Harmony Golf Preserve – Harmony Florida

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On Thursday March 27, 2025 we were able to play one of our favorite courses here in Florida, the Harmony Golf Preserve in Harmony Florida. We have actually been playing this course ever sense it opened. They have changed the course a little bit to allow for less sand bunkers than previously, which has sped up the playing. However, as we are regular dew sweepers, we are usually the first off of the tee box, so we don’t really have to wait on anyone in front of us playing slowly. We usually get the 3^rd tee time on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday during the winter months. The first 2 tee times are the usual 6 man group that lets us get out in front of them. Today, we set a course record, per Ryan the cart guy/starter, of playing 18 holes in 2 hours and 20 minutes. The previous record was 2 hours and 45 minutes.

CADDIE NOTES:

Within holes 1-9, it is best to play your tee shots to the middle of the fairways. This allows for better approach shots into the greens. The first hole is a straightaway par 4 that can play a little downhill on your second shot. The green is fairly large and is protected by a bunker front right. There is a ridge in the middle of the green, so if the flag is in the back, take enough club to get it back to the pin. The 2^nd hole is a fun, short par 4, that has a little risk – reward to it. If you hit your drive over 230 yards, you can absolutely go over the water towards the green. If there is any wind, or if you are not able to hit your drive 230 yards, then play over the water toward the fairway. Note, you cannot see all of the fairway if not going short left or at the green, but it is fairly wide, so just for it. The 3^rd hole is a par 3 that requires a good shot to clear the pond. Watch for a resident alligator that likes to watch golfers 😉. Short left is okay as it is a pretty good place for an up and down. Over or short of the green will be trouble. If over, there are humps that will cause you to play a delicate shot back towards the green. If short, it may roll back towards the pond and you might be dropping and hitting your third shot. The 4^th hole is a longish par 4. It runs along a body of water pretty much from tee to green on the left. I usually play this hole as a par 5 conceding a bogey and taking a par as a birdie. The best way to make par is to go up the left-hand side of the fairway (not getting into the water), which leave you a shorter shot into the green over the water. If you play it out right, it will play longer potentially causing a layup to the right front of the green. The green is fairly long and wide and is protected by a bunker front right and humps on the sides and back. Hole 5 is a long par 5 that runs along water right but should be a pretty easy par if you hit a good tee shot and second shot. Your tee shot should be placed over the bunkers you can see on the right side of the fairway. Clearing these bunkers will allow you to be middle left and to have a good run off adding yards to your drive. Your second shot should be to the middle left of the fairway, which will allow you to have a great look at the green for your approach. The green runs a little left to right, so coming in with your approach shot is better from the left side of the fairway. Hole 6, is a straightaway par 3 that runs along water on the right and high grass on the left, just over the cart path. The green here runs front to back, so the play is short not long of the green. The green is protected by a bunker on the lower right side and humps and bumps left and back. Hole 7 is a dogleg right that seems to always play long. You have a choice to either play out right of the bunkers in the middle of the fairway, over the bunkers if you are a long hitter, or, to make the hole shorter, play to the right of the bunkers and left of the trees that guard hole 7’s tee box. It might leave you in the rough, but it will definitely be a shorter route to the green. The green is elevated and is protected on the left by bunkers and right by a grass bunker. Long is no good as it is steep past the green onto the cart path and then deep weeds and water. Hole 8 is a great par 5 is shaped like a snake. Straight off of the tee will leave you the ability to play over some fairway bunkers on the left to the fairway leaving you will a short iron into the green. The green is large and has a ridge that runs right to left. If the flag is in the back, play enough club to get the ball to roll up to the back. The green is protected by bunkers left and front right. Hole 9 is a par 4 that has my number. It isn’t terribly long if you hit a good tee shot, but there is water left and a hill right about half way up the fairway. The green runs up from front to back and is protected by bunkers front left and water right. When making the turn to the back nine, hole 10 is a short par 4 dogleg to the left that is a great hole to get a par or birdie to start the back nine. Hole 11 is a straight-away par 4 that again goes along water on the right. (Note: if you slice the ball, better to aim left and catch the fairway). The green is large and usually plays faster than the others as it seems to be exposed to more sun for most of the day. The green is protected by a bunker on the front right, and deep grass bunkers on the left. Hole 12 is a par 3 that is straight with very little trouble. Long is no good and neither is left. The green is protected by bunkers front right and left. The green runs a little up from front to back, but usually you are putting across the slope. Hole 13 which is a par 4 dogleg to the right. A good drive up the middle will leave a mid to long-iron into the green. The green is flat and is protected by bunker left and humps left and behind. Hole 14 is a very well laid out par 5 that will leave you wondering why you did not get at least a birdie. A good drive and a good second could put you on the green, or leave you with a wedge into the green. The green slopes up from front to back. However, there is a ridge that runs across the green and can push your approach shot to the left. The green is protected by bunkers front left and right. Note that this hole also follows water all the way down the right side, so best to be middle right the entire way. Hole 15 is a tough little par 4 that goes a little left to right. There is a bunker on the left and just past that is the woods. Any ball going into the woods may not be found and probably should be just left for the animals. Make sure to hit your tee shot to the left. A good drive will leave you with a short iron into the green. Again, the green is protected by bunker left front, grass bunker front right. Long is over the hill and will leave a tough shot to get back on the green. Hole 16 is a long par 5 dogleg right at the beginning. Your tee shot needs to be middle of the fairway to allow for a good second shot to travel towards the hole. If you are a long hitter, greater than 250 off the tee box, you might be able to cut the corner of the dogleg, but beware, it is not an easy shot and can leave you teeing up your third shot. The green is elevated and there is trouble left, back, and right, so short is the conservative play. Hole 17 is a par 3 pretty much over water. The green runs initially front to back, but it does run middle to back downhill, so be careful if they put the flay middle back when you play. There is a bunker short left of the hole, and short is okay. Hole 18 is my nemesis. As I hit a high cut (some might say slice 😉), there are trees just off the tee box that I have to miss with a left to right shot. However, if you aim to far right with a left to right shot shape, you will lose your ball in the woods that are about 210 yards out. So, it is a tough finishing hole that shot shapers like me have a little trouble with. However, a good tee shot to the right side allows for a long iron or hybrid into the green. Note that the green is front to middle and middle to back, so depending on where they put the flag, be cautious and play your approach shot a little conservative.