Built on the rolling pastures of Marion County, the Briarwood Executive Golf Course is a nine-hole treat with big oaks and scenic vistas. Plenty of healthy carries present a serious challenge to the novice golfer and, from the back tee placement, most holes of this par 27 layout require a wood or long iron. Large, sloping greens also put a premium on a player’s putting skills.

Briarwood is a Level 3 course out of the four levels of difficulty at The Villages. Thus, the layout’s 1,461-yards demands good tee shots from golfers, especially with the dominant presence of numerous bunkers guarding the greens. The most difficult hole is the 9th which features uneven surfaces and makes good use of the native wetlands.

Still, beginners or casual players enjoy teeing off at the Briarwood layout because of its three sets of tees suitable for different skill levels and a spacious driving range for practice. Golf instruction is also available for interested golfers who want to build up their golf skills.

Designed by Clifton, Ezell and Clifton, the Briarwood Executive Golf Course first opened in 2001 and was one of the earliest constructed layouts within Marion. Over the years, the routing has managed to maintain the beauty of its greens and fairways by opening exclusively to locals within the surrounding community. Indeed, the routing’s picture-perfect landscaping of beautiful rolling terrain and rich natural environment highlighted by the gorgeous Florida weather is a favorite of many at The Villages.

There are no memberships at the Briarwood Executive Golf Course, as mentioned, all residents at The Villages are considered “members” of The Villages 50+ executive and championship layouts. Best of all there’s no green fees for walking any of the executive routings, although rentals for extra clubs or carts are readily available for a small fee.

Image(s) published courtesy of: virginiagolfguy.com