Eagle Landing Golf Club, Orange Park, FL

The Eagle Landing Golf Club is located in the heart of Oakleaf Plantation - a master-planned community in Orange Park, Florida, near Jacksonville. This par-72 championship layout was designed by renowned golf course architect Clyde Johnson and plays 7,037 yards from the back tees. The course winds its way through southern pines, palmetto bushes on a tract of land surrounded by the Jennings National Forest. As you make your way around you’ll be playing replicas of several iconic golf holes from around the world which adds to the nostalgia of the course.

Johnson’s goal in recreating several classic holes such as the Redan (Number 15 on North Berwick’s West Links), the Eden (Number 11 on the Old Course at St. Andrews), and the Cardinal (Number 3 at Prestwick Country Club) into the layout was to add a sense of purity to the golf experience. Johnson’s recreation of these famous holes is as technically and aesthetically complete; if you’ve ever played the originals, you’ll be hard-pressed to tell the difference (except for the Florida weather)!

With six sets of tees and yardages ranging from 2,729 for youths, 5,142 for ladies, and 7,037 for more accomplished players, the course can play as easy or as difficult as you like. With Eagle Landing, Johnston employs his philosophy of “make the course tougher is you go.” Each nine starts out relatively easy and gets a little more challenging with each hole. That being said, if you get off to a rough start on the first couple of holes on each nine, you could be in for a long day!

Trees and scrub come into play on a few holes including the first. Push your tee shot right and you’ll know what I mean. But for the most part, it’s not the trees that will get you, it’s the bunkers and the mounding which can create the dreaded uneven lie. As you make your way around the course, you’ll find a number of elevated greens and huge bunkers in the fairways and around the greens.

Holes 15 – 17 will provide lasting memories, some good, some not so much! Number 15 is a long par 4 (405 yards from the White tees) with fairway bunkers in play off the tee, first on the left side and then a little further down on both sides. Two more large bunkers guard the front sides of the green and nothing good comes from going long.

Number 16 is a long par 3 that plays 180 yards from the White tees; you’ll need either an accurate tee shot or a good sand game! There’s a long, odd-shaped bunker that stretches from the red tees almost up to the green as well as a devilish looking bunker short left. The green is set at an angle and a back left pin placement can be particularly challenging.

Number 17 is a dogleg right par 4 with a set of Oakmont’s famed church pew bunkers in the large bunker on the right at the dogleg. For most players, this is a 3-shot hole, so playing your tee shot short of the bunkers isn’t a bad idea. That will leave an approach shot of about 250 yards up a narrow fairway guarded by trees on either side into a long narrow green, protected on the left side by a deep bunker with a grass mound in the middle. A par on any of these holes is a win.

Even if you’re not a golfer, The Landing Bar & Grill is a great place for lunch and dinner. The Landing is open to the public and has something for every palette. You can dine al fresco on the scenic veranda or inside in the newly renovated bar and dining area. In addition to a delicious meal, you'll enjoy top-notch service in a casual and friendly atmosphere. Lunch is served daily and a dinner menu is offered Wednesday through Saturday after 5 pm and features steaks, chicken, fish, and seafood.

The clubhouse at Eagle Landing Golf Club has become one of the area's preferred locations for hosting tournaments and big events, from fairy tale weddings to important corporate banquets and business luncheons. The clubhouse offers exceptional golf and water views, towering pine trees, and a colorful floral landscape. The talented culinary team offers creative selections and the ability to customize your menu Their professional staff is ready, willing, and able to help and see to it that you'll get an elegant venue and top-notch service.

The club offers two affordable membership plans, The Private Experience, and the Players Club. The Private Experience is a full golf membership, with unlimited access to the course; all you pay is a nominal cart fee each time you play. Annual trail fee programs are also available. Or, you can walk the course at any time after 2 PM. You’ll be able to book tee times two weeks in advance, have access to a private member's only practice facility and receive discounts on pro shop merchandise. You’ll also receive several guest passes and a few other perks.

Eagle Landing is managed by Troon Golf so becoming a member also gives you a cache of extras including access to any Troon-managed property around the world. These memberships are available for both families and individuals. The monthly rates for both Eagle Landing residents and non-residents are very reasonable.

Players Club Members receive access to the Golf Course as well as unlimited use of the driving range and practice facilities and a discount on pro shop merchandise. Both resident and non-resident memberships are available.

Unlike many courses that promote brains over brawn, Eagle Landing tends to be just the opposite. Most holes have plenty of room off the tee if even if you spray it, so bomb away! Eagle Landing rewards good shots but doesn’t over penalize you when you hit bad ones. After all, amateur golfers are going to miss their fair share of shots. Eagle Landing plays like a links course and gives you enough room for second and third chances. The course provides enough challenge to make it interesting, while at the same time staying fair. It’s a course that can be enjoyed by every caliber of golfer.

*UPDATE* Greens maintenance occurred. Instead of getting better, now most greens have issues. I am not a ground keeper, just a player. But looks to me like some expert did something incorrect and hurt the golf course. Used to be really great greens, now not so good. I may switch my course membership over this. Now it is not worth the extra 15 mile (round trip) drive past other golf courses.

One of my favorite courses in Jacksonville. Some fairways will allow you to test your shotmaking ability. The greens are always in great shape.

Wonderful track w/plenty of landing area off the tee box (any of them - even a Youth tee box!) but penalizing hazards can easily come into play if you become inattentive. Course was immaculate. Staff was very friendly/helpful and seemed truly glad I came to play. Greens are large and were in great shape. Great GPS system on cart. Undoubtedly, one of the best golfing values in north Florida and I've played a bunch of them.