Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club in Dade City, FL

Pros

• The course is considered one of the best golf courses in the area.
• The North and South courses are in great condition and fun to play.
• The staff are friendly and the service is consistently excellent.
• The villas provide comfortable accommodations and a wonderful stay.
• The fairways are among the best in West Florida.
• The greens are fast, true, and well maintained.
• The clubhouse and facilities are top-notch with beautiful surroundings.
• The practice areas and driving range are well kept and accommodating.
• The food and dining experiences receive high praise.
• The overall experience is highly recommendable and worth visiting.

Cons

• The course is expensive.
• The halfway house staff member was unpleasantly unfriendly.
• There was a lack of grass on the tees, indicating poor upkeep.
• There were too few beverage carts and poor communication about their availability.
• Pace of play was abysmal, with rounds taking about five hours and no marshals to speed things up.
• The starter and golf shop manager harassed a guest, displaying arrogance and prejudice.
• For $350, the experience was deeply disappointing and disrespectful toward a disabled golfer.
• The villas were aging and in need of maintenance.

Review

Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club in Dade City is best suited for serious golfers and groups who want a resort-style, stay-and-play experience anchored by two championship-level courses, exceptional conditioning, and generous on-site housing. The South and North courses offer distinct terrains and ample challenge, with greens that roll true and scenery that feels timeless rather than trendy. For families or groups that prize a complete club experience, dining, practice facilities, and the potential to host multi-round events on site, Lake Jovita provides a compelling, largely dependable backdrop. It is not a value-first, budget-driven option, however, and prospective residents or visitors should anticipate premium pricing and the potential for slower rounds during peak times.

Those who should consider alternatives are primarily price-sensitive buyers and those who insist on consistently brisk pace of play. Several reviews flag what amount to a recurring pace problem: slow rounds, limited marshal presence, and the occasional mismanagement of tee times that can turn a round into a five-hour affair. Beverage cart coverage is uneven, and some rounds feel underserviced, especially on busy days. Additionally, while the villas and guest accommodations are praised for comfort and convenience, a number of guests note aging interiors and maintenance touch-ups as a recurring theme, which can detract from the overall luxury feel when expectations are high. For ADA-sensitive visitors, a troubling incident in one review also underscores the need for careful vetting of staff training and guest handling.

The strongest positives, the two courses themselves, largely offset the most troubling cons when measured against the value of a high-end golf-and-golf-resort stay. Green complexes here are consistently excellent: greens run true, with fast speeds that reward well-struck approaches, and fairways that remain well-maintained even in busy seasons. The South course earns particular praise for its water features and strategic design, while the North is celebrated for its layout and picturesque lines. The practice area, club amenities, and the clubhouse contribute to a sense of quality that few area facilities match at this tier. Villas that bookend a stay-and-play trip provide convenient, family-friendly lodging with easy access to courses and dining, making Lake Jovita a practical hub for tournaments or extended golf weekends. When management and staff align, facilitating early starts, friendly pro shop service, and reliable food and beverage experiences, the overall experience shines.

Yet the cons cannot be dismissed, and they do influence the decision calculus for families weighing the cost versus the payoff. Pace of play reliably emerges as the most frequent pain point: rounds stretching beyond four and a half hours, slow tee-sheet management, and sparse marshal intervention. That friction undermines the very value proposition of a “premier” destination, because the allure of pristine conditions and elegant facilities loses its edge when a round drags on with little guidance or pace enforcement. Price sensitivity compounds the issue: several reviews point to premium rates, occasional hidden or variable charges, and a sense that value depends as much on when one visits as on what one experiences on the turf. When service gaps appear, whether it’s a distant beverage cart or a partially inattentive starter, the favorable aspects of conditioning and hospitality are more easily outweighed.

From a decision-making standpoint, Lake Jovita remains a compelling choice for a stay-and-play strategy that centers on top-tier turf, luxury accommodations, and a refined clubhouse experience. For families, the practical upside is clear: you can stage rounds, meals, and social events in a single, cohesive setting, with the Villas offering a comfortable, convenient home base. The ability to host groups of varying sizes, to access two courses with contrasting profiles, and to rely on consistent course maintenance makes it worth considering for repeat golf trips or extended golf weekends. The caveat is the need to temper expectations about pace and to verify pricing details in advance, especially for larger groups or multi-round stays.

Bottom line: Lake Jovita is a premier golf destination in the Tampa Bay area for players who place a premium on course condition, layout quality, and the overall resort atmosphere. It delivers a high-caliber product with substantial upside for stay-and-play groups, tournament organizers, and families seeking a polished club experience with on-site lodging. However, those whose decision hinge hinges on two factors, unwavering pace of play and transparent, consistently favorable pricing, should probe those dimensions carefully or explore alternatives. To optimize a visit, plan a round with a marshal when possible, confirm villa layouts and bedding ahead of time, and insist on a clear, current pricing outline. If pace, price transparency, and consistently exemplary service are non-negotiable, broader market options in the region may better align with those expectations; otherwise, Lake Jovita remains one of the best-value premium golf experiences available for extended stays and ambitious group itineraries.

This part of Dade City, Florida, offers a range of convenient amenities for seniors looking to live in the area. There are several places of worship nearby, providing spiritual support and community engagement. Numerous dining options, including Mexican cuisine at Pancho's Villa and fast food favorites like KFC and McDonald's, offer convenient meal choices. Access to quality healthcare is readily available with physicians' offices and hospitals in close proximity. Several pharmacies ensure easy access to medications and health supplies. For leisure activities, there are cinemas at Cobb Grove 16 Cinemas and parks such as Zephyrhills Park Playground & Waterpark for outdoor recreation. Additionally, transportation options like Zephyrhills Municipal Airport and car rental services provide ease of travel for seniors in the area.

Places of Worship

• Gospel Assembly Church (0.7 miles)
• Lighthouse Ministries (7 miles)
• New Walk Church (8.7 miles)

Restaurants

• Pancho's Villa Mexican Restaurant (1.6 miles)
• KFC (3.8 miles)
• Captain D's (3.8 miles)
• McDonald's (3.9 miles)
• Beef 'o' Brady's (3.9 miles)
• Kafe Kokopelli (4 miles)
• Burger King (4 miles)

Physicians

• Women's Health of Pasco (2.5 miles)
• Jennifer Roller MD (2.5 miles)
• Colon Edwin MD PA (2.5 miles)
• Pasco Cardiology Associates (3.2 miles)
• Florida Medical Clinic (3.7 miles)
• Danielle L. Albritton, DO (3.8 miles)
• Premier Community Healthcare (4 miles)

Hospitals

• Pasco Regional Hospital (3 miles)
• Bayfront Health Dade City (3 miles)
• Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Sleep Center (6.7 miles)
• Adventist Health Systems Sunbelt (7 miles)
• Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Outpatient Services (7.1 miles)
• Simpson Breast Health Solutions (7.1 miles)
• Pioneer Medical Services (7.1 miles)

Pharmacies

• Franklin Pharmacy (3.2 miles)
• Winn-Dixie (3.7 miles)
• Walgreens (3.8 miles)
• Nimoh Pharmacy and Compounding (3.8 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (3.9 miles)
• Rx Discount Pharmacy (3.9 miles)
• Rx Care Pharmacy & Kwik-Mart (4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (7.1 miles)
• Little Ninja Thai Japanese Food & Cafe (8.3 miles)
• Saigon Cafe (9 miles)
• Starbucks (9.3 miles)

Theaters

• Cobb Grove 16 Cinemas (8.9 miles)

Parks

• Zephyrhills Park Playground & Waterpark (9.2 miles)

Transportation

• Zephyrhills Municipal Airport (ZPH) (9.7 miles)
• Enterprise Rent-A-Car (9.7 miles)