Nestled in Vero Beach, Florida, the West Course at Johns Island Club stands as a testament to Tom Fazio’s masterful design. Established in 1988, this par-72, 6,822-yard course, boasting a rating of 73.2 and a slope of 138, consistently ranks as a favorite among those fortunate enough to experience it. Often whispered about but rarely shouted from the rooftops, Johns Island Club West Course is a true hidden gem in the Florida golfing landscape, deserving of far more recognition.
A Closer Look at Johns Island Club West Course
Johns Island Club itself is synonymous with exclusivity and luxury, and the West Course perfectly embodies this ethos. Designed by the renowned Tom Fazio, the course is meticulously maintained and offers a challenging yet rewarding experience for golfers of all skill levels. While the scorecard provides the basic statistics, it’s the strategic design and stunning visuals that truly set this course apart.
Course Overview: By the Numbers
Before diving into the details of specific holes, let’s take a moment to appreciate the overall layout of Johns Island Club West Course. The scorecard and routing maps provide essential information for planning your round.
The Ambiance of Exclusivity: Clubhouse and Entrance
The experience at Johns Island Club begins long before you reach the first tee. The clubhouse exudes understated elegance, and the entrance itself speaks volumes about the exclusivity of the club. This isn’t a course you stumble upon; it’s a destination meticulously sought out.
Signature Holes of the West Course
While every hole at Johns Island Club West Course offers its own unique challenges and beauty, certain holes stand out as particularly memorable, showcasing Fazio’s design brilliance.
Hole 3: A Strategic Par 4 Demanding Precision
The 3rd hole, a 402-yard par 4, immediately grabs your attention. It’s a hole that demands strategic thinking from the tee box to the green. The fairway bunkering is ingeniously designed to play tricks on the eye, with staggered bunkers creating an illusion of symmetry. The ideal line, flirting with the left bunkers, is fraught with risk as the fairway subtly slopes left, penalizing anything too aggressive.
Even a well-placed drive leaves an intimidating approach to a green complex that is fiercely protected. A significant drop-off to the left and a deep bunker on the same side guard the green, while the front features a false front capable of sending balls rolling back down the fairway.
Hole 4: A Robust Par 5 Focused on the Green Approach
Stretching to 535 yards, the 4th hole is a formidable par 5 where the green site takes center stage. The tee shot, despite the visual distractions of water and strategically placed bunkers, is surprisingly generous.
However, the challenge escalates with the approach. Laying up on the right side presents a more demanding second shot, while those attempting to reach the green in two will also find the angle from the right more favorable.
The approach to the green is significantly uphill, demanding accuracy and distance control. Deep bunkers guard the left side of the green, making the approach shot all the more intimidating.
Despite its challenging approach, the green itself is relatively flat and larger than it initially appears from the fairway.
Hole 6: A Strategic Par 5 with a Unique Fairway Shape
The second of four demanding par 5s, the 6th hole at 525 yards presents a fairway shaped like an hourglass. This design demands careful consideration of shot length from the tee, rewarding precision and strategy.
Tee shots landing between 220 and 270 yards will find the widest part of the fairway, offering a relatively straightforward start to the hole. However, the ideal line favors the left side, which is more challenging to reach due to the land’s contour and out-of-bounds stakes.
The second shot provides options: lay up short of the trees or venture left to a hidden lower fairway.
Laying up to the trees offers a level lie and equal elevation for the approach, but requires navigating overhanging branches.
The view from the lower fairway reveals the strategic advantage of this bolder play.
The approach shot from the lower fairway is played to a green guarded by significant drop-offs and deep bunkers on both sides, adding to the hole’s challenge and aesthetic appeal.
Hole 8: A Tempting Short Par 4 with Hidden Challenges
At 336 yards, the par-4 8th hole is shorter and invites aggression off the tee. While the left side offers ample room, the right side presents an intriguing risk-reward scenario, tempting golfers to cut the corner.
The green is nestled within a punchbowl setting and features a unique shape with two arms extending to the left, demanding precise approach shots.
Holes 10, 11, and 12: A Trio of Exceptional Par 4s
The stretch of holes 10 through 12 is arguably the most compelling and diverse on the West Course, showcasing strategic design and demanding accuracy.
Hole 10: A Masterpiece of Strategic Design
The 402-yard par-4 10th is a standout hole. A centerline bunker dissects the 70-yard wide fairway, creating distinct strategic options. Playing short of the bunker leaves a longer approach, while challenging the bunker narrows the fairway but offers a downhill lie for the approach.
The fairway subtly slopes to the left, making approaches from the left side more challenging. The right side provides a better angle and view of the green.
Successfully carrying the centerline bunker rewards golfers with a significantly shorter approach.
Adding to the visual intimidation, a bunker and scrub area guards the left side of the fairway, reminiscent of the famed Sand Hills #11.
The green complex is well-protected and subtly contoured, demanding precision on approach shots.
Hole 11: A Short Par 4 with a Deceptive Green
The 11th hole, a short par 4 playing under 300 yards, entices golfers to attempt driving the green. A large waste bunker guards the left, making the safer play to the right, where the fairway is wider and offers a better approach angle.
The green, surprisingly flat for a short par 4, is deceptively protected by a deep bunker and a significant drop-off over the back, making recovery from over the green nearly impossible.
Hole 12: The Toughest Test on the Back Nine
The 12th, a 406-yard par 4, is considered the most challenging hole on the back nine. It’s a dogleg right that tempts golfers to cut the corner, but the wiser play is down the left side of the fairway.
Approaching from the right side leaves a shorter shot but a more difficult angle, especially to back pin positions.
The green is a formidable fortress, sloping severely back-to-front with a central tier and guarded on three sides by deep bunkers and slopes, demanding an extremely precise approach.
Hole 15: A Short Par 4 with a Blind Uphill Approach
The 15th, another short par 4 under 300 yards, presents a unique challenge. A prominent waste area and deep bunker guard the left, while a solitary tree protects the right side of the green.
Lay-up tee shots result in an uphill approach to a green that is completely hidden from the fairway, adding to the difficulty.
Tee shots drifting too far right must contend with the strategically placed tree, forcing players to navigate over, under, or around it.
The green is elevated with a steep bank in front, requiring approach shots to be flown onto the surface.
A fairway-cut chipping area to the right of the green adds another layer of difficulty for errant approaches.
The deep greenside bunker is a stark reminder of the penalties for imprecise shots.
The green itself features a significant tier, separating the front and back portions, demanding precise distance control.
The green also extends beyond the deep bunkering at the back, offering challenging pin positions.
Hole 17: A Truly Unique and Unforgettable Par 5
The 17th hole, a 472-yard par 5, is arguably the most distinctive and memorable hole on the course, and perhaps one of the most unique you’ll ever encounter. The bunkering immediately challenges golfers to cut the corner off the tee, a carry of 230 yards over the longest bunker.
The second shot is truly exceptional, presenting a choice between a direct line to the green on the right or a more circuitous route to the left, around a large dune, sand, and tree formation in the center of the fairway.
An ideal tee shot followed by a bold second shot up the right leaves an exhilarating approach through a chute to the green.
Golfers opting to lay up can choose the right side, playing over a waste area for their approach.
An ideal tee shot up the right side offers a clear view for the approach from around 125 yards.
Lay-ups towards the dune island result in a blind and challenging approach.
The landing area for lay-ups to the left provides a different angle into the green.
The approach from the left layup area offers a unique perspective of the green.
The green’s contours are reminiscent of Kingsley’s 9th, with distinct low points encouraging strategic approaches from different angles.
Looking back towards the left fairway reveals the strategic choices presented on this remarkable hole.
And looking back towards the right fairway further emphasizes the dual fairway design.
A closer look at the dune island in the center highlights its strategic importance and visual appeal.
A hidden back bunker awaits any shots hit long, adding one final layer of challenge.
A final view from behind the 17th green showcases the hole’s overall strategic brilliance and beauty.
Hole 18: A Picturesque and Demanding Finishing Hole
The 18th hole, a 381-yard par 4, provides a fitting conclusion to a round at Johns Island Club West Course. While the tee view might appear intimidating, there is more room to the right than initially meets the eye.
Longer hitters might attempt to challenge the bunkers on the left, but a safer play down the right opens up the fairway.
The approach shot is played to a green set in a beautiful setting, but it is also demanding. Missing short is the only safe option, as right is definitely to be avoided.
From just short of the green, a unique sand ridge running along the left side becomes apparent, adding to the visual interest and challenge.
Views from behind the severely angled green showcase its contours and the surrounding beauty, providing a memorable final impression of Johns Island Club West Course.
Final Thoughts on Johns Island Club West Course
Johns Island Club West Course is more than just a round of golf; it’s an experience. From the moment you enter the grounds to the final putt on the 18th green, you are immersed in a world of golfing excellence. Tom Fazio’s design is both challenging and fair, rewarding strategic play and precise execution. It’s a course that deserves to be discussed among the finest in Florida, and a must-play for any serious golfer seeking an exceptional and underrated golfing experience. If you have the opportunity to play Johns Island Club West Course, don’t hesitate – you’ll discover why it’s a favorite and a true gem in the world of golf.
