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Sunday, January 13, 2019

Hibiscus Golf Club (Naples, FL)

The 2019 golf season begins in the beautiful city of Naples Florida at Hibiscus Golf Club. Like most courses here, it intertwines with the housing community that lines many of the fairways. 
(From the back tees, the par three eighth presents an intimidating tee shot over water. The pic makes the gap look narrow but there’s plenty of room to shoot the ball through.) 

Hibiscus was designed by local architect Dave Wallace in 1969. The course plays nicely around several ponds, and Wallace’s use of the canals that connect all the ponds together is used nicely too. 
(The 326/306 yard fifth has water down the left. Note the yellow hazard stakes where the canal crosses the fairway. The player must decide if it’s to his advantage to take it on.) 

Architecturally, the most interesting thing is how Wallace designed greens. The pads start 50-70 yards short, so the player must fly every approach to the pin. Any shot that is short will not bounce on. This makes the yardages play a bit longer than expected. Bunkers are placed at varying distances from the green, allowing for some exacting pin locations. 

The other interesting feature is the canals that connect the water hazards together. In the winter months, they are dry and players can actually play recovery shots from them. This nuance can make for some exciting play and maybe tempt golfers into trying something they otherwise might not attempt. 

Hibiscus is in good shape, and the greens putt very well. Being in an affluent location like Naples, it caters to a more casual crowd that wants to enjoy the game and get some exercise. I give it a 4 (above average)(worth driving 30-40 mins). A terrific clubhouse awaits as you finish your round too. I feel like Hibiscus will be here for a long time. 








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