Golf in Florida

[EagleEye]

Hi

First time posting on here. I'm looking for some advice about golf in Florida. I've got some air mile tickets to use up and plan to travel to Florida (from Sweden) with the family.

the tickets have to be used by September and the kids are of school age so can't really get away until June.

So the question is, how 'unbearably' hot is it in June?

Is golf a that time of year a crazy idea? Ideally I would have liked to have gone earlier in the year but it is not possible due to school for the kids.

Thankful for any advice.

[zipazoid]

It's hot here in June, but whether it's unbearable is up to you. Low-mid 90s during the day, chance of rain every afternoon. Muggy. Along the coast it's a bit cooler by 3-4 degrees due to the sea breeze.

If you're going to play here in June, tee off before 9am when it's like 84 & to avoid the afternoon thunderstorms...they roll in around 3p like clockwork but they move thru quickly. By 4-5p they're gone, and you can get in an evening round, the rain drops the temp to like the high 80s. I play often after 5p, after I get off work.

This is Orlando, so great place to bring the kids - Disney, Universal, Sea World, etc. But the last place you wanna be when it's 94 degrees is around 10,000 other people at a theme park. Try Typhoon Lagoon, Wet 'N Wild, Aquatica or one of the 8 or so other water parks we have here. Check out Downtown Disney too - free to get in.

[EagleEye]

Thanks a lot zipazoid.

Regarding 'unbearable' ,if I put it this way, how busy are the courses(usually a good indicator)? How many 'locals' venture onto the course at this time of year?

[club ho]

I live in Massachusetts but have a home in florida's east coast about 40 miles south of Cape Canaveral where the Space Shuttle takes off from. We go down in June every year for a getaway. I play golf every afternoon and have found it to be comfortable. I rent a golf cart and bring plenty of water and Power aid to stay hydrated. It really is not bad at all. One trick I do is bring a cooler of ice water and a towel. WHen I start to feel a little over heated I simply dunk the towel into the ice water and wipe the cold wet towel around my neck face and arms. Instant relief that last for quite a while. The courses are very empty at that time of year so you can really play fast rounds of golf. Also golf is incredibly cheap at this time of year.

[EagleEye]

Thanks  a lot golf ho.

Great tips and just the sort of reassurance I was after. I think I'll go for it in June. If it's really cheap then thats an added bonus.

[montru]

Hi, I moved here to southwest Florida from the UK about seven years ago. I live in a community surrounded by golf courses called Rotonda West,

It all depends what kind of vacation you want, if you want to do the theme parks every day, then the Orlando area is best, if however, you would prefer a beach holiday with maybe a day trip to the theme parks (a two hour drive), then this is the ideal area, we have some of the best courses in the area.

I'll PM you some more info.

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by EagleEye

Thanks a lot zipazoid.

Regarding 'unbearable' ,if I put it this way, how busy are the courses(usually a good indicator)? How many 'locals' venture onto the course at this time of year?

Oh, the locals play a lot that time of year, but there aren't enough locals to fill the tee sheet. Getting a 8am tee time isn't a problem that time of year. I play most my golf from May thru Oct - a lot cheaper. And I'm used to the heat. Playing in 94 degree weather doesn't bother me. Take a cart, drink a lot of water. You'll be fine.

[srjorion]

Don't forget the sunscreen.  That would make for a long vacation if you get sunburned the first day.  Along the lines of club ho, when I play in hot weather I take small towels or rags and soak them in water.  I then roll them up, place them in ziplock bags, and freeze them.  I keep them in a small cooler in my car for after the round.  They are awesome for wiping off all of the sweat while cooling off at the same time.  When I play with a group of friends I'll make a few for them too.  Never heard a complaint:-)

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

Oh, the locals play a lot that time of year, but there aren't enough locals to fill the tee sheet. Getting a 8am tee time isn't a problem that time of year. I play most my golf from May thru Oct - a lot cheaper. And I'm used to the heat. Playing in 94 degree weather doesn't bother me. Take a cart, drink a lot of water. You'll be fine.

Playing for cart fees tends to make it a cooler round. Also the closer you are to the Atlantic, the more chance of a breeze. If you are inland then you may get the dog day's of summer type heat.

[jwrussell]

On the plus side:

Much lower greens fees everywhere.

Far fewer people playing.

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by jwrussell

On the plus side:

Much lower greens fees everywhere.

Far fewer people playing.

Very true. Florida golf in the summer is a helluva bargain. Example - if you want to play Grand Cypress now (January) it's $100 easy. You can play it in July for $25. And like jwrussell said, lots fewer players. A 3-hour 18-hole round is common.

The way I rationalize the summer heat here is, it's hot everywhere. So what's the diff if it's 94 here or 94 in, say, Michigan?

[TourSpoon]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

Very true. Florida golf in the summer is a helluva bargain. Example - if you want to play Grand Cypress now (January) it's $100 easy. You can play it in July for $25. And like jwrussell said, lots fewer players. A 3-hour 18-hole round is common.

The way I rationalize the summer heat here is, it's hot everywhere. So what's the diff if it's 94 here or 94 in, say, Michigan?

Let's get something going in July at Grand Cypress at the New Course. It's a great experience, even when you are sweating.

[club ho]

Originally Posted by zipazoid

Very true. Florida golf in the summer is a helluva bargain. Example - if you want to play Grand Cypress now (January) it's $100 easy. You can play it in July for $25. And like jwrussell said, lots fewer players. A 3-hour 18-hole round is common.

The way I rationalize the summer heat here is, it's hot everywhere. So what's the diff if it's 94 here or 94 in, say, Michigan?

Excellent point. My neighbor in florida was from new jersey and he said the heat was more oppressive in NJ than Florida.

[club ho]

Originally Posted by EagleEye

Thanks  a lot golf ho.

Great tips and just the sort of reassurance I was after. I think I'll go for it in June. If it's really cheap then thats an added bonus.

EagleEye: If you have kids going with you might consider the Disney World courses. Very cheap greens fee after 10 30 am. The carts have coolers for the ice water trick and also free GPS units that really help you see the course. I usually hook up in a GOLF battle with my brother in-law. While my wife kids head off to enjoy the amusement parks. All nice courses there.

[jwrussell]

Originally Posted by club ho

Excellent point. My neighbor in florida was from new jersey and he said the heat was more oppressive in NJ than Florida.

I'm originally from NJ (south), and I've always told everyone from the North, it's not that it's hotter or more humid here than there, it's that it lasts much longer.

[EagleEye]

Yeah , but compared to Sweden where I'll be traveling from?

June will have somewhere from the mid sixties to mid seventies here.