THE VILLAGES, Florida – Something special is happening at The Villages!
In July, “Florida’s Friendliest Hometown” added a new 18-hole championship golf course to its collection named Shallow Creek Golf Club. The course is situated near the newly built Village Charter School and the town of Middleton, which was built for Villages employees and their families.
Shallow Creek Golf Club is the fourth 18-hole course to join the family of 14 Championship Courses. It’s the second course to be added to The Villages Southern Expansion Program, that also includes the 18-hole Southern Oaks Championship Course built in 2021. The Par 70 Shallow Creek is the first course built south of the Florida turnpike and it is a welcome addition to a majority of golfers living in the 3,200 newly built homes in that area. Two additional Championships Courses are in the planning stages in the Southern Expansion District.
“If you build it, they will come,” best describes this course designed by The Villages long time course Architect Kenny Ezell, who has been involved with the design of all 14 Championship Courses. He is the principal architect and master land use planner for The Villages. Kenny and his partners try to build each of their courses “to test the best but be fair to the rest.” The courses are unique, in character and in challenge, and each have their own individual merits and quality.
COURSE
A visit to the sharply appointed pro shop is met with a smile and a warm greeting from staff, along with a chance to browse the well-stocked inventory of equipment and clothing. Facilities include a practice putting green and hitting mats. The Villages’ newest restaurant “Booster’s” is next door.
Shallow Creek Golf Club is the perfect blend of beauty and challenge. Its stunning greens and tricky water features provide a challenge and it is surrounded by meticulously maintained fairways. The course gives you a better understanding of just what it takes to give a community of golfers the best course possible. Natural beauty and wildlife surround it with mature pines and oaks, wetlands, and a 31-acre eagle preserve as its backdrop.
Shallow Creek is a golf course designed to challenge your game to its highest level on most holes. There are no easy holes, although six Par 3’s might fool you into thinking differently. There are five sets of tees ranging from 3,400 yards off the Friendly Tees to 6,500 yards from the Gold.
FRONT NINE
The Green Tees stretch out to 4,576 yards. The first couple of holes play straight with water along the entire right side on the par 5 first hole. The fairways will contribute to some longer than usual drives, but today’s round was played following a rainy night which led to some longer than expected second shots. The greens were exact replicas of the practice green but included subtle breaks that sends a perfect putt sliding painfully passed the cup.
The front nine plays around a setting of natural boundaries and with homes only found along the left side of the 4th fairway. The par 3 5th hole is the “Signature Hole” with its unique tee boxes and a beautiful high school football stadium bordering the left side. The remaining four holes are open fairways with well placed hazards and bunkers as your return to the clubhouse.
BACK NINE
The back nine is strategically located around and between the houses and include several bodies of water. The 13th Par 5 13th hole is the back nine’s “Signature Hole.” The back three tees require hitting a tee shot over wetlands extending far into the fairway. A bad swing here could ruin your round quickly. The fairway, with wetlands directly in your line of sight, makes your second shot a high caliber “Risk and Reward” unless you layup.
The back nine finishes with open fairways and newly build houses along the final five holes. The Par 5 18th hole should be the highlight of the conversation at “Booster’s Restaurant.” The holes bends almost 90-degrees left and trying to cut the corner on this one is not for the “faint of heart.”
WRAP
Architect Kenny Ezell said you will see “different viewpoints as you move around the Shallow Creek Course.” Speaking as a longtime member who has played The Villages Courses for five years, he hit the nail on the head!
Shallow Creek Golf Club is an impressive, nicely-manicured property carved throughout a natural setting and the staff are attentive, friendly and informative for visitors!
(PHOTO CREDIT: Bill Sangster)
