 | 315 | 436 | 118 | 271 | 367 | 2526 | 5138 |
| Red M: 64.1/114 W: 68.9/118 | 258 | 290 | 289 | 432 | 287 | 113 | 362 | 112 | 301 | 2444 | 275 | 291 | 300 | 103 | 315 | 436 | 94 | 266 | 367 | 2447 | 4891 |
| Red/Aqua M: 62.2/109 W: 66.0/112 | 258 | 205 | 289 | 432 | 237 | 113 | 288 | 112 | 228 | 2162 | 275 | 224 | 300 | 98 | 315 | 336 | 94 | 266 | 280 | 2188 | 4350 |
| Aqua M: 61.7/107 W: 65.3/110 | 250 | 205 | 247 | 348 | 237 | 110 | 288 | 105 | 228 | 2018 | 203 | 224 | 257 | 98 | 270 | 336 | 97 | 260 | 280 | 2025 | 4043 |
| Handicap | 11 | 5 | 15 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 9 | 17 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 18 | 16 | 8 | |||
| Par | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 9 | 15 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 13 | 3 | 17 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 6 | 16 | 12 | 2 | 18 | 14 | 4 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
RestaurantAvailable Facilities
ClubhouseAccolades
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Golf Advisor: Top 25 Value Courses in the U.S. (2015 #9)
Reviews
Poorly Managed
This course was one of our group’s favorite places to play. A couple years ago a new owner came in. They have no idea what they are going.
A place that two golf courses two restaurants and a community of very friendly and accommodating home owners/members.
The management has closed one course (actually has been completely poisoned to kill it) so they don’t have to maintain. The restroom at that course was awesome with lunch and dinner 7 days a week and brunch on Sunday
The north course still open has lost 3 “pros” golf course general mgr and now the greens keeper thats was turning the course around. The restaurant is open from 11 to 4 with nothing cooked?
This owner must be looking for an investment loss! How could anyone in their right mind do this to the home owners? The value of the housing as gone from mid 400s to mid 200 now.
Dont play there until this guy is gone. Not even worth the $29 special. Ridiculous!! State of Florida should investigate this company. There has to be fraud.
Gotten a tad messy since original visit
First off, the layout we loved. Have since our first visit. Being said, the tee boxes and rough have become messy. Way thicker and weeded. The layout and greens were great. Fairway has plodded recently but still good. Wish there was a cart person for drinks but water and restrooms were prevolent. Every tee box was flooded w weeds but still grass was good. Huge course and beautiful scenery. Will def say it is highly worth the value but wish the cart person existed and tee boxes and rough looked better. Caused a few chinks out of thick rough.
Not the course’s fault
My teatime was unfortunately behind two threesomes who played very slow. The course is in great shape with tight fairways and smaller greens which makes for a fun challenging round. The facility was extremely nice and the staff was amazing. Plenty of bathrooms and cold water throughout the course. Highly recommend.
Very interesting and challenging.
Well designed and challenging course. Lots of sand traps and man6 tee options.
This course was very challenging
The course condition was only fair but understandable as the area seemed to be experiencing significant drought. I am planning to play the course again when it is in better shape. The Pro Shop staff was very friendly and accommodating.
Great course
I have played this course multiple times and always enjoy it. With the lack of rain it’s in really good condition. A few weeds popping up on and around some tee boxes but not terrible. Layout is fun and different than other courses. Staff is always exceptional from the pro shop to the bar/restaurant. Give it a try!
Good course
Was fun to play
Greens consistent
Pace of play differs on the time and day
Great Course in Highlands County
Played Sunday, Excellent Course layout and Conditions, GM was great, very welcoming, John and his staff will see more of us.
Help needed at the golf course
We put a foursome together and normally play this course 3to4 time per year. When we arrived we were greeted by the Marshall/Starter outside the front door, a great ambassador for this golf course. We had coupons for the range and 2/1 beer after our round . At the Pro shop we were welcomed very nicely. The shock came when we started to play ! The grass not cut on the Tboxes, could not beleive the weeds growing on the Box and on the greens, lots of them , not treated either, large plants growing in the fairways, they really need a good experienced grounds keeper. If they let it go any longer, it will be hard to save it. Beautiful layout, great aminities, housing, green positions all is really good, this course could be very busy every day but ouff , not obvious, maybe a budget issue.
To conclude, when we ended our round we wanted to sit and enjoy a few beers and have some food and watch the Masters, but the Bar and Restaurant was closed at 2pm. Its beautiful, attrackting bar and restaurant. CLOSED.. we could not beleive it. Missing out an oportunity to have a Masters event on thei big screen.
I really hope they get the weeds and grass issue solved.
used to be a great course
i've played highlands ridge before many time... love the layout, tee boxes, greens... however, the conditions seem to be worsening. lack of maintenance seems to be an issue. i play pinecrest where their grounds people are constantly working on the course to keep it up. never see any activity on the grounds at highlands ridge. now that the south course is closed, pace of play with members seems to be an issue. my hope is that someone makes the call to make this one of the best places to play in highlands county to avoid what happened to the south course.
Great Course
Great course. Little dry in some spots. Greens are ok Overall the course can be challenging but fair. A need to play if in the Avon Park / Sebring area
Gem
Found this just searching on Golf Now. Found a Hot Deal for $37, on a Sunday. What a beautiful course. Spread out. Fairways were great. Greens were beautiful although hard, but green. Tough course but for the cost, I would've gladly paid $80. Well, WELL worth the money. My new favorite public course around Polk Co. Play it.
Great shape
Great shape keeping course green during drought situation
Hidden Gem
I stop often in the Sebring area to play golf when I am traveling to Tampa. Normally I play one of the two Sun and Lake courses, which are OK layouts. Just on a hunch I did a Hot Deal at this course to see if it was any good. I was pleasantly shocked. It is my new “go to” course in this area. Great layout and the condition of the course is very good for a public course. Play was your normal four hour round. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wants to play a course in the Sebring area.
Great layout
Course was a pleasant surprise! Staff was exceptionally friendly from pro shop to bar. The course was fun and offered a different look than the typical Florida course. We will definitely be back!
Sugar Festival golf
Come down in March for Clewiston Sugar Festival to visit family & friends. Sister lives in Lake Placid so always bring clubs to play. Had a decent Golf Now time and value for this course this time so I decided to to play here. I like the layout and the wider fairways help staying in play. Greens were ok but playing early with fog they were a little slower than expected. I like tightly mown tee boxes so the tee boxes were a little long for me. Staff was very friendly and played fast since I went out early.