IMG Academy Golf Club

Overview: IMG Academy Golf Club is an 18-hole public course in Bradenton, set among slender pines, mature oaks, native foliage and scenic lakes. The current black-tee listing measures 6,842 yards at par 72, with additional tee positions reaching a much shorter playing length. The layout's fair presentation comes from the combination of open landing areas, water and carefully maintained southern turf.

History: The original course opened in 1972 as a private country-club layout. A $2.5 million renovation by Gene Bates led to a 2003 reopening, with the routing of holes 10 and 18 reversed, the irrigation and drainage rebuilt, and the playing surfaces converted to TifEagle greens and TifSport fairways, tees and rough.

Did You Know? The 2003 renovation changed the order of the closing stretch: holes 10 and 18 were reversed, and the new tenth gained an island green. That kind of routing change is more substantial than a cosmetic refresh because it alters the course's rhythm from the very start of the back nine.