Amberwood   

Par 28 - Level 4 - 86 Slope Rating

Plays from 1,163 – 1,710 yards

 

Amberwood – Amen!

This course is classy, difficult, and worthy of reverence. Given the spectacular greens, row after row of oaks, and nine straight holes that each look unique, I’m sure you’ll agree it’s a must-do course. Not surprisingly, it’s one of my Top Five. It sits on the northern fringe of The Villages. I once was paired with three Canadian snowbirds who said they played it often because it was the closest course to their home - Silver Lake may argue - but no one could argue that Amberwood is about as close to heaven as you can get without leaving The Villages.

 

With that sense of hallowed ground, it’s time to step up to one of the best opening scenes we have. What a great way to start your day. But it’s wise to be assertive early, as the holes grow progressively more demanding. The 2nd stretches 25 yards longer, introducing more water and two traps near the green.

 

You’ll turn west for the next three drives, all along an incredible line of old oaks. This stretch traces the northern edge of The Villages and feels timeless.  The 3rd tee box, pictured above, is the start of this stretch.  You’ll be impressed with the long view - like stepping into an old cathedral. It plays 144 yards from the gold tees, though you may want to hit from the blacks to take in the full sensory experience. You’ll need to thread the shot between a trap on the left and a narrow bailout to the right. Like many things in life - and especially at Amberwood - it’s best to walk down the “center aisle”.

 

The 4th hole offers a welcome breather from the opening test. In fact, it feels peaceful. In my father’s final year, when we’d step into a church together, he would often reach around my shoulder and say, “Peace be with you.” That’s exactly how I feel standing on this tee. It’s a moment to reset, re-center, and remember the bigger picture. There’s no better place to feel that way than looking down a corridor of beautiful oaks and layers of green grass, reminding you how fortunate you are to be there.

 

That calm, however, is temporary. Amberwood #5 begins one of the most demanding stretches in The Villages. From #5 through #7, it's a wonderful combination of difficulty and feel.  A fellow golfer once dubbed this stretch the “Amen Corner". I agree. 

 

The 5th is framed by dense trees and two flanking fairway traps, leading to a sharply left-tilting green with at least a three-foot drop. Anything less than fully committed can find trouble quickly.

 

The good news on #6 is you get an extra stroke - Amberwood’s only par four. Fairway bunkers guard both sides, demanding a precise drive. The second shot plays longer than it looks, but the green is flat and fair, a small mercy in the middle of the longest test.

 

The 7th offers no relief. Sometimes the gold tees sit behind the water - be thankful when they don’t.  Even then, you’re likely playing into the wind, climbing to an uphill green protected by a massive right-side trap and an elusive putting surface. It’s Amberwood’s toughest hole, even without any holy water. 

 

After that challenging corner stretch - and with perhaps a few signs of the cross - you’ll make another cross.  This time over Legacy Lane.  It’s one of the few times an executive course takes you across a city street mid-round. Can you name the other courses that cross a city street?  There are 8 in total. (Quiz Question 24)   On the other side, the 8th hole offers a shorter drive, a rolling green, and a welcome bit of relief.

 

As you approach the 9th tee, the vibe is so good it almost feels like church bells should be ringing. Your final drive carries over water, often into the wind, to a sloped green with a center swale - frequently with onlookers near the starter shack. It’s a dramatic and fitting close to a course that has required a higher calling from the very first swing.

 

Play Amberwood with reverence, trust your swing - and if a quiet prayer of thanks slips out on the ninth green, you certainly won’t be alone. Maybe I’ll see you there Sunday!

 

Toughest to Easiest:

7, 5, 6, 2, 3, 9, 8, 1, 4 – toughest green 5