CLUB REPORT
Silver Dollar Golf and Trap Club Not Exactly What You’d Expect A
t first glance, Silver Dollar Golf and Trap Club in Odessa, FL is not your typical golf club. For starters, there’s a skeet shooting range directly across the street, hence the Trap part of the name. It’s not uncommon to be teeing off or putting to the sound of gunfire, but you get used to it after a few holes. Secondly, the course sits in the back of a manufactured housing community/RV Park. Back in the day, it was rumored that more than 20 multimillionaires would park their formidable RVs at Silver Dollar for the season and enjoy both trap shooting and golf. A lesser-known fact is that several well-known professional wrestlers used to play at the course regularly. Names like (Flyin’) Brian Pillman, Brian (Crush) Adams, (Dangerous) Dan Spivey, Paul (Big Show) Wight, and Mark (Undertaker) Calaway could often be found playing in weekly games or creating games of their own. There are three 9-hole layouts at Silver Dollar meaning there are three unique 18-hole combinations. The Gator/ Panther combination is the one most played however, throw in the Bobcat nine and you can have all kinds of fun and 20 Golf Vacations • June 2022
challenging golf. As you make your way around each of the three nines you’ll encounter the usual golf hazards with trees, bunkers, and water features that will test and entertain you. Narrow, tree-lined fairways are often complemented with generous landing areas which are great for beginners. Some sparkling lakes and ponds come into play on a few holes and strategically placed bunkers are situated around many greens. Paspalum greens provide excellent rolling putting surfaces! The Gator nine plays 3,003 yards from the White Tees with a par of 37. Water is present on at least 7 holes but only comes into play on about 3 or 4 of them. Gator starts with a relatively short 319-yard par 4, dogleg left. The green sits directly beyond the large evergreen trees and just past the retention pond on the left side. With a good drive, it is reachable if you know where the right line is. Otherwise, hit your tee shot down the left side of the fairway past the dogleg and you’ll have a short pitch shot into a small, elevated green. Bunkers guard each side of the green and there’s a small pond right of the cart path. Par or better can be had and get your round off to a great start. www.golfvacationsmag.com
