Okay, let me tell you about my trip out to play World Woods, specifically the Pine Barrens course. Been hearing about this place for a while, figured it was time to see it myself.
So, I finally carved out some time and made the drive over. Getting there was straightforward enough. Pulling in, the place felt pretty spread out, kinda low-key which I liked. Wasn’t super fancy, just felt like a place serious about golf.
Getting Ready
Checked in at the pro shop, folks were friendly. Didn’t spend a ton of time warming up, just hit a few balls to loosen up. The practice area was decent, gave me a little taste of what was coming, especially the amount of sandy soil around.
Out on Pine Barrens
Then it was time to head out to the first tee on Pine Barrens. Let me tell you, the pictures don’t quite do it justice. The defining thing? Sand. Lots of it. Not just bunkers, but these huge waste areas that just blend into the fairways and trees. It really messes with your eyes.
Playing the course was something else. It wasn’t just about hitting it straight. You constantly had to think about where not to hit it. Those waste areas are just waiting to swallow your ball. And they’re not like neat, raked bunkers either. You find all sorts of lies in there. Sometimes it was packed down, other times fluffy. You just had to deal with it.
- The layout felt really natural, like they just carved the holes through the trees and sand.
- It was tough, no doubt about it. Lost a few balls, definitely didn’t shoot my best score.
- You needed to be creative sometimes, hitting shots I wouldn’t normally try.
I remember one hole, maybe a par 4, where the fairway looked huge, but if you strayed even a little left or right, boom, you were in that sandy scrub. It forces you to commit to your target. And the greens were tricky too, plenty of slope.
Wrapping Up the Day
Walking off the 18th, I felt like I’d really been tested. It’s a demanding course, physically and mentally. You’re walking through sand quite a bit, even when you’re trying to stay on the grass. Grabbed a quick drink afterwards, just sat and thought about the round.
Overall, it was a heck of an experience. Very different from your typical Florida golf course. It has that rugged, almost wild feel to it. Glad I finally made it out there to play it. If you like a challenge and something unique, Pine Barrens is definitely worth checking out. Just be ready for the sand!
