GolfnDebra

Lake Jovita has a North & South course. So far this year I've only played the North. The course is in great shape tees thru greens. It's a good challenge with plenty of bunkers, a few water hazards, and testing fairways - some narrow & tree-lined, some offering changes in elevation, some with strategically placed mounds, and in a couple of instances a large tree IN the fairway. LJ is probably not a good choice for the beginning golfer, what with the nearly 5200-yard forward tees, the challenging layout, and the FAST greens. But it's a fun test if your game can get you around the golf course. Experienced golfer will DEFINITELY love it. LJ is very scenic, set amidst a combination of nature and beautiful homes. It's a bit of a drive from the Orlando area but well worth it. Staff is friendly and accommodating - especially Anthony, the starter. Having played a multitude of Florida courses, I can't think of any more enjoyable than Lake Jovita.

Eaglebrooke is one of my favorite courses, and I found it to be in better shape now than in past years I've played there. Staa from check-in at the pro shop to the starter & ranger couldn't have been any nicer. Eaglebrooke has a nice pro shop and very good practice facilities. The layout is fun & challenging. Must say I question the new slope/rating since there's PLENTY of trouble to offset the relatively short yardage from the green tees I played in yesterday's breeze. Although Eaglebrooke is a bit of drive for us, it's well worth it.

Looking at the yardage at Ventura, you think you'll be in store for a nice low round. Be prepared! There are 6 par threes, each with its own challenge, and there are several narrow fairways on the par fours and fives that are well guarded with trees, bunkers, mounds leading down to water - target golf 101! The "little" course presents a "big" test, and when the wind is up as it was yesterday, beware! Although it's not the pristine lush fairways of the high-$ courses, Ventura is in the best shape I've seen it in the five winters I've played it. The greens are especially nice. Pace of play can be slow but it was fine yesterday despite the usual heavy play. Staff was friendly and accommodating, as they always are. In short, "short" Ventura is long on fun if you like to test your accuracy & the price is right.

Although Kissimmee Bay CC doesn't have the pristine fairways of the more high-pressure courses such as Southern Dunes, Celebration, or Shingle Creek, it's in good shape and it's a fun layout. Kissimmee Bay presents a good challenge with it's strategically placed bunkers and water. Several holes are bordered by visually appealing homes. We were greeted in the pro shop by a very nice young man, and the gentleman working as the starter couldn't have been nicer. My only negative comment on playing KB is the nightmare that ALWAYS seems to come with driving through Kissimmee.

Mission Inn Las Colinas is one of my favorite Florida courses. I've played Last Colinas each of the five years I've wintered in Florida since retirement, and I think the course was in the best shape I've seen it today. Las Colinas has an interesting variety of holes, several bordered by beautiful homes. The course is challenging yet "gettable" and definitely holds your interest. Staff is friendly and accommodating, and course maintenance staff is especially respectful of play - shutting down mowers for shots, etc. Looking forward to getting back to Las Colinas several times before our winter stay ends.

Shingle Creek is a beautiful, very well-manicured course. Staff is friendly and accommodating. The layout is fun and adequately challenging with abundant water and bunkers. The greens were fast and true. Also had very nice practice facilities with range balls included in the price of the round. My ONLY concern was that the course was cart path only today even though we encountered only one hole where CPO was indicated. Restricting carts on that one hole rather than the whole course would have made the round much more enjoyable.

From the pro shop thru bag boys at round's end, Champions Gate Omni staff couldn't be more friendly and accommodating. Practice facilities are more than adequate with range balls included in the price of your round. We played the National. The course layout was interesting and challenging with narrow fairways and plenty of strategically placed bunkers. Course maintenance is very good - a truly manicured course but for a couple of bunkers where drainage appeared to be an issue. The only reason I couldn't honestly give an overall 5 rating was one on-course restroom that was in dire need of attention. Nevertheless, I highly recommend playing Champions Gate-National & definitely plan on returning.

After playing Lake Jovita North Course & totally enjoying it, we went back today and played the South Course. We liked the South Course even better than the North! It's in EXCELLENT condition throughout. The layout is interesting, challenging, and fun. Practice facilities are conveniently located. Staff couldn't be more friendly. Can't say enough positive about the Lake Jovita South Course. Although it's an hour's drive from our winter home, it's well worth the drive. I highly encourage giving either the North or South Course a try.

Just discovered Timacuan this winter & love it, having made the 90-minute drive from our winter home three times already to play it. The course is in very good condition tees through greens, the layout is challenging/fun, & staff is friendly and accommodating. The forward tees are on the short side (just under 4700 yards), making greens reachable, but there's plenty of trouble to test your game. There are excellent practice facilities. The drive is a bit hairy (4, 429, or 417), but it's worth it to play such a nice course.

Played Rio Pinar today, a course I normally enjoy. Having booked a 12:16 tee time, we got to the course 45 minutes early to hit range balls. We learned at check-in that a group of older men( WHO SHOULD KNOW GOLF ETIQUETTE) had showed up at the course with MANY more guys than they'd reserved tee times for. Instead of slipping them into openings for their "outing," my threesome & everyone after had to wait to tee off. We teed off at 12:52 & then waited on EVERY shot. It was like pulling teeth to get the large group to tee off & then it took them roughly ONE HOUR to play every THREE HOLES! NEVER did a marshall appear despite MANY angry people waiting on the large group of EXTREMELY slow men. Rio Pinar, show some courage & address slow players - ALL slow players. Guys in today's "outing", learn golf etiquette!!!!

Bloomingdale Golfers Club is in better shape than I recall from last year - particularly the greens. The course is long (just under 5400 yards from the forward tees), & the layout is challenging with an abundance of trouble. Staff is especially nice. Practice facilities are good & conveniently located. Yesterday's round was SLOW to the point of frustration. A threesome a couple of groups ahead of mine was ridiculously slow, and that was made much worse by the twosome behind us hitting into my group multiple times when they could clearly see we had no place to go. BE COURTEOUS, PEOPLE!!

Played Timacuan for the first time and loved it! It's a beautiful course in a lovely community. The grass in the fairways is typical of Florida courses - offering tight lies but a lot of roll. However, the price tag to play isn't excessive, as with the courses offering plush fairways. Overall, the course is in very good condition. The layout is awesome with elevation changes and lots of water hazards. Several of the holes are just beautiful! There are tees to suit everyone's game. We were fortunate in being paired with 2 very nice guys who knew the course. We followed an LPGA mini tour event but didn't have to wait excessively. The guy in the pro shop was very nice & accommodating even though our tee time was apparently over-booked. The gentleman working outside the pro shop (the course pro??) was also very nice & helpful. Practice facilities are very good. It's a significant drive north to Timacuan, but it's a golf experience well worth the drive. We'll be going back for sure!

The Legends at Orange Lake Resort course is one of my favorites in the area. The course is in good shape tees through greens. The layout is interesting and challenging with several water hazards and fairway & greenside bunkers that necessitate thinking your way around the course. The starter is a great guy, and we were fortunate yesterday to experience one of our best pairings, which added to the enjoyment of our round. Although the course winds through the resort, the natural setting is nicely preserved. Unlike the Reserve Course, you're not distracted by walkers using the cart path - oblivious to the golf being played. It's a bit pricey compared to other "equal" courses nearby, but it's a fun course and I plan on playing it again before heading north.

Played Wekiva GC for the third time today - last round being 2 years ago. It's in much better shape than I recall. The layout is enjoyable - challenging from the forward tees being just under 5400 yards and very well bunkered. The bunkers are in great shape as are the greens. The fairways aren't lush but very playable. The guys in the pro shop couldn't have been any nicer or more welcoming. I truly enjoyed today's round at Wekiva, and I can't wait to go back. The course and the price to play it are definitely worth the drive to Longwood.

Really enjoyed our round at Rio Pinar. Staff is friendly and accommodating, and practice facilities are conveniently located for your warm-up. The course is in good shape - not pristine but very playable and giving you no excuses should you not score as well as you'd like to. I played from the red tees (just under 5400 yards) and totally enjoyed the round. We were fortunate in our pairing being put with an especially nice couple vacationing from Switzerland. I highly recommend Rio Pinar and plan to play it a few more times this "winter".

As in previous winters when I've played Eaglebrooke, the course is in great shape. The layout is fun and scoreable from the women's tees, where I play. The pro shop is nice, staff (pro shop, starter, & Marshall) are especially friendly and accommodating. Range balls are complementary and help to offset the greens fee, which is on the high side. Unfortunately, on the back 9 we caught THE slowest foursome I've ever seen (obviously the reason the group originally ahead of us decided to quit after 9). The Marshall did offer us the chance to play through, but we initially thought they were long-hitters who had to wait for greens to clear. It quickly became apparent that wasn't the case & we'd blown our chance to get past them. Can't blame the Marshall. Eaglebrooke is a REALLY​ nice course, and we plan on playing it again before heading north in the spring.

Leave home EARLY to get to Dubsdread in time to take advantage of the complementary range balls. The course is in downtown Orlando just off I-4, & the drive is nerve-racking! Took us 2 hours & we'd planned for 90 minutes to make the 40-mile trip, so we didn't have time for a warm up. Staff is nice, particularly the starter. We were paired with a minimally English-speaking couple. There's a lot of golf history at Dubsdread, the layout is fun, pace of play is good, & the price is modest. However, the fairways are far from lush, and the greens are hard & will not hold. I'm happy I was able to see & play Dubsdread again this year, but the course conditions don't justify the drive. The restaurant located just off the practice green and #1 tee is a must if you visit Dubsdread.

We'd booked Lake Jovita's South course but were sent out on the North course. The course was great! It's in excellent shape from tees through greens. The layout is interesting and challenging. The forward tees (mine) are just under 5200 yards, and there are a couple of forced carries off the tee that may put your driver to the test. There is a set of "family" tees, which make the course inviting to the shorter hitters too. Staff was friendly and accommodating. We truly enjoyed the course and plan on going back soon.

Ventura is a fun course - tighter than usual lies but the overall course condition is good and the greens are fast and true. Staff is friendly - especially the gentleman in the pro shop. Pace of play was very good yesterday, unlike the usual slow round - most likely because it was cool & play was lighter than usual. The course is. DEFINITELY worth the modest price. My only complaint is that the on-course GPS is nothing more than an annoyance since it doesn't offer yardages & shuts off your cart much further from the green than necessary.

RedTail Golf Club is a true test of your golf skills! It's not a course for the short hitter. Not only must you hit a solid drive just to reach several fairways, but the fairways are narrow and you need to be straight as well. Several holes require hitting a second fairway with your second shot - also necessitating a good poke. Nearly all greens are well guarded by bunkers, and the rare "short" hole is complicated by elevation changes. The narrow fairways are lined with mounds, fairway bunkers, and/or hazards. The course is in GREAT shape, staffed with friendly people, and modestly priced. Homes surrounding the course are truly impressive. RedTail is a fun challenge. Low handicappers will love it! High handicappers, bring a lot of patience and golf balls.