Beautyberry

Par 29 - Level 4 

Plays from 1277 - 1890 yards

Hardest Hole - #6

Map

 

Beautyberry is one of the newest additions to our portfolio of executive courses in The Villages - and it’s already showing signs of personality.

 

Inspired by the native Florida shrub known for its vivid clusters of purple berries, the name alone hints at flavor. With that in mind, I packed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for my trip to the southernmost course in town and set out for the drive. It’s about 25 minutes from my house and likely farther for many. But like Amberwood or Gray Fox, tucked away in their corners, Beautyberry is going to be worth it.

 

Notice I didn’t say is worth it. That’s because the course is still so new, it hasn’t yet developed the ambiance that defines the best executive layouts in The Villages. But it feels destined for that tier - and playing it now gives you a chance to watch it come alive, like the first blooms on a berry bush.

 

So why not lean into it? At Beautyberry, each hole becomes its own flavor - its own little patch in a nine-hole garden - and a way to name each one.

 

Hole #1 – Ginkgo Berry
Yes, it’s technically a berry - and famously slippery. After a rain, ginkgo berries can make sidewalks treacherous, and this opening green is certainly the same. It breaks hard left, so take the hint: aim right and get off to the right start.

 

Hole #2 – Blueberry
This one might give you the blues. A narrow green and a front bunker guarding the flag make it tough to stick your shot. Trying to carry the trap can feel like threading a needle - miss slightly, and you’ll be singing a sad tune.

 

Hole #3 – Blackberry
Every golfer should try the black tees at least once on every course.  This is the place to do it.  From the black it’s a 400-yard par four but pretend it’s a par five. Two fairway bunkers demand precision off the tee, especially from the blacks.  It will be a memorable and toughest drive of the day. 

The Mustang Regional Recreation Center is behind. You might be surprised to know that a Mustang isn’t just a horse, it’s also a type of grape found in the South. So, it fits with the berry theme!

At the 3rd green, you’re standing at the southernmost edge of executive golf in The Villages.  In my short time as a Villager, I've seen this point move from Longleaf 5 to Bellaire 5 to now Beautyberry 3.  And the march south will continue! 

Hole #4 – Barry Bonds
Yes - that's stretching the definition of “berry” a bit - but during baseball’s Steroid Era, Barry Bonds was famously “on the juice,” and for sure you’ll need some extra berry juice to carry the two left-side fairway bunkers on this par four.

Quiz: Beautyberry is one of only a handful of executive courses with back-to-back par fours. Can you name the others? Click here for the answer.

 

Hole #5 – Elderberry
Short and sweet at just 122 yards from the gold tees - but first looks can be deceiving. A bunker guards the front of the green, so depending on the cup placement, it will require a high lofted drop shot… and sometimes… well, it’s just hard for elders to get it up.

 

Hole #6 – Crunch Berry
This is the signature shot. Water, a beautifully faced bunker and a two-tiered green.  At 176 yards to an elevated green, this one requires a solid strike. You’ll need to really crunch it to get close.

Who remembers Captain Crunch? 

Hole #7 – Strawberry
Did you know that strawberries aren’t actually berries - their seeds are on the outside, placing them in a different botanical category. In the same way, Hole 7 feels a little different from the rest. It doesn’t quite follow the pattern… but every patch has a weed.

 

Hole #8 – Raspberry
Ever heard of a Bronx Cheer? That unmistakable sound of mockery is also called a raspberry - and this hole might earn one from you. Hidden danger lurks behind the green in the form of a back bunker you can’t see from the tee. Hit too strong, and your “perfect” shot may get the last laugh.

Speaking of laughs.....Bronx cheer raspberry YouTube

Hole #9 – Beautyberry
The finishing hole lives up to the name. Tall palms frame a welcoming tee shot, creating one of the most picturesque views on the course. In time, as homes rise and the landscape matures, this hole - and the entire course - will only grow more beautiful.

Right now, though, you get to experience it early - before everything fully ripens.  Hope you can play it now.  Years from now, when everything has fully grown in, you’ll be able to say you were here when Beautyberry first took root.

 

Toughest to Easiest:  

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

From the blacks!   

Nearly 1900 yards makes Beautyberry one of the longest exec courses in town from black.  Can you name the longest one?  Click here for the answer. 

You'll need an extra dose of Captain Crunch, especially for holes 3,4,6 & 7.  

Beautyberry doesn't have a Slope Rating yet.  But it has a similar profile as Yankee Clipper if you are looking for a comparison

Go Green!

The yardage from the green tees on the scorecard says 1,277 yards.  But much of that is from the two par fours.  The average length on the other seven holes is just 100 yards, so don’t be intimidated to make the trip south to play this new course.  Even the hardest 6th hole has no water from the green tees. 

What’s nearby? 

Where else does an entire city spring up from pastureland, seemingly overnight?  

Middleton is only a short cart ride from Beautyberry.  It’s a separate city designed as a home for those who work in The Villages.  And it’s filled with some of my favorite things: 

My impressions are based on playing from the Gold tee boxes.  The Black and the Green tee boxes pose different challenges or benefits described as well.  The rankings of the toughest to easiest holes are just my opinions - yours will be far different, as will your favorite courses and most difficult and attractive holes.  I welcome your opinions or thoughts on any of this - click to leave a comment.  

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