Wekiva Golf Club in Longwood, Florida, has a very interesting history. Before there was even a thought about turning this rugged, natural piece of land into a golf club/community, the property functioned as a hunting club and was often referred to as “Wekiva Hunt Club” or “Fox Hunt.”
In 1972, this 138-acre piece of land was purchased for $4 million. At the time, it was the largest all-cash land deal in the history of Seminole County. Visionary planner Harlan Hanson helped shape the master-planned community that would follow, blending residential life while preserving the land’s natural beauty.
In its early years, the golf course was the centerpiece of the developing Wekiva neighborhood and served both residents and outsiders wanting to tee it up.
From 1976 until 1998, the course was owned by Kayo and Ola Bowman and hosted prestigious events, including the 1978 PGA Tour qualifying school and various professional mini tours.
The year 2004 saw the rise of a local golf course ownership company that was purchasing underperforming golf courses. The Golf Group, Inc was led by local Orlando businessman Robert Dello Russo and purchased The Country Club of Deer Run, Casselberry Golf Club, Country Club of Mount Dora, Rock Springs Ridge Golf Club, and Twin Rivers Golf Club.
In 2004, they added Wekiva Golf Club to their portfolio. The Golf Group made some major upgrades to the course, including a greens renovation in 2012 when Champions Bermuda grass was installed.
In 2021, Dello Russo passed away from complications due to COVID-19. Shortly after his death, Seminole County purchased the club and has been running it ever since. The County is committed to keeping the space operating and functioning as a public golf course.
Since assuming ownership, the County has upgraded the storm systems to prevent flooding and sinkhole damage, ensuring the course’s longevity in the Wekiva Protection Area, and has installed a completely new irrigation system.
Wekiva Golf Club was designed by Ward Northrup and renovated by Florida native Ron Garl in 2005. Northrup is best known for fitting a golf course into its natural landscape and using treed corridors and bunkers in place of water hazards. This is evident at Wekiva, where golfers who favor shot shaping and ball positioning over a grip-it-and-rip-it approach will fare much better.
Wekiva offers golfers five sets of tees and can be played anywhere from 4,593 yards from the forward tees to 6,801 yards from the championship markers. The course was carved from a forest of mature oaks, pines, and palms near the Wekiva River basin. There are no parallel fairways, and the dense vegetation makes each hole feel self-contained and creates a sense of intimacy. With over 80 bunkers, accurate approach shots are rewarded more than short-game creativity.
Wekiva is best known for its tree-lined fairways, which create narrow driving corridors on many holes. Several holes feature subtle elevation changes and rolling fairways, a feature lacking in the majority of Florida courses.
Wekiva Golf Club is full of memorable holes; here are my top five.
No. 8 is a 394-yard dogleg par 4 from the green Tees. The tree-lined fairway and a right-side bunker make accurate tee shots crucial. A solid drive to the corner leaves a long approach to a narrow green guarded by bunkers front right and back left. Subtle green undulations can be tricky, and there’s no clear bailout area.
The 11th is a narrow, tree-lined dogleg left, with trees on either side in the landing area off the tee, making it even smaller! From the green Tees, this 393-yard hole might require you to lay up short of the trees on both sides, possibly meaning you’ll need to use a fairway wood off the tee. Either way, you’re looking at a mid- to long-iron into the green, which is angled and protected by bunkers in the front-left and back-right.
No. 14, at 416 yards, stands as the longest par 4 on the golf course and is rated as the fourth most challenging hole. The layout is straight, bordered by trees along both sides of the fairway and featuring a strategically positioned fairway bunker to the left off the tee. Additional trees narrow the approach to the green, creating further obstacles for golfers. The green itself is safeguarded by bunkers situated on either side.
The 17th is regarded as Wekiva’s signature hole and is one of only two holes where water presents a notable challenge. From the green Tees, this par 3 measures 136 yards over water to an angled green, which is further protected by a deep bunker positioned between the water and the putting surface. The putting surface slopes from back to front, making it advantageous to position your ball for an uphill putt.
The final hole at Wekiva Golf Club is a demanding par 4, measuring 368 yards from the green Tees. Water, previously encountered on the 17th, reappears on the right side, complemented by fairway bunkers flanking both sides of the landing area. An accurate drive that navigates between these hazards will set up a short iron or pitch shot into a green bordered by bunkers in front and on either side.
This closing hole provides both challenge and distinction to the conclusion of your round.
Before you tee off, warm up on Wekiva’s driving range, where you can hit every club in the bag, and stroke a few putts on the practice putting green. Afterwards, stop by the Wekiva Grill, where you can grab a light lunch and enjoy your favorite cold beverage with friends.
Memberships are also available with Single Memberships starting at $150/ month and Couples Memberships for $175. Family and Junior Memberships are also available.
This is definitely not the longest course you’ll ever play, but what it lacks in length it more than makes up for in accuracy. Subtle doglegs and angled greens emphasize shot shaping, and while there aren’t many water hazards, there are over 80 bunkers that you’ll need to avoid.
At Wekiva Golf Club, there’s something for everyone, regardless of how good – or bad – you are. Skilled players will be challenged by the angular greens while working on distance control, ball position, and accuracy.
With very few water hazards, beginners can play the course without fretting over excessive forced carries, reduced penalty strokes, and a faster-paced round. Wekiva may not get as much notoriety as some of the resort courses and championship venues in the area, but the fact that it has been a well-maintained and continually playable course for more than 50 years is a testament to its durability.
For more information on what Wekiva Golf Club has to offer, visit them at www.wekivagc.com.