North Orlando trip

[Clevelandfan]

Hey guys and gals,
My group has decided to go back to Orlando because of the weather in end Mar. Its always been hi 20s C and sunny that time of year in Orlando. I admit the courses are generally flat, but to mix it up, I'm looking at booking and staying in the north side of O town at Lake Mary and provisionally playing the following courses Magnolia Plantation (not the Disney Course), Timacuan, Victoria Hills, World Woods, and Deer Island. I hear and read reviews on 4 of the 5 that are great but not so much on Magnolia.
Any suggestions for a replacement up in Lake Mary?

[corchard]

For close and inexpensive I'd recommend Rock Lake (north of Apopka), Zellwood Station (in Zellwood) and Forest lake (just E of lake Apopka)

For stupidly cheap try Mt Plymouth.

Let me know about Timacuan. It's been on my todo list for a couple of years.

[Nocean]

I played Timacuan last time I was there - a nice course, and good value. It's a fairly open track with some long forced shots from the back tees. There are also a few tricks to some of the holes, as I discovered while playing with some people from the surrounding community. Very friends staff too, and a great range.

[bk51]

Magnolia Plantation is a good layout, I played it in early December. Water on just about every hole, and each hole is tree or OB lined - no two holes running side by side. I'd recommend it.

Try Black Bear in Eustis. Almost no water (except on 18, which makes it really tough). Rolling fairways and a number of elevation changes on approach shots (both uphill and downhill).

[Clevelandfan]

Thanks for the replies, I'll let you guys know about Timacuan. I looked at the website for Magnolia Plantation, I must admit my initial impressions were to look for somewhere else to play as it seems the housing seems to crouch in on it similar to Highland Gate. I remember playing the Orange Lake resort in Orlando and loved the legends but the other course at orange lake had the housing pinch in so much, we had to shoo the kids out of the fairway bunkers as they were playing in them!

[Desi2007]

I played timacuan a while back ....its a decent course. I really enjoyed deer island...lots of alligators and water on 13/14 holes but still very playable with nice scenery. While you are there...i would check out some web sites and find nice/cheap courses to play at the last minute. I played stoneybrook west (december 2007) for $22 including gps cart/green fees. Nice little course good condition/good challenge. Its north west orlando.

[Caniac 68]

If you are willing to drive a little there is a course in a town called Mims, about 40 min from Orlando called Walkabout. Jan Stephenson was involved hence the Australian theme, but it has now been taken over by some Canadians and the course is a great layout and was in good shape last February(overseeded with bent from tee to green). We played for $38 cart included. I would say this course in Orlando during peak season would be $100 plus. A real hidden gem if you want to drive.

[Clevelandfan]

I've heard from several people that though world woods is a great place to play, they are often overbooked and so the rounds are super slow and we might not be able to finish 36 holes. Has anyone played there and confirm?

[bk51]

If you are willing to drive a little there is a course in a town called Mims, about 40 min from Orlando called Walkabout. Jan Stephenson was involved hence the Australian theme, but it has now been taken over by some Canadians and the course is a great layout and was in good shape last February(overseeded with bent from tee to green). We played for $38 cart included. I would say this course in Orlando during peak season would be $100 plus. A real hidden gem if you want to drive.

I played there in December (4th time overall). Very enjoyable place, was in good shape 2 months ago.

[RobertThompson]

I've heard from several people that though world woods is a great place to play, they are often overbooked and so the rounds are super slow and we might not be able to finish 36 holes. Has anyone played there and confirm?

That was not my experience, but I haven't been there in a few years.

[Carl]

Just got back from a golf trip to Orlando, i guess we were more central down by the disney area but if you are looking for a sweet course, we played one called Southern Dunes-it's ranked #6 in the state by golf digest and I feel it was justifiably so. It has something like over 180 bunkers and winds its way through a little community. It's in Haines City Florida. Golf ain't cheap down there and we played the 2:00 twilight for 69 bucks and finished no problem. I highly recommend it.

[golf nut]

Try the Titusville course, Ex CPGA location, very inexpensive yet a really good track, it has improved in the last year or two.