Orlando Trip

[Oriole05]

looking for feedback

First time down and staying in Kissimmee.

Day 1 - Harmony Golf Club and Southern Dunes

Day 2 - Celebration and Sugarloaf Mountain (too much driving?)

Day 3 - Orange County National - make a day of it and play both Crooked Cat and Panther Lake


Feedback please- and don't hesitate to offer other suggestions. Thanks...

[Medic]

Sounds like you have a pretty solid plan.

Some other courses to consider:

[list=1][*]Falcon's Fire - wonderful layout and really professional staff. It is a Marriott managed property and they really know how to take care of their guest.[*]Disney's Osprey Ridge - this course is typical Disney in that it is PGA tour quality condition. But this course is away from everything and the only noises you will hear at the sounds of golf and nature. This won't last by the way because Four Seasons is going to now manage the property and my understanding is that the land surrounding this beautiful track will soon be developed. Play it while it is still quiet and pristine.[*]Hawk's Landing - another Marriott property and the staff is incredible. This is a tough layout and will really challenge your game.[/list]Final thoughts:

Champions Gate is a Greg Norman design with two courses on site - the International and the National. They are both amazing and are definitely worth the visit.

As for Celebration, I played there and was not impressed with the staff in the pro shop. We were there to play a marathon and made two tee times - one AM and one after lunch. Unfortunately we missed our PM tee time because of rain and lightning. After we ate some lunch the pro shop attendant saw that we had an additional tee time and tried to increase our charge an additional $7 per player for "holding the time". This even though he did not "hold it" - he could not have because of the weather. The course was saturated with both players and rain and there was a total of a 2.5 hour delay so there was really nothing to hold. When I told him we were cancelling the tee time he said "I have your card on file and will charge it anyway so you might as well play". To this I warned him that I would issue a chargeback and I wanted to speak with the manager. The manager basically backed off of the idle threat but would not honor the PM rate for us which was, for whatever reason, less than the replay rate. Bottom line: there are LOTS of other courses around and I will never go back to Celebration again. The staff at Falcon's Fire and Hawk's Landing is consistently professional and courteous and would never have made such ignorant decisions or threats.

Have fun in any case. With the exception of Celebration you are in for some really special golf. Even Celebration, having formally been a Disney property, is a nice course but frankly there are better courses all over the place in the O-town area.

Play Osprey Ridge!!!

[Oriole05]

Thanks for the information- I'll look into it.

Anyone have any thoughts on Shingle Creek?

[sabram]

Anyone have any thoughts on Shingle Creek?

 

Shingle Creek has a lot of interesting holes. Try to get a discounted green fee on one of the on-line sites.

Here's a link to a photo tour of the course from when I played in December Shingle Creek Pix

 

#16 long par 3. Shingle Creek Hotel in the background

[sabram]

First time down and staying in Kissimmee.

 

Day 1 - Harmony Golf Club and Southern Dunes

 

Day 2 - Celebration and Sugarloaf Mountain (too much driving?)

 

Day 3 - Orange County National - make a day of it and play both Crooked Cat and Panther Lake

 

Feedback please- and don't hesitate to offer other suggestions. Thanks...

 

Harmony and Southern Dunes are about an hour apart. I wouldn't schedule them for the same day. Same thing with Celebration and Sugarloaf. I'd play Sugarloaf and pair it with either Bella Colina or Mission Inn El Campeon Course.

 

Harmony can be paired with Eagle Creek or North Shore.

 

Southern Dunes can be paired with one of the courses at Reunion Resort or Championsgate. These are closest to Kissimee

 

Best Orlando Courses

 

Sugarloaf Mtn Pix

 

Southern Dunes Pix

 

Harmony Pix

 

Championsgate -International Pix

 

Celebration Pix

 

Sugarloaf

 

Southern Dunes

 

Harmony

 

Celebration

 

Championsgate

[Oriole05]

Thanks for the replies. We are still in the stages of compiling courses. One of the guys suggested:

Bridgewater

and

Highlands Reserve

Any opinions on these?

I would prefer to play "memorable"golf courses but it's my first year with this group and I'm trying to stick to their $100 per round average. Any can't miss in that range? Including the ones already listed...

THANKS

[Medic]

[quote name='Oriole05' timestamp='1328646285' post='4232423']
Thanks for the replies. We are still in the stages of compiling courses. One of the guys suggested:

Bridgewater

and

Highlands Reserve

Any opinions on these?

I would prefer to play "memorable"golf courses but it's my first year with this group and I'm trying to stick to their $100 per round average. Any can't miss in that range? Including the ones already listed...

THANKS
[/quote]

Bridgewater, sadly, is closed. They went under about 6 months ago or so.

Highlands Reserve is nice - a links style course with some different elevations. Nothing spectacular but nothing to ignore totally.

There is a hidden jewel for you to consider that many don't know about called Providence. It is in great condition, has some nice challenging holes, is a fair price, is close to Orlando, and the staff has always been friendly.

Shingle Creek is amazing. But be prepared to pay. If I were going to pay that much I would go to Reunion instead. Or perhaps Bay Hill for a little more.

Metrowest is a nice track - again nothing spectacular but a fun course to play.

Kings Ridge is also a lot of fun and there is an executive course there too so you could marathon it right on site.

And if you don't mind driving a little, over near Daytona there are some courses worth considering:

LPGA - two courses on site and both are incredible
Venecian Bay - new course and in awesome condition

And then there is the World Golf Hall of Fame - two courses that are amazing on site. About a two hour drive one way from Orlando.

Saddlebrook is down here as is Innisbrook, site of the upcoming Transitions.

One final interesting course is Diamondback just west of Orlando. Talk about elevations and it is affordable. But just be prepared for crowds.

[Oriole05]

Thanks again for all the feedback. Here's where I am right now:

Day 1: Orange County National - both Panther Lake and Crooked Cat (Does it matter which one we play first?)

Day 2: Sugarloaf Mountain Golf & Mission Inn - El Campeon (Huge fan of Coore/Crenshaw - will this live up to my expectations?)

Day 3: Shingle Creek & Celebration (I'm a huge RTJ fan)

Thanks again- keep the suggestions coming nothing has been booked!

[Medic]

[quote name='Oriole05' timestamp='1328673578' post='4235769']
Thanks again for all the feedback. Here's where I am right now:

Day 1: Orange County National - both Panther Lake and Crooked Cat (Does it matter which one we play first?)

Day 2: Sugarloaf Mountain Golf & Mission Inn - El Campeon (Huge fan of Coore/Crenshaw - will this live up to my expectations?)

Day 3: Shingle Creek & Celebration (I'm a huge RTJ fan)

Thanks again- keep the suggestions coming nothing has been booked!
[/quote]


El Campeon is AMAZING.

You left out Disney's Osprey Ridge. If at all possible I would fit that one in. Chances are very good that the next time you come down here it won't have the same pristine nature that it has right now. And the course is PGA Tour quality from 1 tee to 18 green. I would urge that you squeeze that one in if at all possible.

Otherwise, you are in for a treat. Celebration's staff was less than cordial to me and my buddies but the course was fantastic. And you won't be playing 36 so no worries regarding what we went through.

And just wait until you hit Shingle Creek. Watch out for #8. Looks tame - isn't. Trust me on that one!

Have fun. Hope this helps. And by the way, did I mention Osprey Ridge??!!??!!

[jnier75]

[quote name='Oriole05' timestamp='1328673578' post='4235769']
Thanks again for all the feedback. Here's where I am right now:

Day 1: Orange County National - both Panther Lake and Crooked Cat (Does it matter which one we play first?)

Day 2: Sugarloaf Mountain Golf & Mission Inn - El Campeon (Huge fan of Coore/Crenshaw - will this live up to my expectations?)

Day 3: Shingle Creek & Celebration (I'm a huge RTJ fan)

Thanks again- keep the suggestions coming nothing has been booked!
[/quote]

Lake Buena Vista resident here. I would trade OCN Crooked Cat for Championsgate International and Shingle Creek for Orange Lake Legends. Make sure you're checking GolfNow for good rates.

[bucknaked1550]

Me and My family actually do this trip every May and have been for about 12 years saying this I can honestly that you really cant go wrong with any of the courses you are naming and looking to play. However you may want to look into teetimesusa.com right now because they are running a lot of specials as for instance Champions Gate is buy one round and play the rest of the day free as well as the Disney courses. I would also recommend playing Shingle Creek Mystic Dunes Grand Cypress and Eagle Creek.

Hope this helps and have a good time


[quote name='jnier75' timestamp='1328729758' post='4239215']
[quote name='Oriole05' timestamp='1328673578' post='4235769']
Thanks again for all the feedback. Here's where I am right now:

Day 1: Orange County National - both Panther Lake and Crooked Cat (Does it matter which one we play first?)

Day 2: Sugarloaf Mountain Golf & Mission Inn - El Campeon (Huge fan of Coore/Crenshaw - will this live up to my expectations?)

Day 3: Shingle Creek & Celebration (I'm a huge RTJ fan)

Thanks again- keep the suggestions coming nothing has been booked!
[/quote]

Lake Buena Vista resident here. I would trade OCN Crooked Cat for Championsgate International and Shingle Creek for Orange Lake Legends. Make sure you're checking GolfNow for good rates.
[/quote]

[sabram]

[quote name='Oriole05' timestamp='1328673578' post='4235769']
Thanks again for all the feedback. Here's where I am right now:

Day 1: Orange County National - both Panther Lake and Crooked Cat (Does it matter which one we play first?)

Day 2: Sugarloaf Mountain Golf & Mission Inn - El Campeon (Huge fan of Coore/Crenshaw - will this live up to my expectations?)

Day 3: Shingle Creek & Celebration (I'm a huge RTJ fan)

Thanks again- keep the suggestions coming nothing has been booked!
[/quote]

No need to change a thing. You'll enjoy all six of those courses. I'm a fan of both Sugarloaf and El Campeon. That will be your best day IMO, with OCN a close second. Both OCN courses are worth playing. Celebration is your weakest link, but worth playing and better than most of the others that have been suggested and close enough to Shingle Creek to make that a smart 36 hole day. The only course mentioned that I would consider changing would be to replace Celebration with Osprey Ridge at Disney, but either way you have a very good itinerary

[nikegolfer1983]

Any recommendations for courses between the leesburg and Orlando area?

[Medic]

[quote name='nikegolfer1983' timestamp='1328754265' post='4242049']
Any recommendations for courses between the leesburg and Orlando area?
[/quote]

The Legends, King's Ridge, Providence, Diamondback, and Highlands Ridge are all (sort of) between Orlando and Leesburg.

[rufus mangler]

Leesburg. That would be Mission Inn, Sugarloaf Mtn, possibly Clermont courses.

[cbehan]

I loved the Reunion courses.

[Oriole05]

Thoughts on taking out Celebration and doing Shingle Creek and Southern Dunes on the same day...

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE INPUT

[NewbieGolfer77]

[quote name='Medic' timestamp='1328496860' post='4221195']
Sounds like you have a pretty solid plan.

Falcon's Fire - wonderful layout and really professional staff. It is a Marriott managed property and they really know how to take care of their guest.[list=1][*]Disney's Osprey Ridge - this course is typical Disney in that it is PGA tour quality condition. But this course is away from everything and the only noises you will hear at the sounds of golf and nature. This won't last by the way because Four Seasons is going to now manage the property and my understanding is that the land surrounding this beautiful track will soon be developed. Play it while it is still quiet and pristine.[*]Hawk's Landing - another Marriott property and the staff is incredible. This is a tough layout and will really challenge your game.[/list]Final thoughts:

Champions Gate is a Greg Norman design with two courses on site - the International and the National. They are both amazing and are definitely worth the visit.

[/quote]


Falcon Fire and Hawks are two courses that I play often. Another great course is Grand Cypress, especially the New Course.


I played Champions about 10 times this summer in the scorching heat. It seems like they don't take as good of care of the course as they did a few years back.



-Daniel

[adambommb29]

I'm going to Orlando this weekend and despite the possibility of some bad weather I actually have these courses scheduled...

Friday am - OCN Crooked Cat
Friday pm - OCN Panther Lake
Saturday am - Shingle Creek
Saturday pm - Shingle Creek
Sunday am - Falcon's Fire
Sunday pm - Falcon's Fire

Any thoughts or reasons I should make a last minute change?

[99Luftballoons]

I loved both Orange County courses.

Falcon's Fire is an excellent choice.

Personally, I didnt care for the Champions Gate courses. Thought they were overpriced and overrated.