Post by Richie3Jack on Mar 30, 2012 13:48:50 GMT -5
Here’s my hopeful plan of courses to play this year. I’ve finally gotten a feel of how golf ‘works’ around here and when the prices are the most affordable and what courses are truly good and which ones are not as well as getting some friends who have played these courses and have a keen eye when it comes to judging them:
Disney – They have 4 courses and I will probably try out Osprey Ridge first and then go from there. The good thing about resort courses like that is they usually keep the stimp up on the greens during the summer instead of making the greens thicker than calcified caribou shit.
TPC Sawgrass: Too historically significant to pass up on. Not looking forward the 2 hour drive.
Southern Dunes: I usually hear it’s ‘the greatest course in Orlando’ or ‘it’s the most overrated course in Orlando, but the greens are great.’ We’ll see. It’s in Haines City, which isn’t exactly a short-trip for me. Steve Smyers design.
Deer Island: Course tucked away in Lake Dora that I had never heard of until a friend asked me if I was playing in a big tournament there (no) and then a friend of my dad told me it was a great, but hard course as well. Joe Lee design.
Sugarloaf Mountain: Crenshaw and Coore design. Have never played their designs, but this course is supposed to be exceptional. Tough to get on since it’s private and located in the middle of nowhere.
Mission Inn (El Campeon): Recommended by a reader on the board. Also asked somebody in The Villages about it and they liked it a lot as well. About 20 minutes from my parents home.
Grand Cypress (new course): Nicklaus designed links style course. Always looks cool when I drive by it. Need for the rates to go down and be somewhat reasonable.
Champions Gate: David Leadbetter’s stomping grounds. From what I’ve been told, it appears that the International course is the better of the two.
Victoria Hills: Recommended by iteachgolf when I first got here. I haven’t played it, yet. The condition sounds questionable, but I think it got past the harsh 2009-2010 winter and is in good shape now. I think at worst it will be like the Deltona Club, great design, questionable condition, still a good time.
Country Club of Orlando: Hopefully I’ll qualify for the FSGA Amateur and get to play here, a Donald Ross design. It reminds me of Bellevue CC in Syracuse (another Ross design) in that it’s located in a bad part of town, except you cross one street and it’s all nice again. Only difference is that part of Syracuse is far worse and my friend almost got all of us killed a Burger King one time
Magnolia Plantation: Mike Bender’s stomping grounds. Supposed to be a really good course and the travel isn’t too bad.
Legacy at Alaqua Lakes: This is where they are holding the FSGA Mid-Am qualifier. It’s private, but they have limited tee times. I don’t really have much ambition to play in the Mid-Am this year, but if I don’t qualify for the Amateur Champ., I’ll probably give this a shot.
3JACK
Disney – They have 4 courses and I will probably try out Osprey Ridge first and then go from there. The good thing about resort courses like that is they usually keep the stimp up on the greens during the summer instead of making the greens thicker than calcified caribou shit.
TPC Sawgrass: Too historically significant to pass up on. Not looking forward the 2 hour drive.
Southern Dunes: I usually hear it’s ‘the greatest course in Orlando’ or ‘it’s the most overrated course in Orlando, but the greens are great.’ We’ll see. It’s in Haines City, which isn’t exactly a short-trip for me. Steve Smyers design.
Deer Island: Course tucked away in Lake Dora that I had never heard of until a friend asked me if I was playing in a big tournament there (no) and then a friend of my dad told me it was a great, but hard course as well. Joe Lee design.
Sugarloaf Mountain: Crenshaw and Coore design. Have never played their designs, but this course is supposed to be exceptional. Tough to get on since it’s private and located in the middle of nowhere.
Mission Inn (El Campeon): Recommended by a reader on the board. Also asked somebody in The Villages about it and they liked it a lot as well. About 20 minutes from my parents home.
Grand Cypress (new course): Nicklaus designed links style course. Always looks cool when I drive by it. Need for the rates to go down and be somewhat reasonable.
Champions Gate: David Leadbetter’s stomping grounds. From what I’ve been told, it appears that the International course is the better of the two.
Victoria Hills: Recommended by iteachgolf when I first got here. I haven’t played it, yet. The condition sounds questionable, but I think it got past the harsh 2009-2010 winter and is in good shape now. I think at worst it will be like the Deltona Club, great design, questionable condition, still a good time.
Country Club of Orlando: Hopefully I’ll qualify for the FSGA Amateur and get to play here, a Donald Ross design. It reminds me of Bellevue CC in Syracuse (another Ross design) in that it’s located in a bad part of town, except you cross one street and it’s all nice again. Only difference is that part of Syracuse is far worse and my friend almost got all of us killed a Burger King one time
Magnolia Plantation: Mike Bender’s stomping grounds. Supposed to be a really good course and the travel isn’t too bad.
Legacy at Alaqua Lakes: This is where they are holding the FSGA Mid-Am qualifier. It’s private, but they have limited tee times. I don’t really have much ambition to play in the Mid-Am this year, but if I don’t qualify for the Amateur Champ., I’ll probably give this a shot.
3JACK