Post by Richie3Jack on Jul 10, 2014 9:10:13 GMT -5
Alrighty then...
Friday I played THE CLUB AT EAGLEBROOKE which is located in Lakeland, Florida. I was told about this months ago when my dad and I were paired with 2 Canadian golfers who said they really liked the course. I believe it used to be a completely private course than now allows for golfers on GolfNow. It's in the middle of a housing development that seems to be doing pretty well.
The only complaint I had was that the driving range had us on a noticeable uphill slope. So, if that's my complaint for the entire day, that's how good the course was. The practice area was sweet. They had a big practice green and a good sized pitch/chip/bunker shot green. Although the range itself was fairly small. I would imagine it would be hard to put a competitive tournament there.
The course was in fantastic shape. I would say they had the best greens I had played during the stay-cation. But what really makes this course great is the design. The front 9 is very good. The back 9 is downright exceptional. I paid $35 to play there and my friend Jason and I played in 2.5 hours. The back 9 had about 7 excellent holes to it and just overshadows a very nice front 9. This is a course I would highly recommend, especially if you're down in Orlando for the winter and are looking for a more affordable course that won't get as much traffic. It's only about a 40-minute drive from Disney. I shot a 74 (+2). I give THE CLUB AT EAGLEBROOKE * * * * 1/2
On Saturday was my dad's birthday and we played MISSION INN - EL CAMPEON course for $25 a person. For those that don't know, Mission Inn Resort is about 30-40 minutes away from Orlando in the Clermont area. It's a giant resort, but a very old-school looking resort at that. In fact, the El Campeon course was designed in 1912 by George O'Neill. You have to give the old architects credit because this course still holds up. Meanwhile, I have little interest in playing their other course, Las Colinas, because it is a ridiculous design.
The course was in fantastic shape other than the greens being a little slow. I forget how hard this course is as I shot 79 (+7) and played terribly. But, it would be a tough go for me to ever break par here. This course is one of the hilliest in all of Florida and some holes like #4, #5, #7, #13 and #14 will remind you more of playing in Pennsylvania than Florida. Their signature hole #17 is a bag of shit though. It's a double dog leg and while I think it could be a great hole, they ruin it by leaving that stupid oak tree right in the way of the 3rd shot. If the hole was more reachable in 2-shots and they got rid of the oak tree, it would be one of the best holes in Florida. Instead, it's nonsense. Still, the course is thru this this aeration phase and should be in great shape for the next couple of months. I give MISSION INN EL CAMPEON * * * * 1/4
On Sunday I played WORLD WOODS - PINE BARRENS by myself. My dad doesn't like playing there because it is filled with waste bunkers. I was a bit nervous about playing here because I usually play here about 1-2 times a year and it has gotten in noticeably worse condition each time I played it. But, not this year. It was really in great shape other than the 9.5 inches of rain they got in the past 2 days which filled up some of the waste bunker areas. This course was the best conditioned tees and fairways of the bunch and the greens were in generally great shape. Pine Barrens is weird for me as just when I think the course is easy, I struggle badly. And just when I think the course is hard, I play very well there. Well, I shot 73 (+2) and was happy with that round if I didn't collapse the last 4 holes. The course is doing a light aeration and overseeding this week, but in August it should be in fantastic shape to play. I give WORLD WOODS PINE BARRENS * * * * 1/2
Monday my friend Dan and I went to play the PALM COURSE at DISNEY. I wanted to get on the Magnolia course, but they appeared to be doing some aeration. I had never played any of the Disney courses. It's not easy finding the place either, but essentially you have to go into Disney thru the tolls for parking. You don't pay for parking, but you want to make sure to get into the far right toll lane because you have to hang a right to get to the course. The course really doesn't have a clubhouse. It's a pretty large pro shop and that's about it. What's interesting is that this is a resort/time share area as you have a decent size condo complex right on the course. I didn't know Disney did that.
Anyway, it was cart path only and for good reason. The course was drenched from all of the rain. I'm sure they probably get to water the hell out of the course as well because what Disney wants in Orlando, they get. We played lift-clean-place because it was so wet there. I thought the course was in fine condition from tee to fairways outside of the wet. The greens putted fairly well but were surprisingly very firm. Almost all of the greens are elevated as well. Overall, I thought this was a solid design with some very good holes here and there. The Tour played the Magnolia course 3 times and the Palm Course once in their Children's Hospital Network event they used to have here. I shot 68 (-4) and so that tells you how easy the course is for those guys. It was one of those 85 degree days where there was no sun because of the clouds, but there was also no wind and it had to be close to 90% humidity. In other words, we sweated buckets.
Good course, but I'm not dying to play there again or for more than $40. I give PALM COURSE at DISNEY * * * 3/4
On Wednesday I played the GRAND CYPRESS NEW COURSE. I was thinking about going to the GOLF CLUB AT NORTH HARBOR up in Jacksonville or STREAMSONG. Problem is that they are 2+ hour drives and the fickle Florida summer weather means a long drive that could possibly get rained out. Also, I couldn't fathom walking STREAMSONG after the Monday sweat festival I had. That would mean paying at least $200 to play STREAMSONG since if you ride a cart you have to pay a forecaddie $80 + tip.
So I got onto GRAND CYPRESS NEW COURSE for only $20. The course was in great condition as usual, but the greens were still a little bumpy from an aeration that was probably about 3-4 weeks ago. It was another muggy day and I sweated buckets shooting an even par 72. I would give GRAND CYPRESS NEW COURSE * * * * 1/4
3JACK
Friday I played THE CLUB AT EAGLEBROOKE which is located in Lakeland, Florida. I was told about this months ago when my dad and I were paired with 2 Canadian golfers who said they really liked the course. I believe it used to be a completely private course than now allows for golfers on GolfNow. It's in the middle of a housing development that seems to be doing pretty well.
The only complaint I had was that the driving range had us on a noticeable uphill slope. So, if that's my complaint for the entire day, that's how good the course was. The practice area was sweet. They had a big practice green and a good sized pitch/chip/bunker shot green. Although the range itself was fairly small. I would imagine it would be hard to put a competitive tournament there.
The course was in fantastic shape. I would say they had the best greens I had played during the stay-cation. But what really makes this course great is the design. The front 9 is very good. The back 9 is downright exceptional. I paid $35 to play there and my friend Jason and I played in 2.5 hours. The back 9 had about 7 excellent holes to it and just overshadows a very nice front 9. This is a course I would highly recommend, especially if you're down in Orlando for the winter and are looking for a more affordable course that won't get as much traffic. It's only about a 40-minute drive from Disney. I shot a 74 (+2). I give THE CLUB AT EAGLEBROOKE * * * * 1/2
On Saturday was my dad's birthday and we played MISSION INN - EL CAMPEON course for $25 a person. For those that don't know, Mission Inn Resort is about 30-40 minutes away from Orlando in the Clermont area. It's a giant resort, but a very old-school looking resort at that. In fact, the El Campeon course was designed in 1912 by George O'Neill. You have to give the old architects credit because this course still holds up. Meanwhile, I have little interest in playing their other course, Las Colinas, because it is a ridiculous design.
The course was in fantastic shape other than the greens being a little slow. I forget how hard this course is as I shot 79 (+7) and played terribly. But, it would be a tough go for me to ever break par here. This course is one of the hilliest in all of Florida and some holes like #4, #5, #7, #13 and #14 will remind you more of playing in Pennsylvania than Florida. Their signature hole #17 is a bag of shit though. It's a double dog leg and while I think it could be a great hole, they ruin it by leaving that stupid oak tree right in the way of the 3rd shot. If the hole was more reachable in 2-shots and they got rid of the oak tree, it would be one of the best holes in Florida. Instead, it's nonsense. Still, the course is thru this this aeration phase and should be in great shape for the next couple of months. I give MISSION INN EL CAMPEON * * * * 1/4
On Sunday I played WORLD WOODS - PINE BARRENS by myself. My dad doesn't like playing there because it is filled with waste bunkers. I was a bit nervous about playing here because I usually play here about 1-2 times a year and it has gotten in noticeably worse condition each time I played it. But, not this year. It was really in great shape other than the 9.5 inches of rain they got in the past 2 days which filled up some of the waste bunker areas. This course was the best conditioned tees and fairways of the bunch and the greens were in generally great shape. Pine Barrens is weird for me as just when I think the course is easy, I struggle badly. And just when I think the course is hard, I play very well there. Well, I shot 73 (+2) and was happy with that round if I didn't collapse the last 4 holes. The course is doing a light aeration and overseeding this week, but in August it should be in fantastic shape to play. I give WORLD WOODS PINE BARRENS * * * * 1/2
Monday my friend Dan and I went to play the PALM COURSE at DISNEY. I wanted to get on the Magnolia course, but they appeared to be doing some aeration. I had never played any of the Disney courses. It's not easy finding the place either, but essentially you have to go into Disney thru the tolls for parking. You don't pay for parking, but you want to make sure to get into the far right toll lane because you have to hang a right to get to the course. The course really doesn't have a clubhouse. It's a pretty large pro shop and that's about it. What's interesting is that this is a resort/time share area as you have a decent size condo complex right on the course. I didn't know Disney did that.
Anyway, it was cart path only and for good reason. The course was drenched from all of the rain. I'm sure they probably get to water the hell out of the course as well because what Disney wants in Orlando, they get. We played lift-clean-place because it was so wet there. I thought the course was in fine condition from tee to fairways outside of the wet. The greens putted fairly well but were surprisingly very firm. Almost all of the greens are elevated as well. Overall, I thought this was a solid design with some very good holes here and there. The Tour played the Magnolia course 3 times and the Palm Course once in their Children's Hospital Network event they used to have here. I shot 68 (-4) and so that tells you how easy the course is for those guys. It was one of those 85 degree days where there was no sun because of the clouds, but there was also no wind and it had to be close to 90% humidity. In other words, we sweated buckets.
Good course, but I'm not dying to play there again or for more than $40. I give PALM COURSE at DISNEY * * * 3/4
On Wednesday I played the GRAND CYPRESS NEW COURSE. I was thinking about going to the GOLF CLUB AT NORTH HARBOR up in Jacksonville or STREAMSONG. Problem is that they are 2+ hour drives and the fickle Florida summer weather means a long drive that could possibly get rained out. Also, I couldn't fathom walking STREAMSONG after the Monday sweat festival I had. That would mean paying at least $200 to play STREAMSONG since if you ride a cart you have to pay a forecaddie $80 + tip.
So I got onto GRAND CYPRESS NEW COURSE for only $20. The course was in great condition as usual, but the greens were still a little bumpy from an aeration that was probably about 3-4 weeks ago. It was another muggy day and I sweated buckets shooting an even par 72. I would give GRAND CYPRESS NEW COURSE * * * * 1/4
3JACK
