Played CG National at 8AM on 4/13. As I wrote in my CG International review the clubhouse, range, and amenities at this course are absolutely unbelievable! Driving range is top notch, especially if yo... Continue »

Played CG National at 8AM on 4/13. As I wrote in my CG International review the clubhouse, range, and amenities at this course are absolutely unbelievable! Driving range is top notch, especially if you are able to sneak into the Leadbetter Academy and look at their "pot bunker greens." On to the course:

While the International is a links style course, the National is more of a traditional parkland course with trees, hills, and water on just about every hole. The course grabs your attention right away with an incredibly difficult first hole (no clue where to bail out there, just hit your drive deep down the middle and pray). There are a few quirky holes, like the technically driveable par 4 5th (300ish yards) but they let the marsh grass grow to about 8-9 feet and you can't see the landing area so it's really not practical to hit anything more than a 5 iron and the par 3 14th where the tee box is directly behind a palm tree (cut that tree down or move the tee box!). But overall, Greg Norman designed a beauty here.

The course doesn't drain nearly as well as it's sister, as there were all kinds of standing water from the overnight rains, especially around marshes and low points of the course (which are there are many). However, the greens rolled very nicely, very consistent and comfortable.

Overall it's a great course, not quite on par with the International, but you won't be disappointed.