After naming the property World Woods Golf Club, Inoue set Fazio loose to create what are arguably the two finest public courses in one place in the US, Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks.

Pine Barrens is allegedly Fazio’s ode to the venerable Pine Valley in New Jersey. Although they have the rolling terrain and sandy waste areas and scrub oaks and tall pines in common, Pine Barrens can stand on its own as a great golf course and there is really only one Pine Valley.

Rolling Oaks is pitched as Fazio’s tribute to Augusta National and even though Fazio has done some work at the home of the Masters suffice to say that Rolling Oaks may share some design characteristics with Augusta National but that’s where the comparison should end. Rolling Oaks is just fine as it is and Augusta National is without comparison.

World Woods offers a practice facility that attracts well known professional golfers. The Practice Park features a circular 23 acre practice range, plus a 36 hole, two acre putting course.

Golf packages are available and include the opportunity to play two private courses in the area. Click worldwoods.com or call (352) 796-5500, X22. You will not get better golf for the money than at World Woods.

For a change of pace, head west to Crystal River and the Plantation Golf Resort and Spa. The Plantation sits on 232 acres of lush preserve land and is surrounded by the natural fresh water springs of Kings Bay, part of the Crystal River aquifer.

The resort offers The Championship Course, an 18 hole Mark Mahannah designed par 72 and the shorter nine hole Lagoons layout. Off course, Plantation offers some incredible activities. Most prominently, it is the only place in the world where humans are legally allowed to swim with and interact with West Indian manatees. These giant (up to 13 feet long and up to 3,000 pounds) but gentle mammals are an endangered species but gather to winter in the warm spring fed waters of the Crystal River.

Aside from the manatees, the Plantation Dive Shop offers boat rentals including jon boats, pontoon boats, canoes or kayaks to explore the 25,000 acres of interconnected rivers in the area.

Plantation Golf Resort and Spa recently celebrated their 50th anniversary by embarking on a $3 million restoration project that will modernize the entire property without losing the laid back Southern charm. Packages are available for golf, diving and manatee tours. Click plantationgolfandspa.com or call 800-632-6262.