The Club at Emerald Hills

Nestled in the heart of Hollywood, Florida, Emerald Hills Golf Club has long held a reputation as one of the most challenging and beautifully maintained public-access tracks in South Florida. It’s hosted PGA Tour qualifiers, state-level tournaments, and plenty of weekend warriors looking to test themselves against a layout that rewards precision, punishes indecision, and demands course management.

I recently played Emerald Hills from the Gold tees, which measure in at just under 6,400 yards. For a mid-handicapper, that’s the sweet spot — not overwhelmingly long, but still enough to require every club in the bag. The Golds give you a chance to score, but you’ll earn it.

First Impressions

From the minute you step onto the property, the place feels elevated. The clubhouse has an old-school South Florida country club feel, with a low-key, members-first energy. The range is functional and well-maintained, and the short game area gives you a real chance to prep for the tight lies and firm greens that await.

The starter gave a friendly warning that holds true round after round at Emerald: “Play smart, not long.” That advice echoed in my head for most of the day.

Playing It from the Gold Tees: The Strategic Middle Ground

The Gold tees are a great compromise between the back tees and the standard men’s whites. They allow you to hit long irons and hybrids into some greens without feeling overwhelmed by length. But don’t let the total yardage lull you into thinking this is a pushover — positioning and discipline are everything here.

Fairways can be tight, bunkers are strategically placed at driver landing zones, and the greens are fast, firm, and often protected with subtle (and not-so-subtle) run-offs. From the Golds, you’ll face plenty of approach shots in the 150–170 yard range, especially on the longer par 4s.

Memorable Holes That Define the Round

Hole 3 – Risk Meets Reality

The third hole is a standout early on. A dogleg par 4 that plays around 370 yards from the Golds, this one is all about choosing the right club off the tee. Hit driver and you risk running through the fairway into trouble, or worse, bringing a fairway bunker into play. Hit 3-wood or hybrid, and you’re left with a mid-iron into a narrow, well-defended green. The hole asks a question, and your answer sets the tone for the rest of the day.

Hole 6 – A Classic Florida Par 5

Hole 6 is one of the course’s signature holes — a true risk-reward par 5 that wraps around water. From the Golds, it plays around 530 yards and is technically reachable in two for big hitters. But the green is narrow, guarded by water left and bunkers right, and sits slightly elevated. The smart play is to lay up to a wedge yardage and play for birdie the traditional way. Try to force it, and you’re one hop off the cart path away from reloading.

Hole 10 – Bite Off What You Can Chew

The start of the back nine is another standout. This par 4 plays just under 400 yards, and off the tee you’re faced with a decision: try to cut the corner with driver, or play it safe with a long iron or 3-wood and take your medicine. I’ve played it both ways, and more often than not, the conservative play sets up a better chance at par. Miss your line by just a few yards off the tee and you can be blocked out or deep in trouble.

Hole 14 – The Hidden Brutality

Arguably the hardest hole on the course from the Golds. This par 4 stretches beyond 430 yards and almost always plays into the wind. It’s long, straight, and brutally honest. A well-struck drive leaves a long iron or hybrid into a narrow green that rejects anything short and punishes anything long. This is where rounds can start to unravel. Bogey is a good score here — par feels like a birdie.

Hole 18 – High Stakes, High Reward

One of the best finishing holes in South Florida. The 18th is a sweeping par 5 that encourages you to get aggressive, but there’s danger at every turn. A well-placed drive opens up the opportunity to go for it in two, but the green is narrow, firm, and guarded. There’s OB lurking if you overcook it left and water waiting on the right. I’ve ended rounds here with birdie, double, and everything in between. It’s a proper closer — one that gives you a chance to change your story with two great swings, or send you to the bar wondering what could’ve been.

Conditions and Greens

The course is always in impressive shape. Fairways are tight and fast — not baked out, but firm enough to make you think about rollouts on drives and approaches. The rough is manageable, but enough to mess with spin. Greens roll fast and true, and like many South Florida courses, they get slick downhill. Landing it pin-high is often the only safe play, and putting from above the hole can be treacherous.

Verdict: A Tactical Golfer’s Playground

Emerald Hills is not a bomb-and-gouge course. From the Golds, it’s a thinking player’s test — perfect for mid-handicappers working on their game. If you’re chasing distance without a plan, it’ll eat you alive. But if you can control your tee ball, pick smart lines, and manage your misses, there are scoring opportunities.

What makes this course special is how it balances risk and reward with precision and patience. It doesn’t beat you down with gimmicks — it simply asks you to execute. That’s what keeps me coming back.

If you’re in South Florida and want a round that challenges your decision-making as much as your swing, Emerald Hills is absolutely worth the trip. Play it from the Golds, take your medicine when needed, and respect the design — and you just might post a number you’re proud of.