Deer Island Country Club

The folks at Deer Island Country Club like to call their golf oasis “challenging,” “classic” and “pristine,” all words that fit quite nicely. But the man who designed Deer Island, Florida legend Joe Lee is much more succinct in his appraisal of the 400-acre getaway surrounded by Lake Dora and Lake Beauclaire, yet still within 45 minutes of downtown Orlando.

Lee says simply, “It’s the most unique golf course I’ve ever designed.”

Area touring pros who’ve visited Deer Island recently agree wholeheartedly, remarking about how different and recognizable each hole was from the ones around it, something that’s becoming increasingly rare at some of the newer cookie-cutter resort layouts that have been built in Central Florida.

You might also call Deer Island, “The Great Escape,” even though it is located within the booming area around Mt. Dora. After all, how many islands are there in Central Florida? And how many of those still have available homesites with golf course and lake views around the perimeter of a country club?

Over $1.5-million in course improvements over the last couple of years, a new set of back tees that took an incredibly-challenging 6,670-yard layout and stretched it out to 7,029 yards, making an already tight layout “long and tight” for the big hitters. Yet the course is still every bit as challenging from the regular tees, with a slope of 132 from the 6300-yard white tees still very stout. The smartest decision for a first-time visitor to Deer Island is to check their ego in the pro shop, or on the beautiful, bowl-shaped double-ended practice range with 10,500 square foot putting green. Own up to your game, don’t bite off too much and you’ll have an extremely enjoyable round of golf.

Joe Lee usually likes to ease players into the tougher parts of his layouts, but even though #1 is the third easiest hole on the scorecard, a forced carry of at least 140 yards to the wide part of the fairway can be pretty intimidating. Don’t let the first tee jitters get you, Lee’s designs usually give you some room to operate and to play around his hazards. And the beautiful bald eagles in the trees across the adjacent 9th fairway are fans, not critics.

Longtime Superintendent Mike Brownsberger claims there are fewer than 70 bunkers at Deer Island, and he’s the one who directs the hand-mowing of their finger-shaped slopes. But Lee loves to lay large, deep and sharply mounded bunkers in the landing areas and strategically places them at the approaches to many of the greens as well. A beach towel and a shovel might not be bad accessories to have handy!

Needless to say at a place called Deer Island, there’s water in play on nearly every hole. After your carry off the tee at #1, there’s lake all the way down the right side of the par-5 second. And on it goes. The fourth and fifth holes, one a long par-4, the other a teasingly short one, demand you hit shots over water twice. One of the subtle beauties of Deer Island is that the many new wooden bridges across the streams and ponds are timbered lengthwise, far quieter than the bouncing and rattling of horizontal timbering.

The par-3s are the greatest challenges at Deer Island. The first three are handicapped among the eight toughest holes on the card, and even the short 15th usually requires an extra club to reach the uphill, elevated pin. Club selection in the capricious winds is a huge factor. The third hole is usually angled into the breeze off Lake Dora, blowing your ball toward bunkers front and left of an elevated green. And don’t over-club your shot into the sixth, or you’ll be swallowed by an enormous bunker behind a narrow green.

And wait until you reach the signature 13th, which usually plays into the wind and demands you carry a lake and a bulkhead, but also has two huge bunkers behind the green to guard against over-clubbing. Head Pro Michael Myers says there are actually days when the best play might be to play around the lake, laying up to the red tees and hitting your second in from there.

The par-4s especially, and some of the par-5s, are best approached “backwards” at Deer Island. Plan your attack from the green back toward the tee. On some of the mid-range par-4s, that might mean leaving the driver in the bag and hitting to a target area that will give you a more comfortable, and confident, approach.

The back nine is a little more forgiving than the front side. Even if you don’t play from the tips, walk back into the wetlands at #10 and imagine the shot you’d have to hit through a tight chute to the landing area. At least the longest par-4 and longest par-5 (#11 and 12) give you run-up opportunities at the green.

Of the par-5s, the only one reachable in two might be the 16th, which will tease the long driver into challenging the lake left of the approach and the green. The real birdie play is a safer, smarter shot short-right that opens the green for a little pitch, or bump-and-run and possible birdie.

The finishing hole is a wonderful test, especially if you’re getting a stroke at the #1 handicapped par-4 that plays 450-yards from the tips. Keep the drive left of the large fairway bunker, then let it fly over the water to the green. Par here will win a lot of bets!

Deer Island is one of those courses you’ll play much better the second, and third, and fourth time around. You can ponder how much better you’ll play the next time while enjoying a relaxing beverage in the Blue Heron Grill, serving breakfast and lunch and daily specials in the old-Florida-style clubhouse.

Deer Island’s location (it’ll seem far away once you’re there, but its less than 20 minutes off Rt. 429) actually makes it an ideal getaway for your company or charity golf outing, and those boat slips for lakeside arrivals from Mt. Dora or Tavares will be increasingly inviting.

Deer Island Country Club is also the perfect location for you and your family to call home. With over 80 homesites available in their gated community, Deer Island is offering luxury homes from $370,000 to over $1-million and lots from $125,000 to $175,000, nearly all with golf course views. The homes that encourage a mixture of young families and active adults will range in size from 2100 to 3600 square-feet, with tile roofs, paver driveways and even free golf memberships with purchase, creating one of the best golf community values in all of Florida. And it’s not all golf. Discover the beautiful natural setting while walking or biking through the serene streets of their island community or play tennis at the planned tennis courts.

For the latest on real estate opportunities, visit www.deerislandfl.com or call (352) 383-1948. For more information on tee times, memberships, group outings, and especially directions to this Island getaway, visit www.deerislandgolf.com, or call (352) 343-7550 or toll free (800) 269-0006.