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Hernando Today

Hernando County's Hidden Gem

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

The closing hole, the 509-yard par five 18th, provides a scenic finish to a round of golf at Hernando Oaks Golf and Country Club. The new clubhouse is under construction over the water on the left.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: September 1, 2008

Updated:

At times, the trip around the cart path can seem like a hike through the woods. Rabbits, squirrels and cranes are among the wildlife that inhabit the course.

According to club members who live in the surrounding development, deer and even a panther are roaming around somewhere.

Hernando Oaks Golf and Country Club, located within the Hernando Oaks development off U.S. 41 just north of Powell Road, certainly provides plenty of stimulation for the eye.

"It's a really nice visual experience," said golfer/photographer Joe DiCristofalo. "It has that real natural appeal. It presents a lot of different visual challenges for the golfer to figure out where's the proper place to hit the ball off the tees.

"...A golfer wants to play here because it's in impeccable shape. It has a lot of visual challenges but it's also really pleasing visually. It almost takes you out of Brooksville. It really feels like you're out in the country, out in the wild. It's a got a great landscape."

Challenging greens

The semi-private course, designed by Scott Pate, opened in June 2003. It is owned by Hernando Oaks LLC, part of the development company that built the entire community.

It currently has a temporary clubhouse and restaurant, with a permanent clubhouse under construction and due to open in the spring.

From the gold tees, the course plays 6,905 yards; 6,430 from the blue, 6,085 from the white, 5,777 from the orange and 5,099 from the red.

During weekdays through Oct. 31, rates range from $25-35 depending on the time of day. On weekends the price is $25-41.

Randy O'Linger, general manager and head golf pro, estimated that the club has 85-88 full-time members, almost all residents of the community.

He noted that the club sees much business from Tampa and St. Petersburg over the weekend.

"It's just unique," O'Linger said. "There really aren't any bad holes. It kind gets better as you go. The greens are complex. Some of the greens are elevated so you end up with a lot of difficult chip shots. But it's very fair, very playable.

"I think it's scenic, like an escape. It's pretty much always in great shape. If I have to pin one thing down I'd say the greens."

The greens are covered in a different type of Bermuda grass called tifEagle, which O'Linger said makes for a little smoother putting surface.

"The greens here are probably the best in Hernando County," said Mark Parisano, a Hernando Oaks member and resident. "The superintendent does a great job with the greens here. If you're a regular golfer, that means a lot.

"Some of the greens are 60, 70, 80 feet deep. You can get a different feel every time you play the course because the pin placements are different."

Parisano is also a member of Southern Hills Plantation, a private club located less than a mile north. He and several other Hernando Oaks members felt this course compared favorably to any in the area.

"It's a great golf course," Dennis Bortolin said. "It's got five sets of tees so you can make it as long or as short as you want, as hard or as easy as you want. But there are a lot of different shots to play because there's a lot of elevation."

"The golf course is in great condition and it stays in great condition," Rich Lehman said. "I belong to another club too but I'd much rather play here. It's a good golf course, playable everyday. I enjoy it."

DiCristofalo concurred with those evaluations after a quick round on a course he admittedly had little experience playing.

"The best greens and fairways I've seen so far," DiCristofalo said. "The water comes in more from the perimeter of the hole. Instead of having to play directly over the water, the course always gives you a way to play around it.

"The holes are bunkered very well to make you have to think about the right way to hit a shot onto the green."

Two humbling holes at the end of course particularly stuck with DiCristofalo, the 432-yard, par-4 17 and the 523-yard, par-5 18.

"A couple of holes play a little difficult like 17 is really challenging," DiCristofalo said. "It's dog-legged to the left and really bunkered. There's a lot of very fair holes but enough of a challenge. Eighteen is a great finishing hole and it's going to be better when they finish the clubhouse."

The experienced golfer came away agreeing with the 4 1/2-out-of-5 rating given to Hernando Oaks by Golf Digest.

Three-time club champion Jerry Beeker, a veteran of many courses, had a similar take, especially when another member noted that some called this "the hidden gem of Hernando County."

"It's got a lot of character," Beeker said. "It's got several challenging holes. Normally they are in really good shape.

"...I might go a little further than that and say it's one of the hidden gems north of Tampa."

Course rating (out of five): T T T T 1/2

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

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