01 Jul I Miss Walking
A few months ago I drove down a road by accident that ran right through the Winter Park Golf Club, just north of downtown Orlando, Florida. I never realized there was a golf course smack in the middle of one of the most affluent suburbs in town. The greens and bunkering looked awesome and I saw people actually WALKING while playing! I know that sounds strange but I’m so used to riding in a golf cart nowadays when playing socially in the US.
Anyway, I thought, ‘I have to play here!’
Turns out it’s a little nine-hole gem that wraps around a cemetery and is split by a few local roads.
Playing with my good mate Mariano Barni, we went round twice in about three hours. Mariano pushed his clubs on a buggy while I slung a half set over my shoulder in a pencil bag. Walking on to greens from the front again, rather than from the side or behind when in a golf cart, felt great. I could see what the designer(s) had in mind for the approaches and also the subtle nuances that can easily be missed when you don’t come in from the front.
An absolute treat to play!
For the record, it’s a Par 35 that measures 2450 yards. Very short yes, but still an absolute treat to play. There are four reachable par 4’s, two par 5’s that are easily gettable and three lovely little par 3’s. Scoring for the better player will be low, but if you short side yourself par is a tough ask.
Some renovations were done a year or so ago and the designers, Keith Rhebb and Riley John, did a fabulous job. A new addition was a large 10,000 square foot undulating putting course called ‘The Back 9’ next to the ninth tee.
Anyone that lives locally can wander on and putt for hours if they like. Not quite to the scale of ‘The Himalayas’ putting course at St Andrews in Scotland, but a fantastic idea nonetheless.
The thing I loved most about the experience, apart from the course, was the walking. I forgot how much I miss strolling around the links and having a chat to my playing partner.
Next time I might even take a full set and try for the course record 😉
Cheers,
Nick
#itsallgood
No Comments