Turkey Creek Golf & Country Club, CLOSED 2011

Turkey Creek Golf & Country Club (formerly Plantation Oaks Golf Club) (formerly Gainesville National Country Club), is a Semi-Private, 18 hole golf course located in Alachua, Florida.

Turkey Creek Golf & Country Club golf course first opened for play in 1977. The course was designed by Ward Northrup. The course is a traditional style with a parkland setting.

From the back tees, the par-72 course measures 6,570 yards with other sets of tees placed at 6,200, 5,930 and 5,580 yards. There are large greens, but they're not overly undulating. They have lots of subtle turns.

The front nine and back nine have a fairly similar flow; both sides have their share of doglegs.

#1 is a par-4 that measures 385 from the back tees and 335 from the forward. This straightaway hole with a narrow fairway has a large waste bunker on the left and trees to the right. The long, narrow green slopes from back to front with bunkers left and right. This opening hole offers a chance for a par or a birdie.

#8 is a great short par-3 (152 from the back tees and 110 from the forward). The green has almost an egg shape that is almost surrounded by bunkers. You need to be careful about the very deep bunker on the left side. The front of the green is the safest spot from which to take your putt.

#9 is also a straightaway hole, a longish par-4 that is 425 yards from the back tees and 350 from the forward. This can be a very intimidating hole off the tee because of the huge oaks and water on the left fairway. Accuracy off the tee is very important. There's also a very, very large green with bunkers on the left and back.

#10 is a double dog-leg par 5 with water in play the whole way. signature hole,

#14, a par-3 that plays from 125 to 155 yards over a pond is the signature hole for the course. It's surrounded by majestic old live oaks. There is also water to the left of the green.

#15 is a dogleg left par-5 (520 yards from the back tees, 450 from the forward). Tee shots have to be aimed toward a bunker 250 yards ahead. If you miss your tee shot and do not get to the dogleg, you can be in big trouble. The undulating green is guarded by a huge bunker in front.

#18 is one a great finishing par-4.

Blue tees: par-72, 6,716 yards, course rating 71.8, slope rating 123.

White tees: par-72, 6,307 yards

Green tees: par-72, 5,908 yards

Red tees: par-72, 5,528 yards

Turkey Creek Golf & Country Club closed in April 2011.

The following is from http://www.wcjb.com/local-news/2011/04/residents-react-turkey-creek-golf-course-closing

It hurt like a double bogey. When we first told you last month about a golf course that was about to close its doors, neighbors started to get worried.

The neighborhood was built around the course and now that it's closed...many residents feel like they may now be stuck in a bunker.

The Turkey Creek Golf and Country Club closed on April 1st, 2011. General Manager Walter Smith, said after a $300 thousand shortfall in 2010, it's no longer a viable business.

Smith said, "All the fixed you know debt, the fixed expenses you know continue to rise and revenue continues to fall so, you know there comes a time when you know, it's just not worth doing."

With the closure of the course and other amenities like the pool and tennis courts, many residents including Smith, believe their properties won't be worth as much. He said, "Yes, the property value of my home in Turkey Creek will decrease if this golf course remains closed and I think that a lot of people feel that way."

Smith says this is a sad sight for golf enthusiasts, but even those who aren't interested in the sport see the closure as a bad thing for the community.

Homeowner Jen Jablonski said, "It's just going to depreciate the value of our homes and maybe make the neighborhood not so pretty anymore."

300 residents came to a meeting last week to express support for the course, but Smith says there still isn't enough to reopen. Which he says shows that even in a community of about 1000 homes, the reality is, not everyone can or will support amenities. Less than 10% were members.

"Plantation Oak GC Incorporated" still has a mortgage of $2.5 million. And is still responsible for maintaining the greens.