Florida Guide > Golf
ChampionsGate National Golf Course
ChampionsGate Golf Club includes not one but two, 18 hole championship courses designed by Greg Norman. The International course is set around natural wetlands and has quite an Australian feel but the National Course is a more traditional Florida golf resort style and this is the course I chose for a match with my father in law.
It is a challenging Par 72 course which the four sets of tees allows players of all calibres to enjoy. It is famous for its scenic surrounding and for winning awards throughout the Orlando area. Each cart is equipped with GPS, while the 200, 150 and 100 yard markers are available on each hole when needed. The course winds through several of Florida’s most popular natural habitats and the 276 acre plot allows players to see alligators, a wide array of birds, turtles and snakes plus much more; all adding to a superb experience. The course is littered with bunkers, water hazards and tall grasses and while manoeuvring these hazards can be tough, the risk/reward can really change a players round. The greens are relatively small compared to other courses in the surrounding area but they are perfectly maintained. A slight miscue caused us a three or four put on a couple of occasions.
There are three or four holes which could be classed as the ‘signature hole’ of the course. Number two is a Par 4 that starts with a completely blind tee shot over beautiful natural wetlands. After diving through them it opens to a short and narrow fairway with bunkers everywhere. If you have managed to hit a good tee shot, then you may want to play aggressively. If you have found one of the bunkers (like I did), don’t compound the problem; getting out of this hole with only a bogey should be thought of as a win!
Number fourteen is a very short par three but the problem is you can’t see the green or any surrounding areas. Players have to fly over 150 yards of native grasses while avoiding two large trees at the same time. When you do clear the native grasses, the green is small and surrounded by numerous deep bunkers.
After our round was complete (luckily it was a draw! ) we were ready for an ice cold drink and headed to the bar inside which did not disappoint. There is a circular bar of pure granite which is definitely worth stopping at! There are several TV’s to keep you up to date on the golfing world and the service was above par! Before we left we popped into the pro shop which is well equipped though the apparel is somewhat highly priced.
Overall ChampionsGate National Course, in our opinion, is one of the best courses in the Orlando area. Paying 48 dollars for a round of high quality golfing on a stunning course, including cart, was worth it all day. Roll on next year!
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