Jim McLean gives Doral intimidating one-two punch

MIAMI For amateurs and PGA Tour golfers alike, the TPC Blue Monster at Doral is one of South Florida’s most daunting tests. And with the recent opening of the Jim McLean Signature Course at Doral, the resort now boasts the most intimidating one-two punch in the Southeast.

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The 18-hole championship layout, formerly known as the Silver Course, was redesigned by noted golf instructor Jim McLean, who not only has his flagship golf school at Doral but also was lauded for his redesign of the Blue Monster in 1999.

“That worked out very well,” McLean said of his 1999 project. “The top tour players came back to Doral. They loved the changes back to the original Dick Wilson look. Our rounds of golf were taking close to six hours, and that dropped way back to under five hours.”

But while the TPC Blue Monster is most notorious for one hole its water-lined, par-4 finisher the Jim McLean course for which McLean consulted Tom Fazio has three holes in succession that will grab your attention. The trio is aptly dubbed the Bermuda Triangle.

The adventure begins at the par-4 13th, where players must avoid a lake that hugs the right side of the fairway from tee to green. The fairway is broad, but there’s little room for error down the right side of the fairway, which runs to the edge of the water.

No. 14 is considered the signature hole at the Jim McLean course, and for good reason. This island-green par 3 is as diabolical as it is visually stunning. It’s like No. 17 on the Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass, but the green is smaller, and there’s a little more rough around the green. Good luck!

No. 15 is the easiest of the Bermuda Triangle holes, but for the third straight hole, any shot right of the target will meet a watery grave. The elevated, two-tiered green is this hole’s greatest defense. Play a fairway metal or hybrid off the tee, and you’ll have a simple approach shot. Like the other holes in the Bermuda Triangle, par here is a great score.

A tough beginning on the Jim McLean Signature Course at Doral

Don’t get ahead of yourself, though. Before you get to the Bermuda Triangle, you’ll have to navigate your way through a difficult opening stretch.

“The first three holes from the back tees are the toughest starting holes in Florida and likely the U.S.A.,” McLean said.

So why make the course so difficult? McLean says it’s all about creating a memorable golf experience.

“Golfers are not traveling to play mediocre golf courses,” he said. “The idea was always to get our guests at Doral to take the shuttle over to the Jim McLean course and also to have golfers traveling to South Florida make this a ‘must-play’ golf course.”

Upgrades at Doral Golf Resort & Spa

If you thought the Jim McLean Signature Course is the only thing Doral has going on, think again. It’s just one item on a $16 million list of upgrades the resort is making. Other projects include a partnership with the PGA Tour’s TPC to rename the Blue Monster, TPC Blue Monster at Doral, as well as the enhancement of The Great White Course and Gold Course with TifEagle greens.

A $5 million renovation of the spa and a new Latin-inspired steakhouse are also among the upgrades, which will be finalized in time for the resort’s 50th anniversary in 2012.

The golf star in Miami shines brighter because of Doral Resort & Spa and the new Jim McLean Signature Course at Doral. But don’t be caught star-gazing or bogey beckons.

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Jim McLean gives Doral intimidating one-two punch

Falcon’s Fire ups Orlando golf ante

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.

For more golf in Orlando, or to plan your next trip, visit OrlandoGolf.com

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.

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Falcon’s Fire ups Orlando golf ante

Daly says on Twitter to talk to golf writer

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. John Daly was so irritated that a Florida newspaper wrote about his PGA Tour disciplinary file that he referred to the writer as a jerk on Twitter and posted the writers cell phone number for his followers to call.

The Florida Times-Union reported Tuesday that the file is now public record through Dalys unsuccessful libel lawsuit against the newspaper. The file is 456 pages and notes that Daly has been suspended five times and cited 21 times for not giving his best effort.

heres the JERK who writes NON-NEWS article on debut of my show CALL & FLOOD his line & lets tell him how WE feel, Daly said on Twitter, adding the cell phone number of golf writer Garry Smits.

The story appeared the day Dalys reality show made its debut on Golf Channel.

Smits, the golf writer for the Times-Union, said he received about 30 calls after a series of three tweets late Tuesday night, and nearly 100 calls by early Wednesday afternoon. Smits said most of the callers hang up, and about 30 left messages.

His fans are very unhappy, Smits said.

Daly removed the tweets by midmorning Wednesday. He did not return a voicemail left for him, although he said in a text message to The Associated Press, Gary left his cell number and e-mail address from phone number he left in the article public record far as Im concerned. He did not answer the phone after the AP received his text.

Bud Martin, president of SFX World and Dalys agent, could not immediately be reached for comment. The PGA Tour said it would have no comment on Dalys tweets.

Over the haters To me, this isnt journalism, its paparazzi-like gossip. Please try harder to find some REAL news next time Gary, said Dalys second tweet.

It was followed by, Gnight ALL but heres GARY SMITS cell number in case you didnt get it non sports writer.

The PGA Tour does not comment on player discipline, but it was forced to turn over Dalys file to attorneys for the newspapers parent company when Daly sued for libel. The file is now public record.

The lawsuit was dismissed a year ago, and Daly was ordered to pay nearly $272,000 in legal fees.

The 456-page file includes several newspaper clippings and incidents that already have been reported during Dalys tumultuous career. It also included some startling numbers he was placed on probation six times, ordered to go to counseling or alcohol rehab seven times, cited for conduct unbecoming a professional 11 times and fined nearly $100,000.

Daly has not had his full PGA Tour card since 2006 and has been playing mainly on sponsor exemptions.

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Daly says on Twitter to talk to golf writer

Waldorf Astoria Golf Club burts onto Orlando golf scene

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.

For more golf in Orlando, or to plan your next trip, visit OrlandoGolf.com

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.

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Waldorf Astoria Golf Club burts onto Orlando golf scene