Saddlebrook at Saddlebrook Golf Course

Saddlebrook Golf Course in Polo Ridge, Florida, is designed by Clifton and Ezell, a partnership known for their work on resort and daily-fee courses across the southeastern United States. The design reflects the firm's approach to creating playable layouts that accommodate a range of skill levels while incorporating the natural characteristics of Florida's Gulf Coast region. The routing takes advantage of the area's relatively flat terrain, typical of west-central Florida, with strategic use of water hazards and bunkers to define playing corridors and create decision points throughout the round.

The course sits within a residential golf community setting, a common development pattern in this part of Florida. Players encounter the region's characteristic landscape features: stands of pine and palm, natural wetlands that come into play on several holes, and the kind of firm, sandy soil conditions that allow for year-round play. The design emphasizes strategic positioning off the tee, with fairway bunkering and water placements that reward accuracy over pure distance.

As a community-oriented facility in the Tampa Bay area, Saddlebrook serves both residents and visiting golfers seeking accessible golf in a region dense with courses. The layout provides a straightforward test of golf that reflects the Clifton-Ezell design philosophy of creating enjoyable, maintainable courses suited to their local markets. The setting offers the relaxed atmosphere typical of Florida's residential golf communities, where the focus remains on the game itself within a subtropical landscape.