Marcus Pointe Golf Club

Marcus Pointe Golf Club: On the northern outskirts of Pensacola, a couple of miles south of I-10, Marcus Pointe provides a pleasant and challenging golf outing. Weaving through a residential development, the holes are usually laid out in pairs, which helps to maintain a pleasantly natural balance to proceedings, with unobtrusive housing flanking only one side of some holes.

On the flatter front-nine, oaks and pines lightly line the way. Attractive mounding also defines the gently rolling fairways. A significant downhill drop at the par-4 10th signals greater elevation changes on the back-nine. Holes 11 thru' 14 are played on the other side of Marcus Bayou, an offshoot from nearby Crescent Lake, which gets the more undulating and water-defended back-nine off to a pleasing start.

The juxtaposition of discreet housing on one side of several holes and attractive woodland on the other is a frequent feature of the layout.The nicely doglegging, gentle climb of the closing par-4 18th provides for a strong finish, although now with a backdrop of three houses rather than a picturesque stand of trees.

A solid if not outstanding collection of par-3s provide a good challenge, although only the 13th brings water into play.

With its mix of straightaway and doglegging holes, some pleasant elevation changes on the back-nine and a mix of housing and woodland beyond the course, Marcus Pointe is an attractive layout, and one that throws down a good challenge for your allround game.