Anyone played Bay Hill???

[Stewpuppy]

I booked my golf trip in February 2014 to the Orlando area. I'm playing one round at Bay Hill, anyone played it? Any advise? Also, any advise on surrounding courses to play?

[lumberman2462]

Yep. No advice other than play well.....it's one hard$@& golf course.

[BrianL99]

[quote name='Stewpuppy' timestamp='1387328140' post='8315415']
I booked my golf trip in February 2014 to the Orlando area. I'm playing one round at Bay Hill, anyone played it? Any advise? Also, any advise on surrounding courses to play?
[/quote]

Same advice as above ... it's damn hard! I only played it once, many years ago. My fondest recollection is watching a former Masters winner, chili dip 3 in row, into the water.

I won't mention how many water balls I had that day.

[sabram]

I played there about a month ago. I played one tee up from normal and had a great time. Not that difficult and didn't lose a ball (I'm a 15 handicap). I played with a scratch golfer who played from the tips who had a tough time, mostly with his short game. My caddie was Barry Leskis who was very good. You can ask for him. Here's a link to photos of the course. It doesn't look exciting but it makes for a good round.

[media=]http://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/sets/72157636885732975/[/media]

[Stewpuppy]

[quote name='sabram' timestamp='1387330968' post='8315697']
I played there about a month ago. I played one tee up from normal and had a great time. Not that difficult and didn't lose a ball (I'm a 15 handicap). I played with a scratch golfer who played from the tips who had a tough time, mostly with his short game. My caddie was Barry Leskis who was very good. You can ask for him. Here's a link to photos of the course. It doesn't look exciting but it makes for a good round.

[media=]http://www.flickr.com/photos/golfcoursepix/sets/72157636885732975/[/media]
[/quote]


Thanks for the feedback. Do you walk with the caddie or ride? I prefer to walk.

[MikeMcM]

It's not a bad walking course, most of the green to tee walks are relatively short, so be sure to get a caddie. Heroic layout, but what would you expect from AP who's been tinkering the design over the years, a great set of finishing holes 16-18. You'll find excellent conditions in Feb as they prepare for the Invitational. Head out to the range around 11:30 am, and if AP is in town, he'll be out there warming up. Frequently you'll also see him at breakfast and dinner. Other nearby courses worth playing are Grand Cypress a total of 45 holes, the Waldorf Astoria course, Orange County National.

[RichieHunt]

It's a tougher driving course than it looks because you have some dog legs that can give you trouble, some water here and there that can give you trouble and usually some pretty thick rough. The surrounding area is a bit weird because some of the homes are gorgeous and others are just very middle class. However, it does not come with a stuffy atmosphere. Course should be in phenomenal condition.

Nearby courses I would recommend on that level are OCN (Panther Lake), Grand Cypress (new course), Ritz Carlton- Grande Lakes and Shingle Creek.






RH

[1ofTheseKnights]

The course is actually remarkably easy, played it many times. O you mean IRL not the video game... Enjoy!

Another Arnold Palmer design I personally like (and usually fairly easy on the wallet) is Orange Lake Legends. Nice deep bunkers, forced carries etc.

[Capitalist!]

Typical Florida course... Lodge is very golf centric... Eat there at least once

[Sawgrass]

In my quest to play many courses that the pros play, I went to Disney Palm and Disney Magnolia after playing Bay Hill. Bay Hill was much more impressive, but what the hay!

Bay Hill: Do you still have to stay there to play there?

Here's some advice: take your hat off when you go indoors!

[lumberman2462]

I didn't have to stay in order to play last year. Pro from my home club made the tee time.

Rough was brutal.

[smooothone23]

Why remove your hat? Etiquette? Clubhouse rules?

[BrianL99]

[quote name='smooothone23' timestamp='1387412251' post='8320551']
Why remove your hat? Etiquette? Clubhouse rules?
[/quote]

Because that's what a gentleman would do, it's common courtesy.

& at Bay Hill, Arnie might toss you out like he almost did to Curtis Strange (who coincidentally, went to Wake Forest on an Arnold Palmer Scholarship).

[Stewpuppy]

[quote name='Sawgrass' timestamp='1387411892' post='8320531']
In my quest to play many courses that the pros play, I went to Disney Palm and Disney Magnolia after playing Bay Hill. Bay Hill was much more impressive, but what the hay!

Bay Hill: Do you still have to stay there to play there?

Here's some advice: take your hat off when you go indoors!
[/quote]


Thanks for the advise. Yes I have to stay in order to play. The only other way to play is if a member sets your tee time.
Which I don't know any members....... So if anyone can hook me up, you'll save me $185. Haha

[Roland]

I was incredibly fortunate to play Bay Hill in July 2012. As someone who hadn't played golf outside of Europe before it was a wonderful experience from a service perspective.

 

The course was as I had imagined it. Fair with opportunities to score (I think I had five birdies and shot 75). It was well worth playing and I'd love to play there again.

 

Some action shots for your perusal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[TM_HOYER]

BayHill is a very playable course as long as you play the correct tees for your game. Since you are going there in February, that is when they start preparing for the Arnold Palmer Invitational. They will be building the structures and preparing the course. Sometime that month the course will become cart path only. As a guest you will be required to have a forecaddie unless you play with a member. They will go to your ball give you the "plays as" distance so you can bring the correct club if it is cart path only. As other's have mentioned, Mr. Palmer requires hats off in the clubhouse.

One year I played BayHill the last day it was open before the tournament. I gained a huge amount of respect for a PGA Tour pro and the quality of their game. All I could do is wedge out of the rough and the greens were lightning fast (and they were still going to get faster).

But most of all, enjoy your round.

[RichieHunt]

[quote name='1ofTheseKnights' timestamp='1387399906' post='8319603']
The course is actually remarkably easy, played it many times. O you mean IRL not the video game... Enjoy!

Another Arnold Palmer design I personally like (and usually fairly easy on the wallet) is Orange Lake Legends. Nice deep bunkers, forced carries etc.
[/quote]

Completely agree, Orange Lake Legends is a top-5 course in all of Orlando. Fantastic design. Only complaint is that it gets very noisy because of the resort. I swear, the last time we played there a car alarm went off for the entire back nine.






RH

[sabram]

[quote name='Stewpuppy' timestamp='1387360174' post='8317007']

Thanks for the feedback. Do you walk with the caddie or ride? I prefer to walk.
[/quote]

You can do either.

[4Par]

Just played there Friday... Course was in great shape, greens a lot better than Disney Magnolia.... We played the yellow tees, I tend to drive it around 240 on avg and I found the course very manageable.... The approach shot angles can be tough, you really want to have good angles in to the greens or you'll struggle on a few holes.

Definitely feel I could have scored much better if I had more course knowledge and, of course, putted a bit better.... I was reading too much break overall.....

Everyone was very friendly and made us feel comfortable... You should enjoy it!

[htownchaz]

Grand cypress, shingle creek is the best conditioned in Orlando. Also southern dunes in Haines city is awesome. Not like Florida golf at all