Golfers can blast off at Viera East Golf Club along Florida's Space Coast
VIERA, Fla. -- Architect Joe Lee designed more than 80 golf courses in Florida, so it's saying something that Viera East Golf Club remains one of his best.
The 6,669-yard course opened in 1994 as the anchor of a community development district home to more than 5,000 houses along Florida's Space Coast south of Daytona Beach. The particularly active 2004 hurricane season stole a chunk of Viera East's old oaks and forced some restoration work of bunkers, but for the most part, the layout continues to stand the test of time while celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
It's a typical Lee design with a straightforward style. Players must tackle only one real forced carry, an approach shot over water to the 14th green. Lee's 66 bunkers bracket many fairways and plateau greens. Lakes and ponds frame the outlying areas of most holes, only creeping into play maybe seven or eight times.
During spring training, players and coaches of the Washington Nationals who train nearby tend to pop in, including pitcher Stephen Strasburg.
"It's as tough as you want it to be, but it's very fair," said Justin Wasson, the head professional at Viera East.
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