Savanna Pines Public Course

Savanna Pines is the people’s course. It runs through slash pine and palmetto on the western edge of Palm City, eighteen holes of par 71 that are flat, forgiving off the tee and honest around the greens, with water on five holes and sand on most. Nobody will call it beautiful at noon in August; at seven on a January morning with the mist in the pines and a hawk on the first tee it is as good as golf gets for thirty-eight dollars.

The rate includes a cart, drops to twenty-four after two in the afternoon and lower still in summer, and tee times open a week ahead online or by phone. The practice range is lit until nine, the clubhouse grill does a breakfast sandwich that the regulars plan their round around, and the pro gives lessons at a price that makes sense.

Leagues take the course on Tuesday and Thursday mornings in season; everything else is open to anyone with shoes that will stay on. Juniors play free with a paying adult after four, which is why the back nine fills with families on winter afternoons and why the course looks the way it does.

Good to know

• The afternoon rate after 2 pm is the best golf bargain on the coast.
• Tee times open a week ahead; weekend mornings in season go fast.
• The range is lit until 9 pm.
• Tuesday and Thursday mornings belong to the leagues in season.
• Lightning closes the course the moment the siren sounds; head for the clubhouse.