MyBluC4
25-08-2008, 03:00 PM
FLORIDA
Old Corkscrew, Naples, FL
Just played Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero, Florida. Designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son, Steve. Was originally offered to another high end designer who turned it down due to the location. Nicklaus saw the land and knew what he could do with it. WOW! A beautifully designed track and one of the nicest and certainly most interesting and challenging I have ever played in Florida. 7393 from the tips with a 76.9/148 slope rating. 6617 from the Blues with a rating of 73.4/140 slope...this is in Florida folks. The course has everything, wild terrain, multiple lakes separating holes, tall pines framing most holes, wild flowers, fescue and the most multi-tiered, undulating greens I have ever seen. So far, no development so there are no buildings in sight bordering the course with the exception of one hole where you see a large equipment shed. At $80 for the round with cart and access to the practice facilities, it was a bargain. Compared to Tiberon at the Ritz Carlton in Naples, this was half the price and twice the course. If you are travelling to Naples, play this course. The course is located just south of Ft. Myers Airport, the airport used to fly into Naples, FL. The course is about 8 miles inland from the highway in the middle of nowwhere. What a find.You will not be disappointed. Staff is great and takes great pride in how you enjoyed yourself. Mark in the pro shop helps in any way. Cart girls are knock outs.
Grand Cypress, Orlando Florida
Just returned from Orlando where I got to play at Hyatt Regency's Grand Cypress resort. There are 3 nines being the North, South and East courses, as well as, the New Course that is a links layout. We played the North/South combo from the Men's back (not the championship tees) at 6500 yards with a 72.0/131 rating and slope. The course is designed by Jack Nicklaus. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of Nicklaus courses, but this one really caught my attention. A beautiful set up, very challenging but fair, excellent & exceptionally fast greens. Water and bunkers are strategically placed and not just for looks. The entire place was nice to be in. The club house is beautiful, with good locker room and pro shop. The bar and restaurant area are very classy with good food and drinks. Expensive as one would expect for a top notch resort, but not over the top in any way. Everyone was terrific in the service department. They list the place as private, but actually its a call in for a tee time deal. If you can splurge, or find someone else to pay for it, this is a course you want to play.
Metro West, Orlando, Florida
Just got back from Orlando where I played in an outing at Metro West. The course is a Robert Trent Jones layout. As usual, it looks easy and is wide open, BUT, the bunker placements make you hit greens on the fly. Also, it is very difficult to judge the depth of the greens from the fairway.
As usual, Jones designed the holes for the wind that he believes should always be a consideration (you should try his layout in Guadeloupe).
I do suggest that you play from the tips where you can see the range of each hole as it was designed to be played.
We found the staff accomodating and the treatment and greetings from the rangers comfortable. No problems.
Shingle Creek in Orlando is part of the Rosen Conference Center on Universal Blvd. The course is a beautif David Harman Design featuring water on 16 of the 18 holes with over 100 sand traps. The course has numerous mounds and subtle contours throughout. No houses or condos, but rather is built around the main conference building that is very nice looking and does not intrude at all with the vistas of the course. The greens are Bermuda grass and in terrific shape. From the tips you are looking at 7228 yards with a 75.1/139 slope. We played the golds (one step down from the championship box) at 6758 with a 71.7/134 rating. Wind conditions range from mild to massive and always deliver a nice challenge to the well bunkered greens. The round cost $137 with cart and tax. Don't know too many people who played this track or even know about it, but it was very nice. Friendly and professional service all around. Highly recommend
Breakers West, Palm Beach, Florida
Breakers Hotel West Course, now known as The Breakers Rees Jones Course...refurbished a few years ago with no expense spared on this beauty. You don't think you're in Florida...absolutely magnificent. Very good course, excellent challenge for low handicapers from the tips and enjoyable for middie from the whites. Expensive and worth it!
Tiberon, Naples, Florida
Just got back from Naples. Stayed at the Ritz Carlton and played its well known Tiburon Black Course. The course was designed by Greg Norman. Played from the tips: 7005 yards. The course has a 74.2/147 rating. Expensive: $200 a round and $100 for Twilight after 4PM.
This course is a bull. Typical Norman. No roughs only fairway and jungle on the sides. Even if you hit to the edge of the fairway, there is a good chance the ball will end up in jail. A zillion waste bunkers that look like crushed shell and sandstone. A lot of the traps are thinned out with no sand under the surface.
My take: this course is not worth the money. Nice views but not exceptionally interesting layout. Doesn't feel fair and doesn't look like anything more than target golf at its extreme. I believe a true golf course should have first and second cuts of rough to challenge the golfer, not bush and bramble off every fairway to penalize any shot not in the short grass.
Old Corkscrew, Naples, FL
Just played Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero, Florida. Designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son, Steve. Was originally offered to another high end designer who turned it down due to the location. Nicklaus saw the land and knew what he could do with it. WOW! A beautifully designed track and one of the nicest and certainly most interesting and challenging I have ever played in Florida. 7393 from the tips with a 76.9/148 slope rating. 6617 from the Blues with a rating of 73.4/140 slope...this is in Florida folks. The course has everything, wild terrain, multiple lakes separating holes, tall pines framing most holes, wild flowers, fescue and the most multi-tiered, undulating greens I have ever seen. So far, no development so there are no buildings in sight bordering the course with the exception of one hole where you see a large equipment shed. At $80 for the round with cart and access to the practice facilities, it was a bargain. Compared to Tiberon at the Ritz Carlton in Naples, this was half the price and twice the course. If you are travelling to Naples, play this course. The course is located just south of Ft. Myers Airport, the airport used to fly into Naples, FL. The course is about 8 miles inland from the highway in the middle of nowwhere. What a find.You will not be disappointed. Staff is great and takes great pride in how you enjoyed yourself. Mark in the pro shop helps in any way. Cart girls are knock outs.
Grand Cypress, Orlando Florida
Just returned from Orlando where I got to play at Hyatt Regency's Grand Cypress resort. There are 3 nines being the North, South and East courses, as well as, the New Course that is a links layout. We played the North/South combo from the Men's back (not the championship tees) at 6500 yards with a 72.0/131 rating and slope. The course is designed by Jack Nicklaus. Normally, I'm not a huge fan of Nicklaus courses, but this one really caught my attention. A beautiful set up, very challenging but fair, excellent & exceptionally fast greens. Water and bunkers are strategically placed and not just for looks. The entire place was nice to be in. The club house is beautiful, with good locker room and pro shop. The bar and restaurant area are very classy with good food and drinks. Expensive as one would expect for a top notch resort, but not over the top in any way. Everyone was terrific in the service department. They list the place as private, but actually its a call in for a tee time deal. If you can splurge, or find someone else to pay for it, this is a course you want to play.
Metro West, Orlando, Florida
Just got back from Orlando where I played in an outing at Metro West. The course is a Robert Trent Jones layout. As usual, it looks easy and is wide open, BUT, the bunker placements make you hit greens on the fly. Also, it is very difficult to judge the depth of the greens from the fairway.
As usual, Jones designed the holes for the wind that he believes should always be a consideration (you should try his layout in Guadeloupe).
I do suggest that you play from the tips where you can see the range of each hole as it was designed to be played.
We found the staff accomodating and the treatment and greetings from the rangers comfortable. No problems.
Shingle Creek in Orlando is part of the Rosen Conference Center on Universal Blvd. The course is a beautif David Harman Design featuring water on 16 of the 18 holes with over 100 sand traps. The course has numerous mounds and subtle contours throughout. No houses or condos, but rather is built around the main conference building that is very nice looking and does not intrude at all with the vistas of the course. The greens are Bermuda grass and in terrific shape. From the tips you are looking at 7228 yards with a 75.1/139 slope. We played the golds (one step down from the championship box) at 6758 with a 71.7/134 rating. Wind conditions range from mild to massive and always deliver a nice challenge to the well bunkered greens. The round cost $137 with cart and tax. Don't know too many people who played this track or even know about it, but it was very nice. Friendly and professional service all around. Highly recommend
Breakers West, Palm Beach, Florida
Breakers Hotel West Course, now known as The Breakers Rees Jones Course...refurbished a few years ago with no expense spared on this beauty. You don't think you're in Florida...absolutely magnificent. Very good course, excellent challenge for low handicapers from the tips and enjoyable for middie from the whites. Expensive and worth it!
Tiberon, Naples, Florida
Just got back from Naples. Stayed at the Ritz Carlton and played its well known Tiburon Black Course. The course was designed by Greg Norman. Played from the tips: 7005 yards. The course has a 74.2/147 rating. Expensive: $200 a round and $100 for Twilight after 4PM.
This course is a bull. Typical Norman. No roughs only fairway and jungle on the sides. Even if you hit to the edge of the fairway, there is a good chance the ball will end up in jail. A zillion waste bunkers that look like crushed shell and sandstone. A lot of the traps are thinned out with no sand under the surface.
My take: this course is not worth the money. Nice views but not exceptionally interesting layout. Doesn't feel fair and doesn't look like anything more than target golf at its extreme. I believe a true golf course should have first and second cuts of rough to challenge the golfer, not bush and bramble off every fairway to penalize any shot not in the short grass.