| My husband loves playing golf and I am
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| | Classic, a favorite among dozens of PGA
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| myself am pretty decent at the sport. So
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| | and Senior PGA Tour players. Orange
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| it was a given that we would be playing a
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| | County National has twice hosted the PGA
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| few rounds in Orlando. We had a chance to
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| | Tour Qualifying School Finals on its two
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| sample a number of golf courses
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| | tracks, Panther Lake and Crooked Cat,
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| first-hand and got a personal
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| | They offer diverse tests that are good
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| appreciation of the great number and
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| | enough to challenge and determine
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| variety of golf courses in the Orlando
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| | tomorrow's professional stars.
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| area.
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| | Some folks enjoy walking out their hotel
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| I had a chance to talk with Mike Jamison
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| | door straight to the first tee. Orlando
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| from Golf Orlando to get a better
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| | offers several choices for stay-and-play
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| overview of the extensive golf facilities
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| | buffs, including Hawk's Landing. Attached
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| that the Orlando area has to offer.
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| | to the spectacular Marriott World Center,
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| 1. Orlando is not only the world's No. 1
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| | Hawk's Landing recently underwent a
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| vacation destination, but it is also
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| | complete renovation by Robert Cupp. It
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| called "Golf's Ultimate Theme Park".
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| | has water on 15 of the 18 holes and it
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| Please tell us more about that.
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| | features its own version of "Amen Corner"
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| Isn't it interesting how sometimes the
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| | - holes 12, 13 and 14.
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| most obvious answer to a tough question
| |
| | That small taste gives you an idea of the
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| is sitting right before your eyes, yet it
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| | diversity available through GolfOrlando,
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| takes you days, months, even years to see
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| | truly "Golf's Ultimate Theme Park."
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| it?
| |
| | 3. Please inform us about the golf
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| Officials of the marketing co-op
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| | practice facilities and the teaching
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| GolfOrlando realized that recently when
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| | professionals that are available in the
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| they finally nailed the perfect marketing
| |
| | Orlando area.
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| tag line for their 25-course
| |
| | Some of the game's most respected
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| organization.
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| | teachers - David Leadbetter, Mike Bender,
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| For years the group had wrestled with
| |
| | Rina Ritson, Bill Madonna, Brad Brewer
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| various themes that might set Orlando
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| | and Fred Griffin to name a few - do their
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| apart from its competition in the golf
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| | magic in Central Florida.
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| destination wars. Then one day a member
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| | Orlando is home to some of the nation's
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| asked a question - "What is Orlando known
| |
| | finest practice facilities. The Faldo
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| for?"
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| | Institute and Orange County National
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| The obvious answer? Theme parks. Orlando
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| | offer more than just practice tees and
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| is the world's No. 1 vacation
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| | greens. The landing areas on their
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| destination, and the incredible
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| | driving ranges resemble true targets and
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| collection of theme parks plays the
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| | hazards that are found on courses.
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| leading role.
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| | Tremendous short-game practice areas help
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| It was at that moment that the perfect
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| | better players fine-tune that key part of
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| theme line crystallized - "GolfOrlando -
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| | their games. But the crowning jewel in
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| Golf's Ultimate Theme Park."
| |
| | Orlando are the courses. From top to
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| It is a nice fit not only because of the
| |
| | bottom, Orlando offers the best quality
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| foundation of Orlando's vacation pitch -
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| | golf of any destination in the world.
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| theme parks - but also because it
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| | Nearly every exit off I-4 leads directly
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| reflects the incredible diversity of the
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| | to a memorable golf experience,
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| Central Florida golf landscape. Golf in
| |
| | regardless of which side of Orlando you
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| Orlando provides its own type of outdoor
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| | are on.
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| adventure.
| |
| | 4. Some of the Orlando area golf courses
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| 2. Please tell us about the types of golf
| |
| | have achieved top ratings from various
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| courses that are available in the Orlando
| |
| | golf publications. Please tell us more
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| area.
| |
| | about that.
|
| Looking for a taste of the U.K.? How
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| | Orange County National, host of the 2003
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| about Royal St. Cloud, where every hole
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| | & 2005 PGA TOUR Q-School Finals, was the
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| transfers you to the fabled courses of
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| | recipient of Golf Digest's 4 1/2 Stars
|
| the British Isles, and where the 2004 and
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| | for 2000 to 2005. Southern Dunes is rated
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| 2005 British Junior Amateur was
| |
| | among the top 100 contemporary courses in
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| conducted? Try a couple of very popular
| |
| | America by Golfweek. Orange County
|
| Ron Garl designs for a Scottish touch.
| |
| | National's Panther Lake is rated 4 1/2
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| Eagle Creek, located near the Orlando
| |
| | stars by Golf Digest. Award-winning
|
| International Airport, offers open,
| |
| | Southern Dunes was voted "Top 100 courses
|
| rolling fairways, large, undulating
| |
| | in America" by Golfweek 1997 - 2001.
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| greens and those dangerous revetted
| |
| | Celebration Golf Club was rated 4 1/2
|
| bunkers that dot the landscape in
| |
| | stars and in the top three in Central
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| Scotland. Eagle Creek was recently ranked
| |
| | Florida for service and in the top two
|
| among the top 10 new courses of the
| |
| | for course conditioning by Golf Digest's
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| decade in Florida by Golf Travel &
| |
| | "Best Places to Play" 2004 - 2005.
|
| Leisure, and is the first par 73 course
| |
| | Diamondback Golf Club was recently
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| in Orlando and the first to use Mini
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| | awarded four stars by Golf Digest's
|
| Verde greens.
| |
| | "Places To Play". Victoria Hills Golf Cub
|
| On the north side of Orlando is Timacuan
| |
| | open end in 2002, and was recently named
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| Golf & Country Club, ranked as high as
| |
| | by Golf Magazine as a "Top 10 You Can
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| No. 14 in Florida by one statewide
| |
| | Play." Royal St. Cloud Golf Links was
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| publication. Its front side offers up a
| |
| | rated in the Top 5 Most Underrated Golf
|
| true taste of Scotland, while the back 9
| |
| | Courses in the Orlando area and hosted
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| takes on a more Carolinas low Country
| |
| | the 2004 and 2005 British Junior Amateur.
|
| feel. Hole 2, a long water-dominated par
| |
| | Eagle Creek Golf Club was recently named
|
| 4, was recently named the 2nd most
| |
| | among the Top 10 New Courses since 2000
|
| difficult hole in Central Florida by an
| |
| | by Travel & Leisure Magazine.
|
| area publication. Timacuan is a locals'
| |
| | 5. What major golfing events are held in
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| favorite.
| |
| | the Orlando area?
|
| A very similar routing by Arnold Palmer
| |
| | The region hosts its share of major
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| awaits you on the south side of town. The
| |
| | competitions - two PGA Tour stops
|
| Legends at Orange Lake opened in 1998 and
| |
| | annually (the Bay Hill Invitational in
|
| features a Scottish style front nine (The
| |
| | March, hosted by Arnold Palmer; and the
|
| Links) and a tree-lined back nine (The
| |
| | Disney Classic at Walt Disney World in
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| Pines). The feature holes are the
| |
| | October), one LPGA Tour tournament, the
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| 610-yard 4th on the Links nine and the
| |
| | PGA Tour Qualifying School Finals, the
|
| 432-yard 13th, called the Island Oak.
| |
| | Buick Scramble National Finals, The
|
| In need of drama? How about Diamond
| |
| | Office Depot Father/Son, and a variety of
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| Players Club in Clermont, where the
| |
| | mini tours. A
|
| elevation changes are so spectacular that
| |
| | 6. Please tell us about some of the
|
| the track is often referred to as
| |
| | famous golf architects that have put
|
| "Florida's mountain course." You'll need
| |
| | their mark on Orlando golf courses.
|
| to buckle up when tackling Mystic Dunes'
| |
| | The group's 25 layouts boast the names of
|
| green complexes. They offer up slopes
| |
| | a majority of the world's leading
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| that drop as much as 10 feet, and you
| |
| | architects - Tom Fazio, Rees and Robert
|
| might find an elephant's trunk poking out
| |
| | Trent Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack
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| of a few serious mounds. Also, several of
| |
| | Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Ron Garl, Steve
|
| the fairways feature whiskey barrel
| |
| | Smyers.
|
| bunkers as guideposts. This Gary
| |
| | 7. What about affordable golf in Orlando?
|
| Koch-designed course personifies the word
| |
| | 8. Who are some of the famous golf
|
| "adventure," as does Highlands Reserve, a
| |
| | professionals who have made the Orlando
|
| roller coaster-like golf experience with
| |
| | area their home?
|
| elevation changes of 120 feet and
| |
| | Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Annika Sorenstam,
|
| dramatic scenery. Further south on
| |
| | Sergio Garcia, Se Ri Pak, Arnold Palmer,
|
| Highway 27 is Steve Smyers' Southern
| |
| | Jim Thorpe, Chris Di Marco, Mark O'Meara,
|
| Dunes, another course that features
| |
| | Scott Hoch, Nick Faldo, John Cook, Stuart
|
| elevation change uncommon in Central
| |
| | Appleby, Charles Howell III and dozens of
|
| Florida. Combined with the abundance and
| |
| | others have planted their roots in
|
| creativity of the bunkering, it is easy
| |
| | Central Florida. There is a reason for
|
| to understand while Southern Dunes is
| |
| | that, beyond tax implications.
|
| ranked among the To 100 Modern Day
| |
| | 9. In addition to golf, what else does
|
| Courses" by Golfweek.
| |
| | the Orlando area have to offer?
|
| Excitement? Falcon's Fire by Rees Jones
| |
| | Let's face it - no region in the country
|
| has a couple of thrillers, especially its
| |
| | does adventure as well and with as much
|
| cape hole, the par 4 13th. This one dares
| |
| | diversity as Orlando, the world's No. 1
|
| you to bite off more than you can chew,
| |
| | vacation destination. Theme parks, theme
|
| and while it is tempting to rip a big tee
| |
| | parks and more theme parks. Walt Disney
|
| shot toward the green, the money play is
| |
| | World, Universal Studios, Sea World,
|
| to safely land your ball into the slender
| |
| | Kennedy Space Center and others have
|
| fairway utilizing a more forgiving angle
| |
| | created the face that smiles upon the
|
| and a fairway wood.
| |
| | vacationing world from Central Florida.
|
| If you are a traditionalist, the options
| |
| | The nightlife and restaurants rival those
|
| are boundless. Shingle Creek is the
| |
| | of any other region in the country.
|
| newest of the traditional Florida
| |
| | Tourists gather at various pockets around
|
| layouts, bordered by dense oaks and pines
| |
| | Orlando - Universal City Walk, Pleasure
|
| in a backdrop along historic Shingle
| |
| | Island and International Drive among
|
| Creek. Location is another benefit as it
| |
| | them. But if you want a feel for how the
|
| rests near the major tourist areas.
| |
| | locals entertain themselves, take a trip
|
| Harmony is a Johnny Miller design that
| |
| | to Winter Park Village on the north side
|
| falls into this category. Its' strength
| |
| | of town, where terrific restaurants and
|
| lies in the greens complexes that feature
| |
| | clubs will fill your tummy and your
|
| angular bunkering creating a variety of
| |
| | night.
|
| challenging pin placements. Ridgewood
| |
| | 10. What about the weather year-round?
|
| Lakes provides a beautiful cruise through
| |
| | What about getting to Orlando?
|
| the hardwoods off Highway 27, and tops
| |
| | The weather is conducive to golf
|
| off the journey with an awesome finishing
| |
| | year-round. Average high daytime
|
| hole.
| |
| | temperatures range from 72 in January to
|
| How about a stroll though nature?
| |
| | 89 in July. Golf can be played and
|
| Stonegate Golf Club, designed by Ron
| |
| | practiced 365 days a year, many of those
|
| Garl, rests upon 3,300 acres of pristine
| |
| | days featuring clear blue skies, lazy
|
| wetlands, woodlands and 100-year-old oak
| |
| | breezes and cool, comfortable nights.
|
| hammocks, and places the emphasis on the
| |
| | Another significant reason is the ease of
|
| short game. Mike Dasher's North Shore
| |
| | travel. Orlando International Airport
|
| looks as if it should be located deep in
| |
| | welcomes direct flights from most major
|
| the country as it sits comfortably amidst
| |
| | airports around this country and the
|
| lush surroundings, yet it is conveniently
| |
| | world. And it is quite simple to drive to
|
| located seven miles from Orlando
| |
| | Orlando from in or out of state, thanks
|
| International Airport. Diamondback, a Joe
| |
| | to a well-planned series of major
|
| Lee design located in Haines City, was
| |
| | highways.
|
| carved from 240 acres of virgin forest
| |
| | 11. What accommodation options do golfers
|
| and offers dramatically rolling fairways
| |
| | have in Orlando?
|
| bordered by dense trees, pristine natural
| |
| | 12. Please tell us a bit more about the
|
| wetlands, and well-positioned water
| |
| | golf vacation packages that are offered
|
| hazards.
| |
| | in Orlando.
|
| If convenience is important, MetroWest
| |
| | 13. Some key golf organizations make
|
| could be the perfect choice, as it is
| |
| | Orlando their home, please tell us more
|
| located near Universal Studios and the
| |
| | about that.
|
| International Drive tourist section. It
| |
| | The one and only television network
|
| is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. masterpiece
| |
| | devoted 100% to the sport - The Golf
|
| that features wide fairways and
| |
| | Channel - is based in Orlando. Golfweek,
|
| challenging approach shots. Nearby just
| |
| | a leading trade publication, moved to
|
| off International Drive next to Sea World
| |
| | Orlando about 11 years ago. Meadowbrook
|
| is Grande Pines, a recently renovated
| |
| | Golf, one of the largest golf course
|
| Smyers design that features a number of
| |
| | management companies, is located here, as
|
| outstanding risk/reward holes.
| |
| | is the industry's leading golf travel
|
| Celebration Golf Club, located near Walt
| |
| | company, Golfpac. The industry's only
|
| Disney World, was designed by father
| |
| | media/ business networking organization,
|
| Robert Trent Jones Sr. and son Robert
| |
| | the International Network of Golf, is
|
| Trent Jones Jr. and places emphasis on
| |
| | also based in Orlando.
|
| approach shots.
| |
| | Thank you, Mike, for providing a great
|
| Is notoriety important to you?
| |
| | practical overview of Orlando as a
|
| ChampionGate's two courses play host
| |
| | first-rate golf destination.
|
| annually to the Office Depot Father/Son
| |
| |
|
