Ironwood Golf Course in Gainesville, Florida

Ironwood Golf Course is a solid muni, a short, relatively easy track that, unlike the many development-driven golf courses in the Gainesville area, is a pleasant walk in the park. Or, more to the point, in the woods, as there are all sorts of critters ambling around. The course is Audubon-certified for its environmental-management practices.

Ironwood is good for golfers too. The course some locals called "Ironweed" when the city bought it in 1992 has gotten continuous improvements since then, no easy task as it is in a low-lying area prone to flooding in even modest rains. It's what a municipal golf course should be - a cheap play with an interesting layout that caters to anyone who wants to play the game without all the expensive bells and whistles.