SummerGlen Golf Club

Website: www.summerglengc.com

I played the SummerGlen Golf Club outside of Ocala, Florida, on 12/2/15 while driving from Clearwater to Myrtle Beach. The par 72 course is located in a gated retirement community about 2.5 miles directly off I-75 at Exit 341 for Dunellon. The course was easy to find.

You can’t see the course from the Interstate because there is a high berm all around the community. On some holes this berm works to the player’s advantage because it kicked shots back toward the fairway. I had driven past the community on numerous occasions and knew a course was there but never had time to stop and play.

I played the Blue tees which is one of six sets of tees available. The Blue tees play to 6,261 yards with a rating of 69.5 and slope of 125. The various tees play from 6,673 yards for the Gold tees to the Purple tees of 4,081 yards with a rating of 63.7 and slope of 100.

The design is the centerpiece of a retirement community, and as such, is very playable for players of all abilities if they play the right set of tee boxes. The tees and greens were all elevated and it looked as if there were ponds or marsh areas that had dried up on almost every hole. When I asked if these areas had all been water at one point, I was told no.

I don’t know if walking was an option, but the course looked very walkable.

I had my Sky Caddie which of course helped when playing an unfamiliar course. You do need to call ahead for a tee time as the guard at the gate had my name on a tee sheet and checked before issuing a pass to enter.

Most of the holes were different from each other and presented some unique challenges because some of the greens were very small and/or well-guarded. I took pictures of a few holes. Because the many of the holes had wide landing areas, I felt comfortable trying to cut loose with big swings off some of the tees. The 11th hole, in particular, is a teaser because it was 297 yards from the blue tee (confirmed by the Sky Caddie), goes over water to the left, and features a green blocked by tall trees left and right. I couldn’t resist the challenge and took the ball on a straight line over the tall trees, and was able to clear everything and leave an approach from about 20 yards to the pin.

Some of the other holes had wide enough landing areas to invite ‘letting the big dog eat’.

The course has par five finishing holes on the 9th and 18th holes with a dogleg left on #9 skirting the driving range, and a slight dogleg right on #18 with a forced carry on the second shot if you hit the first shot far enough.

Service

I called the course a day ahead and was encouraged to come up and play. Everybody was very friendly and encouraged coming back. The starter/cart attendant at the end of both nines asked me how I liked the course, and other players I ran into were all very friendly.

There was drinking water on four holes. I did notice two bathroom facilities on the 5th and 15th holes. There are a lot of houses around the course, and personal golf carts were everywhere.

Overall Condition

The course was in good condition throughout all eighteen holes. All of the fairways and roughs were in good shape, and the conditioning is geared toward the retired residents. The greens were a little slower than I am used to, and were small and firm and held shots well. All greens seemed to putt true. Sand traps were not numerous, but were in acceptable condition.

Clubhouse/Amenities

This course has a restaurant in the clubhouse and it seemed well used and busy. There were plenty of personal golf carts parked outside of it without golf clubs on them when I made the turn. There was also a generous driving range and practice green, but I didn’t get to utilize any of those facilities due to time constraints.

Value

I played the course at 10:44 AM at a rate of $36 plus tax. I did ask if they had a senior rate and the girl laughed because she said almost everybody there was a senior.

In summation, I was glad that I finally got a chance to see what was behind the gate and the berm. I was very pleased with everything about the selection of this course.

Two years ago I said I would never play here again after a very poor staff was rude. Decided I would try again but it hasn't changed. Cart person had me make three trips back and forth from the bag drop to the range. By the time I found the person I was going to play with, I had zero time to warm up or putt. Once we teed off, it took up to 10 minutes per shot. Made the turn in almost 2 3/4 hours. 14 people were either playing or waiting to tee off. After a 30 minute wait I called time out.

The facilities, people, food, atmosphere and price were all exceptional. The course, not so much.

I don't know the history of the area but there apparently had been a lot of water around the course, but it either dried up or most of the ponds, lakes and creeks were drained. Huge ground depressions were full of recently mowed dry rough. This made for some strange lies and interesting approach shots.

This is a very nice course in a gated community. I would recommend Golf Now to get the best deal. The fairways, rough and greens were in great shape. The greens rolled pretty true. We caught them during fertilization but they were still pretty good. The bunkers were wet which made them a bit more difficult to get out - couldn't get the club under ball very well.
I would recommend this course.

We had played the course earlier this year and it was dryed out, but with all of the rain lately. The greens were in good shape. Really windy but a great day .

Nice layout and challenging. Friendly and helpful staff. Look for discounts on golfnow or local paper

Despite the 100 degree weather, we finished all 18 holes. The course was well maintained but the light rough had been cropped rather than cuts the uneven mower blades were evident. The greens were true and nicely kept. I will play this course again before the snowbirds arrive and push prices out of touch for us locals.

very good and challenging course is in good condition, staff friendly and helpful.

This is a personal favorite course. I always have a good round here. (Good round means breaking 100). My Five best rounds ever have been here. Course is in great shape. Fairways are full and closely mowed. Greens reward good putts. Sand is tough because it is fairly dense making traditional sand shot hit or miss.

Well maintained and quiet. Very open course where you can work your long irons from the blue tees without running into trouble.

What makes this course so much fun is the greens are faster and breaks are harder to read than the other local courses.

You are forced to putt well to score well!

Course was in excellent shape for recently being aerated and the price was a steal considering the cost at other Marion County courses. Layout is fairly simple and provides for a shot at a low score. #11 is one of the most awkward par 4s I've ever played. I will definitely be back!

Conditions not optimal due to aerating and top dressing. But the course is improving. It will be interesting to see if the improvement continue

We teed-off just before noon. The course is a little tight on some holes. The course is in good shape the greens are good, the fairways are good, the price is right. What more could you ask for? See you again Summer Glen.

We played the course on a warm and sunny day and enjoyed a nice peaceful round. The course is tight in some areas but the locals we meet ( one of our group had a wicked pull) were friendly and resigned to the fact they lived in a golfing community. the greens had been aerated two weeks earlier and were coming in good but still a little rough. Fairways were good but tee boxes were small and some round topped. Over-all, a good place to play and work on the game.

greens were aerated and covered with sand but still didn't putt that bad. course has a lot of undulation so precise shots are rewarded. my wife played the course ( they have friendly tees) and enjoyed the course.I will play there again later in the season after the greens come in. My score would have been better on grass greens. shot 91 ( had an 8 and a 9) on my card.

The course is in the best shape since we moved here 5 years ago. Even though the greens had just been aerified, they still putted very true. Staff is excellent. Had lunch with quick service and excellent quality. this course is a great bargain for the quality of the experience.

Group of members behind tried to start an actual fight over pace of play. (Our foursome was keeping up with the twosome in front of us). Yelling about filling in our divots when little to no sand was provided on the carts.
In short rinky-dink course with delusional membership.

Really enjoyed this course and the staff was very friendly as well.