Highlands Reserve Golf Club

ONLY 2 minor complaints. 1.greens could be slightly faster to match how they look! 2. somehow get rid of the crabgrass on the collars.these 2 things it would be nearly perfect.

Great greens - very interesting elevation changes for Florida - friendly staff - you will be glad you came

Great value for the conditions right now. The course is pretty playable and overall an incredible value for the $49 summer rate. Only thing I can critique is that the greens were very stiff, felt crunchy to walk on, but they all rolled true despite being on the slow side.

Course in great shape and starter Bill I think was very friendly and helpful.

This course has significantly improved since I last played, just before the pandemic. Perhaps the green keeping staff will improve the fringes of the greens.

The course is in good condition and staff spend a lot of time working to improve the course.

Staff friendly, that said they always have been through the years that I have played the course.

Hope to get another round on the reserve before returning to the UK.

Was shocked when I pulled into the parking lot at 1:30pm on a Sunday and it was empty. Played alone in under 2.5 hours. The greens were good, they rolled true. I worried they had just been punched and I was the last to know by lack of players, but that was not the case. Maybe the weather was a factor as it was mid 90’s, but no chance of rain. At any rate Highlands Reserve is always a great option and priced well. My local municipal charges more and you get way less of an experience. It’s worth the 45 minute drive for me.

A lot of courses have soggy areas due to heavy rains, this course drains well and is in great shape! Only draw back is greens are like astro turf, slow rolling but in excellent condition.

Quality of the greens and course were great. We had a great time playing.

Definitely worth the price! Pace of play speeds up after 4th hole.

Greens were nice, rolled great

Fairways were nice not patchy

Rough wasnt too deep

Pace of play was good, starter kept groups spaced nicely

Wish it was closer but would drive out here again

I make it a priority to play Highland Reserve every trip to Davenport. The staff is very accommodating and the course presents challenges that are fair to the average golfer. I'm a 14 handicap (moving towards 15 these days) and I appreciate a course that understands that not everyone can hit a 200+ drive and have pinpoint accuracy.

Highland Reserve doesn't have any water hazards so they make strategic placements of sand and sloping fairways to make you think about ball placement. Over the past 7 or 8 years the course has been modified to be friendlier to those of us who measure our landing zone in tens-of-yards rather than feet. For example, certain formerly treacherous waste bunkers have now been grown over with grass making them easier to escape, and the size of certain green-protecting bunkers has shrunk making them easier to avoid for those of us who don't hit a towering wedge shot. The course layout still offers plenty of challenges from the gold and white tees (I've never played from the reds or blues so I can't offer an opinion from there). The area offer some elevation changes that work their way into making strategic decision on several fairways that want to let gravity roll your drive towards bunkers or make you hit your approach shot from a tougher angle. This is a course that will leave you satisfied with your round because decent shots are rewarded, and if you play it once, you will be eager to come back to play certain holes a different way.

New greens were installed 2 years ago or so and they are fair. They may roll a bit slow for some, but I enjoy greens that allow you be aggressive and go after the hole. I estimate I've played this course 20 times in 8 years, and I even hosted 36 golfers the day before my oldest son's wedding in 2021. The staff was extremely helpful with that event, as they always are.

Important note for Florida golfers: ice cold water coolers are available every 3 or 4 holes making it easy to stay hydrated. Food and drinks are reasonably priced and available at the pro shop's food counter (accessible before you start a round and at the turn). You generally encounter a roving refreshment cart approximately 3 times during an average round of between 4 hours and 4 hours and 20 minutes.

Range balls are dispensed from a vending machine near the range, and the practice green and a separate chipping/sand trap green are located directly behind the pro shop making it easy to get loose before you tee off. No excuses for stepping onto the 1st tee unprepared.

Obviously I am a big fan of this course and it is always high on my list when thinking about where to play.