Golf Florida’s abundant heartland

Welcome to Florida’s golfing heartland

story by Bill Bauer

‘S o many golf courses and so little time’ best describes the dilemma faced by golfers teeing it up in Central Florida. That said, it behooves those visiting the region to make good choices for a stay-and-play vacation. Three courses that provide championship golf, top shelf accommodations, and excellent service and instruction are Celebration, ChampionsGate and Reunion.

Celebration Golf Club is an experience and a step back in time.

Arriving at the pro shop, golfers hear the soothing sounds of Frank Sinatra and other period artists emanating from the clubhouse speakers. Wooden rockers beckon visitors to sit a spell before heading to the putting green, practice facility or first tee.

Eventually, enroute to the first tee, you will find the starter, donned in plus fours, parked amid a collection of restored antique cars.

The golf course was the final design of Robert Trent Jones, who reunited with his son, RTJ Jr. to create a masterpiece that reflects the many courses they built around the world. Together, they used natural topography to create a park-like atmosphere that is demanding when played from the tips, but forgiving when played from the shorter tees.

“With the beauty of the course, the design … everyone will have fun, because it can be enjoyed here on many levels,” Jones himself said.

{above} The Omni hotel sits as a backdrop to the spacious clubhouse at ChampionsGate Country Club. The course is used routinely by PGA pros working to improve their games. Photo courtesy of Celebration Golf Club

{below} The clubhouse stands in the background of the 18th green at Celebration Golf Club. Photo courtesy of Celebration Golf Club

The Jones duo believed that “every hole should be a hard par or an easy bogie,” and the strategic placement of bunkers and hazards reflects that belief. However, with five sets of tees and generous landing areas in fairways defined by native trees and natural wetlands, it is playable for everyone.

Celebration takes great pride in its entire operation. The upscale, daily-fee resort has a beautiful practice area with a driving range and state-of-the-art teaching/fitting complex that hits out over a small lake dotted with pinned islands at measured distances. Floating golf balls don’t carry as far or roll out, but during instruction or fitting, true distances and spin rates are calculated. www.celebrationgolf.com

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ChampionsGate is aptly named as it hosts many touring professionals seeking a championship golf course on which to hone their games.

With its own I-4 exit, ChampionsGate welcomes visitors with a huge Omni Hotel standing majestically behind stately palms and a pair of elegant gates. Beyond are the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, a 35,000-square foot clubhouse and two Greg Norman-designed golf courses that combine to create a premier golfing destination.

The National and International courses are distinctly different Norman designs. Visions of Australia’s coastal, links-style courses await you at The International. Features include natural wetlands, many of which require full carries, pot bunkers, dunes, grass mounds and large undulating greens. The National, on the other hand, resembles Florida’s natural terrain complete with mature trees, lakes and target-like greens that present their own putting challenges.

Risk and reward holes are present on the Arnold Palmer-designed course at Reunion, but none is more tempting than the drivable par-4 seventh, where a sizeable pond sits ominously between the tee and the heavily bunkered green. Photo courtesy of The Reunion Resort and Golf Club

Both courses are anchored around the clubhouse, which features a full service restaurant and more casual 19th hole.

With 862 rooms and a host of villas, there’s always a room at the Omni. ChampionsGate’s Village and nearby DownTown feature banks, supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores and a slew of restaurants. Recently, a hair and nail salon, a dog groomer and a bakery opened making ChampionsGate the complete home away from home.

If The Omni is not your choice of lodging, The Orlando Villas are next door. Guests here enjoy all resort amenities and facilities including access to the 10,000-square foot Europeanstyle spa, a formal pool with private cabanas, a heated family pool with water slide, an 850- foot lazy river, and the area’s only resort wave pool. In addition, Champions, a 9-hole, par-3 executive golf course, five restaurants, eateries and lounges are also at your beck and call. www.championsgate.com

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Where you land in the fairway will determine the distance and difficulty of your approach shot at the Tom Watson-designed course at Reunion. But, as this picture proves, finding the fairway is essential! Photo courtesy of The Reunion Resort and Golf Club

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Spacious greens are receptive, but slanted and tiered, on the heavily bunkered Arnold Palmer course at Reunion. Photo courtesy of The Reunion Resort and Golf Club • • • • •

In the heart of Kissimmee sits The Reunion Resort and Golf Club, the only place in the world you will find three signature courses designed by legends of the game —Nicklaus, Palmer and Watson. It remains one of only six golf resorts recognized on Golf Digest’s The Best Courses in Florida.

The Nicklaus course is designed as if Jack himself was playing it. Deceptive and beautiful, each hole flows freely in a wideopen setting from elevated tee boxes and greens. As Jack would, approach each hole with a carefully organized series of shots in mind and decide if the tempting risk-reward holes will provide a big payoff or a big score!

Arnold Palmer put his signature on Reunion’s second course with his usual flair. Golfers should expect the same adventure and exuberance as Arnie while they ramble up and down through natural preserve areas boasting elevation changes as much as 50 feet.

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Six tee boxes provide ample opportunity to challenge this heavily bunkered layout. Avoiding the waste areas that line many fairways is a must. Spacious greens are receptive, but slanted and tiered, calling for accurate approach shots. Like the Nicklaus course, risk and reward holes are present, but none is more tempting than the drivable par-4 seventh. Ranging from 303 to 209 yards, a sizeable pond sits ominously between the tee and the heavily bunkered green. What would Arnie do?

Known for his short game and course strategy, it is no wonder that Tom Watson’s Reunion design demands the same skills. Fast, firm and wide fairways lead to sizable greens where it’s been said your club selection can vary from a putter to a lob wedge to a three wood.

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The third hole at Celebration features some of the strategic bunkers and hazards that epitomize the belief of designers Robert Trent Jones and his son that “every hole should be a hard par or an easy bogie.” Photo courtesy of Celebration Golf Club

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Negotiating the 7,154 yards is less of a challenge than playing it strategically from tee to green, thus where you land in the fairway will determine the distance and difficulty of your approach. Likewise, undulating, sloping and multilevel greens demand short game excellence.

A combination of villas and vacation homes onsite make The Reunion Resort one of Florida’s most ideal stay-and-play locations. Add swimming pools and a water park to spa and hotel amenities and Resort offers the perfect après golf and family setting. www.reunionresort.com

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While ChampionsGate and Reunion have multiple lodging options, Celebration does not. Should you choose to stay elsewhere, the Embassy Suites Lake Buena Vista South in Kissimmee is an ideal location. Nicely appointed 2-room suites, a free made-to-order breakfast and a complimentary evening reception, make it an excellent place to begin and end your day. It is located at 4955 Kyngs Heath Road in Kissimmee, only minutes from the golf courses and theme parks. https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/mcolkes-embassy-suites-orlandolake-buena-vista-south/ n

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