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Florida is a paradise for golfers
and there is a huge range of golf courses within an easy drive of
our Villa to suit all abilities and pockets. If golf is your
passion there really is a myriad of choice.
Champions Gate Golf Resort features two 18-hole
championship courses designed by accomplished architect and
golfer, Greg Norman. The complex opened in 2000 and within the
first year was already regarded as one of the top golf
facilities, not only in Florida, but the United States.
This complex is only two minutes drive from your
Villa!
The facilities and credits include the
following:
» World headquarters for the David
Leadbetter Academy, the most sophisticated learning facility for
men, women and children. Leadbetter is ranked #1 among Golf
Digest's "50 Greatest Teachers" in America.
» Received honourable mention by Golf
Magazine's "10 Most Distinctive places to Play" in the Country.
» Hosting the 2002 Florida State
Amateur Championship.
» Hosting site for the Canadian PGA
Tour Qualifying School for 2002-2005.
» International Course carries the
highest course rating in the State of Florida at 76.3.
» The facility features two l8-hole
championship golf courses, a driving range, greenside fairway,
bunkers, short game area and putting green.
» The PROLINK GPS
system is standard on all the golf carts.
» A 30,000 square foot clubhouse
offering amenities including a full-service golf shop, grill room
and a banquet facility that offers complete services for golf
tournaments and special events.
The impressive clubhouse, restaurant and banquet facility is
matched only by the attentive and professional staff. Guests will
enjoy the expansive veranda, one of the most distinctive features
of our luxurious clubhouse, which overlooks a beautiful wetland
and offers panoramic views of both golf courses. They will also
enjoy the service, the unique menu and the comfortable ambience -
reminiscent of a fine private country club - that is the hallmark
of ChampionsGate's guest experience off the course. The
impressive clubhouse includes complete dining and lounge areas, a
fully stocked golf shop, guest lockers, and function space for up
to 250 people should you wish to tie the knot on your holiday of
a lifetime.
OTHER COURSES TO PLAY
This is by no means a complete list of all the golf
courses in the Orlando area, but a selection of the ones that
we'd advise you to play based on our own personal
experience. We've listed our favourite top ten on this page, and
the icon link is to the golforlando website. This gives
a much better idea of how to rate the course, which is best
done by reading the review section at the bottom of the link
page. If you want to visit the club website then the link is on
the heading.
You have to be very careful when choosing courses in
the Orlando area as quite a few have condos or housing
development lining the fairways. This is not always appealing to
European golfers. It doesn't mean to say that they are not great
golf courses, but for some people it's not the golf experience
they are looking for.
Our particular favourites, other than the unrivalled
Championsgate National and International, are
Diamondback and Timacuan. They're a bit further
a field but worth the extra drive, and for value for money they
can't be beaten. They give you the true Florida golf experience
just how you want it. Plenty of spectacular par 3's
over water, tree lined fairways, and always in fantastic
condition, and with all the wildlife to go with it. Carved
through untouched forests and wetlands you might find the odd
alligator or snake to keep you company.
If you want this kind of thing closer to your villa
then Falconsfire, Metrowest and
Celebration will cater for your needs, although they are
a little more expensive, nevertheless there are many other
courses right on your doorstep that are worth a visit. If you
want more choice then check out these links - GolfingOrlando / GolfforOrlando / GolfGuideweb, or just pick up one of the many free
golf directories found in the numerous golfing outlets around the
Kissimmee and Orlando area.
Diamondback Golf Club - Opened in 1995, this is
another of Joe Lee's great Florida layouts, located directly
across the street from Grenelefe Resort in Haines City, about 40
minutes west of Orlando's International Drive. The course was
carved from 240 acres of virgin forest and offers dramatically
rolling fairways bordered by dense trees, pristine natural
wetlands, and well-positioned water hazards. Diamondback is
situated in a non-residential environment, which is unique to the
Central Florida area and creates a very peaceful round of golf.
Always in excellent condition, this course has been rated four
stars by Golf Digest's "Places to Play."
Falcon's Fire - This Rees Jones signature
design pays respect to the timeless traditions of the game of
golf. The front side is forgiving with water on three holes,
while the back wraps around two large lakes with a run of holes
(12-18) that will challenge the most skilled player. Boasting
tournament playing conditions 12 months a year, the course is
arguably the finest maintained in Central Florida. Falcon's Fire
has often hosted such events as the Senior PGA Tour Qualifying
School and the Oldsmobile Scramble National Finals. Truly a
complete facility, Golf Shop Operations has rated the pro
shop as one of America's "Top 100 Pro Shops." Falcon's Fire is
located in Kissimmee, just off Highway 192.
Celebration Golf Club- Located within the thriving
master-planned Celebration community, the Celebration Golf Club
boasts one of the finest daily fee golf facilities in Central
Florida. The renowned father-son team of Robert Trent Jones, Sr.
and Jr. sculpted a park-like atmosphere within the natural
wetland environment, creating a truly serene golf experience. The
course boasts rolling terrain that weaves through a series of
pristine lakes and periodic clusters of native oak, pine and
magnolia.
Timacuan- A must-play while in Orlando, Timacuan is
a stunning 6,900-yard championship course. Designed originally by
Ron Garl in 1987 and totally renovated by Bobby Weed in 1996, the
course features two very distinct nines. The front resembles a
Scottish links in places with rolling fairways bordered by sandy
waste areas and deep pot bunkers. The back has the feel of the
finest Carolina pineland courses with water almost everywhere you
look. Add outsanding club facilities and a first-class staff and
you quickly understand why Timacuan is so good!
Metrowest - Designed by renowned architect Robert
Trent Jones, Sr., MetroWest is a classic design blended with a
landscape of changing elevations. The course offers wide
fairways, large, undulating greens guarded by numerous grass and
sand bunkers. Opened in 1987, it remains in superb condition
year-round and is known for having some of the best-conditioned
greens in Florida. Westerly's Restaurant is conveniently set
above the golf shop and is open for breakfast, lunch, cocktails
and appetizers. Located in the Bay Hill area, only minutes from
Universal Studios Orlando, MetroWest has hosted the US Open
Regional Qualifier and the Senior PGA Tour Regional Qualifying.
Orange County National- Panther Lake, voted Golf
Magazine's "Top 10 You Can Play" in the United States in
March 1998 and more recently awarded 4 1/2 Stars by Golf
Digest's "PLACES TO PLAY" for 2000, was designed to showcase
the native beauty of the Florida landscape. This 7,295-yard
masterpiece is the first course ever to feature 18 signature
holes, incorporating rolling hills, including 60-foot elevation
changes, as it winds through natural oak hammocks, pine forests,
scenic wetlands and glistening freshwater lakes. In addition to
its natural beauty, Panther Lake offers numerous strategic
options in its design, thus allowing all players to be fairly
challenged.
Southern Dunes - A truly unique layout, this
award-winning course has been ranked among the "Top 100 Courses
in America" by Golfweek and awarded four stars by Golf
Digest. Steve Smyers' design features imaginative bunkering
and large sandy scrub areas that line dramatically rolling
fairways. Unusual for Central Florida, the course has elevation
changes of up to 100 feet and a series of huge dunes that give it
even more character. Best of all, the Tifdwarf Bermuda greens are
large, true and fast. This first-class club has added a great new
golf shop and is located just 20 minutes from Highway 192 area in
Orlando.
Highlands Reserve - Set atop one of the
highest areas of the state, Highlands Reserve is not your typical
Florida golf course. This championship design by Mike Dasher
gives you tree-lined fairways reminiscent of the Carolinas, open
spacious fairways likened to the great Scottish courses, and a
bit of old Florida with citrus trees dotting the countryside.
Large, fast, undulating greens make this course challenging and
fun for all levels of golfers. Conveniently located just minutes
from Walt Disney World and all major attractions, Highlands
Reserve Golf Club is a Central Florida favorite! Since opening
its doors in 1998, Highlands Reserve has been one of Golfpac's
most requested courses by golfers worldwide, and customers
continually rank its customer service, course conditions, and
professional staff as top notch.
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