Legends-Heathland

One of the three well-respected courses at Legends Resort, the Heathland Course is a homage to many of the great courses of Great Britain and Ireland, undertaken by world-renowned golf course architect Tom Doak.

The course opened in 1990 and represents one of Doak’s earliest solo design efforts. In the last decade and a half, Doak’s profile has risen greatly, with great accolades rolling in by the dozen for his courses at Bandon Dunes in Oregon, Barnbougle Dunes in Tasmania, Cape Kidnappers in New Zealand and Ballyneal in Colorado. The Heathland Course at Legends Resort incorporates Doak’s trademark minimalist philosophy, which harkens back to the game’s roots. Heathland has a relatively small amount of water, bunkers that are strategically and judiciously placed, and large greens that feature undulations that constitute equal parts fun and challenge. It is a rare golf course that entertains both the beginner and the experienced player, but Heathland is absolutely such a course.

One of many holes at Heathland that show this great duality of playability and challenge is the 7th, a par five based loosely on the famous Road Hole 17th at The Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland. Unlike its inspiration, Heathland’s 7th plays as a par five, but a reachable one. It has a wide fairway that allows the uncertain player to swing with confidence. The challenge mostly comes at the greensite, where a deep pot bunker chews into the middle of the left side of the two-tiered putting surface. Lucky for higher-handicappers, there is plenty of room to the right of the green to play safe. Two good shots to this point leave an interesting but manageable up-and-down for a birdie. The tiger golfer can challenge the Road Hole bunker with an aggressive second shot in order to try and make eagle…or end up in trouble and be lucky to make bogey.