| Photo by Ken May |
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The elevation changes and free-formed bunkers of the 17th at Sugarloaf Mountain is
a prime example of how this layout is different from other Orlando golf courses.
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Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw may have just raised the bar on Orlando golf courses. Sugarloaf Mountain (themountain.cc; 866-936-4455), their first design in Florida, was unveiled last month in the Lake Apopka region, about 40 minutes from downtown Orlando.
This expansive track, which plays 7,126 yards from the tips, rambles over remarkably hilly terrain (unique for Orlando golf courses) and features distant vistas of the Orlando skyline. It's yet another example of the strategic, naturalistic, and minimalist style that has become the duo's trademark (think Sand Hills, Friar's Head, and Bandon Trails).
The holes are exquisitely varied, with everything from large sandy waste areas to holes that are entirely bunker free. And, in keeping with the natural feel of the routing, none of the cart paths are paved and all future housing will be set back from play (also unique to Orlando golf courses).
Sugarloaf is private, but interested golfers can preview the course until the nascent club fills its membership roster. Stay-and-play arrangements (starting at $89 per night) include accommodations at a local hotel, a round of golf, and a required real estate tour. Hotel options, listed in terms of proximity, include: the Hampton Inn (hamptoninn.com), the quaint Mount Dora Historic Inn (mountdorahistoricinn.com), and the Lexington Hotel (lexingtonorlando.com), a contemporary downtown high rise. For those who don't wish to stay overnight, there's also a "Member for a Day" option, requiring a $65 green fee and a real estate tour.
When you're in the area, you may want to visit other good Orlando golf courses, including the two at Mission Inn Resort, 15 minutes away in Howey-in-the-Hills, which will provide a contrasting golf experience.
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