Champions Club at Summerfield (Stuart, FL)

Summerfield is a welcoming club with several statues sprinkled around the clubhouse. Like most courses in Florida, it’s part of a residential community, however, it’s such a spatial piece of property that the golf interacts just minimally with the homes. Instead, much of the holes are bordered on both sides with foliage or natural sensitive areas. Its certified as an Audubon Sanctuary and is a delightful round of golf. 

Tom Fazio designed Summerfield in 2010. He invested a lot of thought in making this a playable layout for a wide variety of skill levels. The fairways are expansive and most of the greens have open entrances to them. However, bunkers and rolling putting surfaces add challenge to the more advanced player trying to better par. 

(The 149/116 yard par three sixth has an angled green with a false front that will spin balls back into the hazard. The rear left and front right pin positions demand exacting shots to get close. It’s a fun little one shotter.) 

Summerfield does have a few forced carries although the forward tees limits those. From the blue, some of theses carries are a bit intimidating. Most of the trouble is parallel to the line of play. There are opportunities to be aggressive when the hole doglegs. 

(The tee shot of the 432/401 yard par four third. The line of charm is to the right but that direction is a longer carry. Straightaway is partially hidden by the shrubs, confusing the player on his target. Thankfully it’s the only significant forced carry of the day.) 

The A player has a chance to shoot a good score here. When the pin is in the open part of the green, birdie is on the table. When the pin starts getting tucked away, the player will have to take more risk. Most of the bogeys in our group were from three putting from the open spots to the corner. 

(This pin requires an aggressive line to be close. Note the background and the natural environment.) 

Being a certified Audubon Sanctuary, Summerfield has moments that make the round special. Birds of all sorts come here for the winter, and you’ll see many of them throughout the day. Fazio’s architecture is solid and it doesn’t take center stage over the sanctuary. I like that. I give Summerfield a 5 (good)(worth driving an hour to play). 

(The 562/532 yard finishing hole is a true three shotter.)