Legends Golf Club - Clermont

Legends Golf Club was designed by the golf team of Clifton, Ezell, and Clifton, a team that is well know for its solid and populist golf courses in Orlando. Located in Lake County near Clermont, Legends takes advantage of the topography that includes natural elevations and no wetlands. Being relatively treeless and containing an undulating landscape, Legends is a visually stunning course and provides gorgeous panoramic views of the surrounding hills. In addition, its cousin courses of the Palisades, Kings Ridge, and Diamond Players Club Clermont are all within a short distance of Legends.

Once considered to a rarity in the otherwise flat Florida gold courses, Legends contains rolling topography similar to what is found in the Midwest. While many of the views do look over the Lennar Homes development surrounding the courses, there are still plenty of beautiful views over Lake Louisa and looking over the rural distance.

Legends is 6,911 yards and isn’t particularly difficult nor amazing. Nonetheless, it does offer a modest test of a golfer’s abilities. Despite being created mostly for the locals, legends does host tournaments and serious players. Its hilly movement, combined with its clean and fresh presentation, is its primary draw.

When playing at Legends, you will find that you have plenty of fairway and that most of the hazards are to the sides. For the most part, the course is straightforward and requires very little strategy, with the exceptions of holes 5, 14, and 16. In addition, the holes are not framed or artificially built up, but they are still quite attractive. Similarly, some of the mid-sized greens contain do contain prodigious breaks, but they are generally managed quite well.

Hole 5, which is 393 yards, is probably the best hole Legends has to offer. The downhill dogleg left, the surrounding hills, the elevation, and the view that is long from the tee all add to the challenge. Don’t make the mistake of taking the bunker at the inside corner lightly. If you don’t land it correctly, you will be at a poor angle for your next shot. The best angle is from the right, but an additional bunker guarding the landing area makes it more difficult. The approach is also downhill and quite intense, making the distance difficult to gauge.

The 551 yard hold 14 has a broad fairway, which runs slightly uphill from the tee. Approximately 100 yards from the green, you will find that the second play levels to a brow and falls over a ridge. Here, you will find a tight green, but a bunker and a deep hazard stand in the way to the left. Try keeping your shot to the right for the best chance at getting through. If you don’t, it will be difficult to get to the sunken green and to see the front pin.

The 427 yard par 4 hole 15 provides a slight dogleg left at a classic angle. The wide and guarded fairway is also guarded at the sides with bunkers. Most players attempt to go down the right where there is the most room, but this will make your second shot long and uphill over a bunker. Instead, you should play down the left toward the bend in the dogleg. Although this can be a riskier option, it will save yards and get you open to the left side.

Since Legends is known for its par three holes, it is only fair to mention a couple of them. Hole 4 is a 196 yarder that will have you shooting over a chasm onto a shelved green cut into a hillside. You will also spot plenty of oaks and pines on either side of the putting surface, which will give you a one-chance shot and getting it in. Hole 13 is a 199 yard tee that shoots over a depression. Hole 15, which you will be able to spot from Highway 27, requires you to make a short shot over a pond containing a two-tiered green as well as the “Legends” sign.

Legends is located west of Highway 27, four miles south of Highway 50. To get more information, call (352) 243-1118.