Orlando - Ritz Carlton and Disney Palm

[sabram]

I just returned from my 20^th trip to Orlando. My typical schedule is theme parks with the family from opening until lunch, then the family returns to the hotel to chill while I play a round of golf then its dinner and back to the parks. It’s more exhausting than playing 36 holes a day, but someone has to do it.

:golfer:

 

I usually book my own tee times at the last minute on Golf Now or other similar website. This time I used Tee Times USA and booked a week in advance as they had an excellent deal for 36 holes: Ritz Carlton and any one of the Disney courses. Tee Times USA was very helpful in contacting the pro shop at the Ritz to move me up to an earlier tee time on the day of play. I decided to play the Palm Course at Disney because of its convenience to the Magic Kingdom and because I’ve played the other Disney courses several times more recently and had never photographed the Palm.

The Ritz Carlton and Disney Palm are quite similar courses. Both offer generous fairways that provide confidence off the tee. You have to be pretty wild off the tee to get in trouble on either course. Each course has a good variety of long and short par 3’s and par 4’s and each as water in play on 9 holes, mostly in the form of lakes running down the side of fairways or providing risk at one side of a green. The Ritz has only one short forced carry over water (#14 from the tee), while the Palm has several, making it a tougher course for high handicappers. Both courses were in perfect condition having recently hosted pro events… The Ritz had the Father-Son event that was on the Golf Channel the three days preceding the day I played and the Palm having hosted the PGA event a few weeks earlier. The Palm has a number of dogleg holes a few of which give a sense of déjà vu from the tee (#7, #15 and #17). I’ve played around 40 courses in the Orlando area and these two are solid "Florida Resort" style courses (which some players like and others loathe) that I’d rank in the middle of the pack or perhaps a little higher based on the inexpensive green fees that are not typical fro these courses in Winter. The Palm is distinguished by (what else), the generous presence of Palm trees along the fairways, while the Ritz is recognizable from the omnipresent views of the huge J.W Marriott and Ritz Carlton hotels that share the facility located at Grande Lakes. Both courses are conveniently located to WDW (obviously for the Palm) and to the Convention Center area. I’d play either course again depending on green fee and proximity to my hotel. However, if time isn’t a factor and you are willing to drive a little further I’d suggest that you consider Deltona, El Campeon or Victoria Hills to the north of Orlando or Southern Dunes to the south.

 

http://www.flickr.co...57631972135446/ - Orlando Golf Course photo tours

 

Disney Palm #16 b r by tewiespix, on Flickr

 

Disney Palm #17 view back b r by tewiespix, on Flickr

 

Ritz Carlton GC @ Grand Lakes #14 par 5 from blue tee r by tewiespix, on Flickr

 

Ritz Carlton GC @ Grand Lakes #16 r by tewiespix, on Flickr

[Troyefl]

Great write up. I have not played the Ritz yet, but have played the Palm and Magnolia at Disney. Both are pretty nice courses.

[mjnrock]

I am heading there in a few days, staying at the Reunion resort, how are the courses there? I'm playing 36 a day after a few days at Disney w my family.

[sabram]

I am heading there in a few days, staying at the Reunion resort, how are the courses there? I'm playing 36 a day after a few days at Disney w my family.

 

I've stayed at Reunion three times. Condos with the family and 6 bedroom houses on a golf trip with 16 guys. The accommodations are great and your kids will like the water park on premises. The courses are nice too. It's an easy 10-15 minute drive to WDW. The Palmer and Watson courses have a pro shop at the center of the community near the main club house and high rise building. The Nicklaus course is on the far side of the community and has no clubhouse. I found the Nicklaus course the most difficult. Watson and Palmer have lots of sand, a couple forced carries. The group enjoyed them.

 

 

 

Reunion Nicklaus #2 from tee r

 

 

Reunion Palmer #9 par 5 from tee r

 

 

Reunion Watson Course #8 approach r

[Philfil]

The Ritz looked amazing on tv a few weeks ago for the father/son. I'd love to get out there soon.

[hoganboy]

The Ritz Carlton course is one i'll be trying to play on my trip this November. May also get a chance to play Palm for first time in a while as the PGA Tour event is no more, which is a shame.