Providence Golf Club

(cart included), played on Monday, November 2019 at 12:00 PM

I recently had the opportunity to play a round of Golf at Providence Golf Club in Davenport Florida. It had been about 8 years since my previous visit and the thing I remembered most was that, other than the golf course, there wasn’t a whole lot out there. My how things have changed; the community has grown up! Providence is easily accessible to area golfers; they are centrally located: just minutes from I-4 and all of the Orlando area attractions as well as both the Tampa and Orlando airports.

Providence Golf Club recently underwent a major renovated in 2018, including 21 redesigned and regrassed Champion G12 ultra dwarf putting surfaces. These greens are getting fantastic reviews. They’ve also updated the practice area and have installed a new tee as well as a short game area designed to help golfers of all skill levels improver their game.

Providence’s layout takes the elements of an Old Florida course, and fuses them with those of a heathland course and a parkland course. In other words, it’s a little bit of everything: wetlands, native grasses, manicured fairways and big trees! As you make your way around the layout, you’re bound to see an abundance of Florida wildlife including alligators, otters, cranes, egrets, great blue heron, wild turkey, hawks and snakes.

From the back tees, Providence will give even the most accomplished golfer a good test at 7,016 yards with a 73.3 course rating and a 131 slope. Most golfers will play either the Blue Tees (6,370/70.1/119) or White Tees (6,023/117/67.8). Ladies will enjoy Providence Golf Club from the Red Tees (5,029/69.1/114). Pick the set of tees that best match your game and your sure to enjoy this course.

Anyone who’s played golf in the area knows that there are about 30 courses within a 25 mile radius where they can tee it up at. A course in the area can achieve a competitive advantage by offering something a little different. That’s exactly what General Manager Tim Greco and the staff at Providence GC have done by creating a premier practice facility. In addition to the full-length driving range where you can hit every club in your bag. There’s a new comprehensive short game area, practice bunkers and a large practice green.

Providence has already done all of the over-seeding they plan on doing for the 2019 – 2020 season. The tee boxes were over-seeded in October and are already in pristine condition. Overall, the course is in immaculate shape thanks to the meticulous grounds keeping crew who can be seen working tirelessly all day long. The greens are incredible – quick and true: I’d put them up against any in the area. It’s no wonder that Providence is consistently recognized as one of the region's premier golf courses.

Providence Golf Club is chock full of memorable holes, but there is a trio on each side that really stands out. The back-to-back-to-back par 4s that make up the stretch of holes from Number 5 – 7 features the hardest hole on the course sandwiched between two risk/reward holes. Number 5 is the shortest par 4 on the course at only 281 yards (Blue Tees). Water comes into play about 230 yards off the tee, so you may want to hit something less than driver. Going for the green requires a carry of about 250 over the water or a long, soft draw around it. This hole is especially fun when you put your chip shot in tight and your playing partner chunks his/her shot into the water. Pars aren’t likely to win any skins on this hole!

The 6th hole is where Providence Golf Club starts to show its grit; things have been pretty placid and straightforward up to this point. Number 6 plays 394 yards (Blue Tees) and, if you catch the right side of the fairway off the tee, you’re likely to get a favorable bounce back into the middle. A good drive will leave a mid-iron approach shot into an angular green protected on the left by wetlands and a large bunker right. All of the subtle undulations in the green can easily have you shaking your head as you’re walking off,. There’s a good reason this hole is handicapped #1!

The thrill continues on Number 7, which plays 400 yards from the Blue Tees and is all about risk/reward. The risk is how much of the lake you decide to carry, the reward is a much shorter iron into the green. Something else to consider is the fact that the fairway isn’t all that wide; hit it through the fairway and you’ll find some gnarly rough that makes par that much tougher. Success off the tee will still leave a precarious approach shot with water guarding the right side of the green and sand front left. The green can be long and narrow depending on the angle you come in from. Take a par and run!

The back nine also has its own run of three fun and challenging holes. At a mere 483 yards, Number 13 is the shortest par 5 on the course. By cutting the corner of the dogleg and flying over the fairway bunker, longball hitters will be able to go for the green in two. The water that fronts the green on the left will factor in and catch anything short. Low numbers are possible on this hole, but so are big numbers!

If I were naming holes, Number 14 would be called “Game Changer.” On any given day, this 433 yard par 4 can change the outcome of a match whether it’s a friendly skins games with your buddies or the club championship. Your tee shot here will be the most demanding shot of the day and how well you hit it will determine your chance of getting on the green in regulation. Finding the fairway is a necessity. Anytime you can write down a par on your scorecard for Number 14, it’s a good day!

The par 5, 15th hole is the longest on the course and easily the most beautiful. A good score here will be well-earned and starts with a tee shot to a very wide and inviting fairway that screams grip it and rip it! Your second shot requires more accuracy as the fairway gets very narrow in the landing area with water infringing on the left and some very large trees on the right. Two well-executed shots thus far will leave a mid to short-iron into one of the most treacherous greens on the course. Word of advice: Keep the ball below the hole!

If you’ve got a short game and some guts, you can score well out here; conversely, it can be a disaster! Several holes offer risk reward opportunities that allow you to significantly shorten the hole; that’s where a good short game comes in.

After your round – or even before – stop by The Grille Room for your favorite post-round libation or catching the big game on one of 5 TVs. The dining menu is impressive and the food is absolutely delicious. I highly recommend the hot wings, crisp chicken wing served with just the right amount of heat and accompanied by blue cheese and celery. The Buffalo Chicken Salad is as good to look at as it is to eat and the Providence Signature Burger will not leave you hungry. Providence is a fabulous location to host your next event whether it’s a banquet golf outing or wedding. Their prices are tremendously affordable, the facilities are impressive and the food is outstanding. Two for one dinner is served on Wednesday and Friday features BINGO and typically a packed house.

$51 (cart included), played on Thursday, March 2015 at 7:30 AM

The course has mis-managed its course and the greens are all destroyed - some sort of infection. The rest of the course is in pretty fair shape but it has no grass on its greens just sprayed on seed and some sort of mulch/compost. You can putt, but it's certainly not like putting on a green.

$51 (cart included), played on Tuesday, February 2015 at 7:35 AM

It needs a lot of work on the greens. If they fixed the greens, then I would golf there again but the price is out of line for the golf course as is in Feb 2015

$26 (cart included), played on Monday, May 2013 at 6am

Pace has been moved to less than 4 hours for a foursome. Greatly improved the enjoyment of our group. We had a three-some behind us and never held them up all around the course. Fairways and greens in much better condition than last time I played here.

$26 (cart included), played on Monday, April 2013 at 6am

Great course. Great value. A little off the highway but I worth the drive from Orlando.

$36 (cart included), played on Monday, March 2012 at 6am

Player assistance(ranger) desperately needed to keep pace of play moving. The nearly 5 hour round is ridiculous!!!

$31 (cart included), played on Sunday, January 2011 at 8am

Enjoyed playing here more than once in past six months...