Champions Gate Golf Resort

Orlando Florida
Part 1

by Ed Stone

Champions Gate, FL.---Watch out for the gators, the fairway pot bunkers, the sandhill cranes, the old orange groves, the lakes, the wetlands and… look out for a beautiful, challenging golf course! Summing up the experience of playing the International Course at Champions Gate Golf Resort just south of Orlando, Florida these are the memorable times I enjoyed.

Crossing the threshold into the beautiful and impressive double-arched gates of this self-contained resort community of 12,000 acres, I had the peaceful feeling of leaving the crowds and rush of Interstate 4 and being transferred to a tranquil preserve. Upon entering this unique place you can tell golf course architect, Greg Norman treated the sport of golf like an art. This is a place where visitors can escape ‘The Mouse’ and other man-made characters for good old fashion relaxation, and here is a place where two beautiful and challenging golf courses have been made for golf addicts just like me.

Driving past a new shopping area, office buildings, and fairways to the spacious Clubhouse, I was met by courteous attendants who loaded my golf clubs and valet parked my car. There is no charge for the valet parking; of course the attendants deserve a nice tip. Stepping inside the elegant Mediterranean-style clubhouse, friendly employees checked me in and provided me with a brief overview of the golf facilities and practice areas. I had a choice of two very different courses, the International Course, a British “links-style” or the National Course, a traditional American-style. I choose the International, because it is touted as being a unique course and experience.

The layout of this development is exquisite; I stepped right out of the clubhouse and on to the chipping green, sand bunker and putting green. You are not encouraged to go to the driving range until you have warmed up properly at these locations. How can you go wrong with a course that does everything it can to reduce your score! Of course, you can always go to the driving range first…with no practice. After properly warming up and hitting balls on the Callaway driving range, I was graciously escorted to the first tee where the starter provided brief instructions and course rules for play.

Click on selected photos for expanded view.

CONTACTS:

Images copryrighted CGA