One round in Orlando

[Fbgstaff]

So I will have one round in Orlando in the 2nd week of March. I am going to be staying at Disney Animal Kingdom resort. I know Disney has their courses but I want to make sure I have the best round possible. Will have to take a taxi as I am not renting a car. Let me know your thoughts.

[RichieHunt]

I'm not a big fan of playing at Disney because you're going to have L-O-N-G rounds as the pace of play is usually horrendous.

 

Waldorf Astoria has an immaculate course that is basically in Disney, so the taxi ride should be short. They will roll out the red carpet for you there. You could also try Tranquilo, although I've never played there I hear it's fantastic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RH

[Philipp]

Played Waldorf and Tranquilo in November. Both were excellent. Tranquilo maybe a tad better.

[golfnhack]

Waldorf over Tranquilo. Tranquilo is a hacked up old Disney course.

[Philipp]

Tranquilo is a hacked up old Disney course.

 

That's interesting...

[C_belske]

Sorry for thread jacking but I don't want to start a new one... I'm going next weekend (21-25). Waldorf is on golfnow along with a bunch of other area courses. Is Waldorf the best choice? Already playing magnolia but am able to get one more round in. Thanks

 

Staying in Disney as a vacation club member. Great deal to play magnolia, that's why it was the first choice.

[dam276]

Magnolia is a fun track - depending on time of day it doesn't take that long to get around.

 

Falcon's Fire and Celebration are both good courses and pretty close. If you have a car I always recommend OCN. I'd be remiss not to mention - if money is no object - Bay Hill. Hard to argue with the home of 10% of Tiger's wins and Arnie's office.

[C_belske]

Is it possible to play bay hill without staying?

[dam276]

Is it possible to play bay hill without staying?

 

I've been out there twice and never stayed on the property. That being said, I didn't make the tee time - had a friend who lives in town do it. I'll ask him, but maybe it's a seasonal thing?

[cacophony82]

2nd thread jacker

 

I'll be in Orlando(for a day) in two weeks. I've played The Ritz, Waldorf, Bella Collina, and Championsgate.....i liked the first two.....what would be the new track for a 1:30pm weekday round?

 

Locals -

 

Ritz/Waldorf in good shape at the moment?

[dam276]

A little mea culpa - I didn't realize I was getting hooked up at Bay Hill. Apparently I owe my buddy a nice bottle of something...

 

 

[jmtbkr]

If you can get out early on Waldorf, you can do a 3hr round. The course states a 4.5 hr round is the norm..

Lovely course, impeccably maintained, great greens.

[cacophony82]

Playing Waldorf today(95.00 rate on golfnow) - will update with conditions

[Outpost31]

I've played Waldorf and would highly recommend it!

[GolfinPastor]

I'll be there next Friday. Is there a decent course close to the airport that you all would recommend?

[jimwgt26]

Near Disney in this order 1) OCN Panther Lake, Grand Cypress N/S/E and Falcon's Fire. I haven't played Waldorf or Ritz.

[Philipp]

I'll be there next Friday. Is there a decent course close to the airport that you all would recommend?

 

Ritz Carlton

Lake Nona (but that's not public, right??)

[Clark55810]

Just returned from Disney...played 5 rounds on Disney courses since didn't feel like driving anywhere else. The greens on all three courses were great (best I have seen them). Longest round was 3:20, but I always like early tee times. Three rounds were less then 2:30.

 

One advantage if staying on site, Disney will pay for you taxi to/from the course and move your clubs.

 

Since we are vacation club members, I did get a discounted rate of $94. You could spend less at several course, but I didn't have a issue since the value was worth it to me.

[dconcepd]

Im headed to orlando this weekend. playing the ritz and waldorf.. also I'm approaching GAA as if it were a timeshare presentation to get a FREE round at one of the courses they have a contract with... should be a good week in orlando!

[LoPan12]

Just returned from Disney...played 5 rounds on Disney courses since didn't feel like driving anywhere else. The greens on all three courses were great (best I have seen them). Longest round was 3:20, but I always like early tee times. Three rounds were less then 2:30.

 

One advantage if staying on site, Disney will pay for you taxi to/from the course and move your clubs.

 

Since we are vacation club members, I did get a discounted rate of $94. You could spend less at several course, but I didn't have a issue since the value was worth it to me.

Any particular Disney course better than the rest?

[dam276]

Just returned from Disney...played 5 rounds on Disney courses since didn't feel like driving anywhere else. The greens on all three courses were great (best I have seen them). Longest round was 3:20, but I always like early tee times. Three rounds were less then 2:30.

 

One advantage if staying on site, Disney will pay for you taxi to/from the course and move your clubs.

 

Since we are vacation club members, I did get a discounted rate of $94. You could spend less at several course, but I didn't have a issue since the value was worth it to me.

Any particular Disney course better than the rest?

 

Magnolia imho. Stayed at Bay Hill for $199 and got out on the course for $185 3 days after the tournament wrapped. Still had the grandstands!

 

[EntourageLife]

Tranquilo is a hacked up old Disney course.

 

That's interesting...

 

I played both Waldorf and Tranquillo and I think they're both great. Don't understand the negative review of Tranquillo being a hacked up old Disney Course? It originally was Fazio designed Osprey course (which I thought was best of the Disney courses) and then leased to Four Seasons. It has been re-done and extremely upgraded. Phenomenal course. I might personally prefer Tranquillo over Waldorf but they're both awesome and near top of my list for Orlando courses.

[mwmgolfx]

I've played the Ritz, Waldorf, and Tranquillo. If you are a moderate to longer hitter, then Tranquillo is probably the best. My problem with Tranquillo is that from the white tees, its really not that difficult at all except for one par-3 that was 215 on the day i played it. And i hate white tee 200+ par threes because the average golfer can only hit the ball 200 so the par 3 is longer than they can hit a driver and that's not fair in my opinion. I think they've shortened that par-3 a little bit to 180+ now but still it just isn't that interesting a par-3. Service was excellent and conditions were very good considering that they had water drainage issues and several fairways were torn up in a couple of places due to water damage, but overall very good elsewhere.

 

Lots of people like the Ritz but my problem with it was that immediately after the round, i couldn't remember but a couple of holes and almost none of the par-4s. one moderately long (400+) hole with slight dogleg left or right after another. Only minor differences, nothing really stood out. And it was a super slow round (5.5 hours).

 

Waldorf is a very solid course, nothing spectacular but very uniform that requires decent shots. I used to play it a lot and almost joined there. but after three straight rounds well over 5 hours on the weekend starting about 9:30-10:00am, I stopped playing there. Played there last fall and had same issue again of slow round. Advertise 4.5 hour rounds but weekends were slow everytime I played if you didn't start before 9. Before 9 and always around 4 hours. But seems to slow down after that. Much like the rest of the disney courses in pace of play in my mind.

 

OCN and Celebration are both defintiely worth playing and are decent tracks. Southern Dunes when it reopens should be good. Grand Cypress has two tracks, N/S is pretty strong (have held LPGA tournaments there) and the New course is fun (not super difficult but lots of fun).

 

.

[EntourageLife]

I've played the Ritz, Waldorf, and Tranquillo. If you are a moderate to longer hitter, then Tranquillo is probably the best. My problem with Tranquillo is that from the white tees, its really not that difficult at all except for one par-3 that was 215 on the day i played it. And i hate white tee 200+ par threes because the average golfer can only hit the ball 200 so the par 3 is longer than they can hit a driver and that's not fair in my opinion. I think they've shortened that par-3 a little bit to 180+ now but still it just isn't that interesting a par-3. Service was excellent and conditions were very good considering that they had water drainage issues and several fairways were torn up in a couple of places due to water damage, but overall very good elsewhere.

 

Lots of people like the Ritz but my problem with it was that immediately after the round, i couldn't remember but a couple of holes and almost none of the par-4s. one moderately long (400+) hole with slight dogleg left or right after another. Only minor differences, nothing really stood out. And it was a super slow round (5.5 hours).

 

Waldorf is a very solid course, nothing spectacular but very uniform that requires decent shots. I used to play it a lot and almost joined there. but after three straight rounds well over 5 hours on the weekend starting about 9:30-10:00am, I stopped playing there. Played there last fall and had same issue again of slow round. Advertise 4.5 hour rounds but weekends were slow everytime I played if you didn't start before 9. Before 9 and always around 4 hours. But seems to slow down after that. Much like the rest of the disney courses in pace of play in my mind.

 

OCN and Celebration are both defintiely worth playing and are decent tracks. Southern Dunes when it reopens should be good. Grand Cypress has two tracks, N/S is pretty strong (have held LPGA tournaments there) and the New course is fun (not super difficult but lots of fun).

 

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qq

I agree with your post. I'm not particularly high on Ritz course for the reasons you mentioned. I'm very high on Tranquillo. They did a great job. Waldorf is also great. If you can get the invite: Lake Nona and Isleworth are the two best.