Bent Pine Golf Club – Florida’s ‘No Tee Time’ Golf Club

The Sunshine State may be regarded universally as a premier golf destination, but with over a thousand Floridian courses it is little surprise that there are several treasures which are yet to be truly discovered. Bent Pine Golf Club is one such course.

Described by Links Magazine as one of “Golf’s Best Kept Secrets,” Bent Pine must be considered among this select group. First time visitors are spell-bound both by the course’s idyllic location and the diverse array of championship golf holes on offer.

How it all began

Have you ever been fed-up being unable to get a tee time at your course? Well the guys behind Bent Pine were. In the 1970s, few members of a local club, John’s Island, had had enough of not being able to get onto their course and decided to change things. They got together and decided to build a unique new type of club.

The result was Bent Pine and the unique twist of the club is that you cannot book a tee time. This is something the club is very proud of. When you show up to play it’s just first come first on. If you show up and the course is busy, the diligent staff will find a hole for you to start your round or you can always head to the superb practice facilities. The club operates this policy comfortably with a maximum of 290 Members.

A true Floridian hidden gem

Tucked away in a secluded pine enclave, Bent Pine Golf Club has played host to six U. S. Open qualifiers. It’s consequently little surprise that the course poses a challenging test for even the most skilled of golfers, with lakes, trees, and the course’s characteristic “Tif-Eagle” greens taxing every aspect of a player’s game.

The mature parkland track opened for play in 1979. The course gained its name from the distinctive tree on the eighteenth fairway. Native Americans used to literally bend trees in order to map out trails. Many have been cleared through the years but this beautiful example remains and gave rise to the club’s name.

Kenny Perry

The course was also home to Kenny Perry. He worked at Bent Pine as a bag boy and members clubbed together to help fund his development onto the PGA TOUR. There is even a gold-plated putter in the clubhouse that he donated to the club after his John Deere Classic win in 2008. The putter was given to him by one of Bent Pine’s first members Mr. Paul Hargarten (92 years old and still playing). He even has his own set of tees at the club that you can play if you’re feeling strong.

Perry would go on to play on two successful Ryder Cup teams in 2004 and 2008. He also won 14 PGA Tour events and 8 Champions Tour events. It’s no wonder that Bent Pine Golf Club are proud of their famous bag boy.

The course

An early design from Joe Lee, who would go on to mould several of Florida’s top courses, Bent Pine is set in prime golfing terrain, among Florida pines and citrus groves. The serenity of the location is enhanced by eight scenic lakes, as well as immaculately manicured greens and fairways.

The signature hole is the goose-necked par-5, fourteenth hole. Beginning from an elevated tee, the player must navigate two separate lakes with their opening and approach shots. Long hitters can endeavour to make the green in two, although only two perfect shots will reach the green.

The eighteenth is another gem. A par-5 which carves its way through the pines, players must contend with a rare double dogleg. The famous signature Bent Pine finds many tee shots that wander left, while the lake which runs along the right-side of the green is ready to capture the ball of anyone who fails to commit to their final approach shot.

Bent Pine Golf Club

The club is rightly renowned for the warmth of its welcome. The Bent Pine Team are wonderfully attentive and know members by name. In fact, prospective members are even matched up with like-minded current members for a round before they commit to the club.

This inviting ambience can be best experienced from the Clubhouse, be it from a sophisticated fireside spot in the lounge or on the formal terrace, which looks out across the tree-lined fairways of the ninth and eighteenth holes.

The food at the club is highly celebrated, and rightly so. In fact, many people take the option of the social membership so they can use the clubhouse and eat some of the wonderful food. There are many social activities for the non-golfer including yoga, book clubs, card groups and wine societies.

How to find this gem

Located in Vero Beach, which was virtually uninhabited when the course was conceived, the area has now become a haven for golfers, watersports enthusiasts and fishers. In fact, golfers can take a break to fish on the course whilst they play!

This is a private course. However, if you want the full Florida golf club experience then Bent Pine comes highly recommended!