Winterhaven

Getting To Know: The Country Club of Winter Haven

An Insightful Interview With Josh Anderson, Head Golf Professional

By Brian Weis

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Josh Anderson who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Golf is the centerpiece of The Country Club of Winter Haven. The 18 Hole Rees Jones and Bill Bergin designed course is in perfect harmony with the terrain as it winds beneath stately oaks and pines, and subtle elevation changes make it reminiscent of South Carolina. Whatever the time of day, the wonders of nature surround you as you experience golf's true "walk in the park". Shimmering lakes, sweeping vistas, and the sounds of wildlife can be heard nearby.

The undulating Champion ultradwarf greens are fast and true, and are an excellent test for all levels of play. Warm up on our generously sized putting greens, then give the rest of your clubs a pre-game workout at the driving range before stepping up to the first tee.

A beautifully designed 7,021 yard course awaits you, the challenge is set, you against the course. Behold the tranquility of unspoiled setting as bald eagles and Ospreys soar above, and the birdies are there for the taking!

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
Private....only can play with as a guest of a member

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Aim for the center of the greens no matter where the pin is located. The design of the greens have massive collection areas all around the greens. If you short game is not on point, you will have a tough day getting up and down from missed approach shots. Resist temptation and just aim for the center of our large greens.

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Just a beautiful layout! With no houses on this course you really get a feel that you are alone with nature. This is what golf is supposed to be like!

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
#12; A LONG (240 yds from the tips) par 3. Water left with a huge drop off left of the green. If you walk away with a par on this hole, you are picking one (if not two) on the field!

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
#18; a true test for a finishing hole. It will test all aspects of your game. A demanding tee shot with lake Hamilton running the entire left side, water protecting right of the green and if the wind is blowing.....good luck! This hole will create some fantastic tournament finishes for years to come!

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Everything from the club to the filet is amazing. Our Chef has created a wonderful menu that meets all demands from bar snacks to elegant dinner options.

Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
N/A....no official course record yet....course is not rated yet by the USGA

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 7021
Slope:
Rating:

More Information
The Country Club of Winter Haven
4200 Country Club Rd.
South Winter Haven Fl, 33881
863.324.6666
www.ccofwinterhaven.com

Revised: 01/13/2014 - Article Viewed 29,440 Times - View Course Profile

About: Brian Weis

Brian Weis is the mastermind behind GolfTrips.com, a vast network of golf travel and directory sites covering everything from the rolling fairways of Wisconsin to the sunbaked desert layouts of Arizona. If there’s a golf destination worth visiting, chances are, Brian has written about it, played it, or at the very least, found a way to justify a "business trip" there.

As a card-carrying member of the Golf Writers Association of America (GWAA), International Network of Golf (ING), Golf Travel Writers of America (GTWA), International Golf Travel Writers Association (IGTWA), and The Society of Hickory Golfers (SoHG), Brian has the credentials to prove that talking about golf is his full-time job. In 2016, his peers even handed him The Shaheen Cup, a prestigious award in golf travel writing—essentially the Masters green jacket for guys who don’t hit the range but still know where the best 19th holes are.

Brian’s love for golf goes way back. As a kid, he competed in junior and high school golf, only to realize that his dreams of a college golf scholarship had about the same odds as a 30-handicap making a hole-in-one. Instead, he took the more practical route—working on the West Bend Country Club grounds crew to fund his University of Wisconsin education. Little did he know that mowing greens and fixing divots would one day lead to a career writing about the best courses on the planet.

In 2004, Brian turned his golf passion into a business, launching GolfWisconsin.com. Three years later, he expanded his vision, and GolfTrips.com was born—a one-stop shop for golf travel junkies looking for their next tee time. Today, his empire spans all 50 states, and 20+ international destinations.

On the course, Brian is a weekend warrior who oscillates between a 5 and 9 handicap, depending on how much he's been traveling (or how generous he’s feeling with his scorecard). His signature move" A high, soft fade that his playing partners affectionately (or not-so-affectionately) call "The Weis Slice." But when he catches one clean, his 300+ yard drives remind everyone that while he may write about golf for a living, he can still send a ball into the next zip code with the best of them.

Whether he’s hunting down the best public courses, digging up hidden gems, or simply outdriving his buddies, Brian Weis is living proof that golf is more than a game—it’s a way of life.