Bald Head Island, NC: Water, water everywhere.
At a waterview community that also has championship golf, the water takes on a new dimension. The lapping blue that had seemed so lovely just yesterday as it reflected the morning sun or provided a welcoming retreat for your boat now sends shivers down the golfer’s spine.
First-class golf architecture accompanied by challenging waterscapes dot the courses on the WaterviewHome Network and in tribute, we present a brief highlight reel, a Top Ten of memorable water-guarded holes.
The 10 entries below each include a parenthetical that denotes which hole number hole on the original course our selected hole represents. (At properties with more than one course, or a course name that differs from the name of the community, hole number is followed by the name of the course it is part of.) For detailed information on any of these courses or communities, just click on the highlighted name of the community.
WaterViewHome's Top Ten Water Holes for the Golfer
Hole No. 1, Frenchman’s Creek, Palm Beach Gardens, FL (9th)
Hole No. 2, River Wilderness, Parrish, FL (7th)
Hole No. 3, Daniel Island, Charleston, SC (7th—Beresford Creek)
Hole No. 4, Fairvue Plantation, Gallatin, TN (13th—Lake)
Hole No. 5, Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL (8th—Oak Marsh)
Hole No. 6, Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club, Dade City, FL (3rd)
Hole No. 7, Wild Wing Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC (4th—Avocet)
Hole No. 8, Colleton River Plantation, Bluffton, SC (10th—Dye)
Hole No. 9, Isleworth, Windermere, FL (2nd)
Hole No. 10, Bald Head Island, Bald Head Island, NC (9th)
Honorable Mention, Carnegie Abbey, Portsmouth, RI (5th)
Honorable Mention, The Bay Club, Mattapoisett, MA (10th)
Hole No. 1, Frenchman’s Creek, FL Palm Beach Gardens, FL (9th)
We begin with a 541-yard par-5 hole that requires a tee a tee shot clear of a water hazard on the left and a bunker on the right side of the landing zone. On the second shot the water looms again, and it’s a wise golfer who plays conservatively toward the fairway’s right edge.
The good and bad news for your pitch shot is that the green is very large. There’s a fine chance of getting on, but it’s also a good bet you’ll face a very long putt once you’re there.
Fast Fact: After their round, golfers salve their wounds at the exclusive and private Beach Club directly on the Atlantic Ocean. It’s the place to go for a day of sunning and swimming or even a casually elegant dinner. Click here for more information about Frenchman’s Creek!
Hole No. 2, River Wilderness, Parrish, FL (7th)
Our first par-3 is a fairly level hole from tee to green with a big slope from back to front on the putting surface itself. Designed by Ted McAnlis, this championship layout instills fear with its water hazards but allows at least some room for error.
Here on No. 7, a bunker between the green and the pond may save a pushed or faded tee shot from going under. Most members play the hole from blue-tee distance of 155 yards.
Fast Fact: The community, which lies adjacent to the Manatee River, is crowned by a new neighborhood, Rive Isle—home to a River Lodge overlooking the Manatee plus a community dock area and boat launch. Click here for more information about River Wilderness!
Hole No. 3, Daniel Island, Charleston, SC (7th—Beresford Creek)
Playing to par 4 from 358 yards maximum, this well-crafted hole by Tom Fazio has an island-look green draped into a large, marsh-lined pond. The shot you must hit into the green is a ticklish downhiller—which will tend to create some confusion over club selection.
There is plenty of bailout room to the left, if you can get over the initial daunting look of the green out of your head.
Fast Fact: Daniel Island offers 23 miles of rivers and creeks, along with community boat ramps, public and private boat docks and unique crabbing docks. Click here for more information about Daniel Island!
Hole No. 4, Fairvue Plantation, Gallatin, TN (13th—Lake)
Course architect Bill Bergin, who also designed the Foxwood Course at Fairvue Plantation, made great use of Gracie Lake in his layout for the community’s Lake Course.
Measuring 437 yards from the back tee and 406 from the members’ markers, this straightaway par-4 keeps Miss Gracie in play all the way down the left side. Off the tee, your target is a cluster of pine trees placed on the right—there is more clear landing area among those pines than first appears.
Fast Fact: At Nashville’s only lakefront golf community, residents enjoy not just lakeside golf and dining but an outdoor swimming pavilion for families and their children. Click here for more information about Fairvue Plantation!
Amelia Island Plantation, FL: Oceanfront holes.
Hole No. 5, Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, FL (8th—Oak Marsh)
Looking very much the birdie opportunity at just 342 yards, this Pete Dye creation is an intriguing station-to-station hole. It starts with a fairly easy carry over a small inlet of water on the drive, then a tender, lofted approach looking at water all the way to the green.
Accuracy is the key element here. No need for the driver, the object being to land on the left side of fairway to give yourself room to place a shot on the green, which is ringed by water and sand.
Fast Fact: Amelia Island Plantation, surrounded by ocean on one side and marsh on the other, offers saltwater and freshwater fishing, recreational boating, sunbathing by the luxury Beach Club and educational tours of the marshy waterways with staff naturalists. Click here for more information about Amelia Island Plantation!
Hole No. 6, Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club, Dade City, FL (3rd)
Here we see a fine example of a so-called Cape hole—one in which the fairway and an adjacent water hazard bend toward the green, allowing brave hitters to “bite off” a major chunk of yardage by flying their tee shots most of the way over water.
The other option is to play away from water, thus accepting a longer second shot in.
Fast Fact: At Lake Jovita, the water also beckons when the golf round ends, with seven freshwater lakes on the property (including 160-acre Clear Lake) to enjoy and explore. Click here for more information about Lake Jovita!
Hole No. 7, Wild Wing Plantation, Myrtle Beach, SC (4th—Avocet)
Known as “Double Cross,” the fourth on Wild Wing’s Avocet course crosses two separate wetlands on the journey from tee to green. Designed by the team of former U.S. Open champion Larry Nelson and Jeff Brauer, it’s a par-5 that can play as long as 551 yards.
Aim the tee shot at the target bunker on the left with a slight fade to set the best angle up to the green. The approach shot, from whatever distance, is easier when the pin is on the right.
Fast Fact: Living along the interconnected lakes is an extremely affordable way to enjoy this desirable waterfront lifestyle. The lakes surrounding Wild Wing make it easy to navigate through the interconnected waters directly to the community’s world-class Amenity Center. Click here for more information about Wild Wing Plantation!
Hole No. 8, Colleton River Plantation, Bluffton, SC (10th—Dye)
The short, par-4 10th hole on the Dye Course at the famed Colleton River Plantation Club features a well-contoured green guarded by water. The water swings around the left and to the rear of the green as well, but Dye distracts the player’s eye on approach shots with intricate bunkers and mounding—a rare case of not using the water as a visual intimidator, but featuring it as a significant hazard all the same.
Fast Fact: The success of this community is due not just to great golf but to its excellent maritime infrastructure. It boasts a community deepwater dock with access to the Intracoastal Waterway and Atlantic Ocean in a serene atmosphere surrounded by the Colleton and Chechessee rivers and Lowcountry saltwater marshes. Click here for more information about Colleton River Plantation!
Hole No. 9, Isleworth, Windermere, FL (2nd)
The lake waters lining many of the estate lots within this luxury club community come into play on its Arnold Palmer/Steve Smyer golf course, as well.
First glimpse of them is at the par-3 second hole, nicknamed “Cypress Chute.” A longer iron is needed to clear the lake inlet and reach a deep, narrow green encircled by five white-sand bunkers. Two stands of tall cypress trees that frame the shot will penalize stray tee balls. Coming so early in the round, it’s a challenge certain to get the blood pumping.
Fast Fact: Isleworth residents enjoy vistas of the famed Butler Chain of Lakes, which they access through a private boat ramp that launches their pleasure craft toward the chain and the navigable canals that connect them. Click here for more information about Isleworth!
Hole No. 10, Bald Head Island, Bald Head Island, NC (9th)
This year’s album of wonderful water holes ends with a true beauty. The par-4 ninth at Bald Head Island is the most difficult hole on the George Cobb-designed golf course. It daunts the player with water left, water right and water long.
Position off this tee is more critical than distance. With a medium iron approach to the green, don't mess around with the pin. Anywhere on this green is a super shot.
Fast Fact: The island’s family-friendly Shoals Club overlooks the magnificent point of Cape Fear. A 10-acre marina rounds out the island’s recreational amenities, accommodating vessels up to 100 feet. Ocean beaches stretch for 14 miles, while tidal creeks, perfect for paddling a kayak or canoe, traverse the salt marsh. Click here for more information about Bald Head Island!
Honorable Mention, Carnegie Abbey, Portsmouth, RI (5th)
Known to the members as "Bloody Run" the par-3 third at Carnegie Abbey is a short par-3 with water all along the left and a classic test of accuracy with the irons.
The water is a must-to-avoid, but the shot missing the green to the right will leave an awkward recovery onto a slippery green. The carefully placed tee shot will be on the right half of the green.
Fast Fact: The Donald Steel-designed golf course is a jewel of the community, as is the the Carnegie Yacht Club, gathering place for members who sail, fish, and cruise the Narragansett Bay waters. Vessels up to 200 feet can dock there, with a professional staff to clean, cater and provision at a member’s request. Click here for more information about Carnegie Abbey!
Honorable Mention, The Bay Club, Mattapoisett, MA (10th)
This short, dogleg-left par-4 saves its water peril for the second shot, tucking a handsome pond to the left of the green, which is guarded on the right by a deep bunker.
If you're one of those golfers who clubs yourself wisely, instead of hitting driver off every par-4 and par-5, you've got an advantage over the bombers. Try a four-wood tee shot toward the left-center of the fairway--from there your approach will be able to angle away from the pond.
Fast Fact: While technically not a waterview community, The Bay Club’s cheek-by-jowel proximity to historic and beautiful Buzzard's Bay, in one of America's oldest seafaring regions, demands a look. From the club you can take to the waters for day sails, regattas and prime Atlantic sportfishing. Click here for more information about The Bay Club!
