Of the two Tom Fazio courses designed by at the World Woods golf destination in Southwest Florida, Rolling Oaks is the less celebrated of the pair.  It is part of a 48-hole complex with an elaborate practice and teaching area and a practice green from Mars-about five acres of the most imaginative putting array you can imagine.  The facility includes a  three hole practice/warm-up course,   a nine-hole par three, and two championship eighteens.  In spite of the lack of critical acclaim Rolling Oaks is a very enjoyable and distinctive course that needs to be played.

Postcard Perfect #8 (forelinksters.com)

As it’s name would suggest, this country club style course is built a rolling piece of property that wends it’s way among the oak trees.  The course has a very natural flow to it and all the holes seem to fit into the topography-nothing seems forced or contrived.  The driving areas are generous but there are plenty of fairway bunkers to give direction and constraint to the driving tactics.  The greens have sweeping undulations but no where near the steep slopes of the Pine Barrens-much less disarming for mere mortals.  The bunkering is severe-deep bunkers set into the side hills around the greens are very intimidating in character.  The good news in most green arrangements are only bunkered on one side so there are safe passages to the target if a player plans accordingly.

Lovely Finishing Hole (worldgolf.com)

The course is full of memorable holes-some very unique arrangements that leave plenty of room for creative tactics.  None of the challenges presented here are unfair but you do have to think your way around to be successful.  There is not much water to be concerned about it only comes into play on two holes as a forced carry but the woods and the bramble do make for some places you do not want to visit so control of your line and distance is at a premium.

It is a fun afternoon-real complement to the Pine Barrens-my suggestion you try to play both courses the same day-playing Rolling Oaks as a warm up.

Brooksfield, Florida

Architect: Tom Fazio (1993)

Tees        Par    Rating    Slope    Yardage
Mens        72    71.5    125    6520

(Click to see complete Rolling Oaks hole-by-hole descriptions)