Set between the Atlantic Ocean and Indian River Lagoon, Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club delivers scenic beauty, memorable dining and a challenging Arnold Palmer design
Source: Hometown News CTC
By James Stammer HTN Correspondent
Florida’s Treasure Coast is best known for the sunken Spanish Gallions, complete with their treasure of gold and more. While finding these takes some hunting in the Atlantic Ocean, you can more easily find treasures just landward of the sea.
One of those treasures is Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club. The club, located less than a mile north of Wabasso on A1A, sits on a magnificent stretch of land between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon.
The day I chose to play here was one of the windiest I have seen this year. The cooling wind came from over the ocean and swept across the course and development making for a most pleasant day. At least until you were hitting a shot dead into it.
My colleague Dan Shube and I were invited to enjoy lunch before we met our tour guide for our round. We arrived and were given a quick tour of the updated clubhouse and its new bar area overlooking the tenth tee and eighteenth green. Here we would feast.
For lunch I chose a grilled Hawaiian Wahoo salad over zucchini noodles. Dan picked the soft-shell crab sandwich and fries. By the time we finished our feast, we were contemplating kidnapping the chef and staff to bring home with us so they could create all our meals. The food was divine.
After lunch, we met our host and tour guide for the day, club member Bruce Morrison. Bruce was warming up at the range and was pleased to mee us. After a quick hello, we set off to begin our round. Despite the winds, the course was hopping and a lot of golfers were just finishing their rounds or getting ready to play.
The course plays to a par of 72. There are seven distinct sets of tees and some of these can be mixed to make for a total of nine different lengths from which to play the course. From the very back, the course plays to over 7,000 yards. Throw in the wind and you’d have to hate yourself or be extremely good to play from back there.
Orchid Island is an Arnold Palmer design. I happen to be a huge fan of the King’s work. These usually feature generous fairways and huge greens. Orchid Island is no exception.
The course starts you off with a couple of straight-forward par-4s. At the third hole the course begins to play with your mental game. This short par-4 tempts you to drive the ball close to the green. It is on this hole that Bruce resides. He pointed out his beautiful home that sits to the right side of the fairway.
I commented on how huge the green is on this hole. Bruce informed us that every green is huge with lots of slopes and undulations. When the course renovated the greens a few years ago, one desire was to have more pin locations. To do this the greens were enlarged a bit.
Bruce then told us that the club just had its Orchid Island Challenge a couple days prior. In this event, the course superintendent places the hole in one of the most precarious spots on each green. He said taking four and five putts on some of them was normal. As we played, he pointed out many of them and we tried our luck. It would have been fun to play to those pins, but my putting confidence would have taken a sizeable hit.
On our way around the front nine, I noticed that there is a lot of water on the course. Fortunately, if you play smart, most of it will not hurt your score. Most of the mounding and rough will keep you from going too far off the fairway.
When we arrived at the par-3 twelfth hole, I really felt the wind and noticed the water. Bruce told us how when Palmer played this hole at the course’s grand opening, he commented with a twinkle in his eye when faced with such a long shot over water and into the wind, “What a terrible hole. What ^%$#* designed this?”. I agree with Arnie. I hit a 5-wood that barely made the green!
When you arrive at the 16th hole a plaque awaits. It is announced here that you are about to play “The King’s Challenge”. The closing three holes encourage you to play as boldly as Arnie would to capture the win.
These two par-4s and the closing par-5 are the best holes on the course. I managed to play them well and finished my round with a smile.
After our round Bruce treated us to a cold beverage and talked about his wonderful club. He was a most gracious host and his tips on every tee were most helpful. Our round was even better for having him join us.
If you are looking for a treasure in the form of a splendid, private golf club, Orchid Island Golf and Beach Club is the “X” on your map. Check out www.orchidislandfl.com or call 772-388-2350.
