Tag Archives: golf vacations

Turnberry Isle Miami – Miller Course

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Just as it was, the original Robert Trent Jones Sr layout was good and deemed to be among the best and most beautiful in Miami. But things had to change for the better. Whatever was better than the best, Raymond Floyd interpreted and delivered. Today, the Miller Course of the Turnberry Isle Resort bears a charm and quality that is mostly unheard of in most Miami golf vacation destinations.

The Miller Course of the Turnberry Isle took a general and major overhaul by Floyd in 2007, some 30 plus years since it first opened as a RTJ creation. From a relatively flat course following the natural contours of the Florida terrain, this new face of the golf course carries a more sophisticated and more exciting course with mounds and elevation changes. Moreover, Floyd added more water elements to the holes making it more exciting and extremely beautiful. And with the stunningly gorgeous Lake Julius as its centerpiece, golfers are assured of golf vacations that are as beautiful to play as they are to see.

Challenge-wise, the Miller Course is the friendlier of the two courses on the Turnberry Isle Resort. The other one, the Soffer, is lengthier and tougher, while the Miller is shorter and is played as the resort course. It is just the right mix of fun and fierce without going overboard either way, making golf trips here just as they should be: relaxing. The course measures 6,417 yards from the tips, and plays for a par of 72.

Doral Resort – Jim McLean Signature Course

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Not a few golf enthusiasts have known The Doral Resort in Miami. With all the buzz it gets every year thanks to the PGA Tour at the Blue Monster, that is not surprising. But these golf lovers know very well that the Doral is not all about the Blue Monster. There are four other championship courses on this golf vacation destination that are equally excellent. One of them is the Jim McLean Signature Course – one that has seen one too many improvements. It’s always surprising that after every renov, the course still comes out better than ever. How these architects outdo each other will remain a mystery – but a very good one.

The Jim McLean Signature Course first opened as a Bruce Devlin/Robert Von Hagge original layout. In 1998, champion Jerry Pate laid hands on this course and just recently, the then Silver Course got its share of Jim McLean’s genius. The course went from one design to another, delicately playing with Florida’s natural environment in the process. Today, the signature course is known for its sixteen water holes and signature series of par 3s, the Bermuda Triangle from the 13th to the 15th holes. Oh, that and what the golf world’s dubbed as “the toughest opening three holes”. A promise like that does get golf vacations here more enticing yes?

And with all the raves it is receiving since opening in 2009, no one else could be any happier than Jim McLean himself. The golf trip favorite was his first full golf course design. An impressive thought the the first timer’s achievement was to outdo that of legends before him. The fair and challenging Jim McLean Signature Course measures 7,105 yards from the tips, par 72, with multiple sets of tees.

Stonegate Golf Club – Oaks Course

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In creating a Florida golf layout, a designer does not simply move earth and do as he pleases. No, sir. Florida’s natural topography and other natural features are too diverse, too interesting, and too beautiful to simply be interrupted without restrain. The designer must know how to blend well with whatever there is; a Floridan golf course that looks like a masterpiece both by nature and man is the mark of a true genius. One perfect example of this is the Oaks Course in Kissimmee. This is that one course that transforms a golf trip into a nature trip.

The Oaks Course is part of the 36-hole facility, the Stonegate Golf Club. The other one, the Cypress, is a Clifton, Ezell, Clifton. The Oaks on the other hand is a Ron Garl original layout, characterized by oversized fairway bunkers and waste areas, mounds, and rolling fairways. The greens are slightly elevated. All these features of the course are set on a backdrop of natural marshlands and wetlands, snaking through huge oak hammocks other native vegetation growing abundantly in the property. Beautiful, yes. Hazardous, even more so. If that is not interesting enough yet, then the water holes – eleven in total, will bring the extra to the ordinary golf vacations here.

The golf vacation destination has 4 sets of tees, ranging from 5,285 yards the shortest, par-72, and stretching to 7,011 yards the longest, par-72. Achieving the goal of creating a nature friendly course as the Oaks Course has got to be tough on the designer. But it was achieved. And the biggest reward has to be all the beautiful golf getaways spent here with a picturesque background of Florida’s natural flora and fauna. This is bringing out the best in both the designer and the environment.

Remington Golf Club

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The design team of Clifton, Ezell, Clifton have made quite an impression in the Orlando golfing scene. Their Orlando portfolio includes quite a lot of best sellers, including Kissimmee Bay Golf Club, Stoneybrook East Golf Club, King’s Ridge Golf Club, and the Remington Golf Club. The last one holds a close semblance to the Kissimmee Bay, and are amongst the most recognized golf vacation destinations both as a CEC creation and a go-to place for golfers visiting Orlando.

Remington Golf Club is an 18-hole course that stretches to a whooping 7,111 yards from the longest tees, par-72. It is conveniently located just a short ten-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport, making it a great option for golf vacations. Golfers need not go far to experience what brand of excellence in golfing this 4-star rated golf course has to offer them. Like most every Florida course, water is abundant here. These water features are paired with generous landing areas and undulating fairways, not to mention verdant greens with an abundance of native vegetation.

The course comes with 5 sets of tees, making golf trips here even more inviting and accommodating for all types of golfers. Even more so, it has a unique water driving range and huge practice areas for that perfect warmup to an even better round. Clifton, Ezell, Clifton have clearly sealed their legacy in the Central Florida golfing scene. Remington Golf Club is, without a doubt, at par with all the other excellent courses crafted by this trio.

The North Shore Golf Club

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It is not an everyday occurrence that one finds an entirely different paradise without going too far out from the city. Unless, of course, if the city in question is Orlando. Not every city in Florida, or in America for that matter, could get from one world-class theme park to a high-end golf course in a matter of minutes. From family-oriented ones to golf vacations, one can get it all in here. Orlando, without a doubt, is just too full of surprises – and there is just no room nor reason for disappointment. One of the best surprises Orlando is the new Mike Dasher creation, the North Shore Golf Club.

This golf vacation destination is located a short 10-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport, in the southeast end of the city. Dasher created a complete spectacle here, with two very distinct nines meshed all too perfectly, something only a true genius could create. The front nine of the North Shore Golf Club features a modern links style layout of sorts, with a lot of natural wetlands, marshland preserves and native vegetation. The back nine is different, though not contrasting, with its thick mess of centenarian oaks growing liberally on undulating fairways. Together, the 18-hole spectacle is an entirely different world – separate from the rest of Orlando.

Surprisingly though, the North Shore Golf Club contains one classic Florida golf feature: water. There is water on both nines, melding well with all the other course features that include some of Orlando’s best and fastest TifEagle greens. The course measures a good 6,898 yards from the tips with multiple tees to accommodate most any handicap. The only thing not surprising about this golf course is the fact that golf trips here are going to be fun. Very fun.

Kissimmee Oaks Golf Club

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This is one golf course that would go down the books for being a classic Florida design. The joint creation of Karl Litten and Gary Player has become such a hit that it is hard not to stop by for a round here when on an Orlando golf trip. The Kissimmee Oaks Golf Club and its natural terrain and even more natural features and hazards has got golfers – local and visiting alike – charmed and hooked.

The Kissimmee Oaks Golf Club measures close to 7,000 yards from the longest tees and plays for a par of 72. Apart from the obvious presence of oaks growing liberally about the course– which are more than a hundred years old, by the way – the golf vacation destination also enjoys a healthy sprinkling of tropical vegetation that include pampas and cypress trees. And just as classic a Florida course this is, this course has a lot of water. Several lakes come into play on ten of the 18 holes – all of which are equally challenging and awe-striking in beauty. This course cannot be anything other than beautiful.

Even its being part of a high-end residential community does not make it less beautiful. The designers have successfully routed this course away from the homes that it feels like there is nothing more here than the narrow-looking fairways, small greens, and a lot of nature that includes native fauna along with the natural flora selection. With all its merits, not only would the Kissimmee Oaks Golf Club go down the books for being a classic Floridan; it will also go down the books to be among Florida’s most irresistible and most unforgettable site for golf vacations.

Diamondback Golf Club

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There can never be anything more dynamic a course in Orlando than the Diamondback Golf Club. And that is even with half of it generally bare. This is one of the highly favored, average-priced courses that golfers go to in Orlando for their golf vacations. No unusual displays, nothing too fancy. There is just a lot of golf and a lot of fun all in a single location.

Designed by Joe Lee, the Diamondback Golf Club was opened in 1996 and measures 6,805 yards from the tips, playing for a par of 72. What makes this golf vacation destination really interesting and a hit among golfers – local and visiting alike – is the fact that for a course that follows the natural contours of the land, it is highly varied in terrain. It is a salad bowl of natural swamplands and virgin forests and flat lands – all that texture can be experienced throughout the 18 holes. It feels like a little bit of Florida and a lot of other places. Oaks and pines with a little helping of citrus groves compose these woods that give more than enough distance and danger in between holes and greens.

Generally speaking, the Diamond Golf Club is fun and playable. This may not be the easiest and most relaxing course in the world, but hey. Nobody wants to be a sixth grader in a kindergarten course! Every round here is also an explosion of different emotions and reactions brought about by the levels of excitement that almost every hole gives. And each golf trip here will definitely be different from the last; no wonder golfers come here over and over and over.

Red Tail Golf Club

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When somebody says, ‘Florida is beautiful’, one would not expect anything more than a silent nod in agreement. That much is given. Even more so when people say ‘golf vacations in Florida, especially in Orlando, are even more beautiful’. Statements such as this one would very easily conjure up images of beachside golf, a lot of sand, few trees, flat layout. True, that is pretty much what Orlando golfing looks like. But much is not all; there are courses the likes of Red Tail Golf Club where a breath of fresh air is literally a breath of fresh air.

That, it owes much to the countless centenary oaks dotting the whole course. At Red Tail Golf Club, the whole length of its 7,152-yard maximum yardage, par-72 is accentuated by these beautiful trees that they have so very well preserved. As are the rest of the property. It is so well-preserved that in fact, this golf vacation destination is hailed as among Florida’s best natural setting for golf. Thanks to the genius of designer Dave Harman, the natural paradise was transformed into a golfer’s haven without so much as altering what masterpiece Mother Nature has created here. The excellent golfing is defined by the naturally rolling hills of Lake County, complimented by Harman’s links-style layout.

And to complete the golf vacation package, the Red Tail Golf Club comes with an excellent 10-acre practice facility to help perfect that swing and shot. That makes it a perfect place to warm up for a round from any of the six sets of tees at the course. When somebody says this course is ‘gorgeous’, there won’t be silent agreement. There would be a ruckus of happy and excited stories of unforgettable golfing experience here.

DeBary Golf and Country Club

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The DeBary Golf and Country Club is located between two of Florida’s most beautiful cities, Orlando and Daytona. It shares all the best natural features of the two cities. SO basically, this golf vacation destination is caught between being beautiful and gorgeous.

This Lloyd Clifton creation features many things un-Florida. In truth, there is a more of Carolina golf course feel to the DeBary Golf and Country Club, owing it to the many trees dotted all over the property and the lack of water. There is only a single water hazard all throughout the course and it plays on the shared greens between the 9th and the 18th hole. The course measures 6,776 yards from the longest tees, par-72. Golf vacations here are characterized by plays on excellent greens carpeting some well-placed holes, several other hazards, and lots and lots of trees.

Speak of trees, the trees and forests on course serve more purpose than just the aesthetics. They do more than play the role of natural hazards as well. These forests of native growth trees are what separates the DeBary Golf and Country Club course from the housing development on the other side of the club. That is one dream golf trip: away from the sights and sounds of residential communities without exactly being away from civilization. Now, that said, there really isn’t anything surprising about the course’s four-star rating for Golf Digest’s Places to Play List, as well as its being a regular host of US Open Qualifiers. Neither is it surprising that golfers who come here will end up caught between being in love and in awe.

Falcon’s Fire Golf Club

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Who says the best things in Orlando golfing come with mouse ears for logos? One need not go far, nor look elsewhere to find a most perfect alternate to the Disney courses in Orlando! For a different flavor for golf vacations in Disney city, there is one place to go too – and it’s only a stone’s throw away from the main Disney gates: The Falcon’s Fire Golf Club. It is gool ol’ golfing goodness at its purest, most beautiful form.

 The Falcon’s Fire Golf Club holds an elusive four star-rating from the Golf Digest’s Places to Play list and is listed as amongst Florida’s best. And the reasons are not at all hard to tell. The Rees Jones design features classic architecture of more than 7000 yards from the longest tees, par 72. That is all 7000 yards of pristine maintenance of prime Tif Eagle greens, and year-round optimum conditioning to suit all types of golfers, having five sets of tees to choose from. The course is challenging only to those who are willing to be challenged; the shorter tees make it a fair and fun course to play – even more so, relaxing thanks to the natural scenic features. In total, the golf vacation destination is always a delight to play.

 And a greater delight off the greens too. With world-class services and amenities that include a highly-recognized Falcon’s Nest Restaurant known for being exquisite and an award-winning golf shop, there is not a reason to doubt whether the Falcon’s Fire Golf Club is at par with the world class, highly famous Disney courses. It sure does, sans the sky-high green fees at that! Now that wasn’t hard. That is golf trips worth taking out of the usual and the ordinary.