The Club at Pelican Bay - North Course

I am a resident of Pelican Bay and very much want to see this course succeed. The last time I played this course was the first day the new ownership took over in Jan 2025. Prior to that I was a member in 2021 and 2022 before joining another local golf club due to the declining conditions of this golf course. Today I played it again to give an honest assessment.

Before reading this review it is important to acknowledge the new owners were handed a golf course that had been deteriorating steadily over a ten year period. There was much for the new owners to overcome and they have made a commitment to restore the golf course to its original conditions. One of the top courses in Central Florida!

The first thing you notice is the pleasant attitude of the pro shop manager. A very welcomed change! Plus the new ownership spent several weeks last spring replacing the many bridges that were rotting due to neglect. They also made the effort to clear the course of the thousands of palm fronds, tree limbs, and other debris that had been neglected for years. As you make your way around the 18 holes you can other see signs of their efforts. They are actively working to restore the irrigation system, repair washouts, and making other noticeable repairs.

The second thing you notice is the driving range is not ADA compliant. With one set of steps completely missing its hand rails. All the steps to the elevated range are old with sharp edges. Both children and adults should use the steps carefully.

The range itself is being worked on but suffers from old base soil running out of the nutrients needed to grow grass.

The third thing you notice is the poor condition of the practice green surface. While most of the grass is green, there are many bare spots where the 40 year old soil is no longer able to grow grass because the base is exhausted of nutrients. This became a reoccurring theme with all the greens on the course. A secondary observation is the greens have been reduced to 50 percent of their original size.

The tee boxes are also in need of a full rehabilitation. While they seem to be mowed consistently, there are at least five different types of grass and weeds growing between the bare spots.

It looks like they are beginning the effort to remove the weeds and grass from the bunkers. But the bunkers themselves are in need of rehabilitation for consistency and a redefining the edges as the sand has blown out over the years.

The cart paths are in need of rehabilitation as well. Very hard on the golf cart suspensions!

The fairway grass is very thin. With much invasive grass. But the bigger problem is the sandy bare spots. These combinations don’t mix well.

Enter the on-course bathrooms at your own risk. They should at least clear all the cobwebs when cleaning.

Speaking of risk, there are several widow-makers on the course. Beware as you approach the trees. They may be making an effort to remove them as there were several piles of dead trees and limbs. Watch your step and mind the ankle-buster pine cones which are a never ending battle to maintain. But this course has a higher than normal number.

This course has a great layout and is fun to play. Even in its current condition beginners will enjoy it as it is not as busy as other area courses and they won’t be pushed by a group behind them. Should a group push you, just let them play through as most likely no one will be behind them.

Even though I live in Pelican Bay I doubt I will return until at least the greens are restored. As a reference the golf club I where I golf three days a week completely restored their greens to their original conditions three years and they are perfect now. I am also a member of a Senior Golf Tour. Where we golf at courses from New Smyrna all the way between and to Ponte Vedra Beach each month. Many of which have restored their greens. So I have full faith the owners of this course can make the right decisions to eventually bring it back to its former glory!

New owners. Club house very limited stock.. no cart person on course.

Tee boxes were good and fairways we’re also.. sand traps weren’t groomed at all.. greens were cut but long and slowZ

This was by far the worst course I've ever seen. Bunkers were full of weeds and obviously haven't been touched in a long time. Greens were not even usable. No point in even putting. Gave up after two holes and starting using the spin the wheel app to pick clubs on each shot. Gave up after 9 holes. Pace of play was great because we were literally the only ones on the course.

1 st time back in a year off. Course has been struggling for many years now. I love the course it's self but it seems to be going down hill worse then ever. Greens are not good, Looks as though they have been reseeded and growing in. The fairways are stuggling with huge bare spots. Needs to be closed for a month or 2 and just pickup the maintance, Bunkers are a disgrace, Last year they were in grear condition and well maintained. Glad to see the restaurant and bar is back open. there are some really good grounds keepers out there, My recomendation would be to close and hire some grounds keepers to bring it back to life. This place has tremendous potential.. Daytona golfers will come if you bring the place back up to standard. I will be back to enjoy every improvement.

If I could rate this course a zero I would., this has to be the worst course in Florida

The entire course is a mess, sand traps haven't been touched in months with vegetation growing throughout all of them, greens are unputtable and haven't seen a mower in weeks (yes, they are sanded), and there is virtually no difference between the "fairway" and the rough.

With the condition of this course, the staff didn't bother to share that you couldn't put on the greens, play out of the traps is terrible business and is just stealing from the customers!

Stay away, save your money and find a better place to play!

When I arrived thirty minutes before my tee times, there was nobody to be found. After fifteen minutes looking for someone I went to the bar, and ask the three employees if they could find someone to get me to the course. Eventually they found a manager, who said they must be on the course. I asked if I could play, as I had booked through golf now.com. He gave me a key to a cart. Didn’t apologize, didn’t offer any amenities. When I got on the course I found out why I was the only. Golfer. Practice green was like a mine field. It foretold how the greens would be. The greens had sloptches of missing grass. sand strewn all around the greens, where you could follow tracks if balls and footpaths on the green.

We didn’t know all the greens were closed, granted we only paid approx $22 for 18, but the course is in rough shape. They are TRYING to grow new grass for the greens. The make shift temporary greens are horrible. Basically you are going to play this course to hit 2 - 3 shots; your drive, fairway, and maybe a chip shot, but then pick up and move on.

All greens where under repair temporary greens on all holes

Course continues to improve. Hopefully the management brings it back to its' former beauty.

The new owners appear to be making necessary improvements. Course looked so much better, and hopefully it will continue to receive tender loving care. I am guessing that course will look good by Dec.

I have now tried this course 3 times. The first w times the course really needed a lot of work. So I thought after a year maybe they had done some work on it. However, it has gotten far worse.

It has the potential to be a nice course but it isn’t. It is literally the worst place I have ever played. I hope they have a plan.

Course is improving and hopefully will continue to improve. New owners appear to be working hard to repair greens. Still a good deal.

Hopefully under the new ownership the course will be able to recover and become successful.

While it is under major construction . The greens are on the fairways. The course has lots if potential. It looks like they had too much rain. Beautiful facilities. I enjoyed myself and for $10 for 18 with a cart The practice round was a lot if fun. I will be back

Had the whole course to ourselves really. Course needs updating and maintenance but for the value and great layout, I would play this course everyday if I could. Can’t beat the price. Water on almost every hole. Enjoyed it a lot. Wife had a great time. Surprisingly, they had new really fast carts.

Great course. Water on every hole which was very cool. Had the whole course to ourselves. Course needs a lot of work but the layout was great. Very fun course if you don’t mind it being pristine. Enjoyed hitting the ball. Would definitely come back if in town. Golf carts were super fast.