Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
Ponce de Leon Golf Club provides a stern test for most golfers and might be the most demanding course in the village besides Diamante. The course opened in 1991 and plays just over 6900 yards from the back tees. Ponce provides a good variety of hole lengths. The par 3s require a variety of clubs off the tee and there are both short and long par 4s. There are holes that you feel like you should take advantage of and holes that you are proud to walk off with a par.
One of the unique aspects of Ponce de Leon is the elevation change. What is unique is that most of the shots with substantial elevation change almost all seem to be going uphill. Approach shots into numbers 5, 6, 13, 14, 16, and 17 are all have significant elevation change. The main shot that has a significant drop down a hill is the tee shot on number 8. Most of the other shots that go downhill are subtle.
See where Ponce de Leon ranks in the Best Courses in Hot Springs Village
Many of the greens have significant slopes, including holes 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 14, and 18. Most of these holes have multiple levels and a golfer who ends up on the wrong level can have a challenging two putt if the greens are of a decent speed.
Favorite Holes at Ponce de Leon Golf Club
Number 2 is a fun short par 4 that is not a guaranteed par. The hole doglegs sharply to the left around some tall pine trees. Longer hitters trying to turn one from right to left around the corner have to be wary of the out of bound through the fairway straight ahead if they fail to shape the golf ball enough.
The green complex presents the most challenging aspect of the hole. The green sits at a 45 degree angle from front left to back right. The left side of the green is guarded by two bunkers and ending up in one presents a difficult up and down because most of the green slopes away from the bunkers. The right side of the green slopes dramatically down and presents as equally a difficult up and down as the bunkers.
Number 4 is a short par 3 with a wide, sloping green. The green has three distinct sections with the front right of the green bringing the pond into play. The middle of the green is guarded by a bunker in front but the slope of the green will funnel balls toward pins placed in the front of the green. The back left section of the green brings the humps and bumps to the left of the green into play that can kick a wayward shot even further from the green.
Number 16 is a long par 3 that plays a few degrees uphill. There are several hills short of the green that can throw off the golfer’s depth perception about where the green begins and how far back the flag is on the green. The green is deep and slender. Missing the green likely leaves the player with an uneven lie on their chip or pitch.
Least favorite hole at Ponce de Leon
Number 1 is the most difficult opening tee shot in the Village because the landing area is only a little over 30 yards wide. Hitting the tee shot in the left trees almost always eliminates a chance of going for the green in regulation. Longer players have the advantage of cutting the corner over the left trees and opening up the hole slightly. The green complex is not too difficult if the golfer manages to hit two good shots to start their round.
Practice Facilities
The best part of the practice facilities at Ponce de Leon is the short game area. It has a large putting green that has a good amount of slope to it which allows players to practice a wide variety of putts. The chipping green is one of the best green surfaces for a chipping area in the Village, though it is on the small side.
The range has houses behind it on the left side, so generally, players have to aim to the right side of the range for longer clubs if they are allowed to hit woods at all. The range has mats on the back that players hit off of in the winter. There are minimal targets on the range to aim at or gauge distance off of.