From our Directory of the most recommended golf courses
Orange County National Golf Course
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Orange County National was built in the middle of nowhere in 1997, and was the dream child of a golf instructor Phil Ritson. It was designed by a collaboration of Isao Aoki, Phil Ritson, and Dave Harmon. It is frequently rated in major golf periodicals as a Top 10 best public, and also is known for having the largest practice range in the world. The course is still out in the middle of nowhere, but at least the trip there is made easier by a new freeway system. There's two championship 18's, Crooked Cat and Panther Lakes, along with a 9 hole short course. The courses annually host the PGA Tour Q School and it's a well regarded facility throughout the country. This is pure golf, no housing developments are in view. The Panther Lakes course plays over rolling meadows, through native pines, around and over wetlands and lakes, and up and down elevation changes of up to 60 feet, Crooked Cat features more movement in the land than Panther, with rolling fairways and large, contoured greens. It's more links style with wide landing areas, native heather, and mounding throughout the fairways. The facility also has 30 guest rooms, but staying here is somewhat isolated with only the clubhouse's food and beverage service. The courses are always in top condition, and somewhat convenient to the attractions areas.
Published by: JayM
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Posted by: Denz
Sep 4th, 2011
Players are treated like royalty by an incredibly friendly staff. The practice area alone is worth a visit, and of course, conditions cannot be topped. Excellent course with great greens, plush fairways, and the tee boxes perfect. A little more challenging for us since we are not big hitters.
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Posted by: JohnG
Apr 25th, 2011
This is an amazing facility. Basically it's 2 no BS players courses. Had a quick lunch in their nice little restaurant and headed out to Panther Lake. Really an eye pleasing layout. Beautiful bunkering, a few elevated greens, but most enjoyable was that the course is basically in the middle of wetlands and orange groves. there are no homes built on the course, and it seemed pretty remote. We all thoroughly enjoyed it, and we finished up under a beautiful sunset. Really well manicured tee boxes, fairways, and great greens. Very friendly staff, and a huge pro shop. This is a must play in the Orlando area, in my opinion.
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Posted by: Pmontgomery
Jan 28th, 2011
Played Panther Lakes yesterday, fairways and greens were plush and green as well, greens weren't lighting fast but certainly speedy and most importantly, Bunkers had nice even, fuffy white sand and were well edged and raked. Panther Lake is set in undeveloped surroundings. No houses, no noisy roads, no nothing. Its 5 minutes away from the Magic Kingdom but it feels a world away. There are a few palm trees scattered around the course, and there's lots of elevation changes. The course has a ton of fairway and greenside bunkers, varying in size and shape, and some massive. The holes are of varying yardage, long par 4's, short par 4's, long par 5's, short par 5's , long par 3's, short par 3's. This provides a very fair mix of holes without the ridiculous yardages you sometimes see at other courses in an attempt to break that 7,000 yard mark. The longest par 4 is 470 yards, the longest par 3 is 228 yards, and the longest par 5 is 623 yards, overall a good, fair mix of yardages. Its a 7300 yard course that doesn't make you feel beat down after you play. The level of service was pretty good. They took care of my clubs and cart, washed them after the round, basically waited on me hand and foot. Naturally they're looking for a little tip which I don't mind handing out when I don't have to lift a finger. Pace of play was perfect, and the GPS on the carts was fantastic for getting around the course.
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Posted by: JayM
Jan 16th, 2011
Everyone seems to rave about Orange County National, maybe because of the PGA Tour School held there, or the incredible practice facility, or the rates, but I just don't get it. Played the Crooked Cat course yesterday, got around in 4 hours which is good. The greens were a little thin and were somewhat slow, the fairways had been burned out a little by the freeze and a brown to some extent. The layout wasn't all that exciting, pretty mundane IMHO, straighforward, back and forth holes with sand, water, and trees lining the fairways, nothing really interesting in the way of design. For the same dollars I'd go to Grand Cypress North, South, or East courses, even Timacuan up in Lake Mary is a more interesting layout. Just my two cents.
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Sep 15th, 2010
Panther Lake ... The greens have come back nicely from earlier in the year. This is a beautiful layout. You certainly feel removed from the hubbub of Disney and the rest of the tourist areas out here.
Posted by: KevinH
May 3rd, 2010
Played OCN this weekend, was going to play both courses, but the greens had been burned out by the winter freeze on Panther Lakes, and we just assumed Crooked Cat was the same, and instead played at Disney. I believe they're holding the PGA Tour Qualifier here later in the Fall, I'll be Finchem is worried, cause I can't imagine the greens coming back into any kind of shape until then.
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Posted by: Coach
Jan 23rd, 2010
Nice layout with good mix of fair yet challenging holes. Unusual frost has made the course quite brown. The biggest disappointment was the greens. Very grainy and sparse. Played with some locals who were appalled at the condition of the greens. They said they are not normally like that. Would like to play there in the future with more optimal conditions.
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