The Villages has 41 executive courses.  It's tough to pick a favorite five.  Everyone will have their opinion!  My criteria doesn't revolve around their level of difficulty, aesthetic appeal or how well I score. Instead, the five are courses I'd choose to play if guests were coming for a visit.  Playing all five on consecutive days with my friends would be the absolute best - showing off the diversity and quality and providing a resounding answer to "why do I live here".  My top five include established and newcomer courses, two on the outskirts of town and two right in the middle, each boasting unique characteristics.  Some feature tree-lined fairways and canopied greens.  Others have dramatic elevation changes and wicked wetlands.  All are simply captivating!  And fun to play!  Here are my top five in alpha order>>>

    Amberwood – The classiest track with spectacular greens and oak lined holes. 

    This is the 5th - a long par three framed by two protective traps around a difficult upward sloping green - it's the beginning of Amberwood's Amen Corner!

    Read the story about that Corner and the course's great opening by clicking here. 

      Gray Fox – Cut out of the Fenney Springs Wetland, Gray Fox is a real beauty!  This picture is the 9th.  The opening and closing holes feel like I'm back home in northern Minnesota!  

      It has more top-rated holes than any other course in town.  It was my first Top Five entrant!  Read all about it here.

       

        Longleaf is a great track with The Villages' most famous tree!  It's hard and gorgeous and always fun to play. And that tree will vex you on the 3rd and mesmerize you on the 8th!  

         

         

         

         

         

        Longleaf has been added to the Top Five in 2024, replacing Pelican because of the green repair project underway there

         

          Mira Mesa – Vintage course with narrow fairways, perfect greens and some of the best trees in town.  It was recently refurbished and looks and plays incredible.

          This picture is the beautiful 6th!  Along with the 7th, it's a duo of back-to-back Postcards holes.  And there's a great house across a lake from the 8th!  

          You can read the course story about the Mira Mesa vets I met by clicking here.

            Roosevelt – Who says Florida is flat?  Every hole at Roosevelt has elevation change and challenge.  

            This picture is the 5th - it's earned its place as one of my 18 Hardest because of its difficult downhill angle - oh and that trap, tree and pond.  And the green is really sloped!  Teddy would love the challenge!  Read why I think it makes sense this course honors Teddy Roosevelt by clicking here.  

              After reading about the Top Five Courses, here are five links to other places in this website you might like:

              Pelican – Hope they can get the greens back in shape because when it's right, there is no course quite like Pelican - it’s a How-To for designing a golf course in a wetland – the most diverse set of holes in The Villages.

              The opening shot is pictured. Believe it or not, there is a flag out there.  And that's just the way this big bird lifts off!  Holes #2 through 6 will amaze you with their difficulty and beauty.  There's even a chance to shoot at Old Glory at 5. Read about that magnificent stretch of shots here.

               

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