New Management Brings New Life to Club
Stonecrest Golf Club is located in Summerfield, Florida approximately two miles from The Villages. It is one of a number of golf courses located in this area. I visited this country club community about two years ago, as someone looking to relocate from Cape Cod to Florida, but was not impressed with the condition of the course and crossed it off my list of possible places to live.
After moving here to the Villages two years ago and getting involved with writing for NewEngland.golf, I decided it might be a good idea to take another look at this golf course. I guess I just wanted to see if there were any improvements made to what I remembered being a unique layout. I remember it had great potential for offering an enjoyable and challenging round of golf.
Upon arrival at the course, I met Ford H Olinger, the director of golf and head golf professional, who welcomed me to Stonecrest and sent me off to the first tee to join three club members for a round of golf.
Golfing with members, who have been living at Stonecrest for many years, was both a rewarding, fun experience, with a lot of the course history discussed. It quickly became obvious to me that the course has gone through considerable changes since the last time I played here.
Playing from the white tees the total distance measured 5,551 yards. Although this seems like a relatively short course, it played much longer due to the many hills and undulating fairways. The front nine was less hilly than the back but hazards and traps were strategically placed which made driving accuracy and important ingredient to success on most holes.
The back nine was an almost totally different golf course. The 10th hole could be the most unforgiving par 5 in Florida….. More
