What's the story/history with Bella Collina?

dcmidnight · February 24, 2014

Had a chance to play there today and was blown away at how nice the course and facilities were. Beautiful course, tough layout, great conditions and amazing locker room.

But the course and surrounding area seemed half built for a course that I think has been open for a while. Dozens of overgrown/unattended lots where there were electric boxes ready to take in a new home but none were there. In fact I think there were only two houses I remember on the whole course.

Anyway, just wondering what happened here. Is this a formerly private course or are they going private in the future? Were they planning on building a bunch of these 2M$ homes but the market went pop?

It seemed awfully high end to have a full sheet of tee times on golfnow. Also would love to know more about what memberships run there.

Definitely a highly recommended track though, we played for five days elsewhere and hit here on the way back to the airport. Extremely challenging layout but gorgeous, like nothing I've ever seen in Florida before.

Philfil · February 24, 2014

Bobby Ginn's idea. Original owner of Reunion Resort and a handful of other awesome properties throughout the country. Luckily the $60 million dollar clubhouse was built before the market crashed and no one decided to build homes...

I love that course. It was a shame to see it not fully develop into what it could have been.

moose557 · February 24, 2014

This article does a pretty good job summing up what happened and whats going on now.

[url="http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-09-29/business/os-bella-collina-20120929_1_property-owners-bella-collina-estate-homes"]http://articles.orla...na-estate-homes[/url]

And heres an article about the court case they won to go after those back fees

[url="http://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/morning_call/2013/11/new-court-ruling-positions-bella.html"]http://www.bizjourna...ions-bella.html[/url]

Its crazy to think lots that were being sold for 895k can now be bought for 8500. From what I hear there basically selling the lots for so cheap just to get people to build there and from what i read their going to have a come back, but I also played there yesterday and their doesnt appear to be any construction in site. Rumor has it the course will go fully private again soon and the guy in the pro shop said may, but dont get how that is possible at their price point with no high end homes anywhere in the area or construction being started.

I was actually a little dissapointed in the conditions. Not horrible, but the worse I have seen there. When we got back to the bag drop we were told the conditions weren't the greatest out there and they have had a rough time due to weather and are closing the course one monday coming up for maintenance.

Still a great unique course that you will not see anything like it around central florida. Glad I got to play it again incase it does go private when they say it will.

dcmidnight · February 25, 2014

I played there yesterday and there were a couple of areas they were repairing due to storm damage. I agree it is in sort of an odd area for an ultra high end course. Since I'm not from the area I dont know how most people normally get there but we came in on a very rural one lane road and then it just sort of jumps out at you.

Some of the lots seemed in a very odd place. When you are coming up, I think its the 7th hole back towards the clubhouse, there is a very weird 6 x 2 section of lots just sort of plopped on the side of the hill.

Personally I dont know how it would go private without fully building out the facilities and either building homes on those lots or landscaping them and at least making it look nicer.

RichieHunt · February 26, 2014

That area is a bit weird because parts of it are ultra popular. You have rolling hills and some big lakes. But others just didn't fully develop. I've played Palisades and Sanctuary Ridge and those are filled with homes. Sugarloaf Mountain looked like it had huge plans for development and we only saw 2 houses there, and 1 of them looked like it was foreclosed on. Eventually, Sugarloaf Mountain ended up shutting its doors.

To me, just too many big ideas for a place that is a long ways away from where people would work. And if you're a wealthy retiree, you're better off going up the road to The Villages or somewhere near the beach.

RH

dcmidnight · February 27, 2014

It did seem like a really odd place for a $40,000 initiation fee type of joint.

Facilities were really fantastic though, locker room rivals Sea Island in terms of amenities.

RichieHunt · March 3, 2014

I agree with the facilities. The clubhouse is immaculate. I played there in the summer and the course was still in good shape. I liked a lot of the holes, didn't like some of the others. For my money, you're just better off going to play Mission Inn - El Campeon which is not too far away.

RH

Philfil · March 3, 2014

[quote name='RichieHunt' timestamp='1393859694' post='8786768']
I agree with the facilities. The clubhouse is immaculate. I played there in the summer and the course was still in good shape. I liked a lot of the holes, didn't like some of the others. For my money, you're just better off going to play Mission Inn - El Campeon which is not too far away.

RH
[/quote]

Don't give away my secret hideout! I love Mission Inn!

RichieHunt · March 4, 2014

[quote name='Philfil' timestamp='1393891041' post='8790651']
[quote name='RichieHunt' timestamp='1393859694' post='8786768']
I agree with the facilities. The clubhouse is immaculate. I played there in the summer and the course was still in good shape. I liked a lot of the holes, didn't like some of the others. For my money, you're just better off going to play Mission Inn - El Campeon which is not too far away.

RH
[/quote]

Don't give away my secret hideout! I love Mission Inn!
[/quote]

Just send them to the Las Colinas course instead.

RH

Hoganman1 · June 30, 2014

I played there back in October and really enjoyed it. The only hole I don't like is 17. We didn't see much activity on the home building front. You're right about the location, but it's better than Sugarloaf (which has already closed). Personally, I think the course will make it as a semi-private club. I don't however see them taking it totally private.
Also, I heard that there is a group looking at re-opening Sugarloaf. Has anyone heard anything about that?

OhMyGators · July 28, 2014

I'm a member at Bella Collina. It's a difficult course and course knowledge is important with the elevations and undulating greens. Seems like the only time you get a flat lie is when you're in a bunker. I love it but understand it's not for everyone. Clubhouse, staff and amenities are first class, not sure anyone could dispute that. I used to play at Orange County National almost exclusively before joining Bella Collina. Went back and played both courses at OCN last month. Both courses felt so easy - wide fairways, huge greens and flat lies everywhere.

Bringing back Sugarloaf Mountain? Nothing I would love more. Easily my favorite course design in Central Florida. I don't know anything about bringing back an abandoned course, but to me it'd be like starting over. I stopped by there a month or so ago, got out of my car and walked around a bit. Unless you knew better, you would never guess there was a golf course there. Bunkers, greens, tees - everything overgrown with weeds. It was a bizarre experience walking around and looking at it.