Pine Barrens at World Woods Golf Club

I’ve played Worldwoods Pine Barrens 3 times. It is about an hour north of Tampa but well worth the drive. They are having some issues with the greens. I’m not sure if this is a seasonal issue or due to the heat and recent dry spell. Almost every green had.a dead area which had recently been covered with sand. All bunkers, even green side bunkers are treated as waste areas. Adding a rake, especially around the greens would be helpful. We played out of deep footprints on several shots. Otherwise it is a great layout with some beautiful and challenging holes. Local knowledge is key on some of the dogleg holes.
Friendly staff and decent food at the turn. We will return.

I’ve played Pine Barrens many times and honestly have to say I’ve never seen conditions this poor. The greens are in sad shape, having been afflicted with some kind of blight, fairways aren’t in their typically excellent condition, and the general feel is just not what it was just a couple years ago. It’s still an amazing layout, of course, but this course as well as Rolling Oaks used to be well-manicured works of golf art. The lack of attention is visible. Weeds are popping up in areas that were previously kept clear. The cart paths do, by now, need some serious attention, and management needs to put effort into details to keep World Woods a worthy golf destination. One simple thing that would immediately improve appearances is removing the dilapidated stage for photo shoots on the cart path aside the clubhouse; it can’t possibly be in use, and it looks like a pitiful remnant of a bygone time. They’re still two beautiful courses, but in present condition it’s becoming hard to say they’re a great step up in playing experience from other local courses. And that’s a pity, because these two courses were not very long ago vastly better than local competitors.

I have been playing World Woods for many years. The layout is excellent but it not the same course that it was 10 or 5 years ago. The course conditions have deteriorated drastically in the last few years.
The cart paths are cracked and bone shattering. The course has numerous fallen trees and debris that they are not to cleaning up. The fairways are average, but the greens on both courses have developed a fungus resulting in many dirt spots on them and they don't seem to be getting any better.
This is a beautiful that used to be a desirable golf destination but has sadly gone to pot. I played Juliet Falls recently which is about an hour north of WW and this course is that WW used to be, immaculate and beautiful, hopefully WW will (the owner) wake up and invest in course improvements to make the course what it used to be.

The condition of the greens were the worst I have ever seen them.. If you like 5 3/4 hours rounds this is the place to go. We waited on every tee for the group ahead of us to tee off, the group ahead of them was holding them up.. Called the club house and asked if they had a ranger on the course, was told yes so I asked for the ranger to come out. He never showed up! When we finished the round the ranger was in a cart in front of the clubhouse. Told him we called in about the slow play and all he said he did not come out because he knew it was going to be a 5 hours round.............

wonderful staff- after 10 years away there are substantial drop offs in maintenance and pace of play standards.

Some of the greens had a lot of bad spots otherwise the course was in pretty good shape.

Great course, most of the greens needed work though. Staff was fantastic, very friendly. Drove an hour to play, worth it.

Always worth the drive. Great layout. Pro shop gentleman was great. Played in afternoon heat so not busy-Pace of play excellent Few greens in rough shape.

This round was the first time I’ve seen Pine Barrens in what I would judge as mediocre condition. Not bad, but not its usually well-groomed condition. Greens spotty, traps needed maintenance badly, and generally not the experience I’m accustomed to here. Obviously, the layout remains gorgeous, but whether it’s due to the rainy summer we’ve had or changes in maintenance, it just seemed lacking the typically excellent grooming of past seasons. This opinion may be flavored by the fact it was a ridiculously hot/humid afternoon round that was really just too uncomfortable to be truly enjoyable. Pace of play was no issue as the afternoon heat meant the course was fairly empty.

It is a challenging Course. The greatest need I see they have is to repair the paved golf pass. They are broken and badly need repairing

Staff was very friendly and pace was reasonable although we waited on a lot of shots since we were a twosome; nevertheless, the course played in a little less than 4 hours. We found the conditions to be disappointing. Not sure if it's the result of COVID or if the bunkers are supposed to be waste bunkers and/or ground under repair but none of the bunkers have been attended to in a very long time. Grass growing in most of them and the edges overrun with grass. Fairways were playable but had lots of bad spots. Same with the greens. Lots of really rough, dry dirt spots on the greens. Cart path is a joke...concrete is broken and has lots of chunks that have heaved up. I wouldn't recommend this course and wouldn't play it again as it doesn't meet our expectations for a well-maintained course. Additionally, the bathrooms (both in the clubhouse and on the course) haven't been maintained in many many years. They were reasonably clean but desperately in need of fixing up.

Love the course, but it needs some work. Several greens had problems on them with losing grass in spots. Still puttable if the blight is not in your line. Also several grassless areas in the fairways. Never seen it like this before. But for $17 was still worth it.