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They are named Diamondback and Southern Dunes, the first next door to Grenelefe; the second 15 minutes away, off Highway 27 at Haines City.
It's easy to see why Diamondback has been nominated among the best new courses in America. Carved out of 250 acres of virgin forest, much of it still a nature reserve, it has everything that makes a fine course: challenge, playability and beauty.
Unusually for Florida, it has some marked changes in elevation, because it is built on part of the Florida Ridge, a spine of silica sand that runs for 150 miles.
An average hole would have your tee shot carrying between trees or over an expanse of marshland which appears longer than is the case, to a fairway that's wider than it appears, with an approach to a small, angled green guarded by deep faced bunkers.
It's not as tough as it sounds, though. Eight of the par-4s are quite short, so they are tempting rather than intimidating from the forward tees. All the challenge comes from the back markers.
The whole area is protected so there are many major trees in play, there's no housing development and only on two holes, the 1st and the 10th, can you see another fairway. Laid out by Joe Lee, it's a spectacular design, totally natural and very fair, but one of the most exciting courses I've seen.
Our final call is at Southern Dunes, a four year old course that's already high in the national rankings, a totally man-made creation on a high, flat section of the Florida Ridge.
It has acres of sculpted hummocks, mainly for perspective, 183 bunkers ranging from the hungry to the voracious and, being elevated, it is exposed to the wind which can change direction every day. You could say it's interesting!
There are few trees and little water but some of those bunkers cover half an acre, and there are great expanses of sandy wasteland lying in wait just off the fairways.
Southern Dunes is, as they say there, a "risk and reward" course: bite off as much as you dare and the tight lines bring the easier second shots, down the length of the green. Play safe and you'll face a carry over a huge bunker to a narrow angled green, dramatically contoured and with a fall-away bank at the rear.
In first rate order with variable tee positions according to handicap, Southern Dunes completes a knap hand of outstanding courses to crown a memorable golfing experience away from the usual tourist trail. Well worth the effort.
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