Daytona Beach is one of America’s most popular vacation destinations, but The Deltona Club, one of Florida’s premier public golf courses, flies under the radar of all but the most discerning of players.
Located in western Volusia County, Deltona Club is removed from the roar of racing cars and the excitement of the “World’s Most Famous Beach,” but it’s a course golfers relish playing.
To provide a better sense for what makes the Bobby Weed design special, we talked with Will Walters, the course’s long-time golf professional and the owner of Walters Golf Instruction, about the Deltona Club experience.
“I could play the course every day and not get tired of it,” said Walters, paying the design the highest compliment possible.
While you likely won’t be playing Deltona daily, here are five things, according to Walters, that will help make your round memorable.
● Deltona is a non-traditional Florida design, highlighted by the fact there isn’t a drop of water on the course. That’s not a typo. There is no water at Deltona, making it the rarest of Sunshine State layouts. Throw in uncommon elevation change and the experience is a unique one.
● The most important club in your bag is the driver. While the course doesn’t have water, there is no shortage of waste bunkers and trees ready to punish wayward tee shots. Players that find the fairway will be positioned to attack the course’s large, undulating greens, underscoring the importance of hitting the ball straight.
● Golfers love a risk-reward hole and Deltona delivers one early in the round. The par 4 second hole is a gambler’s dream. Played conventionally, it’s your standard 431-yard, 90-degree dogleg right from the tips, but long hitters have the opportunity to fly the dogleg, setting up an approach from less than 100 yards. It will take at least a 250-yard drive to clear the dogleg, depending on the tees you play from, but the reward is considerable. If you don’t make it, best case is you have a shot from the trees, making bogey a good score. Choice is yours.
● The course is playable throughout, but the hole that surrenders the most birdies is the par 3 ninth. Unless you are playing from the pro tees, it’s a one-shotter that will range from 120-135 yards. The green is large, the tee shot is slightly downhill, and a small bunker fronting the left side of the putting surface is the only real threat. Take a relaxed swing, make a putt, and end the front nine on a high note.
● There are few things more important to traveling golfers than course conditions, and Deltona is one Central Florida’s best in that regard. “You will never walk on the property and the golf course not be in great shape,” Walters said. Any questions?
Golfers who make the 40-minute drive from the oceanfront west to Deltona Golf Club will be rewarded with a great Daytona Beach golf experience.
For more information on Deltona and the Daytona Beach golf scene, visit DaytonaBeach.golf.