Palmetto 

Par 29 - Level 3 - 82 Slope Rating

Plays from 1,106 – 1,787 yards

 

The Palmetto course is one of my favorites.  It’s one of the most unique courses in town.  Each hole is unique and each takes a different type of shot off the box.  And when there are around 900 executive holes, having nine that are so unique is no easy task! Great job to the designers!

 

The only thing holding this course back from being on my Top Five, is that it runs along busy 466A which certainly takes away from the ambiance. 

 

Prepare to use every club you’ve got – except your putter to warm up.  The nearest practice green is down the street by Mangrove.

 

The first hole is a fantastic way to kick things off—it’s packed with just the right amount of first-shot pressure. You’ll face water, three sand traps, and a long green that seems to stretch forever. No pressure, right?

 

Hole #2 quickly grabs your attention but for different reasons. It feels like it was initially designed to be a long par four, maybe even a par five, given the ride to the tee box. Instead, you’re left with a downhill drop shot that tempts you to grab a shorter club - don’t! Clear the front trap, or you’ll be looking at a bogey (or worse).

 

The 3rd and 4th give you views to a Target and a Crumbl.  Do the first, not the latter!  The 4th is where my friend Clyde once sank a par putt and did his signature happy dance. These days, he saves that move for birdies!

 

Holes #5 and #6 continue along the retail road. Cars and trucks zoom past on your left, and you might even get a honk if your shot lands near the center. The view on the 6th green offers a clear view of the Evan’s Prairie Championship course in the background.

 

Time to get the Driver out of the bag.  The 7th and 8th are back-to-back par fours.  Visually, Palmetto 7 is breathtaking, especially if you’re playing near sunset and the pond is shimmering.  But even at high noon it’s postcard-worthy—easily one of the most beautiful holes in The Villages.  Pay attention to the shape of the pond though - it's a tight landing zone with the traps on the left.  Aim carefully or you’ll be Palmettowet. 

 

Contrastingly...#8 is no beauty.  It does require pure brute force as one of the longest you’ll play in The Villages. And for some meteorological reason the wind is always blowing in my face here.  Tighten your chin strap and let it rip!

 

Finally, cross Pinellas Place to Hole #9, a slightly downhill shot to a green with a gentle front-left slope. It’s a picturesque finish to a course filled with surprises.

 

There’s no other course in The Villages that combines so many fascinating features, technical challenges, scenic beauty, and quirky details.  Hope you like it as much as I do.

 

Toughest to Easiest:

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

From the blacks!

None of the par threes from the black tees exceed 158 yards. While you’ll need to club up slightly for each, none are excessively long. The real challenge lies in the angles of approach on Holes #1, #3, and #4, where you’ll contend with more water and tighter greens that demand accuracy.

The two par fours add some length (372 and 398 yards), meaning your second shot will require a longer iron to reach the green. Even so, you’ll only need about four clubs to tackle the course, whether you’re playing from the black or gold tees.

The longer par fours make the black tees feel most like a championship course experience—without the hefty price tag. That alone might be reason enough to give them a try!

Go Green!

Courses with two par fours will still feel long, even from the green tee box. However, the par threes are much more approachable, making Palmetto a great course to play from the greens. The opening and closing holes, in particular, will feel more manageable and less intimidating. 

What’s nearby?

My friends Bruce and Anne live very close to Palmetto.  That’s important because they’re our neighbors from Minnesota who first introduced us to The Villages.  So anytime I play Palmetto, I feel grateful to them for showing us the way to all this fun!  But they probably wouldn’t appreciate unannounced visitors, so here’s an alternative to what’s nearby – Jersey Mikes!  My favorite sandwich shop has a location on 466A.  You can even see it from the #6 tee box.  The exact address is 5625 Seven Mile Drive.  And the exact sandwich to order is the #42 – Chipotle Chicken Cheese Steak!  Now if you're looking for a sandwich that's golf cart accessible you can find that at the nearby Subway in the Pinellas Plaza (2460 Burnsed Blvd).

Here's the best-looking but least utilized tree in town.  It stands as a backdrop for the 2nd tee box.  Too bad the course wasn't designed to play around it more. 

Sky blue waters of Palmetto!

The 6th green is tucked next to the Evan's Prairie Championship course.  

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.