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Hernando Today

'Sharpen Up Your Short Game'

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: July 14, 2008

The credo on the scoreboard says it all: "Hard to Find...Tough to Beat..."

Indeed it's hard to tell there's a golf course tucked away in the area where State Road 41 meets Ponce De Leon Boulevard in the heart of Brooksville.

The only real giveaway: a sign for the The Quarry Executive Golf Course and a narrow, winding road.

But nestled behind tennis courts and a batting cage on the former site of a rock mine operation, and up against the back end of Tom Varn Park, sits a charming nine-hole public course owned and operated by the City of Brooksville Parks and Recreation Department.

The brainchild of Brooksville Mayor David Pugh, and designed by Pugh and Gary Grubbs, the course opened in 1996 with the idea it would particularly cater to the area's youth golfers.

The Quarry serves as the home of The First Tee of Brooksville, a program designed to help children learn life skills through the game of golf. Children age 12 and under play for free, while ages 13-17 play at half price.

Open 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. on weekdays and 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on weekends, the course offers reasonable prices. The winter rates (Nov. 1-April 30) are $8 to walk nine holes, $13 to ride nine holes; $12 to walk 18 holes (playing the course twice), $18 to ride 18 holes.

During the summer (May 1-Oct. 31) after noon, the rates decrease to $6 to walk nine holes, $10 to ride nine holes; $8 to walk 18 holes, $12 to ride 18 holes.

A single, full-year membership is $450; family members (one additional player) are $550. A single six-month membership costs $275; a family six-month membership costs $375. Single monthly memberships are $60 and family monthly memberships are $90.

The course also offers disc golf for the same prices, as well as a driving range, putting green and chipping green. A simple clubhouse with a courteous staff sells snacks, drinks and also features a small pro shop.

Playing the course

So how does the course play? Photographer Joe DiCristofalo, a 10 handicap with 30 years experience on the links, took his first trip to The Quarry to find out.

He was joined by golfing buddy Mike Humphreys, a seven handicap, native of Plymouth, England and current Spring Hill resident who began playing the game at age 16 "on the moors in Cornwall."

Jim Behlke of Brooksville, a former pro in Michigan who recently worked at Southern Hills Plantation, also decided to play a round.

The course plays 1,264 yards from the blue tees and 954 yards from the red tees. All holes are par-3s, except for the par-4 seventh and ninth holes.

"It's a good course, a reasonable test of all handicaps," Humphreys said. "For low handicaps, it's an ideal chance to test your short game. And for medium handicaps, you can have a little fun and get a taste of a proper golf course."

During his round, Humphreys noted the many, "Deceptively dangerous holes. You've got to commit to your stroke.

"...Although there are a sprinkling of short par 3s that are no more than a wedge. So you have to be careful and accurate."

Behlke admitted that for an advanced golfer, the short course might over-inflate expectations.

"If you've never played here before, mentally you're like 'all right, not a big deal,'" Behlke said. "Then you get out there and your intentions supersede what happens. It's a humbling nine holes."

"You might never hit a driver," said DiCristofalo, adding that it forces the golfer to work on approach shots.

"...I like this golf course a lot. I feel I'll make that left turn or right turn (into the course) a lot when I'm on 41."

All three golfers had nothing but complimentary things to say about the course, which they felt was great for someone who wanted to play a quick round in the middle of the day.

"The staff is one of the best you'll find and it's very convenient," Behlke said. "You don't have to drive a very long way to get here. The atmosphere is a relaxed one and everybody seems to get along."

"One of the things I've enjoyed about golf is it takes you away from everyday life and this course has that," DiCristofalo said. "It's a little gem out of a quarry."

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

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

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