Hurricane360

Have heard some grousing about Metrowest being in poor condition. Not true. Greens are fine. Surrounds are dormant, as they should be. A few tees need work. But overall I see no reason for the complaints. Parking lot was EMPTY on a Sunday morning. C'mon folks, let's get back and support one of the best layouts in Orlando. I actually played 36 holes because I was having a good time.

Layout is excellent with plenty of wildlife and scenic views. 18th hole with approach over water and clubhouse in the background is quite dramatic. Be sure to dine on the second floor overlooking 18 green. Course not too difficult. Not a lot of trouble.

They removed bunkers, fixed bunkers, redid all 18 greens, redid the range (much needed). Same great layout. Verdict: very good. A challenging but fair course. Staff much more friendly and helpful vs. most Orlando courses.

Little known fact: Camilo Villegas and Inbee Park hold the tournament records at this former mini-tour stop. A very good layout. However, hard economic times and few area golfers have necessitated cut-backs in maintenance. Still a good place for the advanced golfer to practice. No houses. Course surrounded by West Orange Trail (bike/walk).

Most of the reviews I read about Alaqua miss the obvious: THERE IS NOWHERE TO HIT THE BALL. It looks like the course was an afterthought after the houses were built. Each hole is built on a knife-edge requiring a drive to a precise spot, otherwise retee because you are in the woods or in a lake. Not a course for an amateur, and the pros have better tracks than this. The tiny tees are piles of pushed up dirt. Public not very welcome.

Get to Red Tail soon before they take it back private. Locale has a special "feel" to it, beyond just a golf course. Hard to say why. Very scenic. Golf course is fair. Always seem to shoot a good score there.

Course is too difficult for the amateur - from any tee. Why? Extreme elevation changes and severely sloped fairways (from left to right, or right to left). These difficulties do make course very scenic. Community is a real estate disaster (due to economy) and they don't seem happy to have to open their doors to the public.

I guess avid golfers are supposed love old historic "gems" like Dubsdread. It used to be a tour stop 100 years ago, etc. But it's just awful. Why would you play here when you can go to Orange County National, etc. and have a "real" golf course? Narrow fairways, small greens, "shooting gallery" fairways and average conditions. Yikes. Would make a good dog park.

Flat and borning, especially for Orlando. Even nearby MetroWest has a lot of elevation changes. Staff is arrogant (typical of resorts) and facility is overpriced.

Technically not a muni, but similar to one. Easy-going facility, not too difficult, decent condition. A good place to work on your game. Beware: aqua range.

Avid golfers are supposed to "love" the most difficult and challenging courses. Really? Want to shoot 95? Yes, it's a great course with wide fairways, but the defense is ridiculously sloped greens (ridiculous for the amateur IMHO).

An excellent layout. But has a few problems: (1) There is a helicopter ride next door which is persistent and noisy. (2) Parking is a problem. (3) Clubs have to be humped up and down a hill from clubhouse to cart staging area. Near Disney and Gaylord Palms.

It's a solid muni, a good place for advanced golfers to practice, and for anyone else to just have fun. Expect poor golfers and slow play. But price is right.

Great course with terrible service. No bag/cart people to speak of. Lots of elevation change. Very wild and natural (thus the black bear name). For advanced players only.