Gray Fox

Par 28

Level 4 playing from 956 – 1,842 yards

Gray Fox is one of the crown jewels of The Village Executive Golf Courses.  Gray is a gotta-play-it course!  4 holes are in one of my top lists, the most of any one executive course.  One of the first things you notice when pulling up to the Starter Shack is its seclusion and the cart path that winds back into the trees – the setting and surroundings are superb.  It reminds me of north woods courses in Minnesota!  Keep an eye out for wildlife – I’ve seen raccoon and turtles and lots of egrets, especially on the opening and closing holes.  I’ve also heard wild boar and possibly some larger cats in the trees.  Seems likely there's a resident Gray Fox in there too!  The only drawback is the location, deep into the southwestern corner of The Villages, so likely a long cart ride for most.  You can drive and rent a cart though, so don’t let location lessen your pursuit to play one of my Top Five courses!  Plus, you can make a day of it by also playing its sister Red Fox course and eating dinner at the nearby Fenney Grill.  But first, golf:

The cart ride from the starter shack to the first tee box really sets the tone, transporting you well into the Fenney Springs Wetland (see skyview picture above). It’s an incredible way to open your round and the only par four, so your opening salvo will be with your driver.  Aim just to the right of the large fairway trap and you’ll have a long iron shot to the green that slopes back to front.  Don’t be long or right with your second shot and you have a chance to open this beautiful course with a par!  Another picturesque cart ride around bridges and bends brings you to the first of three Postcard List holes.  #2 is the most secluded hole on the course, so your motivation will not be coming from on-lookers, other than the wildlife!  It will take a precise shot from 143 yards over wetlands and sand to land the green – it’s better to be left.  Coming out of the wetlands to #3 and 4 shows off some of the newest homes in the Village of Hammock at Fenney – none of them were here the first times I played.  In fact, I think I have a hole-in-one at Gray Fox. But it wasn't conventional nor countable on a scorecard.  There were huge dump trucks working along the 3rd hole and one of my errant shots landed in the bed of a moving truck! Or so we think!  Somewhere over there is a home with a Titleist 4 ball buried in its yard!  The 3rd and 4th holes have bordering homes instead of dirt now, so I'll only have flags to aim at!  #3, the shorter of the two, has a tough green that drains back toward the tee.  #4 is a lot longer than it looks. The elongated green presents unlimited pin-placements that can change the entire approach.  There’s no forgiveness if you go long and an unusually large knob on the green’s right side to be avoided, so accuracy with this drive is paramount.  #5 and #7 have an interesting phenomenon – both face southeast into the prevailing wind – but because of the dense tree cover you may not feel it.  But a high lofted shot will, so consider clubbing up if you see the tops of the trees moving.  #5 plays from 148 yards with a green that severely slopes straight back toward you, making it three-putt possible. 

Next you turn around to play #6 – an entrant on my Hardest Holes List.  It plays 179 from the gold.  It looks plain.  It causes pain.  The single right-side trap looks like the only issue, but on closer inspection the super narrow green has rolls galore – the combination of length and the narrow rolling green makes this the day’s most difficult hole.  #7 is again back toward the prevailing wind.  The scorecard says it’s 185 from the gold tees, but I’ve never played it that far back – usually more in the 150s.  There’s a distracting wetland to the right and a large trap near the green that tempts you to aim left.  But don’t do it.  Club up, keep your head down and swing easy aiming for the center on this incredibly cool hole!  #8 and 9 are back into the Fenney Springs and both on my Postcard List.  Two in a row!  #8 is longer at 151 yards with one trap on the left and a green that rolls toward the front right.  If the pin is behind the trap and you don’t feel comfortable dropping a shot over it, aiming to the right will still give you a good uphill putt.  #9 is short with two bunkers in play with but you can drop a wedge or short iron straight down for a great chance to finish with a par.  When you reach for your ball in ninth cup, take a moment and look around at this magnificent golf course - easily one of the best!  

Toughest to Easiest:

6, 4, 7, 1, 5, 8, 2, 9, 3 – toughest greens 4 & 5