By Tim Cotroneo
Kissimmee, Florida is one of the few places on Earth where an all-time dream foursome includes the name of Mickey next to Tom, Greg, and Robert Trent. This thriving city is located a mere 11 miles from Disney World, and it’s a destination where the last name of Mouse is as heralded as golf icons Watson, Norman, and Jones.
The reach of Mickey’s Disney World is felt everywhere you may look, eat, and drive in Kissimmee. For vacationers living large in Central Florida’s entertainment epicenter, golf is a lofty second to the world’s most famous mouse.
In the city of Kissimmee alone, you’ll find 10 amazing courses from which to choose. Forced to select from the best-of-the best, on this trip we’re booking rounds at The Watson Course at Reunion Resort, The Greg Norman-designed International Course at Omni Resort, and Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr. co-designed Celebration Course at Celebration Golf Club.
The Watson Course
Opening in 2004, Watson’s 7,100-yard layout is one of the few courses in the Kissimmee/Orlando area that doesn’t feature water. Watson makes up for this moisture minimum with an abundance of sand and 15 varieties of native grasses.
How much sand will golfers be contending with? The Watson course has 174 sand traps. If that number makes you wonder if your round comes with a take home rake and a camel, you’d be in good company. For those of you scoring at home, that’s an average of almost 10 traps per hole. On the Par 5, 14th hole, you’ll find 14 traps within 100 yards of the green.
The Watson Course is located at the scenic 2,300-acre Reunion Resort and Golf Club. This posh community is home to two more championship courses bearing the names of a couple of Hall of Famers you may have heard of: Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus.
While at this beautiful golf oasis, you may wish to fine-tune your game. You should know that the World Headquarters for Golfzon Leadbetter Academy’s is based in Kissimmee. The goal of this golf instructional standout is to build a tailored blueprint to improve your game.
International Course at ChampionsGate Golf Club at Omni Orlando Resort
At last count, Greg Norman has designed 140 golf courses in 35 countries. The Kissimmee/Orlando area couldn’t help but turn to the two-time Open Champion to work his design magic in their little slice of golf heaven. Coincidentally, located at 8575 White Shark Blvd., Norman’s International Course opened in 2000 and was renovated in 2016.
Golfers will discover that Down Under Greg displays his Australian roots at the International Course with a raw coastal links style and generous fairways. You will need to navigate water throughout your International journey, along with natural dunes and a scattering of pot bunkers.
If you still haven’t satisfied your golf appetite, keep in mind Kissimmee hosts one of the most thriving TopGolf entertainment centers anywhere on the planet. Where else can you see a giant Ferris wheel and a castle while busting a drive down the middle?
Celebration Golf Club
The Celebration Golf Course opened in 1996. This 6,700-yard layout is based in one of Kissimmee’s most upscale communities, and the course is one of the last co-designs between the father and son duo of Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr..
Celebration will surprise and delight you before teeing it up on the first tee box. Golfers are treated to a practice range in which you flight irons and woods onto five floating greens. That’s right, the practice range is a picturesque lake. This unique tee to water interlude is a great example of what makes Celebration a one-of-a-kind golf experience.
Water, and the occasional alligator, are prevalent on both nines, and the Jones father and son design team’ emphasizes course management on every hole. From a whimsical standpoint, Jones and Jones named each hole. It’s up to you to interpret the meaning of monikers like Black Thursday, Hell’s Bunker, and Keeping Up with the Jones’.
You’ll find traces of yesteryear at this charming course built by the Disney Company and located across the street from some of Kissimmee’s most stately colonial homes. Near the practice green you’ll also find two vintage Dodge vehicles with a history dating to the 1920s.
Kissimmee for All the Names You’ve Grown to Love
Tom, Greg, Robert Trent, and Mickey have all built lasting names we’ve grown to admire. Today, they all serve as cornerstones to what makes the Kissimmee and Orlando golf and entertainment meccas thrive. Whether you’re a golf aficionado, thrill to the magic of Disney, or simply enjoy discovering what makes this destination tick, you can’t go wrong writing your name into a new chapter of the ever-evolving Kissimmee story. www.experiencekissimmee.com
