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PCCA Journal|4

th

Quarter 2010

28

Ocean Reef Club

S

ecluded at the north end of Key Largo, Ocean

Reef is a refuge from the clamor and demands

of the world beyond its boundaries, the place

where people go to relax and be themselves.

They go to experience the glory of the sunrise,

the magic of the azure sea, and a place that is different

from all other places. They go to enjoy an exceptional

respite in the Florida Keys.

The 2011 PCCA Convention is your chance to discover

true tranquility at a place that is exclusive, remote, and

gorgeous in all directions.

The history of Ocean Reef Club is the thoughtful

creation of an ideal, exclusive community of like-

minded people. From the modest fishing camp and

lodge established in 1945, the resort’s facilities have

slowly grown to world-class status. The original 9-hole

course, laid out in the 1950s, evolved into two 18-hole

championship courses, a clubhouse, and a pro shop.

A tidal swimming lagoon was created during the fifties

along with a swimming pool. Shops began to appear.

Moorings became a marina. It was a good place to be.

Folks at the resort say their unique lifestyle sets Ocean

Reef Club apart from other private clubs and resorts.

“We’re exclusive, yes, yet warmhearted,” they say. “We’re

secure, yet carefree. We’re comfortable, yet concerned for

others. We never forget that we share an incomparable

location in a wondrous natural environment that is the

glory of our lifestyle. Ocean Reef Club is a place where

we come to be ourselves, a haven where we enjoy our

traditions as well as the innovations that continue to

enrich our lives.”

The PCCA room block is in the Inn, where

distinctive Marlin, Pompano, Dolphin, and Amberjack

accommodations provide an elegant haven during your

stay. You can choose an elegantly appointed room, suite,

or junior suite with water, ocean, or tropical views.

Enjoy this convenient location and all the services and

amenities of a luxurious hotel.

Golf.

Golf traditions at Ocean Reef go back more

than half a century, when the club’s first 9-hole course

opened. Today the club boasts two championship 18-

hole courses, a rarity in the Florida Keys. Although the

Hammock and Dolphin courses offer distinctly different

tests of golf, both feature scenic vistas and an enjoyable

challenge for players of all levels.

Both courses, designed originally by Bob Von Hagge

and Bruce Devlin in 1969, are in excellent condition. The

Dolphin Course underwent a $3 million redesign and

renovation in 2000-2001 under the direction of renowned

golf course architect Chip Powell.

Host of the PCCA Tourney, the Hammock Course is

partially situated in a mangrove and tropical hardwood

hammock and contains many rare and endangered

species of plants. It is considered the more scenic of the

courses and is a true test of target golf. With fairways

meandering through the natural hammock and water

hazards on 14 holes, concentration is paramount. This

par-71 course is 6,200 yards in length and offers a

magnificent collection of memorable holes.

The Dolphin Course features fairways winding past

tamarind, coconut palms, and mahogany trees as well

as other exotic landscaping. Glittering water hazards

delight the eye and call for accuracy. Generous fairways

allow a margin for error off the tee, but the real test on

this 6,500-yard par-71 course arrives when you get to the

greens. The large, undulating greens require careful reads

to avoid the dreaded three-putt.

Marina.

It’s possible that Ocean Reef marina is the

finest in the United States. That wasn’t the intention,

merely the result. The club is adjacent to the only living

coral reef in American waters, an amazing place to dive.

Key Largo is surrounded by exceptional fishing

opportunities—flat, deep-sea, and reef—making Ocean

Reef a sport fisherman’s paradise. You can charter a

boat and go after the big ones and then hire a guide to

take you out in the warm water of the flats to try and

outsmart a wily bonefish. Five miles or so offshore,

you’ll almost surely encounter sailfish, and the waters

are full of blue and white marlin, dolphin, shark, wahoo,

blackfin tuna, and amberjack, depending on the season.

The Gulf Stream is only half an hour to the southwest.

Snorkelers love to explore the shallow offshore reefs,