Heritage Plantation Golf & Country Club

Heritage Plantation Golf & Country Club: Although located about 40 miles from the coast, and an hours' drive from Destin, Heritage Plantation is an exciting and relatively new golf course to visit - tucked away in a quiet, pristine pine forest, with often significantly undulating terrain, the course fits effortlessly into its undulating, woodland setting - two anti-clockwise loops of holes take you on an expansive journey through the forest, with little housing yet to be seen (no doubt it will arrive in time, but looks like it will be set well back from the course) - pronounced elevation changes and avenues of tall majestic pines create a wonderfully natural environment - in addition to the rolling terrain, the golfing challenges are stylishly supported by distinctive circular bunkers and large, round, subtly sloping greens - around the putting surfaces a mix of excellent bunkering, slick run-off areas and longer, more clinging rough all play their part - water and wetlands make a few telling appearances, most notably with small ponds flanking the greens of the par-4 10th, the stunning par-3 14th and long par-4 18th - the par-4 16th is one of several holes played from a scenically elevated tee and requiring a testing carry over wetlands - its well worth a detour off the Pensacola to Tallahassee Interstate or driving up from Destin to play this beautifully crafted collection of golf holes - you can be excused for thinking you've arrived in Carolina rather than in the hinterland of Florida's Emerald Coast.