Post by Richie3Jack on Jun 6, 2011 8:18:24 GMT -5
Rio Pinar CC was built in 1957 on the east side of Orlando and was only one of 2 member owned courses in the city at the time. It was the host to the former PGA Tour event, the Citrus Open and is now host to many high profile amateur events and qualifiers.
The course and surroundings are a bit 'frozen in time' as they have preserved much of the clubhouse and restaurant. They've also built a quality driving range and pitching area along with a nice practice green.
It's kinda funny for me because growing up in NY, most courses that I played on were built in the 1950's or even earlier. In fact, one course I was a member at was built in 1895. So to go to Rio Pinar, which was built in 1957, sorta rekindled the old school course design that I was so used to playing growing up in NY. But in NY, it wouldn't be all that old school.
What do I mean by old school? No island greens. Narrow, tree line fairways. Lots of slight dog legs. Smaller greens. No crazy/wacky holes. Strategically placed bunkers without an over abundance of them.
The main theme for the design is that the front 9 is pretty much a breeze and the back 9 is where you need to have your game ready to play. On the front 9, the only difficult hole IMO is #7, a 220 yard par-3 that has bunkers on both sides and a tough green to putt on. But on the back you have difficult holes in #10, #12, #13, #14, and #17.
In fact, #10 is one of the toughest, but fairest par-5's you'll face. From the back tees it plays to 580 yards with a very narrow fairway and trees on both sides. And then there is a strategically placed creek that forces the golfer to choose to either lay up or go for it. If they lay up, they'll have a sizeably longer approach shot, but the creek does come into play. And then it's topped off with a difficult green to putt on.
The really good holes on the course are #3 (par-3), #6 (par-5) #9 (par-4), #10 (par-5) and #17 (par-3). Weak holes? Probably only #8, a short par-4 (355 yards) without much trouble.
Overall the design does remind me quite a bit of the older courses played on the PGA Tour which have a 'nice and quaint' feel to them.
Condition wise the course is in decent shape at this point (June). The back 9 is actually in great condition outside of one of the greens. The front 9 is a little rougher, but still in decent enough shape. Probably the two worst parts are the back tees and the cart paths which could use an overhaul.
I view Rio Pinar as a breathe of fresh air in a state that is filled with many good, but new age design golf clubs. And it's a decent test of golf to boot.
3JACK
