Schalamar Creek Golf Club

My wife and I played this course today and was paired with two wonderful woman from Ottawa Ontario. The two ladies made my wife feel very comfortable on the course. The course was in excellent shape considering all the rain they got. We will definitely be back to play this course when we come back next Christmas holiday. It would also be great to be paired with the two wonderful people we played with.

Schalamar Creek is the kind of sleeper that escapes notice. I’m not going to argue that it’s the equivalent of Innisbrook or Celebration or World Woods—to name a few ‘star courses’ not far from here—but it seems that this is an almost absolutely perfect layout for most golfers, and even experts. Too often, the golfing press lauds those ‘ideal’ layouts, as you see time and again, on TV and in magazine ads—but for whom are they designed? The best answer I think,r is this: not always, and maybe not even often, are they created for the typical club golfer; most often, instead, for better players and touring pros. Schalamar Creek, though, deserves a five star rating, and for many reasons, but chiefly because most golfers will enjoy playing it, while still being challenged by it.

But here’s the overview: short but tight course with especially well-designed and compact par-4’s; several excellent five and three pars; plenty of water though not overdone; above all, clearly the work of a master architect, Ron Garl. In fact, this course seems to be one model, Florida-style, for creating an outstanding short golf course, and it’s more than suitable for both locals and vacationers alike. On top of all that, it’s a great bargain! My son and I toured the eighteen here over my Christmas break for the second time and were both challenged by it; I visited it long ago when travelling here in 1987, retaining a favorable memory of it; I’ll be back here, doubtless, in the future to play it again.

So why is this course so ‘smart’ (it really is analogous to a first-rate compact car) despite its relative shortness? It all begins with the par-fours. Take the finishing hole: at 358 yards from the blues, it is hardly lengthy. But the landing area to the left has OB lining the hole’s periphery, menacing those, like me, capable of hitting large hooks. And on the right lurks a very large pond, also guarding the front of the green. But Garl’s genius is to make the hole playable for all: shorter hitters may lay-up on their second shot and go around it, if the pond proves too daunting as a forced carry. Perhaps, then, par can be made with a skillful up-and-down. Aesthetically, this hole is also a beauty. Hole 3, a mere 307 yards from the tee, seems drivable for a long hitter. And it is, IF they want to risk hitting a laser-straight drive that manages to avoid a left-side conifer, a very tall tree that must love to slap down errant first or second shots from this side. The fairway is fearsomely narrow. This waterless hole is tough even as a two-shotter, with the added issues of a fairway bunker in the landing zone’s left side, a leftward greenside bunker, and woods behind. You may be thinking twice before attacking this cunning little monster.

Another brilliant short hole, weighing in at a mere 287 yards, is #10. The driving area is tight and your drive will be threatened by a large pond to the left—and the fairway slopes toward it!—along with many scattered trees should you venture into the right-side rough. Good tee shots, however, will be rewarded with a short pitch to this tightly protected green, flanked by water to the left and a massive frontal bunker. Still, the approach may be run onto the green from the right side. Schalamar also features three other outstanding par fours, all great for different reasons, in 7, 8, and 14. Further, holes 1 and 17 are hard to fault, as they are remain challenging despite their slightness.

There is one high-quality, longer par-four to enjoy here. Eleven is demands a long and more accurate tee shot, played to an offset fairway, which avoids three hazards: water and a long, large sand trap to the right, and OB left. Further, your approach shot may feel restricted by the greenside water on the right. The green itself, large and sloping back-to-front, can be difficult to putt. Terrific golf hole!

The trio of par fives at Schalamar present scoring opportunities while remaining lethal. The second hole may be, in my opinion, the course’s best golf hole, even at 451 yards from the blues (it maxes out on the gold tees at 509). Here, Garl’s design skills shine brightly on a hole that boasts a switchback fairway with water lying in wait on the left, a grove of trees and bunker further down (on the inside of the second bend), and a small and well-protected green, possibly targeted by long hitters to be reached in two. It’s a neat risk-reward challenge. The tee shot must be quite straight, the second shot precise, and any short-iron, pitch or chip accurate if you wish to earn a par. Perhaps the textbook definition of great hole, this is also exciting in a way that we can’t define until actually playing it.

The sixteenth is not quite as clever but equally rigorous. At 463 yards, it’s reachable, yet only with caution: my son, a true bomber, found the left-side fairway traps well in play, though evading them narrowly. The green, like the rest of the hole, is ringed with the kind of woods that surely gather trillions of Titleists, but is also guarded by a pair of right-front traps that will catch missed shots that haven’t strayed so far off line. Hole five, the shortest par-five, is a 421 yarder that plays straightaway from the tee. It also discourages aggressive hitters with a stream that crosses the fairway, while errant tee shots will likely have you paying a visit to the woods. Greenside, this hole hems you in a bit with some vast left-side bunkers. For long and straight hitters, hole 5 still presents as sure a birdie opportunity as any of the best here.

The par-threes are not the marquee holes of this layout, but they are still all solid. Most players will like the short (only 98 yards from the blues) island green tester, #13. Fronted by a bunker and a pair of trees, the green does not consume the entire island segment of this hole; further, a chipping zone is included around the green. The 119-yard fourth hole is a bit longer, with a pond and frontal bunker comprising the two obstacles to the left and short of its green. On the other hand, even greater challenges are to be had on the other two par threes, which are six, a 160-yarder; and fifteen at a more formidable 186 yards. The former’s main defense is a two-tiered green with agonizing slopes; the latter has trees and water flanking its left side, which, combined with the hole’s length—it tips out at 212 yards—make it the toughest three-par at Schalamar.

It’s not hard to infer from these descriptions that I consider Ron Garl an outstanding golf course architect. I remember playing his Sebring Country Club, back in the early 90’s, and being bowled over by both its challenges and playability. Though Mr. Garl has designed courses over three continents, ten countries, and seventeen U.S. states, he seems underrated nationally, though I’m sure this is not the case in Florida. I’ve never been disappointed when playing any of his designs, Schalamar Creek included. If you haven’t played this course yet, by all means give it a go.

Course looked good from tee box to green front 9 was a little damp greens were slow back 9 was drier greens faster enjoyed the day will come back soon

Other than the pace was somewhat slow (weekend) play, the course was in good condition. Rather wet grounds so no roll out and greens were very slow. I think the greens would very good if mowed. Quite a few unrepaired ball marks on greens.

Good play for the price!

My wife and I played this course and was pleasantly surprised that the condition was excellent for all the rain that Florida was hit with.

After a lot of rain it was cart path only. I enjoyed the round. The layout was good and pace of play was great. I had fun.

Love to golf this course! Today we were right after a league which slowed things up considerably. We were unable to do the back nine due to weather. Will return again soon.

Grateful for a great hot deal at a very nicely maintained golf course.

I am not going to say this is Augusta, but the staff was very friendly and the course was in great shape with all of the rains we have had. It is a fun fair course.

I just found this place on golfnow, and while the course was a little short for my liking the conditions were great. Greens and fairways were superb, the only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars was the length. I knew going into the round it would be short, but from the tips I only hit my driver 4 times the entire round. If you’re cool with a shorter course than this is a five star option.

One thing good was the weather - sunny and warm. Hooked up with 2 very nice people, which made the day better, but the course is short, tricked up, narrow (good for practicing tee shots) and conditions were poor.

I would never return there. If you are good golfer much better places to play.

Worth playing especially for the price. Generally in good condition. Wet as usual. Greens run true but painfully slow.

Will be back.

Course has lots of challenges. Greens are in great shape.

The 4 of us loved the course will recommend it to our friends thanks.

This is one of my favorites. The only negative is it’s usually really busy so it can be over a 4 hour round. The sand traps need a bit of work but if you don’t land in them it’s not a issue then.

My son and I went over to schalamar creek Wednesday after my wife surgery it was great. So we made a tee time Saturday morning the fairways are great some places tight the greens were great and the pins was in some tricky spots. We had a great time can’t wait to get back over there. Everybody was very nice. A great time was had by all.

It's been, probably, a year since I last played this course. Not much has changed and that's a good thing. Supposedly, all of the greens were rebuilt. I could not tell that that is the case. Most of the greens were very slow. They were covered with dew during our first 3 or 4 holes. They didn't get much faster later on.

It's a fun course and I do recommend it..