The Club at Eaglebrooke Review

The 18-hole Eaglebrooke course at the Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland, Florida features 7,030 yards of golf from the back tees and plays to a par of 72. From the back, the course rating is 74.6 with a slope rating of 140 on Bermuda grass. Most players will have all they can handle from the White Tees at 6316 yards. There are a total of six sets of tees; just select the one that best suits your handicap. The course was designed by renowned architect Ron Garl and opened for play in 1996. Golf Digest consistently rates Eaglebrooke 4 ½ stars and has designated it course as one of the Best Places to Play for the past nine years.

As you drive in to the parking lot, you will notice the driving range on your right. Eaglebrooke has one of the most comprehensive practice facilities in the area, something that is quickly becoming a Ron Garl trademark. There is a full length driving range with numerous target greensand you can hit balls to your hearts content with a paid greens fee. In fact, many golfers pay one price and use the practice facilities all day long. Next, there is a short game area complete with a large, slightly elevated putting green for chipping as well as bunkers to practice your sand shots. Not a bad idea to brush up on you sand game as Garl has strategically placed several evil pot bunkers around greens. Lastly is the immense practice green that is always in great shape. Be sure to roll a few putts before your round and you will see how fast and true they roll.

The pro shop is fully stocked with all of the latest equipment and logoed apparel and hats and you will find their pricing competitive with the big box stores. Head Professional John Greiner and his staff are there to serve you and can help fix your swing If need be.

Most Memorable Hole:
Number 2, Par 4, 384 yards (White Tees). Leave your driver in the bag on this hole! Instead, choose a fairway wood, hybrid or long iron off the tee. You only need to hit it about 210 - 220 yards. From there you will be faced with an uphill shot of about 130 - 140 yards to a green that is much wider than it is deep. Anything over the green spells trouble in the form of sand. Number 2 is a good test of target golf.

Favorite Par 3: Number 12, 148 yards (White Tees). At 148 yards, this is the shortest hole on the course. There is out of bounds on the left and water on the right; which often comes into play. The hole is fairly wide open and plays downhill and the green is very large. Finding one of the three nasty pot bunkers on the right side can change your mood quickly.

Favorite Par 4: Number 18, 378 yards (White Tees). This dogleg right finishing hole goes around a lake and is a fitting end to a picturesque round at Eaglebrooke. It's best to play your drive to the left of the 150 marker and take the water out of play - for now. You'll most likely encounter it again on your approach shot - or at least it will dwell in the back your mind. The sand traps behind the green really shouldn't come into play. Anything short and right will most likely find the water. The large green slopes back to front; a back pin placement can prove interesting. This is a great finishing hole.

Favorite Par 5: Number 17, 486 yards (White Tees). This is one of those holes that you will do better on each time you play the course; knowledge of the hole is everything here. If you have tremendous control of your driver and can hit a draw on command, your line is slightly right of the tree line on the left. For the rest of us, straight out toward the trees is a good line although the water could come into play if you really get a hold of one. On your layup shot, the landing zone can be pretty small with water creeping back into play on the right. The water on the right continues to come into play on your approach shot. One thing I did notice that with a pin placement on the right side, balls hit to the green on the left were funneling down to the hole. This is my favorite hole at Eaglebrooke.

Last Word:
Picking just four holes as favorites was not an easy task; Ron Garl has created a number of them out here Like all Ron Garl courses, Eaglebrooke is playable for golfers of all levels. There are a few long carries for seniors from the gold tees, but overall the course is manageable. You will find a lot of rolling terrain on both fairways and greens. The course is in fantastic shape all year round.

Eaglebrooke demands both length and thought off the tee. Some holes will require your best tee shots in order to get on in regulation; others will take driver out of your hand and have you thinking about your second shot. There are a number of risk/reward opportunities as well.

For more information, visit them online at www.eaglebrooke.com or give them a call at (863) 701-0101.