Escambia
Par 27
Level 3 playing from 757 – 1,337 yards
E is for Escambia. E is also for Exotic, Engaging, and Enlightened. Those descriptors might seem a tad Excessive - even a bit Exaggerated - for a golf course, but Escambia is anything but ordinary. It feels like we’ve wandered into a Sesame Street episode brought to you by the letter E! Even Elmo would love this Executive gem!
This isn’t your typical exec course. Escambia is carved into one of the most intriguing pieces of land in town, featuring dramatic elevation changes, one of the Hardest Holes and tallest tee boxes around. It’s also one of the shortest tracks in The Villages with all par threes, only two of which that are longer than 130 yards from the gold tees. Here's a fun fact: From the green tees there are only two courses shorter than Escambia - can you name them? (Quiz Question 9) But what it lacks in length, it makes up for in Elevation changes and Endangering greens.
The course is wide open to the east, leaving holes 1-5 and 9 at the mercy of a prevailing crosswind that will keep you guessing. At a Level 3 difficulty, this short track packs plenty of daunting challenges. Expect twists, turns, and thrills—it’s going to be a round to Enjoy. So, let’s get going, Elmo!
My golf game has a lot of ups and downs. So does Escambia - we’re a perfect match! This will be Evident when stepping up to the first tee. The first green is distinctly downhill with a center swale from left to right making it hard to stick your first drive. #2 is just as challenging - an uphill shot to an Elevated green designed to funnel anything short to a bunker. Factor in the left-to-right wind, and you’ll need to aim for the trap and let the gusts do the rest. Easy!
Now you begin the climb to Escambia’s upper Echelon for some great views and more challenging shots. On the 3rd hole you’ll be shooting up hill with the wind now on your right. The green has a valley running in the center making for a fun putt.
Escambia 4 is on my Hardest Holes List. Pictured below, the 4th is an Electrician’s delight with High Wires above. The length alone (178 yards) makes this a hard club selection. But it plays downhill with two front traps that virtually Eliminate a shot rolling up onto the green. So, you’ve got to decide to lay up or carry the green. For me any downhill approach feels like I’m gonna skip it right over the green. Throw in the cross wind and chaos Ensues – and your toughest shot of the day. And before you tee off, look to your left to see the landfill flying the American flag. Salute, shoot and hope for a bogey on your toughest shot of your day!
Keep coming down the incline to a difficult green and two fun surprises. The 5th appears to be more Easygoing than 4 - it's just 100 yards. But you'll still need an Exact drop shot for a chance at par to avoid the trap. And if you go long, you'll find your first surprise - an Exasperatingly huge hidden trap behind the green. Your second surprise is far funnier - look in a hollow of a tree near where you parked your cart - see the golf balls inside? Elmo has a playful side as well!
Now turn to the west with the wind to your back on #6. Club up to avoid the trap Employed to guard the front right – it’s better to be left on this uphill wide green. If you’re playing near Evening, #7 will reward you with a sunset shot from a vista looking west. In the Up and Down derby, you’re now shooting downhill again to a crazy double dipper green – when the pin is back, it's an Emotional overload! Turning back to the East puts you back into the wind but Escambia 8 has a perfectly flat putting surface giving you your best birdie chance.
Finally, we reach the End: Hole #9, Escambia’s only water hole, saving a splash of excitement for last. At 112 yards, the challenge lies in the elongated green sloping from back to front. With undulating rolls and the wind still in play, this finishing hole promises plenty of Entertainment to cap your round. I Enjoy it more Every time!
Thank you to the letter E for bringing us Escambia!
Toughest to Easiest:
4, 6, 5, 2, 7, 3, 9, 1, 8 – toughest green 7
From the blacks!
Yes. Just Yes. I played nearly every club in my bag playing from the back tees. Obviously #4 is even harder at 200+ yards. And #6 playing up hill feels like it’s 200 yards! #5 is fun because the black tees are even more elevated than the gold - you’ll have to equip your ball with a parachute on this downhill flight! I promise that you’ll have more ups than downs playing from blacks!
Go Green!
With only par threes, Escambia’s layout is ideal for Green Tee Hitters. The average length off the box is just 84 yards and you don’t lose any of the challenge brought from the terrain and rolling greens. Your biggest benefit comes on the 4th hole, one of the hardest shots in town, now playing just 112! Be Elated!
What’s nearby?
A Wal-Mart is not that Exciting, but sometimes Essential is more important – and the Wal-Mart nearby Escambia is Easily reached by golf cart. It’s located on Moyer Loop just west of the golf course (bet you thought I was going to say East). So, after a golf game of trying to lower your score, you can fill up your cart with supplies and lower your Expenditures! Ok, Enough with the E's!
Epilogue in Pictures
The 9th hole is vying for the Postcard List with this picture. It was taken from the Starter Shack parking lot. It's good we don't have to hit over that wall!
The 4th at Escambia is one of the hardest holes in The Villages. A narrow approach, two flanking traps and a serious cross wind - and it's over 170 from the golds. There's no Easy way out!
This is the downhill beginning - Escambia 1 looking south
My impressions are based on playing from the Gold tee boxes. The Black and the Green tee boxes pose different challenges or benefits described as well. The rankings of the toughest to easiest holes are just my opinions - yours will be far different, as will your favorite courses and most difficult and attractive holes. I welcome your opinions or thoughts on any of this - click to leave a comment.
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