Candler Hills GC
Aerial view from Candler Hills Golf Club.
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Rating Index Rating
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4.6
1355 Reviews (1355)
5 Stars
930
4 Stars
368
3 Stars
38
2 Stars
11
1 Stars
8
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.3
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.7
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.4
96.9%
Recommend this course
1311 out of 1355 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
5.0
1 Reviews (1)
5 Stars
1
4 Stars
0
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.0
Value
5.0
Layout
5.0
Pace
5.0
Amenities
4.0
StaffFriendliness
5.0
100.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 1 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.7
38 Reviews (38)
5 Stars
26
4 Stars
12
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.5
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.6
StaffFriendliness
4.7
100.0%
Recommend this course
38 out of 38 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private
Par 72
Length 7233 yards
Slope 128
Rating 74.8

Candler Hills Golf Club in Ocala was designed by Florida native Gordon G. Lewis. In a state that has no shortage of golf courses, Candler Hills manages to stand out. The layout offers plenty of length at 7,233 yards from the back tees. The 662-yard fourth hole is the longest par 5 in Florida. There are no water hazards on the golf course, but what it lacks in water it more than makes up for in sand. Strategically placed traps line the fairways and greens. The layout has some challenging holes but it's fair and playable for all skill levels. Candler Hills G.C. is also well known for its extensive practice facility, which has a range with target greens placed at different yardages and a short-game area with a practice bunker and undulating green.

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Candler Hills Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 2005
Greens TifDwarf Grass
Architect Gordon G. Lewis (2005)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - $32 - $40

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted Yes
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Men - Shirts with sleeves and collars; slacks, or mid-length shorts. Women - Blouses with collar; slacks, skirts, or mid-length shorts

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse

Accolades

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Reviews

4.6
1355 Reviews (1355)
Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 27
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Course is un immaculate condition

Course is in perfect shape. Greens are fast and roll true, nice powdery sand and fairways are lush

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Candler a good value

While there is a lot of new home construction going on along the course, the course has a nice layout and is in good condition. Tips would challenge anyone. Green tees good 6,500 yard track.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course - Prickly staff

I have played Candler multiple times and love the course. Playing here requires that on normal days you navigate the conditions that come with being located in an over 55 community, meaning if your tee time is 1:00P, you do not go out a moment earlier whether the course is empty or not. Rules are rules.

Today we had a 1:00P tee time and they were running 25 minutes behind because someone allocated 3.5 hours for a 9:00A tournament to finish. Not sure about you, but I have never played in a golf tournament anywhere that finished in under four hours. Anyway, because of that cash grab, that meant everyone playing in the afternoon was delayed significantly. not the end of the world, but adding insult to injury we pulled up to hear the starter blaming the three groups stacked on the tee box for being there, suggesting they needed to wait to be sent to the first tee from the clubhouse. So 1:00P means 1:00P when good for them, but when they whiff, they blame the customer for being in the way??

It is a great course and one everyone should try. But their customer service is questionable at best and needs a serious amount of attention.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Fair
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
fcf4fc0f-b638-555a-bbb3-aee849ce63e1
Commented on 03/19/2020

We appreciate your feedback on your recent round at Candler Hills Golf Club. We apologize for your experience. Please contact our Director of Golf, Matt Hibbs (352) 427-3977 so we can discuss in more detail. Thank you for playing Candler Hills Golf Club and we hope to see you on our course again very soon.

Played On
Reviews 88
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Top 500 Contributor
Previously Played

Good CB purse but have a Beef!

We have payed this v CB purse numerous times as it is s nice course as Nd layout.

When we played yesterday it was a waste of money, we were booked with another twosome who arrived 1/2 hour before tee time like us and decided to request a later tee time because they wanted to hit some balls . The Starter made the comment that some people don’t w as not to play with a couple. So the starter let us go as a twosome and we were stacked behind foursomes and although we started at our tee time caught the foursome right away and waited on every shot. We felt it was a waste of money as you could get no rythem to play with hurry up and wait, and ironically the foursome behind us was hitting into us at times. I am not sure why the pro shop okayed a Golfnow tee time to change there tee time but it made for a unfair round to a twosome with loaded up foursome tee times Not happy about it and let the pro shop know!

Conditions Good
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Played On
Reviews 76
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor

I showed up to play but IT started raining and our round was cancelled.Candler Hills could not issue a credit and told me to contact GolfNow.I have been unable to reach someone from GolfNow and as of now I'm screwed out of the money I payed for the round.GolfNow policy is to refund the money for rounds cancelled due to weather but there is no number to contact them if this happens.The only way I've been able to communicate with them is with this review.I think that stinks!!!!

Played On
Reviews 51
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course conditions.

Course was in great shape. Got off on time. Slow on course. 4hr 45 minute round.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great value

Played 18 holes in 3:50, very friendly staff and the course was in very good condition. Overall an excellent experience!

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Rained out

Sort of drizzling on the front nine which wasn’t too bad but started pouring heavy on ninth tee so we cut it short after nine called GolfNow for a rain check at about 4 pm but said they we’re closed. Thought they might stay open until 5 anyway but we enjoyed the first nine holes.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fantastic

I would recommend it to any intermediate to low handicap players!

Loved it!!!!!!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Fair
Played On
Reviews 55
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Hot weather
Used cart

Nice, but not thrilling

I read the reviews and saw the ranking. I included Candler in my trip and was really excited to see it. From a design point, I found it very underwhelming. It was a very strong 4 star course. But it doesn’t get a 5 from me. There was enough sand strategically place to keep you from falling asleep, but that’s about it. Scenic vistas? Not really. And it was bordering a huge construction site of a zillion new homes so that definitely detracted from the experience. There was a lot of heavy equipment being used just of many of the fairways.

I would play it again, for sure. Conditions and the people were nice enough. But I am not going to go 1.5 hours out of my way to get there. If you live nearby, go. If you’re looking for destination golf, go elsewhere.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course Has Change

The course has changed. Building all kinds of houses around the course. Greens were hard but putted nice. Fairway just ok. Really liked the layout with out all the new construction going on. Price just ok. $ 50.00 high.lMore like a $30.00 course.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

Not the average beginner course. Fast greens and beautiful fairways

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Great course for the money.

Course and staff were really great. Would recommend it to anyone.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 30
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Feel like you're playing a private course

I enjoy playing at Candler Hills because it feels like a private facility. The course is always in good condition and when the weather allows it becomes excellent. It is a solid test for your game but not so difficult that it makes you regret playing. The staff is always friendly and you'll feel like you belong there.

Stay for lunch or dinner after your round. Their recently renovated dinning room is inviting and the food is good.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Amazing

All I can say is play this course. Everything was as good as it gets.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 22
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

great course

The course is in great shape with greens rolling well. Had some very nice people which made the round even better. And played very well, shooting one of my best round here, 73. A bot slow at times but finished 18 hole in about 4 hrs.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 32
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Central FL Best Golf

Same-oh same-oh, just outstanding course and the people who work there are a cut above, (helpful, friendly and knowledgeable!

Always a treat to be able to play there.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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