Southern Dunes

Golf and Country Club
Haines City, Florida
Part 1

by Anthony Scaggs

According to Kevin Woodard, Head Professional, at Southern Dunes,

"Southern Dunes is unlike any other golf course in Central Florida."

Southern Dunes is an 18 hole, par 72 golf course whose distance ranges from 6,298 from the white tees to 7,200 yards from the black tees with a slope/rating of 70.2/123 to 74.7/135, respectively. The 100 foot elevation is one of the highest in Central Florida, if not the highest. This elevation adds to the contours and roll of the ball as well as making the massive high lipped bunkers even more daunting. The firm fast course was designed by, Golf Course Architect, Steve Smyers to enhance the bounce and roll of the ball in order to take advantage of the elevation and contours of the area. The five tee box selections allow players of all levels to enjoy this highly regarded course.

The breaking dawn finds the staff preparing for the coming day of excited golfers, anticipating the best round of golf. The sprinklers are finishing their last watering cycle. Another fabulous Southern Dunes golf day is about to begin.

Dewey's Double Down sprinklers are in the final watering stages. Hole #10 is a 451-yard, par 4 from the blue tees. My partner's first mistake was to hit a long straight drive down the

right side that failed to draw to the left. The ball hung to the moisture laden grass just off the right side of the fairway. Adjusting his stance to compensate for the ball lying above his feet and selecting one more club to counter the wet rough and cool early morning air, the ball was struck sharply. Lifting into the air, it turned right to left as expected while heading for the green. The ball caught the far left edge of the green's left front bunker. The number 8 handicap hole rejected his putt for par and extracted a bogey from his score.

Hole #11, Dew or Die, from the blue tees is a 197-yard, par 3. The apparent ease of the number 16 handicapped hole is negated by the contours and centerline of the green. One of the foursome failed to keep the ball on the same side of the centerline as the hole and watched his birdie race down the slope of the centerline passing the hole.

Click on selected photos for expanded view.

Images copryrighted CGA

Images for yardage book property of Soutern Dunes