Journey to 2000 Golf Courses Played: March 2022

My trip to Florida in January was exciting for so many reasons. I played a course that I was told was one of the hardest Ross courses to get on and I played a top 100 course designed by William Flynn that had been eluding me for many years. Even with challenging weather at times, it was still a great trip to the Sunshine state.

Indian Creek Club, wonderful short par four 13th hole

The trip began at the happiest place on earth, or more accurately, the golf courses contained within. In my many trips to Florida I had never played any of the courses at Disney. Four remain of the original six. I started out on the Lake Buena Vista course designed by Joe Lee.

Walt Disney World Golf Club(Lake Buena Vista), Par three 2nd hole

I headed to the main Disney golf clubhouse after my round at LBV. The main clubhouse is very close to the entrance to Disney World and is home to the Magnolia, Palm, and Oak Trail courses. I was there to play the Magnolia, former host of a PGA Tour event and also designed by Joe Lee.

Walt Disney World Golf Club(Magnolia), par three 6th hole with Mickey Mouse bunker

I jumped on the Florida turnpike after my rounds at Disney and headed south to Palm Beach Gardens where day two would involve golf at two massive golf complexes. The day began at the 54 hole Ballenisles Country Club. I was there to check out the newly renovated South course. The course was originally designed by Joe Lee and Dick Wilson in 1964 but was renovated by Rees Jones in 2020.

BallenIsles Country Club(South), par three 4th hole

A 54 hole site is pretty big, but it pales in comparison to my next stop on day two, PGA National Resort & Spa. PGA features a total of 99 holes of golf with 81 of those holes at the main complex. The Championship course is the regular host of the PGA Tour's Honda Classic and a course I played a few years ago. I was at PGA to check out the new Match course designed by Andy Staples on top of the old Squire course.

PGA National(Match), par three 18th hole

On the way to the Match course from the clubhouse you drive through the Staples course, a nine hole par three course that used the property from the 1st and 18th holes of the old Squire course. Andy Staples did a great job creating a fun and easy to walk course.

PGA National(Staples), par three 4th hole

The pace of play was surprisingly good at PGA National and that gave me time to check out one of the other courses on site, the Palmer course. Designed by the greatest man to ever walk the earth, Arnold Palmer, the course is an out and back design.

PGA National(Palmer), par three 7th hole

The main reasons why I was in South Florida came on day three of the trip. Before I tackled two courses I wanted to play for a very long time, I began the day at one of the best par three courses in the world, Palm Beach Par 3. I was able to get most of my round in before a Florida thunderstorm rolled in.

Palm Beach Par 3, 8th hole

Next up on the third day was a Ross course I had been seeking for a few years, Gulfstream Club. Located just south of Palm Beach, Gulfstream was renovated by Pete Dye, who was a long time member. It still retains some of its Ross roots, and I was very excited to play one of the most exclusive Ross courses in the country.

Gulfstream Club, Par four 16th hole

Gulfstream Club, Par four 18th hole. Pete Dye created a new 18th hole closer to the ocean, which runs down the right side of the hole.

I headed even farther south for the final round of day three. Indian Creek Country Club, designed by William Flynn, is on an island near Miami Beach. The homes on the perimeter of the island are often referred to as "billionaires row." Flynn is the architect of some of the best courses in the country, and I was grateful for the opportunity to experience his work at Indian Creek.