Have you ever played a golf course so scenic and soothing that not even your worst shot (and a steady rain) could ruin it? I recently had such an exhilarating experience while playing Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club’s Prestwick course in Ormond Beach, Florida. At par 71 over 18 holes (35 on front nine/36 on back nine), the course is challenging but fair, with lush tree-lined fairways and well-manicured greens and deceptively thick green rough; AND sightings of deer, turkeys and storks (just to name some of the wildlife). Even with the downpour, the course drained effectively and the round continued. The water hazards and the sand traps are tricky, though manageable, and white 150-yards-from-green markers also act as helpful fairway targets. The club house and pro shop are excellent, and gracious staff abounds as residents of this private, guard-gated community gathered in large numbers to drink and dine and kick off the weekend in style.
I’m not a great golfer. Heck, I’m not even a consistently good golfer and am happy if I can manage a bogey average per hole. In high school, and this is no exaggeration, I was the worst player on the team and played primarily to make the school year pass more quickly. The more I played, the worse I got because bad habits perpetuated and the coach saw my game wasn’t salvageable. Flash forward to present day and the past couple of years: I actually have flashes of good game, though rarely do all aspects of it come together in one round. Anyway, this was my first time golfing this year and I didn’t know what to expect. Surprisingly, my tee-offs were generally very solid (albeit often with a slice) and my putting was okay (a couple lipped out), but the in-between game was inconsistent. I finished with a 91, even though it seemed I played better. I chose to drive with a 3-wood in hopes of straightening out tee-offs on the par 4 and par 5 holes, but still found myself off the fairway quite a bit. The par 3 holes are fair but challenging too. Pin placement is marked by red, white and blue flags indicating front, middle and back-of-green, respectively; and the greens are in great condition.
Ed Ernst, a sales associate at Plantation Bay and my playing partner for the round, said of Prestwick: “I’ve played most of the courses in the surrounding area. I feel confident in saying you won’t find any courses as challenging and as pristine as the 45 holes here at Plantation Bay. You’ll get full use of all of your clubs, especially the “foot wedge.” As I’ve told my adversaries “I haven’t shot my age yet, but I have shot my IQ.’”
Want to kick the tires on Plantation Bay, including playing golf, enjoying spa pampering, or the like? Then do a DISCOVERY TOUR by staying 3 days/2 nights in one of our beautiful furnished villas in the community! For only $399 (plus tax) per couple, you can enjoy the clubs, work out at fitness center, play golf or tennis, talk w/residents and enjoy the informative tour of ICI Homes’ models. Please call 877-628-5254 & go to www.PlantationBayGolf.com for details and to arrange it. If you’re genuinely interested in purchasing a brand new, custom home from a “Top 100 Homebuilder” in a fantastic community with great amenities such as Prestwick golf course, then you’ll be hooked upon your stay at Plantation Bay!
