The new Eagle Landing Golf Course at OakLeaf Plantation will open this month. The 18-hole championship course plays at 7,037 yards through wetlands and conservation areas along the northern border of Jennings State Forest in Clay County.
It was built by Jacksonville’s MacCurrach Golf Construction, which was named Golf Course Builder of the Year in 1999 and 2000 by the Golf Course Builders Association of America.
The course was designed by Clyde Johnston, who also designed Jacksonville G&CC and St. Johns G&CC.
“I decided to incorporate some of the classic features of golf holes used by a lot of designers,” said Johnston by telephone from his Hilton Head office. “Site-wise, it is very similar to St. Johns. We didn’t have a lot to work with in some spots. It has a lot of pines and wetlands scattered all over the property and had to be integrated with the housing development.”
He added that building a golf course next to wetlands is not as easy as it used to be due to environmental concerns.
“It could be called a ‘collection of classic holes’ since the designs were used by some of golf’s original architects like Donald Ross,” Johnston said. “For instance, No. 13 is based on a design known as ‘The Redan.’ It’s a par-3 and plays 180 yards from the back tees. The green is angled right-to-left and slopes left. It’s perfect for a left pin placement and is designed to be a lot of fun to play.”
“The Short” is another classic hole Johnston used in the design. “It’s a par-3 with an elevated green surrounded by bunkers on all sides. There’s a similar hole at Fox Chapel in Pittsburgh,” he said.
A short par-5, No.10 is described by Johnston as “a risky hole. Going for it in two will be a challenge.”
The par-4 No. 12 plays 350 yards from the back tees, with bunkers guarding the green. “The smart player won’t hit driver on that one,” Johnston said. “It’s a decision-making hole.”