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,