Lexington Oaks Golf Club |
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The long-awaited clubhouse is nearing completion and will be finished by summer’s end. The new facility will house a well-stocked pro shop and full service restaurant. A covered patio will offer excellent views of the first hole and the aqua range A comprehensive bunker renovation project is now completed. All greenside bunkers have been rebuilt and filled with new sand.
Opened in January 2000, the 6,748-yard Lexington Oaks Golf Course was designed by Gordon Lewis, a Naples-based architect, who is known for creating outstanding designs of both public and private courses throughout the world. Four sets of tees make the course challenging for players of all skill levels. Lexington Oaks has several distinctive features, including a multitude of lakes and wetlands that add challenge and character to the golf course. You will discover a unique blend of holes due to the varying landscape. As noted by Lewis, “The terrain that encompasses Lexington Oaks varies immensely from wide open, rolling hills to tight, narrow corridors through bald cypress domes and towering live oaks.” One of the many pleasant surprises at Lexington Oaks are the greens complexes. The Tif Dwarf Bermuda grass putting surfaces are varied in size and feature subtle undulations. Greenside bunkering certainly enhances the challenge of approach shots. However, most greens at Lexington Oaks are not elevated, allowing players to hit low, running shots into these greens. It’s a welcome departure from the unending elevated greens typically found on Florida golf courses. Lexington Oaks has established a reputation for tough par-3s as well as a very challenging finish. The toughest par-3 is No. 2, a 233-yard carry over water to a large, two-tiered green. There is no lay-up area short of the green and a row of bunkers protects the left side of the forward-sloping green. The green is also guarded by a bunker in front and a high-lipped, mounded bunker in the rear. It’s the number one handicap hole on the course.
The 16th, a 372-yard straightaway par-4, gives you a chance to catch your breath. The 215-yard 17th is the last of the par-3s and arguably the most scenic hole on the course. It requires a precise tee shot between towering live oaks to a green guarded by water left and bunkers right. At 498 yards, the 18th is a short par-5 by today’s standards, but it’s packed with excitement. Off the tee, you must drive over a creek that crosses the fairway some 200 yards out. Another creek about fifty yards short of the green must be negotiated to get home safely. A solid drive will tempt the better player to go for the green in two. However, anything less than a perfect shot could be disaster! Lexington Oaks is managed by Dempsey Resort Management, Inc. Saddlebrook Resort owner Tom Dempsey heads the company that is built around an uncompromising level of guest satisfaction. Exceptional course conditioning and a commitment to customer service are top priorities of the staff at Lexington Oaks and it shows. Upon arrival, you are greeted by friendly cart attendants. The great experience continues throughout your round. If you’re looking for a well-conditioned golf course with affordable rates and a high regard for customer service, choose Lexington Oaks. The course is located on State Road 54, one mile west of I-75. For tee times up to 7 days in advance, call (813) 907-7270. |
“There were drainage issues with the original bunkers,” said Lexington Oaks general manager Shaun McCormick. “Those problems have been resolved and, as a result, the playability of the golf course has improved tremendously.”
The finishing holes at Lexington Oaks require total concentration along with steady nerves. The 14th is a monstrous 603-yard par-5 that doglegs right off the tee, then left on the approach. The wide fairway is bordered by dense trees on the left and by water on the right. No. 15 is a 413-yard par-4 that doglegs 90 degrees right and requires a carry over wetlands on both the tee shot and approach.
