Famed for being home to Disney World, Universal Studios and the like, you would be forgiven for thinking that Florida is not a golfing holiday destination. The discerning golfer will be able to find a plethora of courses to sample, here are two of our favourite.
Panther Lake
Orange County National’s Panther Lake is just about everything and anything you could want from a golf course. You’ll be able to play over meadows, in, around and over wetlands along with lakes, all to a backdrop of pine forests. It really brings home why golf is such an excellent sport in the first place. With no houses or towns around the resort, there are no disturbances and it provides a home to an array of native wildlife.
Primarily a golfing resort, you will be tested on every hole, no two are the same and neither is the landscape that surrounds them. Given 5 stars by Golf Digest’s ‘Best Places to Play’, you’d be missing out if you didn’t play at least one or two rounds; when you’re done why not head to Phil Ritson’s 19th Hole Restaurant? Inside it will easily seat 200 diners and offers the perfect combination of restaurant and bar services. If it’s a nice evening sit outside and enjoy the beautiful scenery further.
The Panther Lake course provides the ultimate golfing getaway and really is the perfect excuse for a long weekend. You will certainly need this amount of time to cover the vast greens and 22,000sqft clubhouse. When you’ve exhausted both the greens and yourself, rest your head in one of the on-site suites, ready and refreshed to start a new day’s golfing in the morning.
Make sure you spend every moment you can taking in the scenery and the award winning courses, played on by many a professional. All golfers will appreciate the range of levels and diversity that this resort has to offer. Reach your holiday here in a mere 45 minutes with car hire from Orlando International Airport; then you’re free to explore the surrounding area, such as Lake Louisa. It is just a mere half an hour away from the resort and you’ll really be able to absorb the break taking, natural and unspoilt surroundings.
Innisbrook resort
If your holiday is going to involve golf and the whole family too, why not head straight for the Innisbrook Resort? Easily reached with car hire from Tampa Airport, it is just a 45 minute drive away and then you’ll be able to dive straight in. For the golf enthusiasts amongst you there’s the Copperhead Course which is a favourite amongst the PGA Tour professionals during the Transitions Championship. The rolling terrain and tree-lined fairways make the course impressive in both challenge and its beauty; it plays host to a myriad of wildlife including alligators and bald eagles. This course is idyllic for the more experienced golfer who really wants to make the most of their weekend away.
When travelling as a family, Innisbrook still has a cornucopia of activities for everyone to enjoy; keep the golf theme going and head to the Fox Squirrel Golf Course; designed for all ages it’s ideal for teaching the little ones how to play (you never know, with your help they may even become pros!)
When you’ve finished on the green for the day, why not take the family to Caladesi Beach, with courtesy transportation provided and rated as America’s Best Beach, hit the sand for a spot of relaxation. If the adults fancy some time alone then why not send the kids to Camp Nessie for the day? Children aged 3-11 can partake in fun activities with children of their own age, including tie-dye t-shirt making, arts and crafts and much more.
Keep the family together for the afternoon and head off on a lizard scavenger hunt! On your way round you’ll be able to take in the amazing scenery and the kids will love running around outdoors, see if you can spot the magnificent bald eagle which is the national bird and symbol of the USA.
Quite simply, Innisbrook has everything you could possibly need or want from a golfing resort. Not only does the resort offer world-class golfing facilities, you can enjoy your round in the natural peace and quiet you would anticipate of all good courses; with the family, or a group of equally enthusiastic golfing friends you won’t leave here disappointed, in fact, you won’t want to leave at all.
Whichever resort you decide to visit for your golfing excursion, make sure you enjoy the courses and greens to their full potential and when you’ve worn out the golfing, be sure to find out what the rest of the resort has to offer; don’t waste a minute!
