Churchill Greens  

Par 29 - Level 3 - 85 Slope Rating

Plays from 1,040 – 1,764 yards

 

 

Churchill Greens is a course for the senses.  It a simply 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 its sister course, Pimlico, Churchill eases you into the round. The first three holes are similar enough that you’ll probably pull the same club from each tee box. Hole one plays more uphill, two levels out, and three introduces a bunker -but that’s about 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 up 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 four words - and one of the prettiest tee boxes on the course. 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 very reachable in two if you stay out of trouble. The green is relatively flat, offering a real birdie chance.

 

But what makes #4 memorable isn’t just 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.

 

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 east, the views open up, but it’s the sounds that really get your attention. You might hear cows, a donkey, - or if you’re lucky - a distant train whistle. There are barbed-wire fences, tree-lined ranch boundaries, and wide-open space that feels as though they should be “out west”. One time I swore I heard a cowbell, and suddenly “Don’t Fear the Reaper” was stuck in my head. And it does make you wonder - are there more cows than senior citizens out here? On this stretch, it certainly feels that way.

Now, back to golf.....

 

The sixth hole is the visual payoff. It’s on my Postcard List for a reason and easily one of the most beautiful shots you see. After all that sensory input, it’s time to refocus. Pull the driver, 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 requires precision. Seven is the shortest with the most forgiving green - 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.