Cimarrone Golf Club a watery challenge in Jacksonville, Florida

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- There isn't a hole on the Cimarrone Golf Club that won't steal your ball and ruin your round.

Architect David Postlethwait made sure all 6,891 yards of Cimarrone would be memorable. This isn't a grip-it-and-rip-it course. It's best played in survival -- not attack -- mode.

"It is definitely challenging having the marsh or water on every hole," Assistant Professional Mike Renn said. "That's the biggest draw for people. It is a challenge."

Renn said most players wisely play the 6,103-yard white tees. The 6,553-yard blue tees can be a chore, especially if your driver goes schizophrenic. Smaller-than-normal greens add to its healthy slope rating from the tips (137).

The par-5 first hole introduces the day's challenges. A solid drive from the whites leaves a risk-reward approach shot over a pond to the green. From there, most of the encounters with wetlands and water play laterally with few forced carries. The exceptions are the par-3 ninth over wetland and the best hole on the course, the par-4 10th, which doglegs right over water.

"The layout I love," said Harold Ford, a local who plays Cimarrone Golf Club regularly. "It's always in good shape. (But) there is a little more water than I would like.

Jason Scott Deegan has reviewed and photographed more than 1,100 courses and written about golf destinations in 25 countries for some of the industry's biggest publications. His work has been honored by the Golf Writer's Association of America and the Michigan Press Association. Follow him on Instagram at @jasondeegangolfpass and Twitter at @WorldGolfer.
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Cimarrone Golf Club a watery challenge in Jacksonville, Florida