Detailed description of Golf Club at BridgeWater, BridgeWater Golf Course, CLOSED 2011
The Golf Club at Bridgewater is an 18 hole semi-private golf course located in Lakeland, Florida.
The Golf Club at Bridgewater first opened for play in the spring of 2007. The course was designed by Steve Smyers.
Steve Smyers has a reputation for quality golf course design, including Old Memorial in Tampa, Southern Dunes in Haines City, FL, Marriott's Grande Pines in Orlando. Interlachen in Winter Park, FL, Wolf Run Golf Club in Indianapolis and Isleworth in Orlando to name a few.
The Golf Club at Bridgewater is a links-style, par-72 course measuring about 7,200 yards. Five sets of tees provide a challenge for golfers of all abilities. Natural buffers enhance the surrounding wildlife, adding to the overall golf experience.
In describing the course, Steve Smyers said, "The less experienced or less accomplished player always has a route to play. We never force a shot on them, and we always give the player an alternate route. That route is less risk and less reward. But if the golfer plays to his or her capabilities, there`s a route or avenue for them to shoot to their handicap or better on this course. It`s more of a strategic golf course than a penal golf course. It`s all about managing yourself. This course has a tee and a route for everybody. The elite players can play it and take the bold route and have a world-class challenge on their hands."
Among the challenges is #4, "Heart Break Ridge." This aptly named hole has a tight driving area to a narrow 12-foot elevated green surrounded by water left, and a 12-foot deep bunker right, this hole is a real challenge.
The Golf Club at Bridgewater is a short distance off I-4 in Lakeland, The Golf Club at Bridgewater is easily accessible to both Tampa and Orlando.
The course closed in 2011.
Latest news: theledger.com December 2017
After more than two years and three developers, a plan to expand a business park on State Road 33 into a now-defunct golf course was approved by the Lakeland Commission on Monday.
The decision adds almost 29 acres to the business park north of the BridgeWater community. Once developed, the existing park with the added 29 acres could contain up to 1,350,000 square feet of warehousing space intended for e-commerce.
The Golf Club at BridgeWater, a course adjacent to the BridgeWater subdivision, first declared bankruptcy in 2009 and closed in 2011. Whitney Bank took ownership of the property in 2012. Under a development agreement with the BridgeWater community, the golf course could not be redeveloped until 2015.
As a buffer between the business park and the neighborhood, the city, and the developer, Atlanta-based Ridge Development Company, negotiated that the remaining 87 acres of the former golf course would be zoned as recreational land. The developer will be required to build a large tree-lined berm along the recreational land to limit visibility from the neighborhood to the warehouses.
$21 (cart included), played on Thursday, June 2010 at 6am
Course in great shape. Greens fast and true. Play is very sparse this time of year so getting on is no problem
$31 (cart included), played on Wednesday, February 2010 at noon
What a shame - When opened a few years ago was deservedly highly rated but has not been maintained and is only fair value even at $30+. Fairways appeared to be overseeded but not greens which were bumpy. Not many ball washers and the yardage is different on the card versus the tee signs versus the tee markers. Especially troublesome on the Par 3's. Won't bother driving from Orlando to Lakeland unless I get assurance that the conditions have improved.
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$26 (cart included), played on Sunday, May 2011 at 8am
Have played this course over one hundred times since it opened in 2007 and have become increasingly disappointed with the deteriorating condition. Many well designed lholes with some huge greens, but the lack of maintenance is disappointing. Many revetted bunkers now have faces composed of weeds and sand instead of the grass that was present when the course opened. Will continue to play because the price remains reasonable and the greens are usually very puttable with challenging slopes and undulations, but the course has lost much of its luster.