Why, given its status as one of the most popular entertainment
destinations in the U.S., its 300-plus sunny days a year, its
thousands of hotel rooms, and a tourism industry that rivals
any in the world, has Orlando had such a hard time establishing
itself as a golf destination?
"Our greatest asset may also be our biggest hindrance to being a
true golf destination," says Todd Howard, Director of Golf at the
International Golf Club. "Most people come to see Disney World and
Sea World, and they will golf while they are here. Hey, we can't complain
about that, but golf does exist in the shadow of Mickey."
Depending on whom you ask, there are between 100 and 150 golf
courses in the greater Orlando area. The most accurate assessment
is somewhere in between, but the fact remains that any town
with this many golf tracks and 110,000 hotel rooms should be
considered a major, national golf destination.
"Since 1998, there have been 14 new golf courses built in
and around Orlando," says Howard. "That is more than have been
built in Myrtle Beach,
or maybe anywhere other than Las
Vegas. But because there are so many other things to do here,
we aren't always mentioned as one of the major golf destinations."
Let the mentioning begin. World-class architects such as Jack
Nicklaus, Pete Dye, Arnold Palmer, Tom Fazio, Rees Jones, Robert
Trent Jones, Dick Wilson and Joe Lee validate Orlando as a golf
destination with the quality to match its eye-popping quantity.
Further proof that this is truly one of America's golf capitals:
Orlando plays host to two PGA Tour events and an LPGA tournament
-- something few cities can claim. All three tournaments (The
Bay
Hill Invitational, the Walt Disney World National Car Rental,
and the JC Penny After school Open) are held at courses open
to the public. In fact, private courses are the exception around
"O-Town" and not the rule.
Oh, and did we mention that Orlando is the home of the Golf
Channel, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer, top-notch golf schools,
and the annual PGA Merchandise Show, which attracts nearly 50,000
industry professionals each year? The PGA headquarters and the
World Golf Village are just a morning road trip away, as are
the golf rich towns of Tampa and Daytona.
Perhaps there is an irony in Orlando that is lost on Mickey
and friends: one of the game's greatest domestic destinations
is also one of its best kept secrets.
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