TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Hernando Today

'Southern' Style

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

The clubhouse at Southern Hills Plantation Club in Brooksville.

ADVERTISEMENT

By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: August 11, 2008

Before anyone even tees up a shot, Southern Hills Plantation Club can leave a seriously strong impression.

"The amenities are over the top," said photographer Joe DiCristofalo, an avid local golfer. "From somebody taking your clubs and putting them on the cart when you get there to shining your clubs up when you leave."

A private club located off U.S. Highway 41 in Brooksville, Southern Hills offers a spa, a fitness center, a swimming pool, four tennis courts, a six-hole short course plus a clubhouse with fine dining, casual dining and a snack bar.

That doesn't even take into account the 18-hole championship course designed by Pete Dye, considered one of the foremost golf course architects in the world.

"I think the typography of Southern Hills is so much different than any other course in the county or in the state," said Jim Knierim, the club's general manager and director of golf. "It had a great architect in Pete Dye. He did magical things. It gives you a feeling like you're in the North Carolina hill country.

"It's a great golf course. It's a different experience than any other place in Hernando County. From the service to the golf course to everything about Southern Hills, it's just a difference experience."

Opened in January 2006, the club is operated by Hampton Golf, a branch of LandMar Group, the developer of the Southern Hills community.

For non-residents, memberships are available for as low as $3,500. Guests of members can play for $84 in-season (Dec. 1-May 1) and $63 out of season.

The club offers opportunities for membership previews and a promotion to play during the week after noon for $45.

The course plays 7,557 yards from back black tees; 6,962 yards from the gold tees; 6,455 from the blue tees; 5,926 from the white ties and 5,211 from the ladies tees.

A complete mental test

DiCristofalo recently had the chance to play the course and gave it a shining evaluation. But he warns that golfers have "to be on their 'A' game" in order to score.

"For me the elevation changes to the way the course rolls, the uneven lies on the fairways and the undulations on the greens make it completely a test," DiCristofalo said. "You can't hit any shot without thinking about what you're doing. It's a complete mental test."

Spring Hill resident Pete Iacopelli, an 11-handicap with 10 years experience, plays the course regularly and joined DiCristofalo's group.

"The course is in great shape," Iacopelli said. "The greens are a little rough but that's just seasonal. The rough is not like any other course around here. If you hit the rough you've got to put an extra club in it.

"You've got to be a pretty good golfer to play there. I like it."

Like DiCristofalo, Iacopelli also pointed to the changing elevations as to what made the course stand out.

"When the greens are in good shape over there, there's not a golf course in the area that even compares to it," Iacopelli said.

The on-course experience isn't limited to just how it plays. Attendants sell refreshments and provide mango-scented towels to keep golfers cool.

All of these elements have combined to make Southern Hills a rousing success, boasting 600 members.

"We've definitely done well," Knierim said. "The market is obviously changing everyday, but we feel we have a good product and people want to play our golf course. So we feel pretty good about it.

"If anyone in Hernando County wants to play it, we have membership opportunities. Give us a call."

Call (888) 747-2393 or 277-5000 to get more information on becoming a member, or to make reservations for a membership preview.

"If you get the chance to play this course," DiCristofalo said, "do it."

Course rating (out of five): T T T T T

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT