Old Corkscrew, nr Naples, Florida

Bratty

Princess Pouty (Queen of Fish Lips)
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Aug 22, 2010
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In a nutshell: The best course I've ever played. EVER!

Design and condition:
This course is like nowhere else I've played. The landscaping is stunning, with some lovely holes. Plenty but not too much water and clever positioning of hazards.
The greens were running at 11.5 on the stimpmetre and were large and true but very difficult with borrows, hollows and turns!
The bunkers were like those you see on telly, with wonderful light sand... and some testing shapes too.
Tee boxes weren't bad at all, and with 5 to choose from, it's a very different course each time.

Playability:
Some very big tee shots required and a lot of accuracy. Not so much because of bunkers/water, but more owing to the fact that if your ball goes into the bushes or trees, a local rule says you have to leave it... snakes, lizards, alligators all waiting to devour you!! A strokesaver is a must and no GPS on the buggies. Watch the green on 7th, it's truly testing, and the water on the 8th is a longer carry than you'll think off the furthest two tees.

Facilities and welcome:
Great putting and chipping greens. Very impressive driving range too (free balls in a pyramid!). Pro-shop was small but well-stocked and staff were very friendly.
Clubhouse is not quite in keeping with the course; small bar but lovely outdoor area. Changing rooms were good.
Watercoolers and icemakers are dotted around the course (hidden cleverly), so no need to stock up on bottled water.
$100 and worth every single cent. I could play that course every week for the rest of my life and be happy!

old corkscrew
 
wow. I played here in June, and it was true millionaires golf. There was only me, my gf who was chief buggy driver and one other fourball on the course.

This is not a typical Florida course - there's no hotel or villas surrounding it, it's literally in the middle of nowhere. I was traveling from Tampa to Naples and this was about 3/4 of the way down.

I completely agree with everything you said, it's quite possibly the best conditioned course I've played and the layout is very testing. In fact I don't remember an average hole, Jack did a great design on this one!

If I'm lucky enough to be in the area again I would DEFINITELY pay the money again to play it.

Also, as a side thing, if you're in Naples, hunt out the PGA store. Golf heaven....
 
Tee boxes weren't bad at all, and with 5 to choose from, it's a very different course each time.

Some very big tee shots required.....

No doubt you were off the forward ladies tee then!! :D :D

Looks a 'Corker' mate :o :D
 
No doubt you were off the forward ladies tee then!! :D :D

Looks a 'Corker' mate :o :D

Cheeky ******! ;)

I played off the back tees! And on a couple of holes, I wish I hadn't!

PN - not a house in sight!
 
Jealous, moi? :D That looks a top course Bratty and for $100 seems very good value considering some of the courses you play in the UK for that sort of money. Westerham will feel slightly ineadequate from now on!!
 
Westerham will feel slightly ineadequate from now on!!

Yeah - Westerham = £40 per round; Old Corkscrew = £75 per round.

I'm almost tempted to move to Florida!!!
 
I played it from the tiger tees. OMG how hard ??? the first tee is from the back of the putting green, is quite unnerving hitting a drive from the first tee off of the putting green whilst a crowd is watching.
We played with 2 pros and 2 handicap golfers, so standard was quite good but, one of the 2 handicappers got so Pi**** off that he could not reach most of the fairways that when he could not drive over the water on the tenth with a well struck drive he sat in the buggy for the rest of the day PMSL !!!

Totally agree, what a fantastic golf course. Might see you there
 
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