Grasslands at Grasslands Golf & Country Club

Grasslands Golf & Country Club sits in Lakeland, a city in central Florida's Polk County known for its rolling terrain—unusual topography for the state. The course was designed by Bob Cupp and Jerry Pate, a collaboration that brought together Cupp's architectural experience and Pate's perspective as a former U.S. Open champion and tour professional. Cupp, who worked with Jack Nicklaus early in his career before establishing his own practice, developed a reputation for courses that emphasize strategic variety and natural land movement.

The design takes advantage of the property's elevation changes, incorporating the native grassland character into the routing and playing corridors. Florida courses often contend with flat terrain and water management challenges, but Grasslands benefits from its inland setting and the modest but meaningful contours that define the region. The layout presents a mix of risk-reward opportunities and demands accuracy off the tee, with bunkering and green complexes that reflect Cupp's attention to shot values.

Grasslands operates as a private country club serving the Lakeland community, offering members a golf experience distinct from the flatter, more water-dominated designs common elsewhere in the state. The club provides traditional country club amenities, including dining and social facilities, within a residential development context typical of Florida golf communities established in recent decades.