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Hawk's
Landing Golf Club, at the Orlando
World Center Marriott (the largest Marriott
in the world), is another terrific choice
to play, with water on 15 of 18 holes and
its own version of Amen Corner (holes 12,
13 and 14). It recently underwent a complete
renovation by Robert Cupp.
"We're
not the toughest golf course in the world,
but we're far from the easiest", says
Hawk's Landing Director of Golf, Mike Hodgins.
Rosen
Shingle Creek should be on your list. Shingle
Creek Golf Club is a challenging,
yet playable, David Harman design, featuring
interconnected waterways and undulating
fairways.
The
Grand
Cypress Golf Club is part of
the Hyatt
Regency Grand Cypress. It features
45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature-designed
golf.
The
Ginn
Reunion Resort
is another golf hot spot, named 2008
Golf Resort of the Year in North America.
Reunion features three championship courses
- by Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer and Jack
Nicklaus.
The
Nicklaus-designed Tradition
course opened to rave reviews in
2006. The Resort is remarkably secluded
and includes two Signature restaurants,
a water park, The Spa, an award-winning
tennis centre, a fitness centre and miles
of biking or walking trails. You can book
villas or even private homes. And the emphasis
is on "outstanding".
Ginn
Reunion is also home to the Annika
Academy. Yes, that would be Annika
Sorenstam. You will pay plenty of money
to sign up at the Annika Academy, which
is typically $3,750 for a three-day session
including accommodation at the wonderful,
ritzy resort and lunch and breakfast are
included ... and it's $2,500 for a two-day
deal and goes up to $12,000 for the Soren-Slam
package, which includes all the bells and
whistles including lunch with Annika herself.
But it's an experience you would never forget.
As
guests of the Academy, you will get personalized
instruction from Annika's swing coach Henri
Reis, her sister Charlotta and her personal
trainer Kai Fuser. They use a bit of a different
philosophy, working with your swing rather
than changing it.
The
Academy is not just about improving your
game, either. It's about building relationships
and friendships. A goal is "to become
friends for life." Check out www.TheAnnikaAcademy.com
for more details.
While
Orlando's tourism has taken a bit of a dip,
visitations from Canada were actually up
20% in 2008. As far as International visitations
go, Canada is second only to the United
Kingdom, with nearly a million a year.
With
so much going on for it, it's no wonder
Orlando has become golf's ultimate theme
park. If you're looking to ease the planning
stress, Gendron
Travel can take care of the arrangements,
with packages of up to 10 days and seven
rounds of golf. Visit Gendron's website
for more details. And soon enough, you'll
be teeing it up just minutes away from Mickey
Mouse and some of the most stomach-churning
rollercoaster rides in the world.
09/09
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