Lowlands
Par 29 - Level 2 - 82 Slope Rating
Plays from 1,075 – 1,600 yards
It’s said that home is where the heart is. That may be a bit too emotional—but home is certainly where the golf clubs are. And the quickest course I can get those clubs to is Lowlands. So yes, Lowlands is my home course.
In fact, if Bryson DeChambeau smoked a driver off the fourth tee, threaded it between two houses, and caught the street at the corner of Orton and Declerk just right, the ball could roll past my house. An unlikely shot. Even more unlikely that we’ll ever convince Bryson to show up and try it. Far more realistic is finishing your round and budgeting an extra hour to relive your best shots next door at Edna’s on the Green.
I still go out for a run once in a while, and one day - when Lowlands was closed for play - I ran the course from the first hole to the ninth. That was when I really noticed something I’d missed for years: Lowlands has topography. It’s subtle, but something my old legs felt more than my eyes. The course climbs gradually from the low land, peaks near the sixth green, then eases its way back down toward the Hogeye Preserve. Along with Hill Top, it’s one of the few courses here whose name actually describes what it does. That kind of familiarity makes the layout - and the experience - better for me.
The starter shack is another reminder that this is home. Familiar faces, friendly conversations, and a setting under a massive oak draped in Spanish moss make the start of every round feel comfortable. The first hole, however, offers a quick reminder that home can still be challenging. It's an uphill shot to a narrow green guarded by an annoying trap on the left. It’s a great opener, and a gentle reminder that it’s time to focus.
The second hole is the first of two par fours and plays fairly easy - just stay left for an open approach. The third is one of my favorites because it fits my fade perfectly. It’s another par four, shorter than most, and at just 230 yards downhill from the gold tees it practically invites you to swing hard. Most first-timers do. They pull it left under a large oak or slice it right, leaving a wedge over two traps and a quiet moment of self-reflection. The smarter play is an easy swing down the left side, letting the slope help. Occasionally you even roll it onto the green. And if you don’t, you’re still left with one of the better birdie chances on the course. The danger here isn’t the hole—it’s thinking you need to land the green in one shot.
(Not all executive courses have two par fours. How many can you name? Quiz Question 4.)
After a long cart ride that continues uphill, the fourth hole offers a great view of the Waterlily Recreation Center across a fairway-length pond. It’s a nice moment to pause, admire the scenery, and then forget the pond exists. Unfortunately, the pond remembers everything. During dry winter months, it’s not unusual to see hundreds of golf balls embedded in the muddy edge - often alongside boot prints from a neighbor who decided they were worth retrieving.
The fifth turns back south into the wind, so you’ll likely need to club up, and after another cart ride you reach my personal boogeyman: Lowlands 6. There’s nothing remarkable about it at first glance, which might explain why it’s one of the toughest holes in town. At around 160 yards, you’re pulling a new club for the first time. The wind is often in your face, even if you don’t feel it. Anything tugged left can roll into the street. Anything faded right funnels into a valley beside the green. Once, I hit two shots that ended up lying inches apart in that valley, proving the magnetic pull of that funnel. The green slopes more than you expect, and none of it feels especially dangerous standing on the tee - which is precisely why it is. Lowlands 6 is a common topic of discussion among DeLunatics over a beer at Edna’s.
From the sixth green you get a great view across Marsh Bend Trail to the seventh and eighth holes, both par threes lined by marsh and water. Near the seventh is a home with a patio that’s always decorated for the next holiday - Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day. You can count on it to set the seasonal mood.
The eighth is one of the most attractive shots in The Villages. It's pictured above. I’ve played it early in the morning and again at sunset and still can’t decide which is better. It’s one of the top 18 “Postcards” in town, thanks to its sweeping view of the Hogeye Preserve wrapped by a 2.5-mile walking path. The path is close enough that you’ll often have an audience. Most are friendly. Some, if you wander into the rocks on the front left looking for a ball, are not. That’s something you tend to learn only once.
The closing ninth is a unique finishing shot. The common belief is that the original layout allowed for another par four here, but the proximity to Edna’s was deemed a little too tight and it became a par three instead. It still plays plenty long. A large ridge in the green drains everything left, so aim right, stay patient, and finish strong.
Lowlands doesn’t beat you up with length or spectacle. It doesn’t rely on dramatic carries or heroic shots. Instead, it rewards familiarity, punishes lapses in judgment, and gives you just enough confidence to believe you’ll play it better next time - which is why I’ve played it more than any other course. That’s what makes it a home course. And the fact that Edna’s is right next door doesn’t hurt either!
Toughest to Easiest:
6, 9, 7, 2, 1, 4, 3, 5, 8 – hardest green #9
From the blacks!
How does Lowland change if you play from the black tees? Like most Villages Executive courses, you get to play more of the clubs in your bag if you play from the blacks. The most notable change is on #4, 6 & 9: The tee box on #4 is often set to the far left making it a completely different approach. A large bunker on the left side now requires a perfect drop shot. #6 just becomes longer and even more of a boogeyman for me – a bogey is my goal from this boogeyman from the back tees! And at 182 yards, the extra distance on #9 means your target practice to hit the right side of the green becomes far more difficult. But I love playing Lowlands from the blacks as I use 7 different clubs off the tees!
Go Green!
Good news - if you play from the green tees, the 6th tee box is about 80 yards forward from the blacks – and its location on the far left side of the fairway eliminates any chance of rolling a ball across Marsh Bend Trail! Also, the second par four plays at just 200 yards downhill so you'll get to the green in no time! Have fun!
What’s nearby?
Have I mentioned Edna’s a few times? This great venue is just 9 iron away from the 9th green. But the hundreds of Villagers listening to music under the Live Oaks will not appreciate a ball landing in their drink! A bigger challenge is to find a parking place when good musicians are playing. The food trucks have been replaced by a permanent structure, but the food is the same - try the smash burger! There's also a great selection of beer and wine. If you played Lowlands better than bogey (38), then you owe yourself a more expensive craft beer. And there’s live music from 3-6 on weekdays and 12-3 & 4-7 on weekends. There is no place like it in The Villages – check it out: Edna's on the Green
Photo Pass
Palms galore on Lowlands!
The 6th is the toughest shot on the course - it's incredibly non-descript, but you won't forget it. And an "Honorable Mention" for the Hardest Holes List
Where it all began for me in 2020 on my first game in The Villages. Welcome Home!
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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