Waterlefe Golf & River Club

5 stars be the design, maintenance, and shear beauty of this course
What a really nice course with a lot of challenging holes surrounded by water, sand, woods, and beautiful homes. Many holes are hidden and require a wooden bridge/​path just to get to the tee box. Blind greens and mangrove pitfalls are a few of the other challenges here as well. Don’t be fooled, Greenfield Plantation (nearby) is nothing compared to this beautiful place. Great rates and super friendly service as well!

Pros: 8 handicapper. Course handles rain drainage very well. Greens roll true at a med to fast speed. Fairways are cut nicely and divots are smooth like butter. Location is amazing with luxury housing and most holes surrounded by waterway scenery. If you like water holes than this is your course. Free ice water and cart GPS is a bonus.
Cons: Be prepared to lose golf balls. This course is not for a high to mid handicapper unless you don’t mind donating balls into the drink. Driving range is over a pond. Some of the holes look like they crammed them into the waterways running out of land. Many of the greens are postage stamp areas making GIRs tough. Very tough course but worth the $ 42 I paid. I recommend playing it at least once. I probably will not play it again but recommend University Park in Bradenton for a true 5 star experience.

Unfortunately, a major thunderstorm pushed me off the course and sent me home as I stood on the 11^th tee.
I found Waterlefe to have less water in play than its reputation and thought some course design aspects were rather creative. For example, some tee boxes are in really interesting spots and playing from the back tees can really stretch this course out and bring in some long forced carries. (#9 is a Par 3 and playing that one from the back tee ranks right up there with the toughest tee shots in Central Florida)
Tees, fairways and greens all in very good condition as were the carts, ice machines and clubhouse.
One of the most interesting driving ranges I’ve seen in a long time. While I’m not personally a fan of floater ranges where every shot is hit into water, this one is tucked between the road to get to the course and the cart path to get out to the back nine. When I say «tucked,» I mean it. Looks a little tight and there are more than a few range balls to the right of that cart path as I drove out to the 10^th tee.
Nice people working here. The GM came from Black Diamond when it was considered the top place to play in the Tampa Bay area and an employee in the pro shop gave me a full raincheck to come back on my next visit based on the powerful lightning that pushed me off the course.

The golf is great! Pretty course and challenging with topography. Bring extra balls!!! The housing… not so much. Water problems abound… beware. Almost purchased there, but thankfully I didn’t. And with the new Ft. Hamer bridge being built, noise and traffic will now be an issue. River Wilderness Golf & Country Club is a much better choice!

This golf course is in a golf community developed by WCI. They always do it right. It is used heavily by members in the winter months but they go north in the summer so open tee times and good rates for locals In the off season. It has a driving range, dining room, nice clubhouse (stocked well for the ladies also) and very friendly staff. It is laid out well so you are only a few steps from everything. The course is accommodating to average golfer but has a few challenging holes & lots of water.