Golf Courses in Orlando
If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!
credit: Stephen Glauser
Tell someone that you’re going to Orlando, Florida for a vacation and they’re going to automatically assume that you’re headed to Disney World or one of the other theme parks that make the city so popular with tourists. However, there are more reasons than just amusement parks that Orlando has consistently been a favored vacation destination for people of all ages. With terrific winter weather and numerous resorts, Orlando is a favorite place for people who are seeking out a warm climate for leisure activities. There are many of those to choose from but one that typically dots the list is golfing. This is due largely to the fact that there are a great number of stellar golf courses here but also in part to the fact that Orlando is the home of The Golf Channel headquarters.
Orlando’s golf industry appeals primary to the retirement community that makes Orlando its second home. People from colder cities across the nation pack up their bags during the winter and head to their summer homes in Orlando. Whether those homes are owned properties or rented rooms at resorts, those visitors are coming to spend time in the sun. Many of them want to get out on the green and soak up that sun for all its worth. In order to cater to this community, Orlando and the surrounding area have built a number of stellar golf courses to keep these people coming back to their city year after year.
For those golfers interested in taking advantage of the numerous courses in Orlando, the following are some of the top choices to look into more carefully:
• Faldo Golf Institute at the Marriott. Let’s say that you love the idea of a golf vacation but you aren’t really that good of a golfer. You’ve always wanted to learn but you’ve never had the opportunity to really test out your skills and learn the nuances of the game. Many of the golf courses in Orlando might frustrate you because they’re designed for the experienced golfer. However, this resort destination is actually a school for golfers that want to better their game. Learning to golf within the leisure of an Orlando resort; does school get any better than that?
• Grand Cypress Resort. This well-known Orlando resort is home to four different public golf courses that frequently get recognition from golf travel guides. The resort itself offers the complete vacation package from accommodations to dining but the focus of the activities here is on the golf. Three of the golf courses at this resort (the East, North and South courses) are nine-hole golf courses intended for leisurely play. However, the golf course dubbed The New Course is a full eighteen-hole golf course enjoyed by those people who have heard so much about the resort and want to see that it lives up to its hype.
• Grande Lakes Resort. Think ritzy and you’ll think of the Grande Lakes Resort which is affiliated with the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott resorts in Orlando. This upscale resort experience includes everything from wedding banquets to exquisite spa services. However, the golf stands on its own as a major attraction to the resort. This golf course prides itself on blending a challenging golf course with one that is fair. It is a favorite resort of those people who have attended the Faldo Golf Institute and are seeking a good starter golf course which shows off Orlando’s natural beauty while allowing them to enjoy the game.
• Grand Pines Golf Course. This Marriott-owned golf course has won awards and recognition as one of the best resort golf courses in the nation. The design of the golf course incorporates the Florida Wetlands so that visitors to the area can feel as though they’ve enjoyed Florida’s nature as well as the activities that are available in the area. This is an eighteen-hole par 72 course so it’s designed specifically to be challenging for the golfer who is interested in really testing his skills during a stay in Orlando.
• Hawk’s Landing Golf Course. This golf course is ideal for advanced golfers who are traveling to Orlando with their families. That is because this is an eighteen-hole championship golf course that is recognized for being one of the best courses in Orlando. However, it is located on the extensive grounds of the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort which is a family resort that offers amenities for all ages. In addition to the challenge of the golf course, it is said to be one of the best golfing spots in Orlando for enjoying the natural beauty of the area due to its unique locally-focused design. In close proximity to the theme parks that draw people to Orlando, it provides the perfect balance of golf vacation and family vacation for the family who wants to have it all.
• Historic Dubsdread Golf Course. This is a municipal golf course in Orlando that visitors may want to keep an eye on. It was closed in early 2007 in order for extensive renovations to be completed. It is expected to re-open sometime during the summer of 2008 and should surprise golfers with all of the changes that have occurred. New ponds, larger greens and better facilities should cause some happy chatter amongst the golfers who have enjoyed this course over the years.
• Hunter’s Creek Golf Course. This is another public Orlando golf course that’s gone through some changes in recent years. In the early 1990’s it was ranked one of the best golf courses in the nation. Over time, other resorts and golf courses took the spotlight away from this location. However, new management has recently brought refreshed attention to the golf course here and it’s once again a favorite among Orlando visitors and residents. Offering different shot options at each tee and aspiring to be one of the more creative courses in Orlando, Hunter’s Creek is a great golf course for those people who are seeking something a little different than the usual Orlando resort scene.
• Shingle Golf Course is a popular Orlando golf course. It’s affiliated with a resort (that offers both golf and spa packages to travelers) but it’s main focus is on the golf and not the resort itself. This is advertised as a key feature of the golf course; the owners of the course advertise that the thing they’re most concerned about is providing players with an outstanding golf course that is always in “tournament condition”. This isn’t to say that there’s anything lacking about the resort but it’s a place that is specifically geared towards the golfer as opposed to the general tourist. Considered to be a moderately challenging course, Shingle is a place that’s good for both the advanced golfer and the inexperienced one.
There is a lot to be enjoyed in Orlando, especially during the beautifully warm winter months. The theme park resorts are certainly a big draw for many people but there are also others who come to Orlando specifically to partake of the leisurely golfing opportunities that are available in this part of the country. With different courses for different levels of play, Orlando is a haven for people who want to go golfing at their vacation destination. And since there are plenty of other activities in Orlando as well, it’s a place where golfers can go with their whole families.
Print This Post
Email This Post
RSS Feed
Post a comment