livelyrich

located in the general vicinity of uber private lake nona, this might be considered the 'slums' on the other side of the tracks. of course, when those 'tracks' are narcoosee and you're in the area of lake nona, these slums are pretty nice compared to just about anywhere else! if you abhor orlando traffic, especially everything close to the mouse or anywhere near !4, then this east side gem is worth every penny (and, compared to many others that will cost you lots more from your 'penny bank,' this is hands down one of the best values for a quality course anywhere on the east side).

great conditions, true rolling (very large!) greens, and a nice finishing risk-reward 'extra par 5' make this an enjoyable round and a great place to have an outing for lo to hi caps bc of the course layout.

you could park Walmart super centers (and the parking lots!) on many of these fairways, so that makes it fun for the high HCPs to find the short stuff. very undulating and large greens puts a premium on being able to lag well, so the low caps can gain strokes there. overall, a great layout w good variety of holes - great for an outing of all caps to make for a fun game - the one extra par 5 on the back makes for a fantastic risk reward finish to complete the round.

it's right across the street from Tavistock, so i guess this area is the 'slums' in comparison (we could all be so lucky to live in this 'project'), but it's located perfectly away from maddening Orlando traffic and the main road is chock full of restaurants to make your buddy pay up for losing!

if you are familiar w aussie vernacular, you'll recognize 'winjah' as someone who complains and always has something to gripe about. here's the deal w 'walkabout' - aka indian river preserve - if you are a winjah, or you don't like shooting high scores and losing balls, you will find things to complain about on this course. yes, there are some bare spots in the fairways; yes, some of the tee boxes are a bit rough (but you put it up on a tee, right, so what's the problem?); yes, some of the holes are infuriating, but that's bc they are amazing, pure golf. no houses (yet), great routing and very tough landing areas. you have to hit the right spots on many of the holes or you are looking at a lot of dbls on your card. the type of people who make a lot of dbls and higher will write unfavorable reviews and find every bare spot and every other reason to complain. but if you are a golfer who enjoys a robust challenge and realize that you will hit some wayward drives that should penalize you, then tee it up and have a great round on one of the best tracks around. if you are a winjah, stay away and go play a muni where all the fairways run parallel and you find extra balls! IRP is the real deal for serious golfers who don't need pristine carpets to play on, but love being tested and challenged even if they get dbls!

if this course were alone, it would get even higher ratings, but when you are right next to the award winning south course, you will probably pale slightly. if you need a respite from the demanding shots of the south, then head over to the north and enjoy a more open and less hilly layout. still some nice elevation changes, but fairways are wider and greens more receptive. certainly not a pushover, especially when it stretches out over 7000 yds, but more playable overall.

they have a fantastic stay-n-play package, w villas directly next to the clubhouse on the 18th of the south course. this is definitely a buddy trip worthy resort!

actually played the original (south) course the first year it opened - 20 years ago, and just returned for the first time since. lots more houses, and a mature course has aged beautifully! elevation changes rarely seen anywhere else in FL. this is a PGA caliber track (Tom Petrovic won here in 2005). conditions are perfect - very large greens mean 3 putts will be the norm if you don't find the right spot to land your approach shots.

can't say enough about the quality of the shotmaking required and the rewards given when you strike it pure. worth the drive for a full say on both courses (north course reviewed separately)

been going here for over 20 years now and it never gets old. phil mickelson and david toms played a match here and called it a quality, PGA caliber layout. college coaches know this is a great place to bring their teams for spring break training and to play top courses.

it's hard to say 'take note of' any particular hole bc they are all so good, but #15 is really a spectacular risk/reward split fairway hole that can yield anything from eagle to 'other'depending on whether you can clear the canyon or not. this hole is famous for yielding a 1, 2, 3, and 4 in the same foursome about 25 years ago!

this is pure golf - no homes, condos, or canals to speak of. it earns the name 'woods' for a reason! worth any drive from anywhere in the state.

VE is always a pleasure. A test depending upon which tees you use - the par 3s are always a challenge with sloped greens that kick the ball like a grumpy mule. they run fast and mostly smooth.

great afternoon deals, and the pace picks up around 4, so it's possible to still get in a full 18

many people overlook TC and opt for pricier courses around town, but all in all this is good bang for your buck. don't expect any wow factors as it is settled in between numerous housing developments and 'town.'

however, it does confound many a golfer due to the narrow fairways and ample waterways down both sides on several holes. driver is often not your friend, but that gives you an excuse to try out those hybrids off the tee to rescue your game! distance is not a must, 'straightness' is.

the last time i played here, i swore i would never return due to deplorable green conditions. well, they shut down the course and reduxed the greens completely. they also added a very accurate and handy gps system to each cart (pinpoint to the flag!) so now it is a pleasant experience. for being quite new, the greens were smooth and rolled decently (prob around 9). for a discount on golfnow, it's definitely worth your time...

when you start on the range with leather bags filled with ProV1s, you know you're in for a treat! fairly flat, so easy to walk if you choose to, the variety of holes is nice, but the conditions set it apart (and for the price, you should expect to have great conditions).

the greens rolls quick and true, so trust the line and watch the ball continue to roll nicely.

the restaurant is worth it, so if you're planning to play 36, lunch is a nice rest between rounds (they do have a mean cuban!)

staff is very courteous and cordial.

harmony has so many great deals throughout the year, perhaps bc they need to generate traffic since they are a bit out of the way. but, once you get there, it's definitely worth the effort! although at times the greens can be bumpy or sketchy, right now they are browning out, which is actually a good thing, bc this means quick and true! they were also verti-cut, which made them roll even faster, so enjoy quick but fair greens. the actual hole layout is also varied enough not to bore any golfer. lastly, if you are a beast, take on the miller tees from 7400+ yds! sometimes, the tee markers aren't even out, but the boxes are there, so if you want a serious challenge, back it up and bomb away!

when baytree reduxed their greens, it took awhile for them to 'come into their own.' well, they have finally done so! the greens are running true and fast, so this is the final missing piece to make baytree climb the list of 'must plays' in the area.

this is a thinker's course, with accuracy on every shot a must. also, it's not just a bomb and gouge place; plenty of waste areas where one must calculate carefully how much to bite off the tee. it keeps getting better, so it's definitely worth a shot.

you just can't say enough for both these courses in B-ville. totally different style from the barrens, this is more rolling hills like augusta, complete with big trees and azaleas and challenging elevation changes.

so many great holes, but i'll mention the signature par 3 #8, one of the prettiest you'll play - downhill across a creek and pond to a deep green (4 club difference depending on pin placement).

stay the hole day and play 36, then spend the nite and do it again! stay and play packages cannot be matched anywhere else in all of FL, and considering the two courses are ranked top 10 in FL, you just can't find a better place to play

hands down - best 'buddy trip' place to play in ALL of FL. I take 16-20 guys here twice a year and they always sign up immediately to go again!

this is fazio design at its best, with vast waste bunkers everywhere and cleverly routed holes carved out of the natural terrain. the par 5s are some of the best anywhere, with great risk/reward shots juxtaposed against safe bail outs if you don't need to go low.

every hole is memorable, but the 'drive the canyon' signature hole (#15) really makes the team game fun.

previously ranked in the top 100 in the nation, it is always worth the drive, and considering how much less it costs for package deals than other courses in the disney area, you will not be disappointed making the 75 minute drive...

we played in a foursome and, although a bit slow, certainly not outside of regular timing for a busy Friday. the ranger was on the ball and kept it moving for everyone. overall, a decent layout with very fast greens.

a real treat; absolutely pristine conditioning (greens were the best - fast, smooth, firm). fairways were immaculate and better than some greens on other courses!

decent hole variety, beautiful layout w wetlands and lakes and abundant wildlife. add to all of this a very attentive and friendly staff and you get a great round of golf.

and, if you've got the extra coin after collecting your bets (!), enjoy the food in clubhouse - amazing!