Candler Hills Golf Club

In middle of Ocala’s horse country, you will find a true gem worth getting off the saddle for: $29 for 18 Holes with Cart and Range Balls at Candler Hills Golf Club in Ocala ($75 value. Includes Tax. Good Any Day, Any Time until June 1, 2012.)

Candler Hills Golf Club, with its elegant Palm Springs-style landscaping, is an oasis just outside the I-75 corridor. While known for its generous fairways and big greens, the picturesque scenery ties it all together for a warm atmosphere in which to enjoy a round of golf. Surrounded by all the beauty of Central Florida, golfers will enjoy the rolling terrain dotted with southern pine trees. The distinct landscaping is unlike any other and Candler Hills is unique in that you will find no water here. That’s right — no drop balls and no alligators!

The par-72 championship course at Candler Hills is a masterpiece designed by renowned golf course architect Gordon Lewis of Naples, Florida. From the back tees, Candler Hills Golf Club measures a massive 7,233 yards, and is also home to Florida’s longest par-5, the 662-yard No. 4. The beautifully manicured course provides a challenge for beginners and experts alike. Golfers can choose any of Candler Hill’s five sets of tees, so this golfer’s paradise allows for any level of golfer to enjoy one of Florida’s bests.

The wide-open areas of Candler Hill can be slightly deceiving to golfers and provides a challenge to all. The notorious wind breathes life into the layout, which can be a friend to some and a tricky advisory to others. "You get out on No. 1 and you say, 'I'm going to shoot 62,'" says Brian Boeling, PGA, the course's Director of Golf for On Top Of The World Communities. "Then you get the wind in your face, and it's a different story."

Candler Hills is home to a state-of-the-art practice facility which offers lessons from both PGA and LPGA professionals, as well as a fully stocked pro shop open seven days a week. It is the only semi-private course of the three sister courses of the Top of the World Community, and is also the home of the Ocala Open. Whether you come in for lunch or cocktails and a light dinner, you are sure to be impressed with gorgeous views of the greens and the delicious menu offerings of the Candler Hills Restaurant.

So what are you waiting for; the Gordon Lewis challenge of Central Florida awaits you on the wide fairways of Candler Hills Golf Club.