Hello From Orlando - Golf's Ultimate Theme Park by Susanne Pacher In March 2012 the faculty at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at New York University, together with an Honorary Committee of alumni, selected the 100 Outstanding Journalists in the United States in the Last 100 Years. My husband loves playing golf as well as I am myself am pretty decent at the sport. Consequently it absolutely was a offered that individuals will be playing a couple of rounds within Orlando. We had a opportunity to sample any variety of golf courses first-hand and also got a new personal appreciation of the genuinely amazing amount as well as selection regarding golf programs inside the Orlando area. I stood a possiblity to talk to Mike Jamison from golf Orlando to get a better summary of your extensive golf facilities that the Orlando area has to always be able to offer. 1. Orlando is not just the world's No. 1 vacation destination, however it is also known as "Golf's Ultimate Theme Park". Please tell us much a lot more about that. Isn't it intriguing how sometimes probably the actual most obvious reply to any difficult real question is sitting correct just before your own eyes, but it requires you days, months, even years to see it? Officials in the advertising co-op GolfOrlando remarked that not too long ago when they finally nailed the perfect marketing tag range with regard to their own 25-course organization. For a lengthy time the actual team had wrestled with assorted themes that may set Orlando apart from its competition inside the golfing destination wars. Then 1 day a member questioned the query - "What is actually Orlando identified for?" The obvious answer? Theme parks. Orlando will always be the world's No. 1 vacation destination, and additionally the extraordinary collection regarding theme parks plays your leading role. It had been at this moment that the perfect theme range crystallized - "GolfOrlando - Golf's Ultimate Theme Park." It is a great match not merely because involving the best search sites inspiration involving Orlando's vacation pitch - theme parks - but also since it reflects your extraordinary diversity with the Central Florida golf landscape. golf inside Orlando provides its very own type regarding outdoor adventure. 2. Please tell us concerning the kinds of golf programs that are obtainable within the Orlando area. Looking for any taste of the U.K.? How regarding Royal St. Cloud, exactly where every hole transfers a person for the fabled courses with the British Isles, as well as the area where the 2004 and also 2005 British Junior Amateur ended up being conducted? try the number of really well-liked Ron Garl designs for any Scottish touch. Eagle Creek, found close to the Orlando International Airport, offers open, rolling fairways, large, undulating greens and also those harmful revetted bunkers that will dot the actual landscape in Scotland. Eagle Creek ended up being lately ranked amongst the top 10 new courses in the decade within Florida by simply golf travel & Leisure, and it is the initial par 73
program inside Orlando as well as the first to use Mini Verde greens. On the actual north side of Orlando can be Timacuan Golfing & Nation Club, ranked as high as No. 14 throughout Florida by simply 1 statewide publication. Its front aspect delivers up a real taste involving Scotland, as the back 9 takes on a way more Carolinas low country feel. Hole 2, any long water-dominated par 4, was lately named the actual 2nd most challenging hole within Central Florida by simply an location publication. Timacuan is a locals' favorite. A virtually identical routing simply by Arnold Palmer awaits anyone around the south aspect associated with town. The Actual Legends from Orange Lake opened within 1998 and features any Scottish type front nine (The Links) along along with a tree-lined back again nine (The Pines). Your feature holes would become the 610-yard 4th around the Back Links nine as well as the 432-yard 13th, called the Island Oak. In demand for drama? How concerning Diamond Players Club throughout Clermont, in which in turn the elevation changes are therefore spectacular that the monitor can be also known as "Florida's mountain course." You'll must buckle up when tackling Mystic Dunes' green complexes. they supply up slopes which drop around 10 feet, along with you may find an elephant's trunk poking out of your few severe mounds. Also, a range of the actual fairways feature whiskey barrel bunkers as guideposts. This kind of Gary Koch-designed course personifies the phrase "adventure," as will Highlands Reserve, the roller coaster-like golf knowledge about elevation changes of 120 feet and dramatic scenery. Further south on Highway 27 is actually Steve Smyers' Southern Dunes, an additional program that features elevation alter rare within Central Florida. combined using the abundance along with creativity of the bunkering, it's simple to comprehend while Southern Dunes can be ranked on the list of In Order To 100 Present Day Courses" simply by Golfweek. Excitement? Falcon's Fire simply by Rees Jones features a number of thrillers, specifically its cape hole, the particular par 4 13th. This 1 dares one to bite off greater than you'll end up being able to chew, along with though it could be tempting for you to rip a huge tee shot toward the actual green, the amount regarding money play is usually to safely terrain your ball in to the slender fairway utilizing a more forgiving angle along together with a fairway wood. If you might be any traditionalist, the choices are generally boundless. Shingle Creek will end up being the newest in the traditional Florida layouts, bordered simply by dense oaks and also pines in the backdrop alongside historic Shingle Creek. Spot is yet another advantage as it rests near the main tourist areas. Harmony can be a Johnny Miller style in which falls straight into this category. Its' strength lies in the greens complexes that feature angular bunkering making a assortment regarding challenging pin placements. Ridgewood Lakes provides a lovely cruise by means of your hardwoods off Highway 27, along with tops off the actual journey by having an awesome finishing hole. How of a stroll however nature? Stonegate golf Club, designed through Ron Garl, rests upon 3,300 acres regarding pristine wetlands, woodlands and also 100-year-old oak hammocks, as well as locations the particular emphasis on the brief game. Mike Dasher's North Shore looks as if it ought to always be situated deep in the nation because it sits comfortably amidst lush surroundings, yet it's conveniently located seven miles coming from Orlando International Airport. Diamondback, any Joe Lee design positioned in Haines City, had been carved coming from 240 acres involving virgin forest along with delivers dramatically rolling fairways bordered by simply dense trees, pristine all-natural wetlands, and also well-positioned water hazards.
If convenience is important, MetroWest might be the particular perfect choice, since it is found near Universal Studios as well as the International Drive tourist section. The idea is really a Robert Trent Jones Jr. masterpiece in which features wide fairways and also challenging approach shots. Regional just off International Drive subsequent in order to Sea Globe is Grande Pines, a new lately renovated Smyers style in which features a variety of outstanding risk/reward holes. Celebration golf Club, positioned close to Walt Disney World, has been designed by simply father Robert Trent Jones Sr. as well as son Robert Trent Jones Jr. as well as areas emphasis about approach shots. Is notoriety vital which you you? ChampionGate's two programs play host annually for the Workplace Depot Father/Son Classic, a popular among dozens associated with PGA as well as Senior PGA Tour players. Orange County National offers twice hosted your PGA Tour Qualifying University Finals on its two tracks, Panther Lake as well as Crooked Cat, They Will offer diverse tests which are sufficient in order to challenge and determine tomorrow's expert stars. Some folks enjoy walking out their particular hotel door straight towards the 1st tee. Orlando offers several choices for stay-and-play buffs, including Hawk's Landing. Attached for the spectacular Marriott Globe Center, Hawk's Landing lately underwent a complete renovation by simply Robert Cupp. That has drinking water in 15 of the 18 holes and it features its own edition of "Amen Corner" - holes 12, 13 along with 14. That tiny taste provides an individual with an idea of your diversity accessible by means of GolfOrlando, truly "Golf's Ultimate Theme Park." 3. Please inform us about the golf practice facilities and in addition the teaching experts which are accessible inside the Orlando area. Some with the game's the majority of respected teachers - David Leadbetter, Mike Bender, Rina Ritson, Bill Madonna, Brad Brewer and also Fred Griffin for you to title a couple of - do their magic in Central Florida. Orlando is the place to find some regarding the nation's finest practice facilities. The Particular Faldo Institute as well as Orange County National offer greater than just practice tees and greens. The Particular landing locations in his or her traveling ranges resemble accurate targets and hazards which are available on courses. Tremendous short-game practice areas assist better players fine-tune that important a component of their particular games. However the particular crowning jewel within Orlando are the courses. Via top in order to bottom, Orlando provides the greatest quality golf regarding just about any destination inside the world. Almost every exit off I-4 leads
right to a new memorable golf experience, no matter which in turn aspect regarding Orlando you might be on. 4. A Few in the Orlando region golf programs have got achieved top ratings coming from different golf publications. Please tell us more about that. Orange County National, host with the 2003 & 2005 PGA TOUR Q-School Finals, has been the people receiving golf Digest's 4 1/2 Stars regarding 2000 to 2005. Southern Dunes will be rated amongst the top 100 contemporary courses in America by Golfweek. Orange County National's Panther Lake can be rated 4 1/2 stars simply by Golfing Digest. Award-winning Southern Dunes ended up being voted "Top one hundred courses in America" by Golfweek 1997 - 2001. Celebration Golf-club has been rated 4 1/2 stars and in the leading three in Central Florida with regard to services along with within the top a couple of pertaining to program conditioning through golf Digest's "Best places in order to Play" 2004 - 2005. Diamondback Club ended up being not too long ago awarded four stars simply by golf Digest's "Places to Play". Victoria Hills Golfing Cub open end inside 2002, and has been just lately named simply by golf Publication like a "Top ten You'll End Up Being In Any Position To Play." Royal St. Cloud Golfing Hyperlinks was rated in the top 5 Nearly All Underrated Golfing Programs in the Orlando location and also hosted your 2004 as well as 2005 British Junior Amateur. Eagle Creek Golf-club had been not too long ago named one associated with the top 10 New courses since 2000 by Journey & Leisure Magazine. 5. What significant golfing events are held within the Orlando area? The region hosts its reveal involving major competitions - two PGA Tour stops annually (the Bay Hill Invitational within March, hosted through Arnold Palmer; and also the Disney Classic at Walt Disney Globe in October), one LPGA Tour tournament, your PGA Tour Qualifying Institution Finals, the Buick Scramble National Finals, The Actual Workplace Depot Father/Son, plus a variety regarding mini tours. A 6. Please tell us about a couple of regarding the famous golfing architects which have place their mark in Orlando golfing courses. The group's 25 layouts boast the names of the majority in the world's leading architects - Tom Fazio, Rees along with Robert Trent Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Ron Garl, Steve Smyers. 7. What concerning affordable golfing within Orlando? 8. That are a couple of involving the famous golf professionals who have made the particular Orlando location his or her home? Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Annika Sorenstam, Sergio Garcia, Se Ri Pak, Arnold Palmer, Jim Thorpe, Chris Di Marco, Mark O'Meara, Scott Hoch, Nick Faldo, John Cook, Stuart Appleby, Charles Howell III and dozens associated with other people have planted their own roots within Central Florida. Presently there is a reason behind that, beyond tax implications. 9. In addition in order to golf, what in addition does the actual Orlando area need to offer? Let's face the actual facts - absolutely no region in the nation really does adventure as well along
with with just as much diversity as Orlando, your world's No. 1 vacation destination. Theme parks, theme parks and significantly more theme parks. Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World, Kennedy space center among others have formulated the face in which smiles upon your vacationing world through Central Florida. The nightlife as well as restaurants rival those regarding every other region within the country. Tourists gather in a variety of pockets about Orlando - Universal city Walk, Pleasure Island and International Drive among them. but if you desire a really feel pertaining to the method the locals entertain themselves, take a visit to Winter Park Village about the north side of town, where terrific restaurants as well as clubs will fill your current tummy along using your night. 10. Exactly what in regards for you to the weather year-round? Precisely what about receiving for you to Orlando? The weather is conducive in order to golf year-round. average higher daytime temperatures range from 72 throughout January to 89 within July. Golfing may be played along with practiced 365 times the year, many of individuals times featuring obvious blue skies, lazy breezes along with cool, comfortable nights. Another significant cause is the ease involving travel. Orlando Airport Terminal welcomes direct flights coming from the majority of major airports about this nation and the world. As Well As it can be extremely straightforward to drive to Orlando coming from in as well as out of state, thanks to a well-planned group of significant highways. 11. Exactly what accommodation alternatives do golfers have throughout Orlando? 12. Please tell us any little more in regards in order to the golf vacation packages that will can become obtained throughout Orlando. 13. A number Of important golfing organizations make Orlando their home, please tell us a little more about that. The one and only television network devoted 100% to the sport - Your golf Channel - is situated throughout Orlando. Golfweek, the leading trade publication, transferred to Orlando concerning 11 a extended time ago. Meadowbrook Golf, among the particular largest golf course management companies, will be positioned here, as is the industry's leading golf journey company, Golfpac. the industry's just media/ company networking organization, the actual International Network of Golf, can in addition be located in Orlando. Thank you, Mike, for providing an excellent practical summary of Orlando like a first-rate golfing destination. This entire article which includes photographs can be located with http://www.travelandtransitions.com/stories_photos/orlando_golf.htm