The Ocala Golf Club in central Florida

The Ocala Golf Club has been modernized nicely, to keep up with growing Ocala and Marion County. Like most municipal golf courses, it isn't long, around 6,300 yards from the back tees, but it's no pushover.

The fairways are tree-lined, and many of the trees are ancient oaks, with spreading limbs that form continuous hazards. One oak, in fact, is said to be the third oldest in the state, a gnarled old fella that stands stolidly by the 18th tee box.

The Ocala Golf Club has several doglegs guarded by oaks as well. If you like oaks, you'll like this course. If you don't like hitting from under them, you won't, unless you can control your tee shot.

It isn't always necessary to hit driver here, as the distance implies. In fact, the smart play is often with a long iron or fairway wood, since those doglegs are usually well guarded.

The greens are no picnic, either. They're small, for one thing, like they used to be in the old days, and most of them are slightly elevated, with some tricky run-offs.

The Ocala Golf Club at one time had some seriously difficult run-offs, but they've been softened over the years.