On a recent trip to our villa on Highlands Reserve I played the Arnold Palmer course at Reunion Resort close by. Arnold Palmer has some signature styles to his courses. It seems that he likes to have forced carries off the tee, visual beauty and usually plenty of water hazards. The terrain at the Reunion resort that he used fit his style perfectly to create what I would call a traditional Palmer course.
This course starts on a hill top just a little drive from the clubhouse. From the first tee you can see a good vista of what you will be playing, rolling hills, trees, bunkers and plenty of water to navigate. The opening hole is a solid par 4 downhill; the real danger is on the approach on this one, with water to the right of the green. The second hole is tricky. While it is a short par 3, the downhill shot, from the elevated tee to an elevated green is all about distance control. The next few holes wind through some condos and waste areas. The 7th hole is right up there with one of the best on the property. It has a forced carry over water, but is a drivable par 4. The 8th is another forced carry over water; this hole is the toughest on the front 9 because it is long too. The finishing par 5 is nothing too difficult, but a solid wrap up to a good 9 holes.
The back 9 takes you across the road to another great collection of tough holes with multiple forced carries. Hole 10 is a 600 yard 3 shot par 5. The next collection of par 4s are all solid, again with some forced carries over swampy waste lands. The 14th hole is another Palmer tradition, a very short par 3 that shouldn’t be hard, but can be intimidating. The rock faced green on this hole is really picturesque. The 15th hole is by far the most intimidating tee shot on the property. You stand on these little island like tee boxes, looking over this giant swamp to what looks like a line of treesthat you must carry your driver over to reach the fairway. It’s about 250 from the back tee. The fairway is also angling to the right up the hill. It really is an interesting design. 17 is fun downhill par 4 dogleg left and 18 is a strong uphill par 4. The Palmer course has many of the traditional design features you expect from Arnold. Lots of water, forced carries, a short par 3 and some visually stunning holes.
All in all another great Florida course to play; there really are so many in the surrounding area that I never tire of Orlando.
This course starts on a hill top just a little drive from the clubhouse. From the first tee you can see a good vista of what you will be playing, rolling hills, trees, bunkers and plenty of water to navigate. The opening hole is a solid par 4 downhill; the real danger is on the approach on this one, with water to the right of the green. The second hole is tricky. While it is a short par 3, the downhill shot, from the elevated tee to an elevated green is all about distance control. The next few holes wind through some condos and waste areas. The 7th hole is right up there with one of the best on the property. It has a forced carry over water, but is a drivable par 4. The 8th is another forced carry over water; this hole is the toughest on the front 9 because it is long too. The finishing par 5 is nothing too difficult, but a solid wrap up to a good 9 holes.
The back 9 takes you across the road to another great collection of tough holes with multiple forced carries. Hole 10 is a 600 yard 3 shot par 5. The next collection of par 4s are all solid, again with some forced carries over swampy waste lands. The 14th hole is another Palmer tradition, a very short par 3 that shouldn’t be hard, but can be intimidating. The rock faced green on this hole is really picturesque. The 15th hole is by far the most intimidating tee shot on the property. You stand on these little island like tee boxes, looking over this giant swamp to what looks like a line of treesthat you must carry your driver over to reach the fairway. It’s about 250 from the back tee. The fairway is also angling to the right up the hill. It really is an interesting design. 17 is fun downhill par 4 dogleg left and 18 is a strong uphill par 4. The Palmer course has many of the traditional design features you expect from Arnold. Lots of water, forced carries, a short par 3 and some visually stunning holes.
All in all another great Florida course to play; there really are so many in the surrounding area that I never tire of Orlando.