THE ATTRACTIVE OPENING TEE SHOT

Before playing Mystic Dunes, I had no idea that Champions Tour Player and NBC golf analyst Gary Koch was in the design business. I wish that I still didn’t. A friend set up the game and I had no idea what I was getting myself into and even after the decent first hole, I still held high hopes for an enjoyable morning of golf. Those hopes were quickly dashed during the interminable cart ride to the second tee. ( More Pictures after the Jump).

The cart told us to be mindful on the houses on the right, always a bad sign. The hole itself was actually fine, but then things started to get goofy.

THIS IS DIFFERENT....

AND THIS IS JUST BAD

The fourth hole is a short par four that strategically is fairly interesting, but is marred by the bizarre use of sleepers in a string of pot bunkers. The look of these bunkers is unique as there is sand both in the floor of the bunker and also around the top of them. My playing companion was stymied by one of them and his only option was to play out laterally towards a large waste bunker.

THE RATHER BLAND FIFTH

The fifth, which I presume is one of the two “island” holes that they loudly trumpet on their website, is a boring par three which simple asks the question can you hit the ball in the air the prescribed yardage. It is actually a very pretty setting for a hole, but the Koch design team obviously was not up to the challenge of creating anything appealing.

The sixth is one of the worst par fives I have ever played, This narrow hole is made even more narrow by the scatter shot of trees left in the fairway. The green is a two tier affair with the right tier being at least five feet above the left. This is one of the biggest slopes I have ever seen in a green. This is goofy golf.

The best things that I could say about Mystic Dunes to this point was that at least it was trying to be different from your normal Florida course and that with the exception of the second tee shot was fairly far removed from the surrounding development. This vibe comes to a crashing halt on the long par three seventh that plays directly at a large condo block, that looks like on of the rings of hell.

NOW THIS IS FLORIDA GOLF

A VOLCANO BUNKER WITH SLEEPERS

The front nine further regresses into bad Florida golf (the volcano bunker with sleepers was a particular favorite) that will have you running driving your cart directly to your car and heading anywhere else other than the back nine. Of course this quick escape plan is marred by the four minute cart ride through a hideous development back to the parking lot. (Careful not to be waylaid by the aggressive sales staff that are trying to hawk time shares.) Thankfully the tenth tee is even further away, so one is not tempted to go find the other “island” hole that is lurking out there somewhere.

Of course if you do make it to the “British Isles links” syle back nine be sure to stop at the clubhouse and take advantage ( I suggest making a big purchase) of the only reason to ever return to Mystic Dunes.