Middlesburg The ninth hole at Ravines, a 1979 Mark McCumber design, is near legendary in this part of the state because of its championship tees. Few things in North Florida can compare to watching the ball hang over the river and disappear through the woods where it will catapult down the massive hill in the fairway. Unfortunately, the rest of the hole is merely average, and the presence of the cart path that cuts across the landing area is nearly unforgivable. The hole is fairly heroic in that on both the first and second shots, the player must decide the level of aggression, cutting off as much wetland on either shot as desired. The hole is reachable for long, bold players, and equally as punishing for errors.
Bunkers complicate matters and the green is narrow and slick.
The quietly impressive 17th at this underrated Mark McCumber design on the south side of Jacksonville is another long, double dogleg hole in which the player may choose from various lines of attack. Challenging the lake on the inside corner of the first bend will open up the view of the green around the tall pines at the next corner. The landing area for the second shot is extremely tight with the pines on the left and severe mounding on the right, and the massive green is semi-blind from here. This is a winding, formidable hole with real presence. The presence of trees on either side constricts the drive, but from the fairway the second shot can be taken up and over them on the left inside corner.