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