Briarwood & Walnut Grove Courses (The Villages) ☆ Follow

Briarwood is a par 27 executive course with 9 holes that plays 950 yards from the front tees and 1,461 yards from the back tees. Designed by Clifton, Ezell & Clifton and opened in 2001, the course is located on the northern edge of The Villages, adjacent to the Nancy Lopez Legacy Championship Course. Briarwood features rolling pastures and numerous water hazards and wetlands that golfers must carry from the tees to reach large, sloping greens.

The course is characterized by its challenging layout and significant distances between holes. The signature ninth hole stretches 206 yards from the back tees and is guarded by massive bunkers on the left, with trees on the right, making it one of the most difficult par 3s in The Villages. Multiple bunkers protect greens throughout the course, and the undulating green surfaces require precise putting. Water carries and length from the back tees present particular challenges for longer hitters.

Briarwood shares operational facilities with its sister course, Walnut Grove, with both courses using the same starter shack. Golfers can play from three sets of tees, allowing for varying difficulty levels. The course is part of The Villages Executive Golf Trail, a network of nine-hole par 27 courses exclusive to residents and authorized guests.