KISSIMMEE, Fla. When Falcons Fire Golf Club opened in 1993, the Orlando golf scene looked a lot different than it does today behemoths Reunion Resort, ChampionsGate and Orange County National simply didnt exist yet.

Fast-forward to today and there are about 75 golf courses in Orlando.

Recognizing the old adage, if youre standing still youre falling behind, Falcons Fire completed a renovation in Oct. 2009 that included new greens, which were resurfaced with TifEagle turf. Bunkers also were reworked to make the course more visually intimidating. The result is Falcons Fires reemergence as one of Orlandos elite daily-fee golf courses.

Utilize the run-up shot

Designed by Rees Jones, the course features plenty of water particularly on the back nine but most holes dont have any short of the green. This design characteristic gives the course flexibility by allowing the weekend hacker to enjoy the course without losing a million golf balls, while still challenging the better ball-striker by making him or her consider trajectory on approach shots.

About the only holes where the run-up shot cannot be used is on the par-3s, which are diverse in distance but require an aerial attack.

Creating virtual movement

If you look at Falcons Fire on a scorecard it appears as though most holes are straight, but fairway bunkers frame the holes in such a way that careful thought should go into the placement of your tee shot.

No. 2, for example, is a simple short par-4 but a drive down the right side flirts with a bunker, and gives players a tough angle into the green even if he or she is in the fairway. The proper play is a left-to-right shot down the left side of the fairway.

No. 12 has the opposite effect, where tee shots left feed toward a bunker and leave you with a narrow angle into the green.

Nos. 2 and 12 appear straight but require a dogleg-type tee shot. If you miss it on the wrong side of the fairway, be prepared to hit your approach shot into the skinny part of the green.

New greens are faster, more undulating

Just like a steak knife, green contours get duller over time, so the renovation at Falcons Fire included a fresh sharpening. While the increase in undulation isnt drastic from a visual standpoint, when you add fast greens to the mix its a tricky combination.

And while were on the subject of green speed, youll want to pay attention to the new TifEagle surfaces. Speed and smoothness of greens is arguably the most important characteristic in determining the overall quality of a golf course, and the new surfaces at Falcons Fire are some of the purest in town.

With the combination of speed and undulation at Falcons Fire, putts from above the hole require a surgeons touch.

Factor the wind

If youve played golf in Florida you know that the terrain is flat and exposed, and its not uncommon for the wind to blow 20-25 mph on any given day, no matter the season. Falcons Fire is no exception to this rule, and if the greens are running fast the wind can play an even larger role.

The green at No. 13 is particularly tricky because of its tiered design and position along a lake that sits exposed to the elements.

The verdict

With the recent renovation at Falcons Fire you can bet that conditions are some of the best in the area, and its close proximity to Disney (3 miles) means its convenient for the Mickey-goers.

With a rack rate of $129 Falcons Fire is right on par with the areas other high-end daily-fee courses. One aspect that makes it stand out amongst some of the resort courses in its price range is that its a stand-alone golf course with no hotel, so you dont have to book a stay-and-play to get the best rate all golfers are treated equally.

If youre considering a trip to Central Florida for MLB spring training, check out Falcons Fires Hats Off promotion, which offers golfers $30 off green fees between March 4 and April 3, 2010 if you play in your favorite baseball teams hat.

View post:
Falcon’s Fire ups Orlando golf ante

I shot 97 photos today while visiting Sand Hollow and Coral Canyon golf courses in southern Utah. Here are a couple of teaser shots for now, until I upload the best ones.

Sand Hollow

Coral Canyon

See original here:
Shots from Coral Canyon and Sand Hollow today

ORLANDO, Fla. With close to 100 public golf courses and not one but two long-standing PGA Tour events, you could argue that Orlando already has all the golf it can handle.

But despite its high concentration of golf as well as the current state of the economy, Waldorf Astoria plunged into the golf biz last fall with the opening of Waldorf Astoria Golf Club. But with Rees Jones as course designer, it ensured it won’t be just another golf resort in an already crowded market.

Carved from a rare piece of vacant wetlands in the heart of Disney, Waldorf Astoria Golf Club was 10 years in the making before it opened in conjunction with the adjoining Waldorf Astoria and Hilton hotels.

This is Jones’ first course design in Orlando, but he’s confident of its place in the region’s golf scene.

“The course is different than any in Orlando, because it has an old, classic look,” Jones said.

The bunkers, in fact, were carved to be reminiscent of hazards designed at courses a century ago.

Jones earned the moniker, “U.S. Open Doctor” for his reconstruction of such classic venues as Bethpage Black and Congressional Country Club. And while Waldorf Astoria Golf Club doesn’t have the history to host a U.S. Open, Jones believes its inviting characteristics could attract the state’s biggest amateur events.

“There’s no housing,” he said, “and the tees and greens are near each other. So if you had a state amateur here, you could easily walk it.”

Waldorf Astoria Golf Club: Design overview

Contrary to most resort golf courses in Orlando that feature generous fairways and large greens, Waldorf Astoria G.C. is more of a shot maker’s delight – particularly around the greens, which are small and elevated with run-off areas. Short-game shots require creativity and precision.

True Florida golf characteristics shine through, though, as eight holes include water hazards off the tee, and eight holes feature water into the green. But most of the water is behind the greens.

Five sets of tees ensure the course is suitable for every level of golfer.

Waldorf Astoria Golf Club: Key holes

Since Jones built Waldorf Astoria Golf Club as a tournament-caliber golf course, it’s no surprise that the meat of the round begins on the back nine and continues until the end.

The 624-yard 12th is the longest hole by 60 yards. Adding insult to injury, it plays into the prevailing southerly wind.

Taking golfers from one extreme to the other, No. 13 is an enticing 322 yards from the tips, the shortest par 4 of the day. But before you quickly pull driver, notice the imposing lake that hugs the entire left side of this dogleg left. It’s a classic risk-reward opportunity.

The 14th and 15th holes take you through the most exposed part of the golf course. With water and bunkers in play off the tee and into the green, just try to hang on if the wind is blowing.

Waldorf Astoria Golf Club’s 17th is a whopping 482 yards from the tips, the longest par 4 on the course.

The home hole is a reachable par 5, but the green falls off on three sides into water.

If you can play Nos. 12 through 18 without getting into too much trouble, you’ll probably beat your partner, whether it’s a friendly game or the Florida Amateur.

Waldorf Astoria Golf Club: The verdict

Because of Orlando’s coffee-table-like topography, golf courses can’t survive on aesthetics alone. Elements of style and service are imperative. As you’d expect from a luxurious hospitality company, Waldorf Astoria pulls out all the stops in this regard, with such items as valet parking, a modern clubhouse and towels dampened at one end for easy club cleaning during your golf round.

The golf course feels like a modern, private club that’s well maintained. Though it’s smack dab in the middle of Disney, you wouldn’t know.

For the high-end, traveling golfer who’s not exactly giddy about a return trip to see Mickey, a stay-and-play at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando will bring that elusive sense of calm to your family vacation. So relax and enjoy the trip. Just remember to keep the wheels greased for that tough stretch on the back nine.

Read more:
Waldorf Astoria Golf Club burts onto Orlando golf scene

Click here to hear this latest episode of TravelGolf.com This Week. In this week’s podcast, host Dave Berner talks to Dr. Mac Powell, the dean of the National University Golf Academy in Carlsbad, Calif., about using movie-making techniques to help improve your swing. “We have in our swing lab a lot of 3-D motion-capture systems,” Powell said. “We can see things with this system that you can’t see with the naked eye in real speed.” PGA Hall of Fame member Gary Wiren – director of instruction for Donald Trump Golf Properties and founder of Golf Around the World – gives you four tips on getting out of the green-side rough. “You can try them all out and see which works the best for you,” Wiren said. “I call them the chop, the splash, the blade and the squeeze.” Also, TravelGolf.com’s Kiel Christianson discusses the relationship between golf and charity. “Historically, golf is very unique in its place in the sports world in being intimately tied forever with charity,” Christianson said. “I think we are seeing more of it.” Finally, WorldGolf.com’s Brandon Tucker talks about golf in northern Michigan . “As far as a peak-season golf destination is concerned, I don’t think I’ve seen a match for northern Michigan,” Tucker said. “Paying $140 and getting a bed and unlimited golf, that’s unheard of.”

Here is the original post:
Movie techniques to improve your golf swing, Wiren on getting out of the rough, and northern Michigan golf

Click here to hear this latest episode of TravelGolf.com This Week. In this week’s podcast, host Dave Berner talks to TravelGolf.com’s Kiel Christianson about the BMW Championship’s host, Cog Hill Golf and Country Club’s Dubsdread course near Chicago. “Cog Hill’s Dubsdread course is one of the preeminent public courses in the country,” Christianson says. “It has a long, competitive history.” WorldGolf.com Senior Writer Mike Bailey talks about five must-play courses in San Antonio. “It’s definitely emerging as a good golf town,” Bailey said. “It used to not be that way. You only had a few good courses. … San Antonio has really changed its focus to being more of a tourist town than it was 15-20 years ago.” Plus, PGA Hall of Fame member Gary Wiren – director of instruction for Donald Trump Golf Properties and founder of Golf Around the World – discusses some of the worst advice to give when teaching the golf game. “Keep your head down,” Wiren gave as an example. “It’s a killer because it destroys any real clubhead speed.” This podcast is supported by Walters Golf in Las Vegas and Arizona Golf Packages .

Read the rest here:
BMW Championship host Dubsdread at Cog Hill, must-play golf in San Antonio, Gary Wiren on the worst golf tips

Click here to hear this latest episode of TravelGolf.com This Week. In this week’s podcast, host Dave Berner talks to WorldGolf.com’s Brandon Tucker about 2015 U.S. Open host Chambers Bay golf course near Seattle. “They’re going to be able to pack the spectators in on this course,” Tucker says. The event “could probably get a record attendance here.” PGA Hall of Fame member Gary Wiren – director of instruction for Donald Trump Golf Properties and founder of Golf Around the World – offers insight on what golf needs to do to grow. “Make it less hard,” Wiren says. “How do you do that? The first way is that when you’re introducing the game, you introduce it at a level where it’s easy to accomplish.” Plus, BadGolfer.com’s William K. Wolfrum offers a surprise from his most recent Golfer Supremacy Rankings . “We did have one surprise this week,” Wolfrum says. “We found one Dave Berner, host of the TravelGolf.com This Week podcast, on the list. You are the number four supreme golfer of the week, Dave.” This podcast is supported by Florida Golf and Travel and ArizonaGolf.com .

Read more:
2015 U.S. Open host Chambers Bay, Gary Wiren on fixing golf, and BadGolfer.com’s rankings surprise

Click here to hear this latest episode of TravelGolf.com This Week. In this week’s podcast, host Dave Berner talks to TravelGolf.com’s Brandon Tucker about Bandon Dunes Golf Resort’s new Old MacDonald links course. “It kind of reminds me a lot of the courses you’d see in Scotland,” Tucker says. Senior Staff Writer Mike Bailey praises golf in Hawaii . “The golf is pretty good, obviously,” he says. “But the scenery, when you combine it with the golf, it’s absolutely spectacular.” Plus, part II of a conversation with PGA Hall of Fame member Gary Wiren – director of instruction for Donald Trump Golf Properties and founder of Golf Around the World about fixing your putting game. This podcast is supported by Arizona Golf Packages and FloridaGolfTravel.com .

Read the original here:
Bandon Dunes’ new Old MacDonald golf course, golf in Hawaii, Dr. Gary Wiren on improved putting

Click here to hear this latest episode of TravelGolf.com This Week. In this week’s podcast, host Dave Berner talks to Gary Wiren, director of instruction for Trump Golf Properties, about fixing your putting stroke. Author Susan Hill talks about her new book, “Going for the Green: Prepare your Body, Mind, and Swing for Winning Golf.” “The goal of this book was to try to show from those three areas – technical, physical and mental – how we can help players at the recreational level prepare to win,” Hill says. Ever thought you were good enough to join the PGA Tour? Documentary Filmmaker Jon Fitzgerald explores this dream in his new film, The Back Nine. “It is a documentary about a person, in this case me, who decides after turning 40 that it might be fun to see if it’s possible to turn into a professional golf athlete,” Fitzgerald says. This podcast is supported by GolfCalifornia.com and Resorts Golf and Spa .

Read the original:
Fix your golf putting stroke, author Susan Hill on "Going for the Green," filmmaker Jon Fitzgerald on new documentary The Back Nine

Click here to hear this latest episode of TravelGolf.com This Week. In this week’s podcast, host Dave Berner talks to Gary Wiren, director of instruction for Trump Golf Properties, about fixing your putting stroke. Author Susan Hill talks about her new book, “Going for the Green: Prepare your Body, Mind, and Swing for Winning Golf.” “The goal of this book was to try to show from those three areas – technical, physical and mental – how we can help players at the recreational level prepare to win,” Hill says. Ever thought you were good enough to join the PGA Tour? Documentary Filmmaker Jon Fitzgerald explores this dream in his new film, The Back Nine. “It is a documentary about a person, in this case me, who decides after turning 40 that it might be fun to see if it’s possible to turn into a professional golf athlete,” Fitzgerald says. This podcast is supported by GolfCalifornia.com and Resorts Golf and Spa .

Read more:
Fix your golf putting stroke, author Susan Hill on "Going for the Green," filmmaker Jon Fitzgerald on new documentary The Back Nine

Click here to hear this latest episode of TravelGolf.com This Week . In this week’s podcast, host Dave Berner talks to WorldGolf.com’s Mike Bailey about great golf in El Paso, Texas, where he played Tom Fazio’s Butterfield Trail Golf Club. “I was really surprised how good this golf course was,” Bailey says. “It’s a strong, strong golf course. There’s not a hole out there I didn’t like.” Courtney Kelso, vice president of sponsorship at American Express, says American Express customers will enjoy special services at this year’s PGA Championship in Minneapolis. Sports Illustrated celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. The publication’s Alan Shipnuck talks about its history. “Fifty years is the gold standard,” he says. “Not many magazines have been around that long. This podcast is supported by OrlandoGolf.com and Golf Vacations UK .

View original here:
Tom Fazio’s Butterfield Trail in El Paso, American Express and the PGA Championship, Sports Illustrated’s 50th