The Club at Eaglebrooke - Lakeland, Florida

The Club at Eaglebrooke opened in 1997 in southern Polk County, and no one really knew about the golf course. "For years, we struggled," Head Professional John Griener said. "Carter Road [where the course is located] is in the middle of nowhere."

But that middle of nowhere "is probably as good as it gets with the geography of the land," Griener added. "You can play it every day and not get tired of it. Now, it's really taken off, mainly because of word of mouth." Eaglebrooke was designed by well-known Florida golf course architect Ron Garl, who makes his home in Lakeland. He built a semi-private course worthy of repeat play.