KatharineDyson

I just played MetroWest after it had been closed a year for renovations. The course originally designed by RTJones (86) had become weary so Marriott (management) brought in Billy Fuller, the former course super from Augusta National who gave the worn old shoe a facelift with new TifEagle greens and Bermuda fairways and tees. MetroWest is a good choice for mid-to high handicappers.You start with vanilla holes but hang in there. At the 4th hole, the fairway swoops down and around with a pond on the right while the back nine gets a bit more interesting with some mild elevations and more water. The fairways and bunkers were in good condition but the rough needed come help. We saw no ball washers, signage or trash bins. With a green fee of $99 unless you can find a better rate like through GolfNow, there are better values in the Orlando area. As of Feb. 14, Marriott is out, Celebration is in, so things could change even more. Stay tuned.

Women Rating? With wide fairways and no long carries, you can score well and enjoy your day.

The Champion

The anticipation of playing The Champion at PGA National, venue for the upcoming Honda Classic, was probably more exciting than the reality purely because it was in tournament-ready condition with high thick rough, lightening greens and tricky pin placements. It was more hard work than the last time I played it. Still it all depends on what tee you’re using and where the pins are. Playing from the tips would make it a much more difficult test with more water in play and more risk and reward holes. It’s not as scenic or as dramatic as other tournament tracks I’ve played and you don’t hit any memorable holes until #9, where a draw around trees and water on left would be a good shot. However when Jack Nicklaus did the redesign in 2002 of the original course by Tom and George Fazio (1981), he created some subtle and interesting challenges in greens as well as his famous “Bear Trap” (holes #15,16,17) including two par 3s over water. Those are fun. The Champion was in very good condition although the staff in the staging area didn’t seem to be up to speed. No towels or tees on the cart and the GPS was a small, basic device that we were told would be replaced after the Honda. Bathrooms on course were likewise sloppy and one was out of order. I would like to give them a pass on this as we were playing close to the tournament, but the guy we were playing with had paid more than $300 and expected more.

Women? You can find a more reasonably priced and prettier course at the resort to play like The Fazio also recently redesigned (Tom Fazio, 2014) but if you want to play where the pros play and plan on watching the Honda, go ahead, pay your money and play from the forward tees at 5,145 yards or step back to the greens at 5,581. You won’t encounter any really long carries and if you take a caddy, you’ll enjoy your day even more.

If you get a chance to play this Donald Ross classic, by all means go for it. It is extremely well groomed and it a pretty layout with lots of old trees. The staff is what a private club staff should be: friendly, knowledgeable but not stuffy. For those who love Ross tracks, this is one you will savor. Although the victim of past renovations, the course has happily been restored to Ross's original routing and design.

Very playable for women.