Hidden Hills Country Club

Hidden Hills Country Club sits in Jacksonville's suburban landscape, designed by Arnold Palmer and opened in the early 1970s during the height of his course design career. The layout reflects Palmer's playing philosophy from that era—rewarding aggressive play while offering strategic options for more conservative approaches. The routing takes advantage of modest elevation changes uncommon in northeast Florida, with several holes playing across rolling terrain that gives the course its name. The design incorporates water on roughly half the holes, typical of Florida golf, with ponds and wetlands coming into play both as hazards and visual elements. Palmer's trademark large, undulating greens require careful approach work and present varied pin positions that can significantly alter hole difficulty. Mature tree-lined fairways frame many holes, and the course has evolved over decades as vegetation has matured, tightening corridors and emphasizing accuracy off the tee. Hidden Hills serves as a traditional private country club for Jacksonville's residential community, offering a full range of amenities beyond golf. The course has undergone periodic updates to maintain conditioning standards and accommodate modern equipment, though the fundamental routing and strategic concepts remain intact. It represents a solid example of Palmer's residential course work in Florida during a prolific period when he and his design team were creating layouts throughout the state's growing communities.