There’s nothing quite like playing golf at a historic place like Seminole Golf Club. Like many, I had heard amazing things about the club, its famous course and its storied history. It’s consistently ranked as one of the best courses in the world and for good reason. First and foremost it’s one of Donald Ross’ most acclaimed designs, which is special considering his roster of masterpieces. It was also Ben Hogan’s favorite course, as he made annual visits there to prepare for The Masters. The setting of the club along the Atlantic Ocean in Juno Beach is amazingly beautiful, and the overall atmosphere of the club feels like traveling back in time to when the club was founded in 1929.
It’s impossible to sum up the full Seminole experience in just a short post, so I thought I’d do some research to see what others have written. Renowned golf architect Tom Doak has spent a considerable amount of time at Seminole over the years and gives the course his highest rating, a rating he’s given to very few courses (others include Cypress Point and Pine Valley). In his book ‘The Confidential Guide to Golf Courses: Winter Destinations,’ Doak referred to Seminole as “a true aristocrat amount golf clubs,” and that “Seminole is one of the last glimpses of golf as it used to be.” Other notable writings about Seminole include Chris Buie’s book ‘The Life and Times of Donald Ross’. In his book, Buie sums up the historic club perfectly, saying that ‘The lore is so rich and varied that it has become one of the more storied clubs in the country. The fact that the Seminole story has taken place at a quiet remove from the limelight serves to enhance its mystique.’ It’s safe to say that few other clubs can compare with the many famous and historic aspects of Seminole.
Course Highlights
Donald Ross used of the natural landscape to perfection, routing the holes between two lines of dunes that run parallel to each other. One along the eastern border of the Atlantic and the other on the west side of the property. The many great reviews of Seminole all note that 14 of the 18 holes incorporate these dunes, a feat that Ross was able to achieve with his genius routing skills. Like his design at Pinehurst No. 2, Seminole features a naturalistic design that blends the golf course with the natural seaside terrain which further enhances the charm and overall golf experience.
While you may guess that the best holes are those that run along the Atlantic beachfront (and also happen to be the finishing stretch), the best holes in my opinion are at the beginning of the round. Holes 2 through 7 are incredible, as you make your way from the flat part of the course up and across the western dune. The approach to the par-4 second hole is dramatically uphill to a large undulating green. The par-5 third goes out along the side of the dune with an amazing view from the tee and natural sandy areas all along the right side that slopes a hard from right to left. The fourth hole is the number one handicap hole that goes uphill and winds to the top of the dune, with the natural sandy waste areas left and right; the fifth hole is a medium length par three with bunkers surrounding all sides and is one of the more beautiful holes you’ll find anywhere. The sixth rounds out the stretch along the inland dune. It’s a short par-4 along the club’s western boundary that is a prime example of a risk-reward type of hole. Its famously known as Ben Hogan’s favorite hole and I can see why. You can see most of the golf course and the ocean from the 7th tee which is a stunning sight. The 7th goes down to the flat part of the course crossing over a pond in front of the green, and is typically right back into the prevailing breeze off of the ocean. Rounding out the front nine along flat part of the course is the par three 8th that is a longer par-3 to a very large green with many different hole options. The the par five 9th runs along the southern boundary and goes straight away back to the iconic clubhouse with OB right and trouble left. It’s an amazing collection of golf holes that flow together beautifully and it’s hard to imagine the round getting any better. That is until you play the first two holes on the back nine and start making your way up to towards the Atlantic Ocean.
The round gets progressively more scenic as you make your way up to the 11th green and over the 12th hole where the tee shot is framed by the iconic 13th and the Atlantic Ocean in the backdrop. The par three 13th is a challenging uphill par three that goes right up to the beachfront. On the par five 14th the elevated tee shot goes back down into the flatland on the first of back-to-back par-5s. The tee shot on 15 presents a split fairway: a safer option out to the left and a riskier option right with water lining the fairway. The finishing stretch starts with the dogleg right 16th which heads back up towards the Atlantic to another elevated green atop the eastern dune. If there were such thing as a signature hole at Seminole, it would have to be the 17th. From the 17th tee, the green is framed by the clubhouse in the backdrop. The natural sandy areas and bunkers surround the long and narrow green. This was my favorite hole, and I just so happened to birdie it. The 18th runs parallel to the beach and goes back down into the flat and then back up to an elevated green with a severe back-to-front/left-to-right slope. It’s not long but the approach shot will test every nerve, especially if under tournament pressure. Every hole demands precision while also making you think carefully about each shot, especially on the approach shots. Its a true championship test of golf.
The overall experience at Seminole is top notch in every category and I hope this article provided a glimpse into how special it is. The coastal setting elevates the overall experience, especially when playing it in February as an escape from winter in the Northeast. It really is the ultimate winter golf destination.
George