Anybody Played Golf?

[BEADY]

Has anybody played golf on an eighteen or a nine hole golf course? If so, when is the best time to play and do you have to book in advance? I would also be grateful for any information on prices and whereabouts you played. Thanks, Beady.

 

[vernon]

Hi welcome to the DIS

On site Disney has 5 championship courses, they are wonderful places to play but a little costly. Twilight rates are available ( usually from about $60) but to play peak time you're looking at $100-$150 a round. I would rank them in my order of preference Osprey Ridge, Eagle Pines, Magnolia, Palms and Lake Buenna Vista. Disney also has a very passable 9 hole ewalking course thats about $35 a round and they offer a replay for $20-25 if you want another 9 holes straight after.

Off site, if you have a car there are some wonderful courses available, and some real bargains as well. BAsicaly the further you're prepared to travel the better value you get. I'd recommend within 15 minutes of Disney. Falcons Fire, Orange County National and Celebration. 30 minutes drive, Southern Dunes, Ridgewood Lakes and Highlands Reserve, and if you don't mind an hours drive for a real treat ( and a bargain mid week) Deer Island

Anopther idea is http://www.progolfguides.com. I can't say enough good things about Phil, it was one of the highlights of my trip, he's a great guy and I learned more from a round with him than months of lessons in the range.

IF you're flexible call "play stand by golf" these are consolidators of a lot of the courses, you call them the night before you want to play and they'll find a course that has unsold tee times and fit you in. Obviously this is going to be better for you at a slow time of year and midweek when there is a lot of excess capacity and a bit risky at peak season ( March and April) on a Saturday when all the courses are busy. You'll find them in the yellow pages in the Orlando Directory. I would also suggest going into a golf outlet and picking up a couple of the free guide booklets they give away. These have discount coupons, maps to find a lot of the courses and contact numbers for the proshops so you can check out what they really charge.

here are some links
http://www.falconsfire.com
http://www.ocngolf.com
http://www.southerndunes.com
http://www.deerislandgolf.com/

http://www.celebrationgolf.com/
http://www.highlandsreserve.com/

If you want a fun 9 holes that you can play with beginers I 'd recommend Orange Lake Country club. They have a floodlight 9 hole course that you can mix the tee boxes to really even things up. From the front tees the holes are 90-120 yards ( ideal for kids ) through 5 levels all the way to the back tees where they range from 120-248 yards with 5 of the holes over 200 yards !!! Orange Lake itself has three nine holes courses that are combined in a number of combinations to play as 18. It's not a bad course and pretty well priced. I wouldn't advise playing in mid summer though because they do have a LOAD of mosquitos around the lakes and I got bitten to pieces.

 

[thefatman]

Hi Beady nice to see you here.
I,ve played all over Orlando.
Its the golfing capital of the world, and you can (for $$$) play on some championship coures, there are lots of "local" cheaper courses as well, and some very cheap and MASSIVE golf shops.

Where abouts are you staying ?
I can try and suggest some near to your holiday base.

 

[AlisonB]

I'd love to be able to help - but the only advice I can offer is to recommend Winter Summerland next to Blizzard Beach (crazy golf) LOL!

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Dave & Vernon, can you recommend any good golf shops in Orlando? I think I'm getting bitten by this golfing lark, and this year might be a good time to 'invest' in new clubs to replace the rusty sticks that I currently use. We're next at WDW in August, and by then I might have persuaded Jane that I should buy a new set of clubs! Getting a bargain in Florida might help me in that task.

Regards

Rob

 

[thefatman]

Edwin Watts or Special Tee have Big stores all over the place.

My friends and I have bought several sets and individual clubs from the Big Special Tee on I drive down past the Mercado. Don't pay the price on the sticker, they ALWAYS deal, also their VERY experienced in writing receipts for UK customs purposes, if you know what I mean.
Also its cool test the new clubs on their indoor range

Warning I,ve been stopped by customs EVERY time I come back into the UK with my golf clubs, never had a problem but its a pain, probably something to do with my brilliant red Wilson pro bag cover, stands out a bit

Another place for the odd bargain ( got a great set of Mizuno clubs a third of the UK price) is the Sports Authority ( 192 and up by the Fla Mall).

Theres a golf discount outlet store up on I drive past Wet n Wild, they sometimes have some bargains in amongst the end of line stuff.

And believe it or not, K Mart and Wal Mart often have "special" sets on sale, my DW got a fantastic full set of Wilson clubs and bag etc for $120, £200 over here!

HTH's
DAve
(who hasen't been able to play since last summer as I have a dislocated knee cap !!)

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Thanks Dave. This a thread for my 'cut out and keep' folder for our next holiday.

How on earth do you dislocate a kneecap? It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it!

Regards

Rob

 

[thefatman]

I was standing on a beach with some good friends having a beer, turned round to talk to someone and fell over ( to those that were there HI YA )

Specialist thinks one of my muscles that holds the knee cap was only functioning 30% so been on the old electric muscle stimulation for months now, hopefully its getting better, as I don't use the walking stick anymore.

You didn't want to know all this did you
If anyones really interested I have MRI scan piccys ( thanks BUPA) as well, cause the knee cap chiped a bone on its travels

DAve

 

[vernon]

I agree with Dave on Edwin Watts and Special Tee as decent places to visit, I bought a perfectly adiquate set of Wilson clubs one time for less than $200 because they were a discontinued line.

Ouch Dave on the knee front brings back memories of when someone used my head to dislocate their kneecap in a rugby match one time, my headache lasted for nearly a week !!!!!
I think their knee damage lasted a little longer

 

[rob@rar.org.uk]

Sounds horrific, Dave. Next time drink more beer and I'm sure you won't injure yourself.

Regards

Rob

 

[BEADY]

Thanks for all of the useful info. My plan is to send hubby off for a nice little game of golf whilst my daughter and myself do a spot of shopping or two. (Get the drift) We are staying on I Drive. Thanks again, Beady.

 

[Eastender]

International course on I drive is good & Cypress Creek near Universal on Vineland, but a little gem right opposite Int. G.C is the Faldo Institute. Mainly a teaching facility but they do have a 9 hole course in there. Some short holes so it doesn't take all day. In good shape & looks expensive but isn't, & being a teaching facility, they don't mind beginners. Get the Orlando Sentinel, always some great golf deals & coupons.
Terry.

 

[kylie]

Rob, I'll be in WDW Aug 12-29 if you need a partner(and your happy to play with a high handicaper) give me a shout.

I assume you can hire clubs at the course