During the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, Fla., the hottest ticket in town (next to a table at Roy's) was a round at Sugarloaf Mountain, Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw's first design in Florida. These two minimalist masters are very selective about the sites on which they choose to build, so anytime a course of theirs opens, industry cognoscenti beeline it to the 1st tee.Typified by large sandy areas and native grasses, the 7057-yard course is beguiling, and not just because of its natural setting and shot values, but because it's so unique for Florida. The private club, which will allow some resort play, is situated on the 312-foot namesake mountain, the highest point on peninsular Florida. (As for the name, that elevation is a hill in most places, but it's positively Himalayan in flat-as-a-scorecard Florida.) From the site of the proposed clubhouse, the panoramic views of Lake Apopka and even downtown Orlando, 25 miles away, are unlike any in Florida.
I was in another state—of mind, that is—during the round. I don't think I've ever enjoyed playing a new course more. The sandy areas give the fairways wonderful definition but are never excessively punitive like desert golf. The ball doesn't bound away, yet the sand is firm enough to allow for clean lies. The layout was challenging but extremely fair. There are a few blind shots, but those can be fun, especially if you play the course regularly.
The 433-yard opener (left) sweeps down and to the left, making for a fairly easy par. The approach shot on the downhill 405-yard 4th is one of the prettiest on the course, with moss-draped oaks and a small lake framing the green. The 200-yard 5th doesn't play its length because you can land the ball short and right of the Redan-inspired green and count on a big kick to the left. After the short dogleg-left 7th, you begin a gentle climb back up to the turn with a long par 4, medium par 3 and reachable par 5.
The back nine proves a little more difficult. One of the highlights is the 507-yard 13th. “First time I've ever played a par 4 over 500 yards,” said my playing partner. In fact, it's the longest par 4 in Florida, but the blind tee shot plays severely downhill, reminiscent of the 10th at Augusta National, so the hole plays quite a bit shorter. If the drive comes off the slope correctly, the approach can be as little as a wedge.
In a dramatic demonstration of the variety presented by the course, the longest par 4 in Florida is followed two holes later by one of the shortest. The 283-yard 15th plays steeply uphill, so only the longest hitters will be able to reach the putting surface with their drives.
The highlight was having Bill Coore (below, left) walk a few holes with us on the
back nine and provide some insight into his design. He said that the biggest challenge was the routing because of the elevation changes. Part of the answer came from the common-sense solution of following paths carved by animals. “Nature won't steer you wrong,” he said.
Neither will a Coore-Crenshaw design.
