As a child growing up playing golf in South Florida, beautiful courses were everywhere, and a solid restaurant/bar was permanently attached to them, commonly called the “19th Hole.”
The 19th Hole is where you settle any bets; someone usually tries to cheat on their scorecard, and you grab a cold drink with some good food.
My favorite 19th Hole was in Fort Lauderdale at The American Golfers Course. They had some of the best milkshakes and cheeseburgers in town. The servers were unique and quirky, but boy, did they hustle. The inside was as plain as plain could be. Your view was the practice green, which wasn’t much to look at. But no one cared because you knew the food and drinks would be outstanding.
Oriole’s Bar and Grill, “a.k.a. 19th Hole”
The 2024 Master’s Golf Championship was playing, and I wanted to hit the 19th Hole and watch it with some golfers. I can’t play anymore because of back issues, so being around golfers and watching an iconic match is special to me. So I went to the Oriole Golf Club, where I played dozens of times.
Ambiance
When I walked in the door, it felt so good. The interior hasn’t changed much, which is good for me. The decor is stuck between the late 1970s and the 1980s. They have a sunken bar, a relic from the 1970s. You don’t see bars made like this anymore, which is a shame. There are TVs, a grab/go cooler, a specials menu on the wall, and tables that have a view of, you guessed it, the putting green.
Ashley K. is the bartender, server, food runner, and bus person at the Oriole Golf Club. {Dan I. Cook}
This place has character and old-school charm, which I dearly miss.
Service is steady and is an army of one; Ashley K. is the bartender, server, food runner, and bus person. She quickly worked the crowd, and I thoroughly enjoyed talking to her. Great job!
Food
Holy smokes, the prices were extremely reasonable, and the food delivered was nice-sized portions. There was no shrinkflation here, which made my wallet and I very happy.
They served Boars Head Meats and had a jerked turkey sub on the specials board. I asked Ashley if I could get a club sandwich with the jerked turkey. “No problem,” she said.
The club sandwich ($8.95) came with chips, so I substituted them for fries ($1). When it was delivered, I still couldn’t wrap my big head around the fact this meal was so affordable.
Oriole Golf Club Boar’s Head Jerked Turkey Club. {Dan I. Cook}
The sandwich was delicious, and substituting plain turkey for jerked was a game-changer for me. The spice added a nice flavor punch to a classic sandwich.
The Verdict
Listen, this place is not for everyone. What it lacks with shiny new things and decor is made tenfold by its charm, nostalgic vibes, low prices, solid food, and service.
Places like Oriole’s 19th Hole should be cherished and embraced. It’s been around since 1971—not many businesses can say they have been around that long.
I encourage everyone to step outside their comfort zone and support companies like Oriole’s 19th Hole. My rating comes from my heart: 3 Beers.
Remember to tell Ashley K and Jenni G., Dan I Cook, and Margate Talk sent you. Stay Hungry!
Four beers = Outstanding
Three beers = Good
Two beers = OK
One beer = Needs work
Zero beers= Sucks (No beer is never a good thing).
Oriole Golf Club
8000 Margate Blvd
Margate, FL 33063
954-972-8140
www.oriolegolfclub.com
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