The King & Bear In St. Augustine at World Golf Village, Florida Golf Magazine

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FLORIDA GOLF COURSE ARCHITECTURE

“The King” Arnold Palmer, seen here at the 18th Green, of the King & Bear, with the King & Bear Clubhouse in background.

In St. Augustine at World Golf Village:
The King & Bear

	Written By Co-Designer, Arnold Palmer
Jack and I were excited about working on this project together because of the beautiful venue and its affiliation with a great project like The World Golf Village. The holes at The King & The Bear have a variety and blend of Jack’s and my ideas that resulted in an example of golf course architecture that may not be attempted again. At first glance, there are many holes that seem to favor the Palmer draw or the Nicklaus fade. But after playing them, especially during certain wind conditions, it is apparent that the holes blend the two styles. The 1st and 9th holes are good examples. Both set up for the fade from the tee and the 2nd shot to the green, but when the prevailing wind is up, a draw may be the better choice. I believe that holes #4, 9, and 16 would probably be considered Jack’s favorites, and #5, 13, and 15 might be considered mine. We both really like the 18th. A Jack Nicklaus favorite, #4 is a 383 yard par 4, slight dog leg right that tempts one to use a driver from the tee. A lay-up to a narrow fairway with water left and bunkers right is the smart play. The left side of the narrow contoured green is guarded by a huge live oak. The oak makes the right side next to the fairway bunker an ideal tee shot. The 546 yard, par 5, #5 hole is a true risk / reward golf hole. The tee shot sets up the entire hole. A safe tee shot left of the lake creates a three shot par 5. The perfect bold drive over the lake, aimed over the right corner of the bunker will leave a second shot of 170 yards to the green. Another of Jack’s favorites is the 448 yard, par 4 #9 hole. This long par 4 is the number one handicap for good reason. The toughest tee shot on the course must be threaded between the lake that runs down the entire right side and the fairway bunker and steep mounding on the left. The green sits out on the same lake with a tempting pin placement close to the water’s edge. A safe, generous bailout area is provided left of the green. A great finish to the front nine. The number #13 hole, a 557 yard, par 5, dog legs slightly right and left. The elevated tee looks down on a landing area flanked by beautiful live oaks and large pines. The elevated green slopes slightly from the front to the back. The bunkers that cross the fairway 125 yards from the green require you to decide whether to play short or hit beyond them. A second shot to the elevated fairway over the cross bunker allows a much better view and easier approach to the green. This is a very enjoyable 3 shot par 5. Another one of my favorite is the 360 yard, par 4 #15 hole. It’s another golf hole that can be an easy par, but a bold drive can cause double-bogey quickly. The longer the tee shot, the narrower the landing area. Long hitters can drive it just short of the green, but the safe play is a 3-wood off the tee to the wide part of the fairway with only a wedge left to a small, contoured green. The 467 yard, par 4 #16 hole, another of Jack’s favorites, is a demanding, long par 4 that is best played with the Golden Bear’s high fade. The right side is lined with large oaks that protrude into the right side of the landing area. The green angles left to right and is fronted by a deep bunker. Jack tweaked the putting surface several times to a high left to right approach will be rewarded. It’s a great par 4. #18 is a 563 yard, par 5. Jack and I both love this hole, and it was Bruce Borland’s favorite as well. A beautiful wooded wetland extends down the entire length left of the hole. The tee shot landing area is flanked by a huge pine on the left and a large bunker on the right. After a good tee shot near the pine on the left, you are faced with the choice – either hit directly to the green over an enormous coquina shell bunker through an alley of large pines, or playing safely to the fairway to the right for a wedge to an elevated green. This is really an exciting finish to a beautiful golf course.