Sandhill

Par 28 - Level 2 - 83 Slope Rating

Plays from 998 – 1,657 yards

 

I don’t know why they stopped at Sandhill. Why not call it Sand-Hill-Water-Wind so all the fun can be included? That would pretty much cover all the obstacles - other than old age. 

 

Sandhill has all of it. And that’s why it feels less like golf and more like target practice. Nearly every green is perched, elevated, slanted, or simply plotting against you. You don’t so much hit shots here as you aim them. Think darts, not drivers. It may be labeled a Level 2, but by slope rating it lives in the upper half of difficulty - and it plays that way.

 

That becomes evident immediately on the first hole. You’re staring up at a sloped green with rolling terrain on either side, where a slight mishit can send you thirty yards away. It’s a rare real-world application of your high school physics class, as the Conservation of Energy theorem can be seen in real life as your ball rolls relentlessly off the green.

 

But don’t get “down” - the second hole gives you a new opportunity to see where a round hard ball travels. At 171 yards from the golds, #2 is Sandhill’s longest par three. Sand guards the left but only comes into play if you really yank it. Hole #3 is the signature shot, thanks to the water you shoot across to an elevated green, and a perfect row of palms. Add in traffic on 466A behind it, and you may even have an audience. Still, I think #4 is the best blend of looks and difficulty. A tree-lined fence provides a brief bit of serenity, until you notice the full-length bunker in the front. Just remember….it’s only sand-hill-water-wind you need to deal with. 

 

The 5th is Sandhill’s only par four.  A simple center layup is your best bet because the real challenge is the second shot that goes way uphill. Club up for that.  Then comes #6, where you turn south and head back down the same hill - only now it’s much steeper and much shorter. With five tee boxes ranging from 62 to 126 yards, it’s one of those holes that looks harmless and plays anything but. A front-right mound can flare shots long, and depending on the day, you might consider a soft wedge or a knockdown seven.  Heck, I’d even consider a putt from the top!  Hit two. This is Sandhill at its most fun.

The 7th looks like a breather - and it is - but only if you hit the bullseye. Take your relief with a dose of caution - the final two holes raise the stakes again.

 

The 8th climbs sharply uphill, demanding extra club and full commitment. Odds are you’ll miss the green, but by this point you’ve probably learned how to chip off hilly fringes without panicking. And then there’s #9 - one of my favorite finishing holes anywhere. The tee box is beautiful, especially if played in the late afternoon and you catch the sun setting to the south. The green is another elevated target, with sand waiting on the right in a very familiar slice zone. And the green slopes subtly away from you, which feels appropriate in a way. 

By now, you may notice another subtle quirk: every hole at Sandhill runs either north or south. None go east or west. Only three other courses in The Villages do that. Can you name them? Click here for the answer.

Sandhill may be labeled a Level 2, but don't be fooled by a label. It doesn’t reward power. It rewards patience, precision, and acceptance. If you came here to swing freely, you picked the wrong course. If you came to test your aim - well, the board is set.

 

And no matter how many times you play it, Sandhill keeps proving the same point: Sand-Hill-Water-Wind will almost always win in the end!  And that physics class now seems more relevant!

 

Toughest to Easiest

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

Holes 2, 3 & 4 are the perfect triple threat at Sandhill:

The 2nd is long and slopes downhill with a slippery green.

The 3rd is up and over water to a slanted landing zone.

The 4th is deceptively attractive.  But that trap is hard to miss.  

Here's a 360-degree view from the 9th tee box.  You can see why this is one of my favorite closing shots! 

From the blacks

Four of Sandhill’s par fours play over 170 yards from the blacks, making this course the hardest Level 2’s from the back tees.  The difficult greens and terrain are even more challenging with a longer lower trajectory iron or driver.  Give it a try but just remember that darts are sharp.

Go Green!

This is odd – Sandhill is a Level 2 course, but at nearly 1,000 yards, it’s longer from the green tees than many of the Level 3 courses.  And the hole with the most water, #3, gets no real advantage from the green tees.  Where you will see a benefit is on the first two holes and the last. Play at your own risk! 

What's Nearby?

At a course where target practice is required, what better store could there be than the original Bullseye?  Just west of Sandhill near the Publix and Lowes, a new Target has opened up.  That makes my wife very happy!  It's not cart-path accessible but that’s ok because she needs a full trunk to load all her Red Card buys!

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.