Churchill Greens  

Par 29 - Level 3 - 85 Slope Rating

Plays from 1,040 – 1,764 yards

Hardest Hole - #6

Map

 

Churchill Greens is a course for the senses - it's simply a spectacular setting. The greens and bunkers would feel right at home on any Villages Championship course, and the surrounding terrain is as engaging as anything around here. If not for a fairly mundane opening stretch, Churchill might easily land in my top five. But once your senses wake up, the final six holes are as good as it gets.

 

Like Pimlico - its sister course - Churchill eases you into the round. The first three holes are similar enough that you’ll probably pull the same club for each tee box. Hole one plays more uphill, two levels out, and three introduces a larger bunker - but that’s it for variety. Think of it as the opening furlongs of a race, where everyone is just settling in and staying upright. The excitement comes later.

 

If you want a little variety right away, here’s a suggestion: play the first three holes from the black tees, then move back to gold for the rest. You’ll use different clubs, stay more engaged, and arrive at the fourth hole in a better mood.

 

And that’s where things change. From the fourth through the ninth, this is as good a stretch of golf as I’ve played anywhere.

 

The fourth is a short par four - my favorite three words - and one of the prettiest tee boxes in town. Towering evergreens line the hole, making me feel like I’ve been transported back to Minnesota. At just 278 yards from the gold tees, it’s easily reachable in two if you stay out of trouble on the drive. The green is flat, offering a real birdie chance.

 

But what makes #4 memorable isn’t how it plays - it’s how it sounds. On weekdays, you may hear the joyful noise of kids on a nearby playground. The Villages Charter School sits just north of the green, a reminder that this “retirement community” has a thriving school system too.  It’s a surprising and refreshing soundtrack, and one worth pausing for a minute or two to soak in.

 

At first glance, the fifth hole looks fairly unremarkable. It isn’t. The green slopes subtly away in nearly every direction, making it extremely difficult to hold. Expect to be chipping more than you’d like. This would be great shot from a simulator! 

 

Then comes the cart ride to six - arguably the most interesting ride in The Villages.

Heading south, the views open up and you'll see cows, a donkey or two - and if you’re lucky - you'll hear a distant train whistle. Barbed-wire fences and tree-lined ranch boundaries give this wide-open space an “out west” feel. One time I swore I heard a cowbell, and suddenly “Don’t Fear the Reaper” was stuck in my head. 

Now, back to golf.....

 

The sixth hole is the visual payoff. It’s on my Postcard List - surely one of the most beautiful shots you see. After all that sensory input, it’s time to refocus because this is also your hardest hole of the day. Aim down the right side of the fairway for the best approach to the green.

 

The closing stretch from seven through nine continues the visual feast. Each hole introduces subtle elevation changes and precision positioned greens: Seven is the shortest with the most forgiving putting surface - no excuses there. Eight plays 146 yards over wetlands to a green that slopes distinctly left. And the ninth finishes strong with a ravine carry and two guarding bunkers. Aim for the center, trust the swing, and give yourself a chance to walk off with par.