Key West Golf Club
Key West Golf Club, is a Public, 18 hole golf course located in Key West, Florida.
Designed in 1924 by William Langford and renovated by famed architect Rees Jones in 1983, this 6,500-yard layout is fun as Jones leaves most greens open in front. Fairways are generous, except for par-4 holes 6, 7, and 17, where a chute of fairways surrounded by mangroves and water makes for crowded tee shots. Otherwise, blast away.
Greens are not overly large, and because undulation is mild, Jones leaves many pin positions available to spice up the variety on the fast and true putting surfaces.
Most par 3s are difficult, beginning with the 139-yard 5th, where waving seagrasses frame the water’s edge and bunkers are planted on either side of the green. At the aptly named 8th hole, "Mangrove," those native trees are all that’s visible between you and the flag, save for the pinnacle of green protruding slightly above them. The hole isn’t long, just all carry. Shorter hitters may still have trouble at 129 yards, though a drop area behind the green offers relief. The 140-yard 16th, 76 yards at the forward tees, is also an all-carry par three surrounded by bunkers, but hitting it over may anger long-suffering homeowners directly behind the green.
The forward tees, at 5,000 yards, offer an ideal opportunity to score for those who don’t hit it a mile, or even for anyone who may have overly indulged at the hundreds of watering holes only a few miles down the road.
The course is always busy in-season, averaging 250 rounds per day from Dec. 26 through Easter. Tee times are scarce, with reservations highly recommended for you. However, walk-ons sometimes get lucky.
Most play comes from tourists, and in a nod to travelers’ woes from checking golf bags, both in expense and apprehension for on-time and unscathed arrival, Key West GC offers an excellent rental program. For $50, golfers get a full bag of quality Cleveland Golf clubs, with 100 new sets arriving every year.
Rates are comparable to most Florida courses. In-season runs from November through April with greens fees, including cart, at $125 plus tax. The off-season is May through October with 18-hole fees at $99. Twilight rates generously begin at 1 p.m. with super-twilight after 4 p.m. for $99 and $75, respectively. Juniors under 18 are $59, and riders are $30.
Yearly, Monroe County residential, snowbird, and summer memberships are available and offer walking instead of mandatory carts before 8:30 a.m. and after 2 p.m. Other perks include 9-hole options, discounted greens fees, and guest rates.