If you’re in town visiting Ocean View, Bethany Bay Golf Club is a fun little par-3 course to visit. It’s not your typical par-3 course that doesn’t present any challenges, because water comes into play on a number of holes. Bethany Bay is a family friendly course, where you will typically see a lot of couples on the course or parents with kids.
The course is within the big residential community of Bethany Bay. It runs along the Indian River Bay, which comes into play along with wetlands. If you’re a beginner, bring some extra golf balls with you! The course is only 1,578 yards with holes ranging from 99 to 199 yards, so you actually get to hit a decent number of clubs in your bag. It has a 28.6 rating, 90 slope, and is a par 27. The greens are bentgrass/poa annua, and the tees and fairways are bentgrass/ Bermuda. For the most part, the course is in good condition with some brown spots here and there.
If you’re an environmentalist you will love the surroundings at Bethany Bay. Between holes 7 and 8 you’ll see the Monarch Butterfly Waystation. It helps aid the butterflies and gives them temporary shelter. There are also numerous bluebird boxes on the course which are for the Eastern Bluebird that makes the area part of their nesting trail. You’ll also see a lot of natural areas with tall grasses, that’s by design, to help reduce course maintenance.
The course opened in 1996 and was designed by Joe Lucido. Bethany Bay does not have a driving range but there is an area to practice your short game and grab a beverage.