A look at a Florida favorite: Pine Barrens Course at World Woods Golf Club north of Tampa
BROOKSVILLE, Fla. -- Tom Fazio designed the 36 holes at World Woods Golf Club, and the least Fazio-like course, it would seem, is Pine Barrens. Unlike the majority of his work, Pine Barrens, which was somewhat modeled after Pine Valley, has a rugged look with waste bunkers throughout, rolling landscape and a great variety of holes.
While the golf course measures 7,237 yards from the back set of five tees, it plays even longer, mainly because there are several very long par 4s that balance out a couple of short ones. One of those short par 4s, the 15th (339 yards from the tips), has two fairways -- the one on the right beckons those who want to try to drive the green.
Located about 45 minutes north of Tampa, Florida, the course is a peaceful getaway. With no homes, plenty of fox squirrels and hawks, it's a walk through nature, albeit a difficult one at times. Besides Pine Barrens, Fazio also designed World Woods Golf Club's Rolling Oaks Course, which is more of a traditional target layout, almost reminiscent of Augusta National. There's also a nine-hole, par-3 course and outstanding practice facilities, which include practice holes.