New golf course fits Lakewood Ranch to a tee

As Jim DelFavero, a visitor from Lewiston, N.Y., walked the hilly fairways, he couldn't have imagined what the landscape on this particular spot of Lakewood Ranch looked like a year ago.

That's when construction began at Lakewood National Golf Club to construct the first of two 18-hole layouts scheduled to accompany the Lennar community that will surround the courses.

The land was rough a year ago, and completely flat. Pool table flat.

No longer.

A year later, DelFavero was confounded at times as he tried to hit a side-hill lie off undulating fairways into diabolical, undulating greens.

"There are not many flat lies out there," DelFavero said with a laugh as he walked to his car. But it's a great golf course."

His partner was Lakewood Ranch's Doug Turner, an avid golfer who regularly looks for great courses from Fort Myers to St. Petersburg. "This already is one of my top 10 in the area," Turner said. "There are no plain, ordinary holes out there."

Making extraordinary golf holes out of flat, scrubby land was a significant challenge for Icon Management, the company hired by Lennar to run the course, which opened in January. The course was designed by the (Arnold) Palmer Course Design Company. 

"There is a lot of elevation change on this course," said Course Superintendent Jamie McCrosky, who moved over from his same position at River Strand, another Lennar property and Icon Management course. "They moved a lot of dirt here (at Lakewood National), 1.6 million cubic yards of dirt."

He pointed at his new course, standing at one of the course's higher points.

"There are a lot of undulations in those fairways," he said. "Our highest point is 75 feet above sea level. There are certain places you actually have vistas."

David Perritt, the head professional at Lakewood National Golf Club, said the course is open to the public for the time being as Lennar uses it as a tool to showcase its homes. Eventually, the course will be mostly private, "bundled" with the housing sales. Everyone who buys a home in Lakewood National will be a member of the golf club.

Eventually, Perritt said the club membership will top out at 1,400. Depending on the amount of rounds played by those members, some public play could be allowed, again as a marketing tool.

Construction on the second course has not yet begun although it has been designed. The two courses will have specific names, which have yet to be chosen. Since Icon and Lennar want the residents to have an ever-changing, golf experiences, Perritt said the second course will "have a much different feel" than the first.

"But the workers will be back to moving dirt," Perritt said.

Perritt said golfers of all levels will enjoy the experience. The course offers six sets of tees, from Winnie, the shortest at 5,194 yards to King, the longest at 7,184 yards. All the golfers interviewed about the course on Monday paid $60 with their two-for-one coupons.

McCrosky described the course as somewhat challenging and somewhat forgiving. He said the course's major defense is its greens.

"Everything on this course is right in front of you," he said. "It's just a matter if you play the right tees (for your level of play)."

If you don't play the right tees?

"This course has some teeth to it."

McCrosky has enjoyed watching the course respond to public play, and he said it has "responded perfectly."

"It did seem a little overwhelming to accomplish this with our timeline," he said. "It almost seemed out of reach."

The golf course clubhouse has yet to be built, although a large tented area provides shade for the special groups to book the course. The pro shop is selling beverages for the time being, and most likely will increase its stock as time passes.

"I think they could use some more women's golf apparel," said Linda Campbell of Winnetka, Ill.

Nearby, her husband Dave, who had finished what he said was a very enjoyable round, watched as his wife approached the front desk with clothing to purchase.

"They must have enough women's golf apparel," he said. "Because she found it."  

Here are some reviews from people who had just played the course.

Adam Szopinski, Lakewood Ranch — "For me, it's right behind the Ritz Carlton. I think it's magnificent and it's the fourth time I've played here. The greens are difficult and fast and you've got to be a pro to make some of those putts. It's also a very hilly course, where you are going up and down."

Jim DelFavero, Lewiston, N.Y. — "The driving areas are wide but the approaches are pretty difficult. My only complaint was that the tee boxes were not flat. It's a great golf course and the greens are tough."

Doug Turner, Lakewood Ranch — "It's in excellent condition for such a new course. It's got wide open tee shots, but undulating fairways and greens. There are doglegs and hills and sand traps. I think it is a lot like Royal Lakes at Lakewood Ranch Country Club."

Dave Campbell, Winnetka, Illinois — "I thought the amenities were great, the range finder, the cart. I am looking forward to how this course grows. I think they challenge you with where their hazards are located as opposed to just using brutal length. I like how the hazards are placed, because there is a risk-reward." 

Linda Campbell, Winnetka, Illinois — "I played the "friendly" tees. It was challenging and beautiful ... in great condition. We played Esplanade when it was this new and this was the same condition. I think this can grow to be just as beautiful a course as Esplanade."