Redfish Run
Par 28 - Level 3 - 84 Slope Rating
Plays from 957 – 1,632 yards
You’ll get a full workout on Redfish Run. It features a water-launcher tee shot, a marathon in the middle, a few well-placed hurdles, and a roller-coaster of a closing green. There’s even enough elevation change to get the heart rate up. That’s a complete cardio session.
Redfish shares a starter shack with its sister course, Tarpon Boil, and Bonita Pass sits just across the street - so if you’re feeling ambitious, you can always string a couple together. But from my perspective, a Run beats a Pass or a Boil, so start here.
And now, the rundown…..
You don’t get much time to loosen up. The starting gun goes off with a 142-yard opening shot that plays downhill. Follow through and favor the left side of the first green. The second flips the script, playing uphill from roughly the same distance, so expect a different club. Your third “interval” is a sprint - one of the shortest holes in town at just 88 yards from the golds. But a trap that guards nearly the entire front of the green makes it clear that short doesn’t mean easy at Redfish.
Next comes the longest water shot of the day. Hole #4 stretches about 150 yards, mostly over water, to a green that’s hard to hold. It’s also your first shot into the easterly wind, so be mindful of club selection. Better long than wet.
Redfish #5 is the real endurance test. From the black tees, it’s the second-longest par four in The Villages at 403 yards. (Can you name the longest one?) From the golds, it’s a more manageable 363 - but here’s the challenge: play it from the blacks today. It may cost you a par, but it earns you serious marathon bragging rights. I tried it once and immediately slapped a “26.2” sticker on my golf cart.
Fun fact: there are eight holes longer than 370 yards from the blacks—Redfish #5 is one of them. Can you name the others? (Quiz Question #17.)
Run for Home
Once you reach the fifth green, you’ve hit the farthest point of your run. Time to make the turn for home.
The sixth green is guarded by a large bunker that spans most of the front. If you don’t feel confident hurdling it, don’t force the issue. Aim left instead and leave yourself an uphill play. Remember, it only takes a little “I” to turn Run into Ruin, so listen when the voice in your head suggests screams out “Instead”.
The seventh looks far more welcoming. At 145 yards, it’s reachable and friendly. While running uphill may be harder at my age, putting uphill is not, so aim for the front of the green and let the three-foot slope work in your favor.
Finish Line Within Reach
Before you run out of steam, hydrate - because the closing stretch is one of the best you’ll play. Holes eight and nine are both par threes. One calls for a camera; the other might call for a cardiac kit.
The eighth is the prettiest shot of the day, with cascading palms framing the target and guiding your eye down the elongated green to the cup. The ninth is beautiful in a different way. You won’t forget this two-tiered green with a four-foot drop. That puts it squarely on the list of nine hardest greens in town. Aim your final shot to the lower tier to give yourself a chance at par. If the group behind you is not at the box yet try a couple putts from the upper tier!
Then wipe off the sweat, let the endorphins kick in, and enjoy the satisfaction of having run one of the best courses in The Villages - without ever stretching.
Toughest to Easiest:
5, 9, 4, 7, 6, 2, 3, 8, 1 - toughest green 9
A perfect photo finish of the Run:
The palms on the 8th are not only attractive, they're instructive too - just follow their downward trajectory to the flag!
This amazing line of Live Oaks is the backdrop for Redfish 7!
The 9th green is one of the toughest in town. Don't be long - a downhill chip could run forever! Check out the other eight hardest greens:
From the Blacks!
If you took up my challenge and played the 5th hole from blacks, then why not just do the whole course from the back tee box? Only one of the par threes plays longer than 170 – the 4th is 187 (but mostly over water). And the 9th hole will be one to remember, fully over water to that crazy green! It’s easily one of the best closing holes in town from the black tees!
Go Green!
Why run afoul when you can enjoy this fun course from the front? Every par three is under 100 yards! That’s reason alone to be a "front-runner"!
What's Nearby?
A short cart ride from Redfish Run is the Lake Miona Rec Center. And the newest addition to our walking path collection, is called the Black Lake Walking Path. It covers about 1.5 miles down and back along Black Lake. It’s set off Buena Vista enough and flows in and out of old growth oaks along the lake. No bikes or carts are allowed so your walking shoes won’t have to step out of the way! Speaking of shoes, remember to bring a pair of walkers cuz your golf cleats won’t cut it! No wait - they might just do that - yikes!
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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