Special
remarks:
Great golf clubs with
histories dating 50, 75 or even 100 or more years are
common. Although The Bayou Club is a relative youngster,
it's just as respected and held in high esteem like many
of its older counterparts. With many golf clubs in the
area, The Bayou Club is arguably one of the finest courses
– and Clubs – in Florida or anywhere else.
The Bayou Club's 18 holes of championship-caliber golf and
exclusive real estate was carved from Bardmoor Country
Club development, opening in 1991.
It has hosted the Eckerd Pro-Am, the JC Penney Classic,
and also hosted the Senior PGA Tour (now known as The
Champions Tour) with 20 tour pros matched with local club
pros. Plus, we feel every member has achieved star status
with us!
Relaxing Yet Challenging.
Beautiful Yet Competitive.
“I've
been involved with many wonderful courses in Florida. I
can honestly say that The Bayou Club golf course is
special to me. It's a golf course that stands the test
of time, offering enjoyment for players of any caliber.
“The
course has a subtle and distinctive flavor, a fine test
of skill for the best players, yet enjoyable, fun and
exciting for members of any handicap. It has
eye-catching frames, old-style bunkers and soft-flow
elevation changes around green slopes.
“I'll
always be proud to be associated with a fine club like
The Bayou Club.”
—
Tom Fazio, Course Designer
The
layout of these 18 championship-caliber holes stand as a
luxurious centerpiece of an exclusive community. Bayou
Club's golf course gently weaves its way through oaks
and pines, marshes and bayous.
The sights and sounds of
nature abound: great blue herons, playful otters,
manatees, jumping fish and bald eagle sightings enrich
your golf experience. Another hallmark of Bayou's
success is the playing condition of it's golf course.
Meticulous maintenance practices and continual site
improvements keep the course in outstanding shape every
month of the year.
Several design
features distinguish Bayou from other golf courses.
Of the 18 holes, 16
feature water hazards. Another unique feature is the
combination of back-to-back par-5's on the front nine, and
back-to-back par-3's on the back nine. The 16th hole is a
par 3 that ranks with any in terms of beauty and degree of
difficulty, requiring a 200-yard carry from the
Championship tee with little room for error. Pars on this
hole are cherished, and we have multiple tees to provide
an appropriate test for golfers of all skill levels.
The Bayou Club
is the only Tom Fazio designed/signature golf course in
Pinellas County.
Let's study
the course:
First things
first. Before teeing off, Jim highly recommends a trip to
the just completed state-of-the-art practice facility.
It's centrally-located, with a two-acre practice tee
area!
An auspicious
beginning to a round!
The first
hole at Bayou is arguably the most difficult hole on the
golf course and a real test to begin your round. It's a
464-yard, par-4 from the gold tees (and four sets of
additional tees for the short knockers), with a dogleg
left and a lake to the right. Trees on the left force you
a bit right, hitting to a small green protected by a large
bunker.
“This
is one of four or five holes that present as much
challenge as you'll get from a golf course in Pinellas
County and established it's reputation for offering a
challenging round of golf,”
-
Jim King Director of Instruction
The surrounding homes are not a problem for your round at
The Bayou Club. Actually, the homes enhance the round with
their beauty, without detracting from the playability of
the course.
Best par 5?
That would
have to be number seven, where The Cross Bayou comes into
play. Running along the length of the hole to the left is
a water hazard with trees and bunkers to the right.
This is a three-shot, par-5 that features mangroves,
manatees, fish, and otters.
The second of our back-to-back par-5s, you'll need a
driver off the tee – unless your initials are T.W.!
There's a nice landing area but if you hook your shot your
ball is going to get wet.
The fairway narrows as you approach the green; lay up with
anything from a fairway wood to a 4-iron to a
well-trapped, small, elevated green.
What's the
best par-3 on the course?
It's the Signature hole, number 16, the second of
back-to-back par-3's, aka the “Bridge Side” hole. It's
216 yards from the gold tees.
Take a bridge through marsh to get to the tee area, then
you hit over marsh. You're going to need a full carry or
you're in the marsh. “The only bail-out on this hole,”
according to Jim, “is going long.” Lovely but lethal
– this is a nearly-island green.
Looking for
trouble?
You
may find it on hole number four, which is a mere 452 yards
from the back tees! It's narrow, with out-of-bounds left;
trees right and a ravine in the middle of the fairway that
you have to carry to get to the green in two. And there's
no rest for the wicked on the green, either! It's a severe
back-to-front, small, sloping green.
A strong
finish.
And spectacularly beautiful, too!
With
all of the wildlife on the course, you'll be happy to know
that you've got a good chance for a birdie on 17. But
don't let the beautiful views and gorgeous homes distract
you!
Finally, 18 is a par-4
coming uphill back to our clubhouse that's perched atop
the hill.
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