Suggestion for golfers from overseas

[Gemini]

Hi,

I am in South Africa and planning a golf trip for 8 guys. Would really appreciate some advice on what courses to play in the Orlando area (staying around the Disney area but will have a car). There seem to be so many great courses and without any knowledge of them it's nearly impossible for me to choose (we're looking at playing 5 rounds).

Planning to go sometime between February and May next year. Is any particular month better (for quality of the course, price, weather, etc) ?

Most of us are in the low 20's in terms of handicap so we're not looking for courses that are too daunting. I think the more scenic the course the better. Preferably under $100 but since we're travelling 8000 miles we'll pay more for courses that are worth it.

I'd appeciate any advice from people who know all the options.

Thanks

[drglew]

Lots of threads here on Orlando courses if you search:

http://thesandtrap.com/t/51658/orlando-area-golf

If you're staying around Disney that long and want a laid back "tiebreaker", you're group might find a detour to Disney's Fantasia Fairways fun--it's behind the Swan & Dolphin hotels on Disney's Boardwalk.  Yes, it's miniature golf, but the Fairways course is designed to "look" like real golf (as opposed to the Gardens course).  And i'd recommend getting a beer and the meatloaf at the Big River Grill afterwards!

[Gemini]

Thanks for the great suggestion - looks like fun. Have made a note of it and will definitely go.

I have made a short list which includes GC new course, Panther Lake, Osprey Ridge, World Woods (PB) and Victoria Hills.

I also have Shingle Creek, Celebration, Eagle Creek and Harmony Preserve as a 'B' list - would you rate those above any on the previous list ? Also as a links course how does Royal St Cloud compare to the Grand Cyprus new course ?

Thanks again.

[MSchott]

I don't have any specific recommendations but I played a few of the Disney courses some years ago including the Magnolia course and a few others in the area. Florida golf tends to be built around water hazards so I'd suggest you and your friends bring plenty of golf balls with you.

[Harmonious]

Originally Posted by Gemini

Thanks for the great suggestion - looks like fun. Have made a note of it and will definitely go.

I have made a short list which includes GC new course, Panther Lake, Osprey Ridge, World Woods (PB) and Victoria Hills.

I also have Shingle Creek, Celebration, Eagle Creek and Harmony Preserve as a 'B' list - would you rate those above any on the previous list ? Also as a links course how does Royal St Cloud compare to the Grand Cyprus new course ?

Thanks again.

Bear in mind that World Woods and Victoria Hills are a long ways from Orlando. Plan on a couple hours each way to World Woods (it is a great course, though) and an hour each way to Victoria Hills.

I wouldn't recommend Royal St. Cloud.  They get so much play that it has turned into a goat track recently.

Reunion is close to Disney and has some really nice courses. Falcon's Fire is also nearby. Also, why don't you include the main Disney courses, Palm and Magnolia?

[Gemini]

Thanks Harmonious, you guys are fortunate to be so spoilt for choice. Pity about World Woods but more than an hour each way is just a bit too far. Will have a look at Reunion.

[sabram]

World Woods has two excellent courses, but it is a long drive from Orlando. There are some very good courses about 45 minutes north of Disney. Sugarloaf Mountain, Victoria Hills, Deltona, Mission Inn (El Campeon course), Bella Colina and Timacuan. The terrain in that area is hilly and the soil is sandy, making for more interesting options than many of the courses closer to Disney. Osprey Ridge is my favorite of the Disney courses. The other three courses at Disney are more typical Florida courses. Falcon's Fire is just standard Oralndo fare IMO.  Reunion Resort has three good courses. I like the Watson course the best of the three. The Nicklaus course is the most difficult with lts of bunkers around the greens and fairways. Watson has lots of sand too, but it is more managable. At Orange County Natonal I prefer Panther Lake over Crooked Cat, although the back 9 at Crooked Cat is quite intersting. The New course at Grand Cypress is okay. It looks a little links-like but does not play like a true links course. It is interesting because it is different from most Oralndo courses.

Here's a link to my favorite Orlando courses with links to photos of most of the courses on your list. http://golfcourses.weebly.com/orlando-fl.html

I would rank the ones on your list as follows:

World Woods - If you go there you should play both courses.

Victoria Hills

Panther Lake at OCN

Osprey Ridge at Disney

Shingle Creek

Grand Cypress New

Harmony

Eagle Creek

Celebration

Royal St Cloud

[Gemini]

Thanks Sabram, are the courses in better condition in any particular months ?

[sabram]

Originally Posted by Gemini

Thanks Sabram, are the courses in better condition in any particular months ?

Florida is sunny and rainy most of the year so the grass is almost always green. Rain can make for bad condititions and for the most part courses in Florida do not play firm and fast beacuse they get a lot of water. World Woods and the courses north of Orlando are more likely to have firm fairways if that is waht you are looking for. Of course, hurricane season can wreak havoc on conditions and ability to play. Summer can be unbearably hot and humid

[Old1964]

My friends play Disney courses year after year.

A great blend of convenience and playability.

[Fatphil]

yeah but I got 2 kids at FSU in Tally and it can get chilly from Orlando on up in Feb...I wouldn't forget a sweater & a long sleeve golf shirt

[Nicklaus Travel]

Hi everybody,

We've partnered with The SandTrap to offer you guys a golf vacation contest ( read more ) and we're starting to get acquainted with the forums. It's been really helpful to see what members have to stay about the true lay of the land and current conditions - especially in regards to Nicklaus courses.

More info, course pics, etc. for those Nicklaus courses mentioned above:

• Grand Cypress (New Course)
• Reunion Resort (Tradition Course)

Stay tuned in the next few days about the contest - we're really excited to award a SandTrap member a Nicklaus Travel trip!

[dpgator33]

The way I see it, if you're travelling 8k miles to Orlando to golf and don't go to World Woods, then you're truly missing the point of going at all.  Yes, there are plenty of nice courses in Orlando, but WW is just a different, special experience.  And since there are two marvelous courses there, you could either knock out 36 in one day (their replay rates are very reasonable, even during high season the mosts you'll pay for 36 holes is $150) or you could play an afternoon round, stay a night at a nearby hotel and then play the other course in the morning.  It really is a great deal, no matter when you play.

By the way, February can be frosty in those parts and I've been pushed back to 10 or 11 in the morning because of frozen greens as late as mid-March, so keep that in mind when you're setting your dates.  I would recommend late March or early April.  You're not likely to get any freezes, and just as safe from the real hot weather that comes around early to mid May.

I actually just played WW there a week or so ago and have some pictures of the place.  It's in tremendous shape.  There are some fairway spots that are a little less than bright green, but it's been murderously hot and dry up here until the last few days, so I wasn't surprised.  I was actually impressed they were able to keep it in such good shape lately.  I do hear that it's at its best in the spring though, but I've not been at that part of the year.

Also about World Woods - it's not a resort or Country Club.  It's in the middle of nowhere.  There's a nice pro shop, but not much equipment, mostly hats and shirts and towels and whatnot, and there's no restaurant.  There's food, but it's just bar food and about a 150 square foot indoor dining space and an equally sized outdoor space.

They also keep a tight grip on pace of play - there is no walking and if you get anything more than half a hole behind, the rangers will let you know.  They also discourage leaving the course at the turn. There are a number of restrooms on the course though, and the beverage/snack cart is always on the course.  There are plenty of water stations too if it does get hot.