Sun n Lake Golf & Country Club, Turtle Run Golf Course

Guest (cart included), played on Friday, July 2021 at 10:00 AM

Turtle Run was designed by Charles Ankrom and opened in 1999. Golfers have 4 sets of tees to choose from: the back tees play 6,402 yards with a course rating of 70.7 and a slope of 127. The ladies’ tees play from 5,002 yards (64.3/114). Two other tee boxes offer yardages suitable for all levels of golfers. The greens are Tifdwarf Bermuda, and the fairways and roughs feature 419 Bermuda grass. The course is built in the middle of a Scrub Jay preservation area and provides safe shelter for this protected species; it’s also a beautiful setting for the golf course. Distance off the tee is not as important on Turtle Run as it is on her sister course. In fact, leaving the driver in the bag may be your best move on many holes. At just over 6,400 yards the course is not going to overpower the majority of golfers, regardless of the tees you choose. Landing areas off the tees are generous, the greens are incredible, and the emphasis is on the short game. Some greens are open in front and receptive to the senior-friendly bump-and-run shot; the majority are elevated with bunkers in front and require you to carry your approach onto the green. Distance is also key as many greens have multiple tiers and being on the same tier as the hole can shave several strokes. For me, the most memorable hole on Turtle Run is the par 5, 14th. At only 481 yards from the White Tees, it’s definitely not the longest par 5, but for many players, it’s going to take a driver out of your hand because of the stream that crosses the fairway about 250 yards out. If you play down the left side of the fairway you can get 260-280 yards before you get to the wet stuff. A good line off the tee is the bunker on the right. Keep to the right with your layup and you’ll keep the water on the left out of play and then hit your approach shot to a slightly elevated green but beware of the deep, large bunker in the front left. AS I mentioned, Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club is a proud member of the Citrus Golf Trail, which has done a wonderful job of making the Sebring area a golf vacation destination. The Citrus Golf Trail offers a variety of stay and play golf packages that include rounds of golf at several local courses as well as accommodations at The Inn on the Lakes. Inn on the Lakes is a unique property; they have 155 spacious, beautifully decorated guest rooms and suites, and no two are the same. Their fine dining restaurant, Chicanes, offers delicious meals as well as a sumptuous breakfast menu. They are the preferred accommodations vendor of the Citrus Golf Trail. Sun ‘N Lake is not what they call a bundled community, meaning that you don’t have to join the club if you buy a home there. It seems to me that if you live there and play golf a membership makes sense, especially at the ridiculously low prices they charge! They are offering an introductory membership at 50% off that includes unlimited play on both courses including a trail fee for your private cart, a $200 driving range credit discounts on merchandise in the pro shop, and many other benefits. The first year will set you back less than $2500 for a family! There are also special rates for seniors, super seniors, and seasonal golfers as well. If you’re looking for an affordable golf vacation or somewhere in Florida that you can call home, check out Sun ’N Lake in Sebring.

Guest (cart included), played on Monday, August 2018 at 10:00 AM

The Sun ‘N Lake Golf Club is home to two outstanding golf courses – Deer Run and Turtle Run – northwest of Sebring FL in the unincorporated community of Sun ‘N Lake. Either course will put your golf game to the test.

Of the two courses, Turtle Run is the shorter – 600 yards shorter – from the back tees. Turtle Run plays 6,402 yards from the back tees with a course rating of 70.7 and a slope of 127. The greens are Tiftdwarf Bermuda grass, and the fairways and roughs feature 419 Bermuda grass.

The par 72 Turtle Run course opened in 1999 and was designed by Charles Ankrom. Turtle Run boasts brains over brawn; knowing when to hit driver – which may not be that often – and when to play position.

One interesting fact about Turtle Run is that it is built in the middle of a Scrub Jay preservation area and provides a sanctuary for this protected species as well as a beautiful setting for the golf course. Be careful not to enter the preservation areas and help keep the Scrub Jays safe.

Most Memorable Hole: Number 14, Par 5, 481 yards (White Tees). As you can see from the length, it’s definitely not the longest par 5, but for a number of players it’s going to take driver out of your hand off the tee because of a stream that crosses the fairway about 250 yards out. If you play down the left side of the fairway, the creek runs away and you can get 260-280 yards before you get to the wet stuff. A good line off the tee is the bunker on the right. Keep right with your layup to keep the water on the left out of play and then hit your approach shot to a slightly elevated green but beware of the deep, large bunker in the front left. A better than average score is possible here.

Favorite Par 3: Number 6, 159 yards (White Tees). Choose your club carefully off the tee. This holes plays slightly uphill so you may need a little more club. It’s a good carry over water and there is a sand trap short right of the large green which slopes back to front

Favorite Par 4: Number 5, 329 yards (White Tees). This hole is all about trust. You can’t see the green from the fairway, so you just have to trust yourself off the tee and hit it straight. The lone palm tree off in the distance is a good line but requires a carry of nearly 200 yards. A good tee shot will leave an approach shot just short of 100 yards to a slightly elevated, multi-tiered green.

Favorite Par 5: Number 1, 489 yards (White Tees). Playing down the left side of the fairway is the best way to play this opening hole; just be sure to avoid the fairway bunker. Continue playing down the left side and you’ll keep the water out of play on your layup shot and have a fairly short pitch shot into a small green protected by sand and a lake on the right and another bunker on the left. Par is a good way to start off your round.

In addition to two top-notch golf courses, Sun ‘N Lake has a great practice facility located across the parking lot from the clubhouse. The driving range is big enough to hit every club in the bag. Inside the clubhouse you’ll find a pro shop stocked with all of the latest equipment and logoed apparel as well as the Island View Lakefront Restaurant and Pub, a great place to grab some good food and drink after your round. The restaurant is open from 11am – 8pm Monday – Saturday and 11am – 6pm on Sunday.

Last Word: Playing Turtle Run for the first time was a pleasant surprise. The course is not going to overpower the majority of golfers, regardless of the tees you choose. From the White Tees, plan on leaving your driver in the bag the majority of the day. Of the par 4 holes, 2 are in excess of 360 yards; only one is over 400 yards. The par 5 holes are pretty modest too, only one over 500 yards.

For the most part, the tee shot landing areas are generous, the greens are incredible and the emphasis is on the short game. Some greens are open in front and receptive to the senior-friendly bump-and-run shot, but the majority are elevated with bunkers in front and require you to carry your approach on to the green. Distance is also key as many greens have multiple tiers and being on the same tier as the hole can shave several strokes.

Turtle Run is a lot of fun to play regardless of your ability. It will challenge not only your physical ability but also make you think your way around the course.

$21 (cart included), played on Monday, May 2014 at 6am

Course/greens conditions excellent to outstanding. Green lightning fast, but true. Very subtle breaks, extremely difficult to read. Great test of any golfer's game. Staff friendly and attentive to any need or request. Would replay this course in a NY minute.