The second is a longer par 4 at 446/424 yards which played into the wind for us. We had only a medium breeze and were thankful for it. There is a large waste area down the right side nearly all the way to the green. The green is surrounded by four bunkers. It is rated as the hardest hole on the front nine, although I think several holes later are more difficult.

The third is a medium length par 3 listed at 174/160 but with a back flag and the wind it can play 185. The hole is visually disguised. From the tee one notices a small island with palms trees hiding part of the right side of the green. The green sits fairly close to the pond’s edge and looks skinny. However, when one arrives on the green it is actually very large.

Four is the other easy hole on the front side, a short par 5 of 537/508 yards playing flat as a dogleg right. There is a huge waste area down the entire right side (shared with the second). The waste area is also on the left but ends with three bunkers on the left as you near the green. The green has four bunkers at the front and sides which is why I think the first plays a bit easier as the bunkers at that green are at the rear.

Five is the last of the “flat” holes for a while. It is a mid-length par 4 at 431/403 with waste areas, trees, and bunkers throughout. A real complication to this hole, somehow rated index 13, are the two bunkers all around the green. While the green is flattish, those bunkers catch a lot of shots. If one is not confident of hitting the green in two, the best chance for par is to lay up to avoid the bunkers.

At the sixth hole, the course gets very interesting as it is the beginning of playing into the dune ridges. While it seems to be a straight hole, the green located uphill is to the right of the fairway with six bunkers awaiting a weak second. The hole is not long at 377/365 but does play a club more due to the elevated green. The green has swales and tilts throughout it and one can use the swale as a backstop when the pin is on the front/middle left. It is a very good hole and my favorite on the course.

Seven is either a love-it or hate-it hole. It is nearly a 90 degree dogleg left hitting over a waste area that seems longer than it is. One does have to be aware of carts coming down the hill behind the tee as they cannot see you on the tee until they are nearly there. Two carts came down just as I completed my backswing and the result was a shot pulled left into the trees and waste area. While I found my ball, the best I could do was to putt down into an opening of the waste area. I do not know if the club can remove some of the trees to provide the people coming from the ninth hole with a chance for a view of the tee, or perhaps the members should always station a member of the foursome on the cart path, but it is a problem. As to the hole, a shot from a longer hitter can easily go into through the fairway into the parallel eighth fairway, which sits much lower with a line of trees between you and the elevated green. If one does manage to hit the perfect drive, this 420/403 hole has another elevated green that is fronted by a bunker, a bunker left and right and one behind to a green that is diagonal to you and quick back to front. It is the eleven index and I thought the hardest hole on the course. Perhaps one learns how to play it, or knows when to hit the tee shot. I found the hole to be nicely routed but unfair.

The eighth, playing as 413/376 from an elevated tee over a valley to a level landing area followed by another valley before a big rise, plays at least two clubs longer. Much like six and seven, one cannot be short here or the ball will come back down the hill quite a way. There is a bunker right and left and three behind. This is rated the seven index and on many courses it would be the one index. I liked the hole.

The ninth is the hole most often photographed as the famous par 3 uphill at 192/173 going over a waste area with two front bunkers. The green slopes away from you so a shot that carries the waste area and bunkers might run through the green. It is rated the 15 index and is one of the more difficult par 3’s I have played. It is another good golf hole.

That is four hard golf holes in a row, yet the tenth is almost the same level of challenge. The elevated tee on this 408/392 hole hits into a fairway tilted right to left. The farther left one goes the more uphill the second shot is. There are three bunkers here in front to a large green that has a spine running through it around 2/3’s of the way. It is the 12th index hole and unless one hits a drive 250 down the right side, it is another difficult golf hole.

One goes uphill to arrive at the tree used for the club logo. As you step on the par 3 tee of 190/183 you look behind you and see another par 3 that is almost a mirror image to the hole you are about to play, with the difference being eleven has its pond on the right and fourteen has its pond on the left. Both holes play downhill. It is a really cool feature of the golf course. One wishes they could linger a bit on the tee. There are three bunkers on eleven to a green that has another smaller spine in it. It is rated the highest index hole on the course, as it is likely everyone struggles on this hole.

Twelve is a longer par 4 at 441/392 that bends to the right with waste areas to either side. This is one of only two flat holes on the back nine. Thirteen is also flat at 545/510 and represents a birdie or par chance despite the presence of waste areas on either side and six bunkers surrounding the entire green.

You climb the sand dune again for the fourteenth, a longer par 3 of 219/198 with the pond on the left and a single bunker to the right. The green is angled away to the left but the hole plays one-two clubs less depending on the wind as it is downhill. As mentioned, it is a lovely part of the course.

Fifteen is a lovely cape hole with a plaque highlight one of the Jupiter Hill pros making an ace on this 416/401 hole from the 401 tee carrying his drive over the pond. The green is elevated and blind from this tee making the ace even more impressive. A bunker on the water at the middle of the fairway is a good guide point for the tee shot. Longer hitters will want to go just to the left of it while shorter hitters want to hit no more than 10 yards to the right of it. This is the number two index due to the carry over the water and the green which is very quick back to front.

Sixteen is substantially uphill and has one of the more visually excited views on the golf course with six bunkers lined up on the left side on the fairway as you approach the green. There are two bunkers behind the green. The approach shot can require as many as one-three additional clubs on this 341/326 hole. It is not a pushover due to the guess one has to make on the distance required to land on the green. Going through the green leaves a very fast downhill chip.

Seventeen is the last par 5 playing downhill from the tee and then level on this dogleg left. A waste area is down the entire right side and there are three bunkers at the green. The green is tiny and very tilted back to front. It is difficult to hit the green from in front. This is a sneaky hole in that it seems straightforward yet it is the number four index.

The finishing hole plays uphill towards the clubhouse at 420/393. The hill is not quite as high as it is on the sixteenth but is still at least one additional club. The green is fronted by six bunkers and one cannot miss to the left due to the waste area and trees. It is a large green and more sloped back to front than it appears. Once again, like many of the holes on the Hills course, it is rated the number ten index, but on other golf courses it would be the number one index.

My criticisms of the Hill course are relatively few. It is a difficult walk as I am doubtful if anyone ever walks it. Secondly, many of the holes are very difficult for the average player; even the flat holes are not easy. It is one of the most difficult courses one will play. At times it goes too much towards difficulty rather than fairness. Perhaps the greens located uphill in the dunes are too high up. Does the golf course have too many long waste areas? It is a golf course for players who are in normally in control of their ball or do not care at all what they score. Very good players will enjoy the golf course more than the average player concerned about their score.

The positives are that the course is exceptionally well routed and the conditioning is superb. There are some wonderful vistas from the course at several stages. The player gets a chance at various types of shots into into the green or near the green. The greens are excellent and varied. The location, size and conditioning of the bunkers are very good.

Is it the best course in southeast Florida? I would put Seminole ahead of it for several reasons such as a better balance between fairness and difficulty. I like a course offering views across the course rather than primarily of the hole one is playing. Finally, Seminole has the better greens. I might even put McArthur ahead of it but it is a close call.

One should try to play the Hills course. It is memorable and a true test of golf. The members should be very proud and happy to be a member at this club.