Golf Course Review: St. Lucie Trail Golf Club | 8.2 Score
Location: Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Architect: Jim Fazio
Opened: 1988
Par: 72
Tee — Yardage | Slope / Rating:
Championship — 6,901 | 73.4/142
Tournament — 6,470 | 71.0/139
Standard — 5,946 | 69.8/126
Combo — 5,778 | 69.1/124
Middle — 5,608 | 68.2/120
Forward — 5,012 | 65.4/115
Saturday morning green fee: $$ [$50-$99 through April. Rates range from $35-$55, May-December]
Caddie Service: No
Walker friendly: No [GolfBoards are available]
Fairways: Bermudagrass
Greens: Bermudagrass
THE REVIEW
Starter: This course was the start of the PGA of America’s PGA Golf Club — the winter home of the PGA of America’s 29,000 members. Originally it was a private layout called PGA West Country Club, then was renamed PGA Country Club. It remained private as three resort courses were added to the PGA complex. In 2014, the PGA dropped the private designation and changed the name to St. Lucie Trail. Three years later, the course was sold to CGI Investments, which also owns The Evergreen Club in Palm City, 15 minutes away.
Play because ...: St. Lucie Trail is shorter, but tighter, than the three PGA Golf Club courses on the opposite side of Interstate 95. St. Lucie Trail was frequently used for tournaments while under PGA ownership and remains a challenging test since the ownership change.
Takeaway: The course is one of the oldest and most challenging in the Port St. Lucie area. Whether it will regain its place as a frequent tournament venue is uncertain.
THE RATINGS [1 to 10 scale, 10 being the highest]
Food | Beverage: 8.0
Pro shop: 7.0
Clubhouse: 9.0
Difficulty: 9.0
Pace of play: 7.0
THE COURSE
Best par 3: No. 17 [184 | 154 | 140 | 140 | 123 | 111 yards]
This is a very pretty hole with water leading up to the green. Any tee shot left of the green will likely wind up in a hazard. The right side of the green is protected by some severe slopes. This is a most memorable hole given the demanding look from the tee.
Best par 4: No. 6 [418 | 409 | 370 | 355 | 355 | 316 yards]
This hole presents the most demanding tee shot on the course and is the No. 1 handicap hole for good reason. Drives hit left will likely wind up in a pond. The uphill T-boned-shaped green is tough to hit.
Best par 5: No. 18 [550 | 535 | 473 | 460 | 460 | 415 yards]
The course's longest hole is a good one to finish on as the clubhouse serves as a backdrop. While many finishers are risk/reward holes, this one should be played conservatively. Hazards are right and left all the way to the putting surface.
INFO
Phone: 772.340.1444
Website:www.stlucietrail.com
Facebook:@stlucietrailgolfclub
Instagram: N/A
Twitter: N/A