Sun 'n Lake Golf Club, Sebring, FL

There are some great values to be had inland on both real estate and recreation. Sebring is an area that’s often overlooked. The median home price is well below the national average and as far as golf goes, the area is referred to as “America’s Value Golf Capital.” It’s also home to The Citrus Golf Trail, a collection of five local courses.

One of the members of “The Trail” is Sun ‘N Lake, a golfing community. Sun ‘N Lake was once considered a retirement community but over the past few years, it has become a melting pot for both active adults and younger professionals. About 9,000 residents call Sun ‘N Lake home; many of them are snowbirds.

The community is home to two championship golf courses, which have been voted the number one golf course in Highlands County for four years running, Deer Run and Turtle Run.

Turtle Run was designed by Charles Ankrom and opened in 1999. Golfers have 4 sets of tees to choose from: the back tees play 6,402 yards with a course rating of 70.7 and a slope of 127. The ladies’ tees play from 5,002 yards (64.3/114). Two other tee boxes offer yardages suitable for all levels of golfers. The greens are Tifdwarf Bermuda, and the fairways and roughs feature 419 Bermuda grass. The course is built in the middle of a Scrub Jay preservation area and provides safe shelter for this protected species; it’s also a beautiful setting for the golf course.

Distance off the tee is not as important on Turtle Run as it is on her sister course. In fact, leaving the driver in the bag may be your best move on many holes. At just over 6,400 yards the course is not going to overpower the majority of golfers, regardless of the tees you choose. Landing areas off the tees are generous, the greens are incredible, and the emphasis is on the short game. Some greens are open in front and receptive to the senior-friendly bump-and-run shot; the majority are elevated with bunkers in front and require you to carry your approach onto the green. Distance is also key as many greens have multiple tiers and being on the same tier as the hole can shave several strokes.

For me, the most memorable hole on Turtle Run is the par 5, 14th. At only 481 yards from the White Tees, it’s definitely not the longest par 5, but for many players, it’s going to take a driver out of your hand because of the stream that crosses the fairway about 250 yards out. If you play down the left side of the fairway you can get 260-280 yards before you get to the wet stuff. A good line off the tee is the bunker on the right. Keep to the right with your layup and you’ll keep the water on the left out of play and then hit your approach shot to a slightly elevated green but beware of the deep, large bunker in the front left.

AS I mentioned, Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club is a proud member of the Citrus Golf Trail, which has done a wonderful job of making the Sebring area a golf vacation destination. The Citrus Golf Trail offers a variety of stay and play golf packages that include rounds of golf at several local courses as well as accommodations at The Inn on the Lakes. Inn on the Lakes is a unique property; they have 155 spacious, beautifully decorated guest rooms and suites, and no two are the same. Their fine dining restaurant, Chicanes, offers delicious meals as well as a sumptuous breakfast menu. They are the preferred accommodations vendor of the Citrus Golf Trail.

Sun ‘N Lake is not what they call a bundled community, meaning that you don’t have to join the club if you buy a home there. It seems to me that if you live there and play golf a membership makes sense, especially at the ridiculously low prices they charge! They are offering an introductory membership at 50% off that includes unlimited play on both courses including a trail fee for your private cart, a $200 driving range credit discounts on merchandise in the pro shop, and many other benefits. The first year will set you back less than $2500 for a family! There are also special rates for seniors, super seniors, and seasonal golfers as well.

If you’re looking for an affordable golf vacation or somewhere in Florida that you can call home, check out Sun ’N Lake in Sebring.