Golf guide

[kesam]

Can anyone recommend a good golf guide for Orlando/Florida or recommend a good resort style course we could stay and play for a few days while we visit in October.

Flying 6th Oct TCD

 

[homerdog]

There are dozens of great resorts/courses in the Orlando area, and if you're prepared to travel further afield the choice gets even better. Do you have a particular location/budget in mind? Let me know and I'll see if I can recommend something

 

[homerdog]

In the meantime, have a look at some of these:

Ritz-Carlton Naples
World Golf Village
TPC Sawgrass
Ocean Hammock
Innisbrook
Champions Gate
Grande Lakes
Bay Hill
Naples Beach Hotel
Not to mention The Mouse

 

[carl_w]

Forget Sawgrass (or any other Pete Dye courses) unless you're a single-handicapper.

 

[kesam]

I am and would like to play Sawgrass and Blue monster ? at Doral if poss

 

[carl_w]

I am and would like to play Sawgrass and Blue monster ? at Doral if poss

 

[kesam]

I'll take that with a pinch of salt thanks. but any experiance of playing and staying aat these sort of places would be gratefully recieved

 

[homerdog]

I've played at TPC Sawgrass, Tiburon (Naples), Osprey Ridge, Eagle Pines and Palm (all Disney), Grande Lakes, Orange County National and Pine Barrens among others.

Pine Barrens, at World Woods, is a fantastic course, but it's in the middle of nowhere and there's no accommodation on-site. Worth a day trip out from Orlando, though.

Orange County National is 15 minutes from Disney and has two great courses, not expensive either.

Tiburon, at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, has two courses, the Gold and Black. Both are designed by Greg Norman. The Black course is set in absolutely breathtaking surroundings, and the hotel is possibly the best in Florida. It is also home to the Franklin Templeton Shootout in November, A PGA Tour event.

Grande Lakes is another Greg Norman design, again at a Ritz-Carlton hotel, but the course is still a bit new IMO.

Sawgrass is a great experience, mainly because it's home to the 'fifth major'. There are two courses, but the Valley course is only average really. However, the Stadium Course lives up to expectations. It's a tough test, but it inspires you to play your best golf. I managed to shoot 79, so it can't be that hard The Marriott hotel isn't brilliant (I'd give it 7/10), and you have to stay there to get a tee-time, but it's not too expensive- just as well really, as you'll need all your money for the green fee!

I haven't played the Blue Monster, but it certainly gets good ratings in the Zagat Survey.

There are other places you should consider, such as Bay Hill and Grand Cypress with 45 Jack Nicklaus designed holes.

To sum up, the choice is never ending, but if it was my money it would be Tiburon or Sawgrass

 

[homerdog]

Couple of pics of Tiburon Black

 

[kesam]

Sawgrass and Tiburon looking good thanks I am only there for a fourtnight this time so not looking to do to much so I think they will do fine. Probably going to stay around I drive most of the time so can you recommend the best practice facilities as I do enjoy a good range and short game session. Also will be looking to come back in Feb for a month to rent some accom could you say which courses have the best long term accom to rent.

Many thanks your advice has been great

 

[peewakio]

Kesam
If you fancy a knock at Falcons Fire on Monday 17th Oct you are more than welcome. It could save you being paired up with a couple of hackers. There will be myself (11 H/cap) and my son (5 H/cap). We are also looking to possibly drive over to Ponte Vedra to play Sawgrass later on (We have friends staying at Daytona arriving on the 22nd and playing Sawgrass 26th).
Going by the pictures posted by Homerdog, I certainly wouldn't want to play Tiburon Black.................Too Cloudy

 

[kesam]

Sounds great (6hcp) if you can cope with my wife off 23 I totally understand if youd prefer to play by yourselves

 

[homerdog]

can you recommend the best practice facilities as I do enjoy a good range and short game session.

The range at Sawgrass is fantastic, and you might find yourself practicing next to Vijay

Orange County National has the biggest range in Florida, and I believe it was the location for Nike's famous Tiger Woods trick shot advert

If you're going over for a month next year, you must try and play at World Woods. Sorry I can't help on long term accommodation, perhaps others can help?

 

[peewakio]

Sounds great (6hcp) if you can cope with my wife off 23 I totally understand if youd prefer to play by yourselves

Kesam
If your truly beloved can play to a 23 then she's a hell of a lot better than the ladies I generally get stuck behind at my place. Not that I've got anything against the ladies on the course, it's just that three and a half hours soon becomes five
By the way Falcons Fire Is a great course on the 192 about 200 yards up from Watermania. We make a point of playing Falcons Fire each time we hit Orlando. It holds special significance to Luke my eldest son who broke 80 there before he did at our home course.
I will probably be booking it next week sometime. We normally play in the afternoon and the green fee is generally around $50-60 with buggy included. It's more expensive at weekends and mornings. If you're interested let me know.

 

[jana]

Walt Disney World is a fantastic golf resort with 5 championship courses and a family 9 hole course. For variety and plenty of other activities, IMHO it's your #1 choice.

Orlando itself has a huge number of great courses if you didn't want to stay on site. Orange County National is a great pair of courses, Southern Dunes is a great course, Falcon's Fire, Celebration, Mystic Dunes are all with 20 minutes drive of WDW.

Further afield Doral in Miami has 3 or 4 championship courses attatched to the resort.

 

[kesam]

peewakio Falcons Fire looks a great track and we love to play just let me know the damage and I'll sort it with you.

Jana Have you ever been down to Doral it sounds and looks fantastic and to top the the lot Jim Mcleans has a school there, I think all my birthdays have come at once.