3Jack's Top Courses Played in 2012

For those who have followed the forum (http://richie3jack.Proboards.Com), you have got noticed that I have played quite a few special golf publications this 12 months. Since I stay in Orlando and it?S a famous wintry weather excursion, I desired to rank the pinnacle-10 courses I have performed this 12 months.

1. Juliette Falls Country Club (Dunellon, FL ? Www.Juliettefalls.Com)

Juliette Falls is placed approximately 10 minutes west of Ocala. That might make about a ninety minute power from those staying in Disney or I-Drive. But the charge to play there need to be very low cost come iciness time and given that it is a former non-public club that is out of the way, tempo of play ought to be quick. In other words, it is properly well worth the trip.

It?S a parkland fashion route with a number of the most beautiful and hard par-three?S you'll ever face. It?S tough, however truthful and in proper circumstance. The veggies have been moderately speedy when we played there within the Summer, so I would expect them to be superb inside the wintry weather.

Designer: John Sandford

Favorite Hole: #8, 446 yard par-4

2. RedTail Golf Club (Sorrento, FL ? Www.Redtailclub.Com)

Another formerly private club now to be had for public play. It is also pretty inexpensive and the pace of play have to be quick. Probably searching at a 1-hour force from Disney or I-Drive in Orlando. Combines a bit of parkland style and American hyperlinks fashion of layout. Starts out fairly hard and ends a bit difficult, however it?S still reasonable in its design. Not pretty within the form Juliette Falls changed into in, but still in right condition and ought to be in better condition come winter.

Designer: David Harman

Favorite Hole: #17, 554 yards par-5

three. Mission Inn, El Campeon Course (Howey-in-the-Hills, FL ? Www.Missioninnresort.Com)

Fascinating direction due to the fact it is able to be the hilliest course in all of Central Florida and also you don?T recognize it till the 4th hollow. The route turned into constructed in 1917 and holds up flawlessly to all of the improvements in technology. The direction also has a completely antique faculty PGA Tour venue kind sense to it. Again, the vegetables have been a bit at the gradual aspect, however we had been gambling it inside the Summer, so by means of the wintry weather in need to be in notable shape. About a forty five minute pressure from Disney and more like 35 minutes from I-Drive.

Designer: George O’Neill

Favorite Hole: #10, 569 yards par-5

four. Legends at Orange Lake Resorts ? Orlando, FL (http://orangelake.Com/tour_our_resort/the_legends.Html)

Very great surprise that is positioned only a 10 minutes from Disney. I think Arnold Palmer is the maximum underrated architect by architecture critics, even though I was now not a massive fan of considered one of his most famous designs?Kings North in Myrtle Beach. But he creates another dandy at Orange Lake motels. This turned into extra of a Austalian sand dune style of design that is some thing I?M now not acquainted with seeing from Arnie, but he superbly pulled it off. And strive the cheeseburger made with macaroni and cheese.

Designer: Arnold Palmer

Favorite Hole: #9, 420 yards par-4

5. Legacy Club @ Alaqua Lakes ? Longwood, FL (www.Alaqualakesgolfclub.Com)

I tend to think Fazio designs are a little overrated because he is rather conservative in his designs to avoid bad golf holes. But he has designed a wonderful course here which is very parkland style and has a little bit of flare on some holes like #9 and #18 with how the trees overhang in the fairway, much like you would see from Caledonia Golf & Fish Club in Pawleys Island, SC or Valderama in Spain with their famous cork trees. The rest of the course is a traditional design, but still well done. It’s mostly a private club, but you can get on via TeeTimesUSA.com. The course is about 35 minutes from I-Drive and 45 minutes from Disney. It’s not cheap to get on, but it’s in terrific condition and you won’t have to worry about pace of play. Furthermore, it’s just off I-4. Oh, check out the house on #11, one of the biggest in all of Central Florida.

Designer: Tom Fazio

Favorite Hole: #15, 557 yards par-5

6. Southern Dunes – Haines City, FL (www.southerndunes.com)

Southern Dunes is not in Orlando, but is only about 10 minutes from Disney and about 15-20 minutes from I-Drive. It’s a traditional parkland style of course known for having the best greens in the area and I agree. When we played there the greens were 11 on the stimp and smooth. Furthermore, they had just aerified the course about 3 weeks earlier. Both nines are about equal in difficulty and there are a lot of tremendous sight lines throughout the course.

Designer: Steve Smyers

Favorite Hole: #7, 454 yard par-4

7. Grande Pines – Orlando, FL (http://www.marriott.com/golf-hotels/mcogv-marriotts-grande-vista/grand-pines-golf-club/5230286/home-page.mi)

Another Steve Smyers design that is a little more exotic and offers more of a mix of traditional parkland and sand dunes style of design. Right down the road from Sea World and across the street from the Faldo Golf Institute. The course is more narrow, particularly on the front, than one would imagine for a resort style course. It also has some fairly complicated green designs. But the course was fun for everybody and in terrific shape. The greens have TifEagle grass and putt beautifully.

Designer: Steve Smyers

Favorite Hole: #11, 551 yards Par-5

8. Harmony Golf Preserve – Harmony, FL (www.harmonygolfpreserve.com)

Located about 25 minutes from the Orlando Airport, so about close to an hour from either Disney or I-Drive. We started on the back nine when we played there and I thought the back nine was phenomenal. However, I had to remember that the front nine was a bit lacking. Still, the front nine is pretty darn good outside of #2 (par-4) and #6 (par-3). This is another course with a bit of an Australian Sand Dunes style of feel to it. When we played there in April, the greens were in rough shape, but the course has come around since then. One of the toughest courses we played all year.

Designer: Johnny Miller

Favorite Hole: #16, 548 yard par-5

9. Sugarloaf Mountain – Minneola, FL (www.hamptongolfclubs.com/Sugarloaf-Mountain)

Sugarloaf Mountain is rough around the edges, but it’s a blast to play. It’s located in the Clermont area, about 30 minutes from I-Drive and 45 minutes from Disney. While I’ve never played golf in Australia, I tend to imagine that this would be more of what it’s like to play there. I think my only problem with the course is that while most of the rough spots are designed that way, some of them need to be taken care of since you have to take a golf cart and sometimes you have no idea where to drive. Tough course with some tremendous drop offs like #17, the 275 yard par-3. But it ‘only’ plays to 225 yards with the downhill slope to the green.

Designers: Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore

Favorite Hole: #1, 445 yards par-4

10. Celebration Golf Club – Celebration, FL (www.celebrationgolf.com)

You usually know what you are going to get with a Robert Trent Jones design, a solid course that if a few things work out well, it can be a top tier design. The course is located about 5-10 minutes from Disney in the newly developed town of Celebration. It has probably the nicest houses off the course than any course in the Orlando area, including Lake Nona and Bay Hill. And they are eerily quiet.

The front nine was a little too screwy for me, particularly on holes 3 thru 5 and 7 and 8. But the back nine is a masterpiece and is just flat out fun to play.

Designers: Robert Trent Jones

Favorite Hole: #15, 361 yards par-4

3JACK

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