Bogart

Par 28 - Level 2 - 90 Slope Rating

Plays from 992 – 1,679 yards

 

 

A movie star makes for a great golf course name - especially one as iconic as Humphrey Bogart. The Bogart and Bacall courses sit right at the center of The Villages, and that feels appropriate, given this power couple was the center of Hollywood for decades. The Bogart course may be labeled a Level 2, but don’t tell Humphrey that—it plays much tougher, boasting the fourth-highest slope rating around.

With one par four, a member of my Hardest Holes list, and one of the best stretches of shots in town, this course deserves a little star treatment. Add in some of the deepest bunkers you’ll ever see - clearly inspired by Bogart’s many war films - and it feels only right to present this round the proper way. So instead of numbering the holes, let’s put each tee box up in lights, marquee-style, and name them after some of Bogart’s most famous films.

Lights. Camera. Action.

 

#1 In a Lonely Place

This 1950’s thriller is the perfect metaphor to this or any opening shot - the first tee box can feel a bit lonely.  Bogart #1 asks you to hit over water and sand to a narrow, tricky green. There’s nowhere to hide here, and it’s a tense opening scene to start the round.

 

#2 Key Largo

Their final movie together, Key Largo, was perfect.  Just like the 2nd hole here: Picture perfect and incredibly inviting, this hole is a comfortable-looking shot to a wide screen - I mean green. It’s one of those tee shots that looks exactly how you want it to, which is rare enough to feel like a plot twist.

 

#3 The Big Sleep

This hole stars on my Hardest Holes list. It’s 170 yards to an incredibly small green, surrounded by triple traps—with one more hiding in the back. Humphrey once said he didn’t mind a reasonable amount of trouble, but even he would have balked at a hidden trap waiting behind the scenes. No thank you. Big Sleep time. It also kicks off a stretch of six holes as good as anywhere in The Villages—like six great movies playing back-to-back at an all-night drive-in.

 

#4 The African Queen

Bogart’s only Oscar, and the best-looking hole of the day staring two legendary stars in one extraordinary adventure - the 4th hole is an award-worthy shot. The contrast of sand on the left and the long, inviting green makes this a beauty. Like many of Bogart’s leading ladies, it’s far better to be on the right side of this one.

 

#5 The Maltese Falcon

The course’s only par four, and your chance to finally unleash the driver and let it fly.  Fairway sand guards the left side, so favor center-right off the tee. An incredibly deep bunker lurks on the green’s right, ready to complicate your approach. Aim left, take the uphill putt, and let the Falcon do the rest.

 

#6 The Harder They Fall

Bogart’s final film, and the shortest hole of the day at just 109 yards, is not one to be fooled with.  This shot demands the highest, softest drop shot of the round. Hit it high, let it fall, and watch it stick—just like Bogart did for an entire career. A popcorn stand near this green would feel appropriate.

 

#7 The Desperate Hours

Bogart played one of his most villainous roles in this film, and this hole matches the mood. It looks much longer than the 150 marker suggests, with four menacing traps guarding the front. The only opening is on the left, and you should aim there whether the pin agrees or not. Or, if you’ve got that Bogie swagger going, dial up a desperation drive and aim right at the flag.

 

#8 The Caine Mutiny

The signature hole. In the film, command aboard a naval vessel comes into question - fitting when you’re teeing off over water and wondering about your own. Aim left for the cleanest landing and the best chance to stay in control.

 

#9 Casablanca

No better way to finish than with what many consider the greatest movie ever made. The 9th itself may not deserve that level of praise - it’s a straightforward short-iron shot with water and sand to the left with a wide forgiving green, giving you a real chance to finish strong. 

 

Watching the classic movie trailers linked to the holes above feels wonderfully nostalgic, a reminder of Saturday matinees when the previews were often just as good as the movie itself. The lights dim. The music swells. A familiar voice promises romance, danger, and just a little trouble ahead. Other than the romance, that sounds like most of my golf games.

 

The Bogart course feels much the same - reminiscent of simpler times. There’s no need for hype or special effects, just a solid course, deep bunkers, and a few moments that linger longer than the score. And as the final credits roll while you walk off the 9th green, you can almost imagine Humphrey Bogart looking down, tipping his cap, and offering one last line: “Here’s looking at you, kid.”

 

Toughest to Easiest:

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