The Villages - Executive Golf Trail (Briarwood)

The Villages - Executive Golf Trail (Briarwood) is a 9-hole par-27 course in The Villages, Florida, built in 2001 as one of the first Executive Golf Trail layouts in Marion County. Set on rolling terrain in the heart of thoroughbred horse country, Briarwood presents a genuine challenge despite its executive format. From the back tees, several holes require carrying wetlands or water features to reach large, sloping greens — surfaces that will test your putting patience. Front tee yardage measures just 950 yards, while the rear tees stretch to 1,461 yards, making club selection matter more than the numbers suggest. The ninth hole stands out as one of the toughest par 3s on the trail: at 206 yards, it is ringed by bunkers ready to punish any shot that misses the mark. Briarwood is particularly well suited to novice golfers looking for a fun but honest test of their game.