Only a few minutes drive off the island off A1A is
The North Hampton Golf Course
featuring a magnificent Arnold Palmer course that is also a must play. The club is the centerpiece of an upscale
gated community, but play this one soon; North Hampton may go private in the future.
Of the dozen or so Palmer courses I have played, North Hampton is the best. The front nine,
featuring the dramatic 625-yard (from the tips) 2nd, has a woodland setting and includes
gracious homes well off the playing areas. By contrast the back nine has an open, links-land
feel, featuring exposed natural sand areas copiously planted with native grasses, dramatic
elevations, and two spectacular par 5's including the double dogleg 562-yard 15th. Here,
the fairway dips down before rising to a dramatic crest guarded right by bunkers. A lake
further right is ready to capture sliced tee shots. Over the crest and not visible from the
tee is another lake that looks like a quarry and serves as a watery grave for pulled or
hooked tee shots. From the top of the crest you hit down to a landing area bunkered
on the left and guarded further left by another lake which runs up to and behind the
green. This is some hole!
One gets the impression that Palmer and his chief architect Ed Seay had first choice on
the land, because it appears the upscale housing fits the course and not the other way
around. The course opened in the spring of 2001 and as of the end of the year the
greens were still very hard, a condition that will change with time. The greens are also
as big as you'll see, in keeping with Palmer's conscious intent to build a links course
after the fashion of the great Scottish links minus the pot bunkering typical in the old
country (here the bunkers are of the open face style typical of
Florida).
The course has six sets of tees (including a beginners tee) measuring from 2,914 to 7,171 yards.
From the blacks, the course measures 6,753 yards and from the blues (normally white tees)
6,363 yards. The course plays to a par of 72 and from the blues has a slope of 134
(143 from the golds).
If course conditions when I played in December 2001 are any indication, this is
one of the best maintained courses you will play anywhere. The course is operated by
North Hampton Golf, which also owns The Golf Club at South Hampton and has recently
purchased Osprey Cove,
a Mark McCumber marshland design in
St. Mary's,
Georgia.
North Hampton has a fine practice facility complete with short game practice area. The
service is noticeably courteous and includes a starter who delights in telling humorous stories
while you wait to tee off. He will also give you a chipping lesson if you ask on the
adjacent chipping green.
To get a tee time at North Hampton, call 904-548-0000. 
Amelia Island Golf
