Falcon's Fire Golf Club

Kissimmee, Florida
Part 1

by Anthony Scaggs

Soaring far above its domain, the Falcon ignored the human wandering across the land below. The falcon's hunting ground was large enough for earth's winged and non-winged inhabitants. As the human walked the land, a fire ignited within that fueled his passion for designing courses. A unique golf course that would be challenging and visually appealing took shape. In the architects smoldering imagination, the course's design was forged. In the lake's water, the flames were quenched and the design became reality. The storyteller sat back and lighting his pipe, the tale of how Falcon's Fire Golf Club sprang from the earth ended.

Falcon's Fire Golf Club is a par 72, 18-hole golf course on which 45,000 rounds per year are played. The course is 5,417 yards from the forward tees and 6,901 yards from the back tees. The rating/slope ranges from 68.7/114 to 72.5/125. It has received an APEX Award-Winning Course designation. An honor that is presented by the Hospitality Industry to golf courses that demonstrate outstanding tournament service and hospitality, the course is judged on service as well as physical facilities. Of Falcon's Fire's many rewards, it was voted one of the Top 15 Women Friendly Courses in the United States by the Golf for Women Magazine in1995, 1996, 1997.

Customer service is key at Falcon's Fire.

The staff is trained to treat guests in such a way that the guest feels as though they belong to a private club. A Falcon's Fire golfer will experience the ambience and service that one would expect from a prestigious private country club.

In addition, to unloading your golf clubs, placing your clubs on the cart, valet parking your car and treating you like an honored member, they treat you as a friend that they love to see as often as possible.

Rees Jones, the course's architect, designed Falcon's Fire to be "one with nature" by mixing the hybrid Bermuda fairway green with the tiff dwarf green of the putting area and a splash of azure blue from the man-made lakes.

By the time, I had reached the third hole I became a believer that among Florida courses, Falcon Fire's perimeter mounding and undulating fairways were unique. Hole #3 is a 145 yard, par 3 from the blue tees. It is short but will test your accuracy and psyche. The front is protected by a long bunker for the timid shot and the back has two smaller bunkers for the nervous over swinger. Your eyes drift to the right and behold water, water every where. As one pro told me,

"it is easier to hit out of a bunker than a lake."

I landed on the green.

From the blue tees, Hole #7 is a 526 yard par 5 with perimeter mounding, undulating fairways, bunkers, water and then you reach the green where one sees more bunkers, more water and a small target. Upon reaching the green; it is apparent why this is the number 3 handicapped hole.

Click on selected photos for expanded view.

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Images copryrighted CGA