Perdido Bay Country Club

$41 (cart included), played on Friday, October 2011 at 8am

A visitor in the Pensacola area, I played here 10-28-11 for retired military rate of $42. Good deal for a quality golf course. Layout is, of course, very flat, but there is still plenty of challenge for all. Water on almost every hole, and in some cases, sneakily placed so as not to be visible from the tee (check #10: a good drive down the middle cost me a ball and a stroke), so check the tombstone at the tee box before blasting away. Fairways were very good, but the rough was patchy in spots: it is bermuda grass, and I felt it to be difficult to manage. Greens are large, most are undulating, a few are seriously tiered, and all putt moderately fast, but true. Bunkers are plentiful, and were very firm. Course winds through a development, but houses never seemed obtrusive. Course is walkable. Staff was welcoming and helpful, although the pro shop is on the small side. One minor quibble: we couldn't take the golf cart into the parking lot to load/unload our gear: staff was very adamant about no carts in the parking lot. Course is only a few miles from Lost Key, which I think is a bit more upscale. Still, I enjoyed the round, and recommend the course.

$56 (cart included), played on Thursday, May 2011 at 2pm

Course was the qualifying venue several years for the Pensacola Open, then the Pensacola Open Home course ( good enough for the PGA ). After going thru several ownership changes, it is almost back to its original links style intent and challenge. Don't get too greedy here, the fairways play narrower than they appear in many places and there is enough water and woods to keep even the low handicapers happy. Plays well year round but is enjoyed more earlier in the day and later in the day during the hot summer months !