Kevin Olson
Kevin Olson
Kevin Olson
Kevin Olson
Kevin Olson
Kevin Olson
Kevin Olson
Kevin Olson
Kevin Olson
Overview
John's Island West was one of the last courses Tom Fazio and his associates completed as they were getting into the thick of building Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. In that regard, the course fittingly marks an end to an early Fazio phase, one before it became increasingly clear to him that, for the skills of he and his staff to be maximized, the project's budget and ambition were more critical than having strong natural assets to work with. John's Island, like Jupiter Hills an hour south, did have strong natural assets, namely a series of sand ridges, some up to 50 feet high, that were used to prop up a number of greens and tees. This provided attractive views, tough targets, and much needed relief amid a site thick with dense undergrowth. Several lakes were excavated for added fill and the surfaces of the course were cut and molded with sandy finger-like transition areas and bunkers, but the overall feel of the course is calm and not engineered. It's a wonderful snapshot of a creative use of existing land, one burnished further by Fazio's 2022 renovation.
About
Awards
Best in State: Ranked inside the top 10, 1991, 2003, 2007-'09. Ranked 11th, 2011-'12. Ranked 12th, 2013-'14. Ranked inside the top 15, 1995, 1999, 2005. Ranked 18th, 2021-'22. Ranked 19th, 2019-'20. Ranked 20th, 2015-'16. Ranked inside the top 20, 1993, 2001. Ranked 22nd, 2017-'18. Ranked inside the top 25, 1997.
Current ranking: 15th.
Panelists
Ratings from our panel of 1,900 course-ranking panelists
100 GREATEST/BEST IN STATE SCORES
Shot Options
Character
Challenge
Layout Variety
Fun
Aesthetics
Conditioning
Reviews
Review
“A must play if given the opportunity. Without question one of the best courses in Florida."
Read More2025
Review
“It was a cold and windy day, but the course did not disappoint. The greens were phenomenal. Lots of movement and considerable pace. Having a caddy is a must for a first timer. The elevation changes and contouring of the fairways made it a challenging and fun round. For a Florida course, there was very little water, but it was not needed. The native areas created more than enough intimidation on their own. The deep bunkers around the greens were fair, but daunting especially when compounded by slope in each of the greens. There wasn’t a considerable amount of roll in the fairway, but a lot of that had to do with hitting from elevated tee boxes. There wasn’t one hole that remotely reminds the golfer of another on the course. The course flowed spectacularly through property with each hole seeming as though it was been there forever."
Read More2025
Review
“A stunning Fazio course built in the sand dunes of Vero Beach. The grass is vibrant, and it's hard not to enjoy playing here in such excellent conditions. Several holes almost feel as if they were built as a stadium as all sides and behind the holes are perched up. This shields your view of other holes and makes it feel very secluded and private."
Read More2024
Review
“Located at the north end of a group of sand dunes that stretch from Jupiter all the way up to Vero Beach, John's Island West offers wonderful golf topography with dynamic elevation changes, particularly vs. its Florida peer courses. A recent renovation moved the course from great to excellent. Layout variety highlights include the closing stretch: reachable par-4 15th, reachable par-5 17th, and mid-length par-4 18th to a plateau green. I also particularly liked the dogleg left 8th hole with its risk/reward drive and valley green site. The course was in tremendous shape. Firm and fast despite rain the night before, with pure greens. Aesthetically, the place just glistens. It's a wonderful combination of sand belt style bunkering, crisp water features, popping green playing surfaces, framed by natural vegetation."
Read More2024
Review
“The West Course is considered by most to be the best course in Vero Beach, and deservedly so. The recent renovation has made the course more playable for mid-level golfers."
Read More2023
Review
“John's Island West was recently renovated by Tom Fazio, the original architect who designed the course in the late 1980's. They removed many trees and cleared underbrush, opening attractive vistas of sand dunes, lakes and large pine trees. Many of the rough edges were softened, so the course plays easier and is more fair. It is built on a hilly sand ridge, unusual for Florida. The results are outstanding. The shot options and layout variety are superior. The conditioning was excellent for such a new course and should only improve as the new grass grows in. The only major objection I had was that many of the fairway bunkers are considered waste areas so not raked, which can lead to terrible lies even if you are only a few yards off the fairway."
Read More2023
Review
“Fun, solid course. Compared to before, the fairways are wider, but some of the angles that now exist are more interesting. Not a "wow" course, but there is one solid and unique hole after another. Relatively interesting terrain by Florida standards."
Read More2023
Review
“Unique Florida course built on a sand dune. Great views from elevated tees and there are some good short par 4s"
Read More2022
Review
“About as beautiful as a course can be short of ocean or mountain backdrops, and the attention to "on course details" is exceptional. This is "all about golf" starting with a wide range of practice and warm-up options that are both "nearby and secluded" at the same time. Nice mix of holes that are playable for most. The staff was attentive and helpful without the haughtiness of some upper-end operations. No huge pro shop or clubhouse, but a first-class golf experience from start to finish."
Read More2019
Review
“This course is really nice. Don't let the shorter total distance fool you given the course protects itself very well. I would have expected the staff service level to be stronger, but not a big deal. Overall a great course if you have the chance to play it."
Read More2018
