Play golf in Sarasota
Nestled in the heart of Sarasota, The Palms Golf Club at Forest Lakes is unlike any golf experience on the Suncoast. This brand new course from renowned architect, Gordy Lewis, features a Par 64 layout that will challenge every aspect of your game. The Palms is maintained in championship condition and features TifEagle greens and Celebration fairways, providing turf surfaces that rival that of many of Florida’s most exclusive country clubs. Two very unique nines provide great variety and ensure that you’ll use every club in your bag!
- Hole 1
- Hole 2
- Hole 3
- Hole 4
- Hole 5
- Hole 6
- Hole 7
- Hole 8
- Hole 9
- Hole 10
- Hole 11
- Hole 12
- Hole 13
- Hole 14
- Hole 15
- Hole 16
- Hole 17
- Hole 18
The opening hole at The Palms is a Par 4 with some real risk and reward. From the back two tees, players hit over the lake to an inviting fairway. There is water that connects the lakes on each side of the hole, so selecting the right distance of the tee is paramount. For the longer hitters, a chance to carry the water could leave a short approach to an inviting green, protected by a trap on the front right.
The 2nd Hole is a Par 4 with a slight dog-leg to the right. The fairway is guarded by stadium style mounds on the right and a wooded area on the left. Finding the fairway here is key and will allow a clear approach to a slightly elevated green. One of the few holes on the course without a bunker, the 2nd green is approachable, but beware of any miss to the left!
The Par 5, 3rd Hole is the longest hole at The Palms and definitely one of the most challenging! Water crosses the fairway about 220 yards from the green and any drive that misses the fairway will most likely result in the need to lay-up. For the long hitters, the green is reachable in two, but will require precision and accuracy as the green is nestled back in to the natural vegetation and is protected by the water in front, and trees to the right and behind the green. Definitely one of the signature holes here at The Palms!
The 4th Hole is the first Par 3 on the front nine and can play anywhere from 100 – 196 yards depending on the tee position. A bunker guards the right side and although the left side can be a safe miss, go too far left and you could find the water! The 4th green is not deep, so having the right club in your hand is the key to success here!
The 5th Hole is a long Par 4 that provides a little bit of everything! The back tees require a carry over the lake to a fairway protected by mounds on the left and mature trees on the right. The two-tiered green is guarded by a bunker on the right and the best spot to hit your approach will vary greatly, depending on the pin placement. When the pin is up front, the hole can be very approachable, but when it’s on the top tier, any miss can make for a difficult up and down.
The Par 4, 6th Hole features one of the most scenic approaches at The Palms. A wide and inviting fairway narrows quickly as the lake begins on the right side and follows all the way up to the green. One of the smaller greens on the course, the 6th protects itself with a bunker on the right and the lake that comes into play on the approach. The safe play for the approach is to the left side and takes the lake and bunker out of play.
The 7th Hole is the 2nd Par 3 on the front side and is affectionately nicknamed “The Chute”. Beautiful mature trees run all the way up the left side to the green and with OB on the right, accuracy is a must! A short iron in hand means that birdie is always a possibility, but beware any shot off target!
The 8th Hole is a beautifully framed Par 4 with stadium mounds and trees down both sides of an inviting fairway. A good drive leaves a straight-forward approach to an elevated two-tiered green. Par can be made left, right or short, but any miss long will result in a tough chip back up the hill from under the signature oak tree, and with OB close behind the green, going long is not the play!
The 9th Hole is a beautiful way to finish the front nine! This challenging Par 4 is a dog-leg right and favors a left-to-right ball shape off the tee. One of the larger lakes at The Palms runs from the right side of the fairway all the way up to the green, so although the left side of the fairway may result in a little longer approach, it certainly is the safer play. The approach shot provides a view of the 9th green, putting area and clubhouse as a backdrop, and with a steeply undulating green, keeping the ball below the hole is a must.
The 10th Hole at The Palms is a scenic and challenging Par 3 overlooking the aquatic driving range and practice facilities. As one of the longer Par 3’s, it features a large green with many challenging pin placements. When the pin is in the back right, birdies can be tough to come by, especially with the bunker protecting the right side.
The 11th Hole is a short Par 4 with a slight dog-leg to the left. Trees protect that left side and although the green will be drivable for many, it’s size and location will require an accurate tee shot to have a go at eagle! Any approach that finds the green will make birdie a realistic possibility.
The 12th Hole is a Par 3 that features the largest green on the course and one of the most stunning approaches. From the tee, players will need to avoid the beautiful oak on the right and the devilishly placed bunker in front of the green. Pin placement here is key as the green slopes down on each side from the center and being on the right side of the pin is key!
The Par 3, 13th Hole takes a slight turn to the left and plays a little downhill from the elevated tee. Any shot on the green is a good shot and will make birdie a possibility, but the 13th is not without any defenses! The green features a false front and some tricky undulation and OB comes in quickly with any miss to the left.
The Par 3, 14th Hole is framed by two bunkers and beautiful mature trees behind the green. Water on the right in not typically in play, and the 14th will reward a good approach with a good chance at birdie.
The 15th Hole is a Par 3 that captures the beauty and nature of The Palms! Water runs up the lake and across the hole requiring a short carry to the green. Beautiful oaks, and a view of the 16th and 17th Holes highlight this scenic Par 3. One of the larger greens on the course, birdie is always in play here with a good approach, but beware of the water left and long, and the OB on the right.
The 16th Hole is a signature Par 3 at The Palms. Don’t let the short yardage deceive you, this hole can be downright “evil” and will take more than its fair share of golf balls. The green is situated on the opposite side of the creek and any ball hit short, will find the hazard. Danger lurks to the left and right and any ball over the green will require a delicate downhill chip with the water waiting on the other side.
The Par 3, 17th Hole is a perfect example of the beauty of the course. Palm trees surround the tee and beautiful mature oak trees guard the left side and frame the back of the green. There’s no bailout here with a sand trap guarding the left side and a deep grass bunker on the right side of the green. The green also features multiple tiers, undulations. and a false front that will collect balls that don’t make it all the way on the putting surface.
The 18th Hole is a straight away Par 4 that much like the 1st Hole, offers some risk and reward for the long ball hitters. The green can be driven, but any drive left of the center of the fairway could feed its way down to the pond that protects the green. The right side features stadium mounds, but is the safer play as you approach the final green. Right behind the 18th green will be the site of the future permanent Clubhouse where our members and guests can enjoy a meal and beverages while watching other players bring it home on 18.