Pine Barrens at World Woods Golf Club

Gifted with a day to do what I wanted while on vacation in Orlando, I decided to take the long-ish hike up to World Woods Golf Club to play the Pine Barrens course. It's perennially one of the top 10 public courses in Florida. Often courses like this don't live up to the hype. This one absolutely does. Grand in every way, the course is the thing. From the opening tee to the final green, the challenges are constant. The course is memorable and tough. The photogenic 4th hole, the double greens at the par four 12th hole, and the signature 15th hole are all just a part of a great round of golf.

When I played, it had been raining quite a bit in the days prior but the course held zero water. Nice to be built on sandy piney soils. There were a few greens with some spots on them, probably from excessive water runoff, but nothing major.

This course is a challenge for every golfer and if you don't like sand, you may be in for some extra challenges. But the beauty of the course and the layout will make up for it.

And the price.... I played a weekday mid-day round in the heat for $40 plus tax. Seriously. One of the top rated courses in the state for under $50 is a steal.

There are no houses on the course, it's kind of in the middle of nowhere. It was an hour and a half drive from Orlando. It's about an hour and a half from Gainesville and just about an hour from Tampa. The clubhouse isn't opulent - on the contrary it's very unassuming for a course with its reputation.

I can't possibly recommend this course more. And make a time of it - there is a short course as well as a sister championship course in Rolling Oaks, which is also highly rated. Pine Barrens is a Tom Fazio design and is a bit rough around the edges, a bit reminiscent of places like Pinehurst with the rough not so thick and penal but shrubby. Trust me, I hit balls all over the lot and found almost all of them. Rolling Oaks is a bit more traditional with well defined edges.

This is tremendous golf and well worth the trip from anywhere.

One of the best courses in FL but have never seen the greens in this bad of shape and slow. Course needs a little TLC

Course is tough. I would definitely buy a yardage book. A lot of shots you have no clue what’s ahead. Greens were getting better from being punched very puttable. Pace of play was slow waited every shot. It was very busy. If you shoot over 85 play the white tees. Even the green tees are difficult at 6300 yards. Course feels like it plays longer than it says.

Great course

Never feel like I should have played somewhere else

Pine barren greens are in bad shape. Fareways are good. Some tee boxes need some work done.

Price was reduced due to airrated greens and tee boxes. This is a great course anytime. I haven't played here in many years and could not wait to get back. very challenging.

Would have given 5 stars on course condition but the greens got hit by a fungus. Still was awesome!