Ocala/Dunnellon area? Juliette Falls and...

[78Staff]

Heading down for a FSGA event at Juliette Falls mid Sept, probably try to grab a round at a nearby course the day before. Anyone familiar with any in the Dunnellon/Ocala area? Something nice but without breaking the bank...$50-75 or less I guess...

[BewareTheGlowball]

Juliette Falls is awesome for sure.
My Favorite course besides that one is [b]Stone Creek[/b] which is usually in the best condition in the area. (33$ i believe now)
The next best is actually the[b] Ocala Golf Club[/b] the municipal it is actually maintained very well, not super interesting but a fun course all the same and in good condition as well.

Ocala National is an interesting layout but the greens are very slow.

Silver Springs Shores Country Club is an interesting layout with a lot of wildlife.. but often it is not kept up near as well as it needs to be.

If you can swing it.. the private courses Golden Ocala and Ocala Country Club are amazingly fun as well but not sure what those would run if you could find someone to invite you to play them.

[HitTheStick]

Another Ocala resident here... Stone Creek is a great value and the greens are always in good shape. Candler Hills next door is as well. I agree, I too am what we call a "Muni-Rat" and play most of my golf at Ocala Golf Club. A great, old-school layout. Fair warning though, they punched the greens this week.

Disappointing to hear the greens at Ocala National (old Golden Hills) are rolling slow. Always one of my favorite courses in the area, but alas, it has had its troubles.

Be sure to report what you find at Juliette Falls. The last time I played there, it had seen far better days...

[78Staff]

[quote name='HitTheStick' timestamp='1378468525' post='7806071']
[size=4]Be sure to report what you find at Juliette Falls. The last time I played there, it had seen far better days...[/size]
[/quote]


Oh that's not good news, I really don't relish making a 2.5 hour drive if the course in in bad shape...how long since you've played there? [size=4]I checked Golfnow, the most recent reviews all seem to indicate it's in great shape, so maybe they've turned it back around?[/size]

[size=4]The extra course part fell though, it's just going to be one day at Juliette Falls now, unfortunately.[/size]

[HitTheStick]

[quote name='78Staff' timestamp='1378518831' post='7809897']
[quote name='HitTheStick' timestamp='1378468525' post='7806071']
[size=4]Be sure to report what you find at Juliette Falls. The last time I played there, it had seen far better days...[/size]
[/quote]


Oh that's not good news, I really don't relish making a 2.5 hour drive if the course in in bad shape...how long since you've played there? [size=4]I checked Golfnow, the most recent reviews all seem to indicate it's in great shape, so maybe they've turned it back around?[/size]

[size=4]The extra course part fell though, it's just going to be one day at Juliette Falls now, unfortunately.[/size]
[/quote]

It's been the better part of a year since I played there, so if there's more recent reviews I would go with that. It was definitely one of the two or three premier courses in the area when it opened, but the real estate bust hit it hard. Hopefully they've righted the ship.

[78Staff]

[quote name='HitTheStick' timestamp='1378724068' post='7818557']
[quote name='78Staff' timestamp='1378518831' post='7809897']
[quote name='HitTheStick' timestamp='1378468525' post='7806071']
[size=4]Be sure to report what you find at Juliette Falls. The last time I played there, it had seen far better days...[/size]
[/quote]


Oh that's not good news, I really don't relish making a 2.5 hour drive if the course in in bad shape...how long since you've played there? [size=4]I checked Golfnow, the most recent reviews all seem to indicate it's in great shape, so maybe they've turned it back around?[/size]

[size=4]The extra course part fell though, it's just going to be one day at Juliette Falls now, unfortunately.[/size]
[/quote]

It's been the better part of a year since I played there, so if there's more recent reviews I would go with that. It was definitely one of the two or three premier courses in the area when it opened, but the real estate bust hit it hard. Hopefully they've righted the ship.
[/quote]

Yeah, sounds promising. Heading down Wed, might play two rounds after all. Anyway will report back on conditions when I get back...

[kmdut]

Too bad you couldn't play the extra day, Golden Ocala is a winner for sure.

[78Staff]

Course was in pretty good shape overall. They don't get a whole lot of play it appears (another course/housing deal built right before the downturn in the economy, so plenty of empty lots.). You can tell they aren't 100% there maintenance wise, but nothing terrible. Greens and bunkers were in fine shape, and that's what matters most to me.

As a first time player, I found it a very interesting layout. At first glance, it looks to be your typical Florida Resort style course, that is mostly wide open off the tees but with some definition to the layout ie curving lines and bunker placements, mounding, etc to make it appear more distinct. Lots of bunkers and waste areas as visual cues but really not in play. Several waterfalls which imo neither add nor distract to the course, I really didn't notice them that much, tbh. But on reflection, I found that from the Platinum tees (~6800 yards or so, one up from the "Viking" back tees) one needs to really pay attention. Easy bunker carries from the 6200 set where my buddies played demanded solid play for me to get over, any miss and you are penalized for sure. Invariably fairways would start pinching down in the landing areas as well, so it's a pretty solid test. There was also a pretty large change in the par3's, where they were mostly in the 130-160 range, mine were all 190+, with one at 220 lol. Still, it was fun, I would gladly play again, for the cost (currently $40 with lunch) it is a bargain, if you are in the area.

One thing, anytime we mentioned we were down playing golf, (ie checking in for lodging, or at dinner, or at a bar we went to the night before), everyone said, "oh, your playing El Diablo?" So, I guess El Diablo is the more recognizable name course in the area. Will have to try it if we are ever down that way again...