Hamptons Golf Club, The

Every time I play here I have a great time. Can’t wait to play again soon.

Front desk lady is a rude and incompetent. The starter is nice. Tee boxes in rough shape , the worst I ever seen. Course not in the GHIN app. And expensive for a short par 3 course.

At the Hamptons, none of the nine par-3s is excessively long, and the par-4s are short and straightforward. As on almost every executive track in existence, low-handicappers won’t leave feeling "tested to their core." But at typical executive courses, these sorts of metrics should seem beside the point. To its credit, the Hamptons will subject you to a golfing challenge. There is no small number of lurking and sometimes even hidden water hazards and tight fairways—and a large number of problems when your golf ball leaves them.

The course also reinforces the reason why executive golf was created in the first place: the brisk pace of play with shorter suggested playing times on both the par-3s and 4s. With the threat of thunderstorms looming today, the course was not busy. I played the eighteen in under two hours. This brand of golf may seem inconceivable to those with three-minute pre-shot routines (I was completing par-3s in three minutes, which is quicker than I can locate, typically, my sunglasses).

Because these holes aren’t long or elaborate, the Hamptons’ long suit isn’t risk/reward golf, but the rigor is still inherent in enough of this layout—including around the greens. On the par-4s here, golf hole design focuses on the basics. Course architect Len DeBoer sought to maximize a common theme: hit the tee shot onto a straight fairway, then follow with a cleanly struck iron or wedge into what is typically a modest and slightly elevated green. Make no mistake about it: these par-4s belong to the penal school of golf architecture: miss the fairways by much, and you’ll almost certainly find trouble. The course’s better par-3s add luster and a more strategic challenge, particularly when they exceed 140 yards. On these holes, I found myself thinking about “where to miss” in case of a slightly misplayed tee shot.

Some key greenside aspects at the Hamptons—raised contours, quasi-natural mounding, and sprawling bunkers—add the kinds of features that frequent full-length courses. There are, too, the steep falloffs that guard both the sides and the backs of several green complexes.

Water hazards add a splash of danger to nearly every hole, save for a few short par-3s. Most of these hazards are sizable ponds that are stationed on the margins. On the sixth and eighth holes, however, they generate some ticklish forced carries. The fairway at the excellent tenth slides by a long pond on the right; the fairway’s shape favors a fade.

By hole fourteen, a hole with water on the right, the round seems to hit a crescendo: the driving zone is inviting, but also to be appreciated is a nice flourish: an amphitheater-like backdrop of mounds that nearly encircles the green.

Conditions

Smooth and pure-rolling, the greens were especially fine—the best in this area. Tifdwarf bermudagrass is used here, apparently, for heat and drought resistance. It works. Fairways were again well above the norm in this area, as were bunkers, while tees were mostly good. The area that still disappoints, if only a bit, is the roughs.

Staff Friendliness

It’s impossible to overlook the way this course is run and operated. Everyone I’ve met at the Hamptons has been helpful and friendly. Pam stood out again for top-notch service. Her empathy, clear communication, and problem-solving abilities all rate an eleven on a scale of ten. This is also my go-to driving range.

Conclusion

I enjoyed immersing myself in this layout once again, starting with enthusiasm from the first hole. The opener is short and sweet and a sure test of pitching finesse, ending on a green that feels smaller than a postage stamp. This is a place for immediately "getting stuck in" (as the British say) to see how well you can score.

They let groups of 6 play together. We went around them and found a group of 4 that was even slower.i think that group was picking weeds. We ended up skipping the last 5 holes. Won’t be back

On a warm Florida afternoon, The Hamptons reminded me that executive golf can demand every bit as much thought as length. The keys to playing this layout are making smart decisions that lead to well-placed tee shots, especially on the narrow par-4s, and a dependable putting stroke. Oh yes—and a reliable wedge or short-iron game. Water guards many of these fairways and intervenes between tee and green on a majority of the par-3s.

Another key to success is recognizing where the water lurks, especially when it hides from view at the tee. It pays—I've found here—to keep a sharp eye out for subtle angles and deceptive landing areas. You might also notice, along the route, an ibis or a couple of sandhill cranes. Or an alligator. Once, in a high school golf match, my tee shot wound up immersed, slightly, in a small pond. I copied Jack Nicklaus and took off my shoe and sock, then dipped my right leg in the water hazard and splashed the ball out. The shot came off well, landing on the green. I could not imagine attempting that maneuver here in Florida.

I found the Hamptons’ setting to be pleasant and relaxing, contrary to the general assumption that a routing through a housing complex must feel intrusive. Some of the holes are largely surrounded by nature, and the atmosphere is quiet and pastoral. When houses appear in clusters or rows, they are softened by mature Southern live oaks, fan palms, cypress, and pine.

Conditioning/Service

Due mainly to the work of the course superintendent, but also in part to rain showers and storms, conditions have contributed to a greener—and a bit lusher—course than when I played here three weeks ago. The greens rolled even more consistently; the fairways offered dependable lies. Service remained excellent. At the counter, it was clear that Pam cares about customers, as does the starter and everyone else on the staff. Outstanding!

Conclusion

This golf course has left me with the strong impression that, time and again, the shot values tempt players to be bold off the tee. But it is accuracy that is most rewarded. And in Florida, at least, some hazards are best admired from dry land. Around here, dry socks are part of good course management.

Greens were in great condition. Overall very good condition. Nice course for a short par 3 course, quite challenging.

We played this course for the first time and really enjoyed it. It’s a short challenging little course with excellent greens.

Everyone in and around you were very welcoming.

The club house is a social hub and serves wonderful food.

We enjoyed the course and people so much we have booked again.

Thank you for our opening game on our Orlando while visiting from the UK.

See you on Saturday.

Pace of play was very very slow. One of the holes was closed. Just go around that hole and take a par they siad. All they were doing is fixing tee box.

Course was in good shape. Greens were absolutely excellent. Play was very smooth until the back 9. We had 2 groups of 3 dropped in on 10. The group ahead of us was practicing and hitting more than one ball. Evidently we were the final group out. 3 hours play time even with the group ahead of us. Love this executive course.

The Hamptons, located just off US-92 amongst a housing complex, is laid out to give your game a mostly complete workout. Although an executive course, it possesses some bite. The biggest focus here is on accurate tee shots, whether the choice is to hit driver or anything less. Over the course of these eighteen holes, too, my putting was firmly tested in spots. Part of the enjoyment of the round was the pleasant setting. Yes, houses run along the fairways; they are also complemented by mature Southern live oaks, majestic fan palms and cypresses, and towering pines.

Hazards and Course Difficulty:

Water dominates the list of troubles to be avoided at the Hamptons. It appears on nearly every hole, mostly in the form of modest to sizable ponds, along with a few streams. Other problems that you may encounter here include large bunkers, mounding (bordering the fairways and mostly at the sides of greens), specimen trees, the woods that often border fairways, lots of OB, and greens that range in size from small to middling. When they are more contoured or tilted, some of these putting surfaces may run fast downhill.

The Par-4s: Playable and with some challenges

The better par-4s here tend to run along dense woods on one side of the fairway and are sheer tests of driving accuracy, and most are threatened by ponds of varying shapes and sizes. A few bend a little but without any stronger doglegs. You don’t want to stray much from these narrow fairways, as OB also guards their sides with fewer or no trees—where houses populate the course’s periphery. The fairway roughs are also tight but not fearsome.

Tee shots here demand precise control, but, by contrast, approach shots were short and uncomplicated for me. On all eight of the par-4s, I enjoyed short approaches ranging from 100 to 25 yards. It quickly seemed clear that second shots—all played with lofted clubs into receptive greens—allowed me to swing confidently, even with a bit of abandon.

There are, nonetheless, some real greenside threats: these are mostly mounds, which are prominent on a few holes (but typically are held in check), and some large bunkers. The traps are used sparingly, sometimes appearing in front of or on one side of the greens. A few holes have flanking greenside bunkers. The greens themselves feature subtle contours; four or five are also tilted—such that downhill putts will challenge your touch.

The Par-3s:

The scratch rating of 59.4 against a par of 62 from the blues certainly suggests that the course falls on the side of easy—though it is not a pushover. What adds the stronger difficulties are the two top par-3s here, the 186-yard sixth and the 191-yard sixteenth. Here, rigor threatened to tighten me like a vise as I thought about the woods on the left and the road clinging hard on the right. Missing the green long, I found that pitching to and two-putting the sixteenth green’s well-sloped, raised surface was no picnic. The sixth green is both a larger and easier target to find, although the tee shot must cross a large water hazard that surrounds most of the green and its chipping areas. The layout includes six short par-3s in the 105–140 yard range, which may leave some players wishing for more differentiation in yardage. Real estate for golf on this property is, of course, in short supply.

Conditions / Other:

Greens proved to be smooth, and bunkers were good. Roughs were spongy and inconsistent, while everything else, including the fairways, was about average overall. Service was excellent at check-in from Barbara; this is a friendly place!

A Takeaway:

The theme at this short but tight executive track revolves around restraint off the tee and solid judgment on approaches. Its modest scale places a premium on placement and touch rather than power. Those who are willing to play with caution will likely be rewarded for that caution.

Enjoyed a great round of golf at the Hamptons. Beautiful little golf course that’s well designed and maintained. Will be back for sure!

Fast, true greens. Mostly par 3s. Leave your driver at home. Good practice for irons.

The course in fantastic condition compared to last year. Staff are friendly as ever and the 19th was inexpensive.

The greens were improved over what I had seen there before. It’s an executive course at Par 61, but still a challenge with a decent amount of water. A fun day of golf!

This is a fun course that I've played numerous times. While short, there is a lot of water (though very few forced carries), so offline shots can be severely penalized. This is a great place to work on your short game, and the greens are in great shape. During the snowbird season, finding a course in good condition at a reasonable price is a challenge, so it's always nice when there are a few rounds at summer prices while the temps are more pleasant!

Very personable, friendly, and accommodating service. The community and course was friendly and open to golf course patrons. The course was easy to navigate.