October 11, 2020

Jungle Country Club Golf Course - Front 9

All hole descriptions are under construction and will be updated when additional information is available.


Babe Ruth and daughter Julia on the Jungle Country Club golf course (colorized).

Suggested prior reading: 

The natural beauty of the Davista section, especially those that border on the tropical are seen over the entire course and even if a person does not play, the benefits of the walk and a view of the scenery makes it well worth while.

‒ New Golf Course at Country Club One of St. Petersburg's Best Assets, St. Petersburg Times, January 16, 1916


There are many natural hazards throughout the course and great bunkers of palmetto roots have been thrown up.

‒ New Golf Links Were Inspected - Found Perfect, St. Petersburg Times, April 17, 1915
Section of golf course including holes 1-5 superimposed on street map.


⬩ Front 9 ⬩ 3026 yds ⬩ Par 34

⬩ 1 ⬩ 410 yds ⬩ Par 4

One surely has an incentive to put all the force possible behind a drive from the teeing ground for hole number one. A beautiful smooth stretch with one bunker and sand ditch as a hazard is before you. A short drive keeps you out of danger or a long one just a trifle to the left permits you to pass the bunker and still remain on the fair green. The distance for the first hole is 410 yards.[1]

Golfers and spectators on the first tee at the Jungle Country Club, 1927 (Burgert Bros.) - credit: Admiral Farragut Academy (colorized).

Compare photo above with east side of Admiral Farragut Academy 2019. Photo: Steve of the Jungle.



Babe Ruth on the first tee. (Colorized).

Overhead view of the first hole, directly behind the Jungle Country Club Hotel.
The "teeing ground" is behind the hotel and the "putting green" is the circular area
at the top of the postcard, below the word "Florida." 
The tennis courts can be seen in the upper left of the postcard.




Today - 1st tee-Admiral Farragut Academy 501 Park Street N, 1st Green-Garden Court Apartments 7401 5th Ave N



Google Earth view of 1st hole.

On the first green, looking toward the Jungle Hotel. Colorized frame from 1941 newsreel.
See post: 1941 Newsreel Footage of Jungle Golf Tournament.

⬩ 2 ⬩ 435 yds ⬩ Par 4


A long drive will not get you in trouble on number two and there is just enough level sand in front of the tee to be an impetus for the amateur. A dubbed shot however, does not get a player into serious trouble. For the player who likes to take plenty of chances, plenty of opportunity is offered on this hole, which is 435 yards in length.[1]

⬩ 3 ⬩ 370 yds ⬩ Par 4

Number three permits a long drive also but a topped ball may find a resting place in a small ditch but it is easily recovered. This hole is 370 yards and a bunker is slightly to the left just ahead of the putting green.[1]



⬩ 4 ⬩ 385 yds ⬩ Par 4

Number four will be the worst hole to make, it is agreed generally.[2]

For the expert, number four is ideal as a long drive and a good approach will place the ball practically on the putting green. Incidentally, the beginner cannot get in trouble if he plays "safety first." The real test is in clearing a ditch and bunker just ahead of the hole and the 385 yards distance is a diversion to be enjoyed.[1]

"[St. Albans course] may have reminded him of Tillinghast's St. Petersburg Country Club, better known as the Jungle Club. Before and during Spring training in the mid-1920's, Ruth spent weeks there, several times - according to legend - driving a ball 360 yards on the 388-yard fourth hole." 

‒ Tom Stanton, Ty and the Babe: Baseball's Fiercest Rivals: A Surprising Friendship

4th hole -view of the fair green under construction. - St. Petersburg Times, January 16, 1916 (Photo colorized)


⬩ 5 ⬩ 210 yds ⬩ Par 3

The first short hole on the course is number five. It is only 210 yards in length and is sporty for every one.[1]

Jock Collins Wins St. Petersburg Open Tourney, St. Petersburg Times, March 6, 1930. (Newspaper photo colorized).





Section of golf course including holes 6-9 superimposed on street map.

⬩ 6 ⬩ 350 yds ⬩ Par 4

Number six is 350 yards in distance and an elbow makes it an attractive hole to play. It also offers opportunity to see the justice of the remark that "practice makes perfect."[1]


Huge gallery on the 6th green at the Jungle where Hagen is about to play his third shot.[4]

⬩ 7 ⬩ 158 yds ⬩ Par 3

"Short and sweet" is not the expression used by all players when number seven is reached. The sight of water often creates a mental hazard and many players who frequently drive much further than the length of the hole, take one look at the pond that should be crossed and proceed to swat the ball directly into the water. It is not as serious as one might believe however, as the caddy has no difficulty in recovering the ball and you may peg away to your heart's content in an effort to clear the pond. Should you finally give up in disgust it is easy to play the "longest way 'roun" and reach the destination via dry land.[1]



⬩ 8 ⬩ 390 yds ⬩ Par 4

8th and 9th holes were near Willow Pond, where Azalea Elementary is currently located.

⬩ 9 ⬩ 318 yds ⬩ Par 4

Willow Pond, near the 9th green. Colorized from St. Petersburg Times 1916 article.


1 New Golf Course at Country Club One of St. Petersburg's Best Assets, St. Petersburg Times, January 16, 1916
2 New Golf Links Were Inspected - Found Perfect, St. Petersburg Times, April 17, 1915
3 Jock Collins Wins St. Petersburg Open Tourney, St. Petersburg Times, March 6, 1930
4 Hundreds See Hagen Smash Course Record at Jungle with 64, St. Petersburg Times, March 3, 1929