Savannahs at Merritt Island

The Savannahs at Merritt Island is a Gordon G. Lewis design located on Florida's Space Coast, where the town of Merritt Island sits between the Indian River Lagoon and the Banana River. Lewis, a Florida-based architect active from the 1960s through the 1990s, designed numerous courses throughout the state with an emphasis on working within the natural landscape and water management systems typical of central Florida's low-lying terrain. The course occupies land characteristic of the region's coastal plain environment, where flat topography, wetlands, and native vegetation define the setting. The routing incorporates the area's natural features, with water hazards and marshland areas coming into play on multiple holes. Florida courses of this era and style typically feature Bermuda grass fairways and greens, with strategic bunkering and water placement creating the primary challenges rather than significant elevation change. The layout reflects the practical demands of golf course design in this climate and geography, where drainage, irrigation, and preservation of natural habitat areas are fundamental considerations. Merritt Island's location near Kennedy Space Center and the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge places the course within a unique environmental context. The surrounding area is known for its diverse bird populations and coastal ecosystems, and golfers often encounter native wildlife during their rounds. The course serves both residents and visitors to Florida's central Atlantic coast, a region with a long-established golf culture and year-round playing conditions.