I am going to be at a conference in Orlando next weekend, and might get a chance to play some golf.

Looking for recommendations for somewhere good to play. Will be staying downtown, near the Orange County Convention Center, but will have a rental car.

If you got the cash Grand Cypress is the way to go its the best conditioned course in the area. Also Shingle Creek which is right next to the convention center

I'd play Orang County National, Metro West, Victoria Hills, Shingle Creek, or Stoney Brook West and Sanctuary Ridge if you are on a budget.

Orange County National is a good choice as well. They have two courses there and have hosted the Q-School finals a few times. I played Panther Lake and really enjoyed it.

Martin,

I'm playing the International Course at Champions Gate tomorrow, so I'll let you know the condition. There's also a National Course there. It's the home of the David Leadbetter Academy and is a nice facility.

Other courses to consider:

Shingle Creek - right down the street from the convention center

Falcon's Fire - another close one

Orange County National - this would be my choice if you want to travel a little bit (20-30 minute drive). It's a 36-hole facility and has hosted the final stage of PGA Tour Q School. Both are great tracks, but Panther Lake is my choice over Crooked Cat.

Celebration Golf Club

There are several others. You won't have any problem finding a nice course in that area. For discounted tee times check www.golfnow.com.

Enjoy!
Kevin

Yes, I had played in Grand Cypress (is a copy of Carnoustie links course). The New Course. Great courses and good service. The course sometimes get confusing since the greens are huge and you can play one of the two flags. The starter requested to play the white flag in the first nine and the yellow flag in the back nine. Some approch shots I had to ask which flag we were playing. jajaja....

The next time I visit Orlando, I am going to Panther Lake. It has great rating as one of the best course in Orlando. If you are staying in Orange County, it has another course and great practice facilities. www.ocngolf.com/

grand pines, falcon's fire, lake buena vista, orange county national, magnolia, grand cypress. all great courses.

Tons to play but it kinda matters what your level is. You would not want to lay down bank for a course that you will not enjoy playing. Try some of the Resort courses like Disney or Grand Cypress. They play well and can be enjoyable at all skill levels. Orange County National is also nice but be prepared. My opinion is Celebration or Grand Cypress, but if you can travel west a little Stoney Brook.

All excellent suggestions, just be prepared to lay down some coin. Stoneybrook West used to be one of my favorite courses in the area, but when I played it about three weeks ago it was in the worst condition I had ever seen it. Stoneybrook East is actually in slightly better shape now, and just as good a layout in my opinion. Depending on your budget though, the afformentioned courses like Metrowest, Falcon's Fire, Orange County National, or any of the Disney courses are great tracks.

The first thing you need to do is find a local address and sign up for GolfNow. This will save you a lot of money per round and pretty much all of the nice courses are on there. As far as what courses to play (in order of my favorite):

Ridgewood Lakes
Metrowest
Stoneybrook West
Celebration
Orange County National (either course)
Victoria Hills
Falcon's Fire
Mystic Dunes
Grande Pines
Timacuan
Championsgate (either course)

Favorite cheap local course that Ben Hogan played at: Dubsdread

I played the International Course at Champions Gate yesterday. For as much rain as we've had lately, the fairways were in great shape and dry. It was 90* with the carts, NOT cart path only. The greens were just OK. They were rolling 8.5 or 9, nothing too crazy. But they have some pretty serious issues on a few where they have tried to patch them up. Numbers 3, 5, and 11 come to mind in a big way.

Our round was free since my buddy won a free 4-some last year, so I couldn't complain too much.

Kevin

Thanks guys. I think I will try OCN and possibly Metrowest.

Also considering Harmony, a Johnny Miller design south of Orlando. I am a member of a Troon Golf club in the UK, so should be able to get a dec ent rate. Anyone played there?

Harmony is a good track. I can't speak of the conditions, haven't been there in several years.

Thanks for all the ideas, guys. I arrived in Orlando yesterday and had game at Grande Pines this morning. I enjoyed it, thought it was a nice layout, some interesting holes and quite playable. Greens were in good condition, and they had 3 cartpath only holes due to some soggy areas. Got a small discount for staying at a Marriott family hotel.

Also stopped by Edwin Watts on Turkey Lane Road, and my Amex took a small battering.

OCN looks like the next choice, so I will be looking for a free morning soon.

If you are still in town and you have a Golfnow subscription I went out to Orange Lake and played Legends and The Reserve, and even with all the rain they are in fantastic condition. Even better I played both courses for only $40.

Thanks. I am still in town, so will certainly take a look at that deal.

I played Panther Lake at OCN yesterday. Some very nice holes, but greens were pretty slow and pace of play was pretty bad. I only had 4 1/2 hours available, so I had to quit after 15. $65 for the game.

Sorry, about that we should of warned you that the pace of play at OCN is always slow. There wasn't anyone out at Orange Lake so you don't have to worry about pace of play. I know Golfnow is running a bunch of fantastic deals for Monday as I'm looking at a few that are about as cheap as a bucket of balls at the range I might try out.