Saddlebrook

Par 27 - Level 2 - 75 Slope Rating

Plays from 952 – 1,371 yards

 

Few courses can claim two of the eighteen best-looking golf shots in town. Only two can claim they come back-to-back. Saddlebrook is one of them. This is a fun, approachable Level 2 course laid out around a fountain-filled lake, designed to reward smart club selection. I used six different clubs off the gold tees, which already tells you this isn’t a one-note track. Add in one of my favorite closing holes in The Villages, and you’ve got a lot to look forward to.

 

You just have to get through the first two holes first.

 

Those are the saddle sores of Saddlebrook. Once you reach the third tee, the round turns the corner in a big way. Literally and figuratively.  

 

Hole #1 is… unpleasant to look at. Imagine me climbing onto a saddle - yes, that unpleasant. Best advice? Avert your eyes, swing, putt, move on. Hole #2 doesn’t help much either, like catching that same image of me at a full gallop. Again, shoot quickly and move on. 

 

But then you turn north, and suddenly things improve. It’s as if someone opened a door and a real golf course appeared. On #3, aim your shot to the left side of the green for the best putting angle and enjoy the feeling that Saddlebrook has finally found its stride.

 

Hole #4 is a fun, short downhill shot with a quirky bunker on the right. From there, you turn west and face the sun for the first time. Late in the afternoon, you may find yourself squinting like Clint Eastwood trying to spot the green. That might actually help, because what awaits is a massive, sloping putting surface with nearly a three-foot drop. The move here is to squint and aim left - multitasking at its finest.

 

Turn north again and settle in, because holes six through nine are outstanding - one of the best stretches on any executive course in The Villages. Hole #6 has everything: water, triple traps, and a crisp white fence framing the back. Hole #7 lightens the mood slightly, with just two bunkers and a gentle downhill approach that boosts confidence. Then come the closers.

 

Holes #8 and #9 are picture-perfect – perhaps only Gray Fox is better. The eighth plays downhill to an uphill-sloping green and is just 120 yards from the golds, letting you focus on the scenery rather than sheer execution. A soft landing below the pin sets up your best chance at par. The ninth turns uphill from 132 yards and demands a bit more, but it’s the view that steals the show. With the Saddlebrook Recreation Center in the background and a stately live oak guarding the left-side bunker, it’s a finish that feels almost Augusta-like. You simply can’t be unhappy hitting this shot. Both #8 and #9 sit proudly on my Postcard Holes list.  And the ninth is on my Top Closing Shots.  Double the recognition! 

 

Some of my favorite courses start a little rough and finish with a flourish - much like Churchill Greens and Pimlico. Saddlebrook fits that horse-mold perfectly. From the third hole on, it’s an exceptional short course. Try playing it late in the day, when the light is low and the air is soft. You’ll want to ride off into the sunset on this one.

 

Toughest to Easiest:

2, 5, 6, 9, 3, 7, 8, 1, 4 – Toughest Green 5

From the Blacks!

Yes!  You’ll need to be strong to reach #2 and accurate to land #5.  Both are testers from the black tee box.  But the 6th and 7th holes will be the most enjoyable shots from blacks.  Anytime you have use longer irons to land a green with flanking traps, your game is highly challenged.  Saddle Up!

Go Green! 

Saddlebrook is a perfect place to play from the green tees.  Under 1,000 total yards means you can enjoy the scenery (beginning with the 3rd hole!) and not feel pressure to play fast.  The only water to deal with is on the edge of #5.  And the 4th hole is just 75 yards – one of the closest cups in The Villages.  You’ll get all the positive vibes from the closing 4 holes without any of the hassles that come from playing harder courses!

What's Nearby?

If you’re arriving to the course from the south, you’ll cross under 466 then come up to an incredible quarter mile tree covered canopy.  It’s a bucket list trip that unfortunately lasts only a minute, unless of course you make a U-Turn and go back and forth a few times!  Go ahead you’ve got time on your hands! 

 

After your game go north to the Saddlebrook Softball Fields – maybe you’ll catch a game.  Did you know we have 5 complexes like this one?  There are 10 divisions of Neighbor or Recreation teams of varying levels that compete year-round in three distinct seasons.  As with everything here, the scale is impressive and the opportunities for all skill levels is easily available. 

Saddlebrook Stretch

6th  

7th 

8th

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.