Last weekend, a few friends and I made the “short” drive out to Minneola for a round of golf at Sugarloaf Mountain. The course, which sits on some of the highest land on the Florida peninsula (excludes the panhandle), is the heart of a new community that appears to be in dire need of a comeback in the housing market. While residents are few and far between, many other golfers found there way to this course that makes beautiful use of the hills that overlook Lake Apopka.

One of my favorite holes is the par-4 fourteenth (pictured above), which includes a sharp dogleg right that requires a solid tee-shot over a hazard and a precise approach to a green surrounded by bunkers. The course requires a lot of precision and some touch around the greens, which often include dramatic slopes that can send balls rolling away.

If you’re heading to Sugarloaf Mountain from the south (West Colonial / Highway 50), you’ll pass by the more-exclusive golf community of Bella Colina. From the road, you can see part of the course and the absolutely amazing clubhouse that’s been built for the members.

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