Golf in Orlando

[Texas Wedge]

I'm going to be taking a trip to Orlando at the end of August and MIGHT get a chance to go out and play a round of golf. I went out to GolfNow.com and they have a plethora of choices, but I don't know which ones are good and which ones aren't worth my time (or money).

Do you guys have any suggestions? (preferably courses listed on GolfNow, but it doesn't have to be...just not something way too expensive)

The last time I went to Orlando I played Hawk's Landing. I loved it, but want to play a different course this time around. All input is appreciated!! Thanks, all!!!

[Ty_Webb]

I was out there in October last year. Played at Falcon's Fire, Orange County National - Panther Lake, Southern Dunes and one of the Disney courses. OCN was a great course and in good condition. The deal was a pretty good one too. I think it was about $80 which included breakfast and a voucher in the pro shop for about $10.

[TwillDog]

Agree with Ty Webb on Orange County National. I also played Panther Lakes and it is all the course you want. Great layout. It's also cool that you can say you played where the future pro's play - the courses there host Q-School often.
I haven't played many in the area, but a former club pro friend of mine who lives there now really likes the usual courses people recommend - MetroWest, Falcon's Fire, Mystic Dunes. Here's one if you have a little time for, it's a bit out of the way in Sorrento. It's called Eagle Dunes if I'm not mistaken, well off the beaten path. I played it on recommendation of my wife's cousin, who is a firefighter and had asked some of his buddies that golf where they would go if they had one round to play. The price was great, the course was tough and interesting. Didn't get to finish the back nine, but really enjoyed the layout.

[jwaldrop]

I played Falcon's Fire several years ago and really enjoyed it. It was also summer and I didn't have any trouble getting on.

[nchoe123]

Not a lot of posts here. And it's well past the end of August. I'll be heading down to Orlando during the 1st week of December (and also again in February). I'm going to play Royal St. Cloud (very inexpensive, fun too), maybe some others, and finish off at Reunion (where they have an LPGA even in April-- my parents are members). I can't say that a lot of other courses there really stick out as "must-plays".

I've teed it up at Championsgate, Southern Dunes (extremely well named, whew!), a few others. Actually, SD is worth visiting again. Hmm. Anyone else?

[tachus]

Orange County National for sure. I have played Panther Lake and its a great course in really good condition. I just played there a week and a half ago, so I can assure you, its in good shape.

[Texas Wedge]

Well, I forgot to come back to post where I played. My wife's company put us up at the JW Marriot. Their course was booked, but their sister course down the road, Grande Pines, was available, so I played there. It's a nice course, but the 7th hole is one where you need knowledge of the course to know where to hit the ball. It's not a long par 4 (actually, I think it was kind of short), but you can't tell where the green is (even using the GPS map on the cart) from the teebox. All 4 of us just stood there for a couple minutes trying to figure out where to hit our tee shot. Finally, I just stepped up and hit an ugly hooking 3 iron into the trees on the left. I think I took a 7 on that hole. And then the lightning came and suspended play on the back nine, so I had to finish the next morning. I ended up shooting a 50-46 for a 96 (ESC of 94). The greens this past week at the Tour Championship reminded me of the greens at Grande Pines...they looked really nice except for a few places along the edges where you could tell they were trying to save them. Of course they weren't bent grass greens, but you get the idea. Anyway, I was pleased with the course, but I wish I had been given a chance to go play some of the courses listed by you guys...especially Falcon's Fire and OCN. They sound great. My wife suggested I play as close to the hotel as possible, though, so I wasn't going to argue to much since I WAS getting to play.