You’re driving through Hobe Sound and the humidity is already starting to sit heavy on your shoulders. It’s Florida. We expect that. But then you turn into Lost Lake Golf Club and things feel... quieter. It isn't just the pines or the way the light hits the preserve land. There is a specific kind of gravity to this place that you don't always find in the mid-range semi-private market.
Lost Lake golf Florida isn't trying to be a 7,500-yard monster that punishes you for existing. It’s a Jim and Tom Fazio award-winner that actually respects your handicap while occasionally ruining your afternoon with a well-placed water hazard.
Honestly, some people come here expecting a standard resort layout. They're wrong. What they find instead is a masterclass in routing that makes 6,850 yards feel like a marathon if you aren't careful with your club selection.
The Fazio DNA at Lost Lake
Most golfers hear the name Fazio and immediately think of sprawling bunkers and massive earth-moving projects. At Lost Lake, the brothers took a slightly more surgical approach.
They didn't just bulldoze the scrub; they worked the course into the existing Atlantic Ridge ecosystem. This matters. Why? Because it means the wind doesn't just blow—it swirls. You'll be standing on the 4th tee, feeling a breeze at your back, but the tops of the slash pines are leaning toward you.
It’s tricky.
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The greens aren't those modern, tiered nightmares where a three-putt is a statistical certainty. They’re subtle. You’ll look at a four-footer on the 11th and think it’s straight. It’s not. There is a "pull" toward the local drainage and the nearby marshes that you only learn after playing here a dozen times. Local knowledge isn't just a suggestion at Lost Lake golf Florida—it is a survival requirement.
Why the "Lost" in Lost Lake is Accurate
The course gets its name for a reason. Water is everywhere.
It’s not always "in your face" like some island-green gimmick course. Instead, it’s tucked into the elbows of doglegs. It’s waiting behind a greenside bunker to catch a thinned wedge. Out of the 18 holes, you’re dealing with water on nearly all of them in some capacity.
Take the par 5s. They aren't particularly long by modern standards. On paper, they look reachable. But the risk-reward ratio is skewed heavily toward "don't be a hero." If you try to carry the corner on the 13th, you better be sure. If you’re off by five yards, you aren't in the rough. You're in the drink.
Most people lose a sleeve of balls their first time out.
The Reality of the "Semi-Private" Life
There’s a weird tension in the Florida golf world. You have the ultra-exclusive clubs where you need a blood oath to get a tee time, and then you have the municipal tracks that feel like playing on a parking lot.
Lost Lake sits in that sweet spot.
It’s semi-private. This basically means members get the prime morning times and a sense of ownership, but the public can still get a taste of a high-end experience without a $50,000 initiation fee.
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- The Clubhouse: It’s classic. No gold-plated faucets, just a solid grill room and a staff that actually remembers your name if you show up two days in a row.
- Conditioning: This is where the club usually wins. Because they aren't pushing 200 rounds a day through the gates, the fairways stay plush. The TifEagle greens are usually rolling fast and true, even in the "growing season" when other Florida courses turn into shaggy carpets.
Membership vs. Daily Fee: The Math
If you live in Martin County or North Palm Beach, you've probably crunched the numbers. Is it worth joining?
Well, it depends on how much you hate slow play. Members here take pride in their pace. If you're a daily fee player, you're stepping into their "living room." It’s a friendly vibe, but there is an unspoken rule: Keep up.
The club offers various tiers, from social memberships to full golf. For the "snowbirds," the seasonal options are a godsend. You get the private club feel for the four months the weather is perfect, then you head back north before the Florida heat turns the air into soup.
A Quick Guide to Surviving the Back Nine
The back nine at Lost Lake golf Florida is where rounds go to die—or where legends are made in the local Friday skins game.
Hole 14 is a beast. It’s a long par 4 that usually plays into a headwind. You need a big drive just to have a mid-iron in. If you miss right, you're dead. If you miss left, you’re in a bunker that feels like it’s ten feet deep.
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Then there’s 18. It’s a finishing hole that actually feels like a finale. The clubhouse is watching. The water is waiting. You have to thread the needle to finish with the same ball you started with.
What Most People Get Wrong About Hobe Sound Golf
Everyone looks at Jupiter. Everyone talks about the pros living at Bear's Club or Medalist.
But Hobe Sound is the quiet younger brother that actually has the better personality. Lost Lake golf Florida represents that perfectly. It isn't flashy. It doesn't have a massive neon sign. It just offers a pure, tactical golf experience that focuses on shot-making rather than raw power.
If you bring a "grip it and rip it" mentality here, the Fazios will take your lunch money. This is a "3-wood off the tee" kind of course. It’s a "play for the center of the green" kind of course.
Actionable Tips for Your First Round
Don't just show up and swing.
- Check the Wind at the Range: The driving range is somewhat sheltered. The actual course isn't. Whatever the wind is doing at the range, double it when you get to the 2nd tee.
- Trust the Yardage Books: The GPS on the carts is good, but the Fazios used a lot of visual deception. Sometimes the green is deeper than it looks from the fairway.
- The "Grain" is Real: In South Florida, the grass grows toward the setting sun or the nearest body of water. At Lost Lake, the putts break toward the low-lying preserve areas. If you’re unsure, look for the water.
- Book in Advance: Because it’s a popular spot for locals, the 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM slots vanish weeks in advance during the winter. Use their online portal early.
The Verdict
Is it the hardest course in Florida? No. Is it the cheapest? Definitely not.
But Lost Lake offers a specific kind of "Florida Golf" that is becoming harder to find—a well-maintained, thoughtfully designed course that feels like a natural part of the landscape rather than a forced addition to a housing development.
Whether you're a 2-handicap looking for a challenge or a 22-handicap looking for a nice lunch and a scenic 18, it hits the mark. Just remember to bring an extra sleeve of balls. You'll probably need them by the turn.
To get the most out of your visit, aim for a mid-week afternoon tee time when the rates drop and the course opens up. Check the local weather radar—Hobe Sound gets quick "pop-up" showers that can vanish in ten minutes, often leaving the course refreshed and the crowds thinned out. Secure your tee time through their official site or reputable aggregators at least 7 days out during peak season to ensure you aren't stuck with a 4:00 PM sunset finish.