 CELEBRATION GOLF CLUB (407-566-4653)
Florida Golf Course Review
Designed by Robert Trent Jones and opened for public play in 1996, Celebration Golf Club boasts one of the finest daily fee courses in Central Florida.
This golf facility (named "Business of the Year in 2004 by the Kissimmee/Oceola Chamber of Commerce) is a centerpiece of the Celebration residential
community, which features classic architecturally designed homes, an innovative school and health care center, and recreational and community services
that provide advanced lifestyle opportunities for today's families. Located just minutes from Disneyworld near the I-4 and 192 intersection, the Celebration
Golf club is designed around a series of pristine lakes with clusters of native oak, pine and magnolia trees dotting the landscape. Water comes into play on
17 of the 18 holes, with the par four second being the only exception.
Golfers will find finely sculpted greens and tee areas, and will be happy to know that the short rough that defines the ample fairways is quite playable.
Forced carries off the tee are frequent, though reasonable in length - and players from the forward tees catch considerable "breaks" in distance and tee
positioning, which often take the hazards out of play. Uniquely, Celebration provides 5 sets of tees - with the fifth set (green tees areas) aligned to provide
par threes at each hole. What a great idea - as beginners/juniors can "practice" on the 2219 yard layout from the par three tees while experienced golfers
can choose challenges from 7035, 6566, 5958 and 5181 yards. This is wonderful for "family golf" and is great for newcomers who want to join their golf
buddies without being totally intimidated on what can be a challenging course (140 slope rating from the tips).The average player will find the Gold tees
(6566 yards and 135 slope) to be reasonable - although the scorecard indicates that men with a 15+ handicap should choose the silver tee areas (130 slope).
Amenities at Celebration include a beautiful clubhouse and a pro shop fully stocked with golf accessories and attire. The men's/women's locker rooms
provide showers and changing areas, and a full service restaurant and lounge serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Two ice chests are standard on
each cart, along with rear canvas shields that provide shelter for clubs during rain and inclement weather.
The Golf Academy at Celebration is one of the finest in the country where the golf instructors then will work with you as an individual. Golf lessons are
tailored to you. This philosophy, this style of teaching, is one of the areas that truly separate The Golf Academy from the others. They will analyze your
golf swing using their state-of-the-art video equipment. When you leave, you will be able to view your lessons with your own personalized take-home video,
which is included with your instruction package. Whether you are new to the game, or looking to lower your handicap, The Golf Academy at Celebration
has the right program for you. For more information on the golf academy - click here.
On course, sprinkler heads are measured to the center of the green and each tee box has posted measurements.. All the above amenities, as well as top
notch conditioning and service, serve the public well, and have made the Celebration Golf Club a worthy host of the Florida State Public Links Championship!
The opening hole is a fair starter - a short par four with a tee shot over a pond and water on the left all the way to the green, from 160 yards out. There is
plenty of room on this rolling fairway. There is no water on the second - although a marsh area must be carried off the tee - with a length of 140 + yards
necessary to reach the fairway from the gold tees. From short grass, this is one of the easiest holes on the course. Number three is a simple par three with
plenty of room for error right and left of the green. This precedes an interesting par five - with water hazards in play off the tee and on the approach. Long
hitters can hug the left side opf the fairway and attempt to reach in two, but the tight approach beckons for golfers to play this as a three shot hole. A large
bunker between the putting surface and water hazards provides ample reason to aim for the right side of the green. The par 3 fifth has water left and
woods to the right, but at 138 yards from the golds is one of the best birdie holes on the front. These 5 opening holes present an opportunity to get off to a
great start - and help one to warm up for the next four which are the 7th, 3rd, 1st and 5th handicaps. A very reasonable carry over water to a wide fairway
awaits on six. A huge bunker complex divides the fairway into a wide area right and a narrow opening left about 110 yards from the green. Though not
overly long, most will attempt to reach in three and play for par - as the approach is extremely tight. There is plenty of room between the fairway bunkers
on number seven, but the rolling fairway tightens with two bunkers just left of the putting surface - making par a good score here. Eight is equally difficult,
with a tight fairway leading to an approach that must avoid the water and natural area short right. The ninth fairway presents a wide landing area, but a
natural area right and considerable mounding along the left create the possibility of a difficult lie. Par is a good score to close the front.
Bunkers on either side of the fairway encourage a lay up off the tee on the short par four 10th. Mounding and a perched green creates an approach to
the flag that is nearly blind here - pay attention to the pin placement sheet. Cutting some distance off the tee by bending a shot to the right over the water
and towards the fairway traps is recommended on 11. Anything hit to the extreme left of the fairway may go through, and will almost certainly leave a two
shot approach and very little chance at par on this long dogleg right par four. After a wide open tee shot on twelve, a long iron placed past the fairway
bunkers about 100 out will leave an easy approach and a possible birdie try. Between the 12th green and the 13th tee boxes, you are treated to a short
drive through an upscale residential community - the homes here actually add to the charm of the course. The par 3 thirteenth demands a carry over water
from the two back tees, but 30 yards of fairway provides bailout room and ample landing areas for those landing short of the elevated green complex. Aim
for the 150 on the short but tight par four 14th. Dense woods on both sides of the fairway and wetland preserves left of the green make this a target golf
hole. A lay up past and just to the right of the 150 stake will leave the most advantageous positioning to approach the elevated green on 15. Accuracy is
the key on this 335 yard par four. A high, soft shot is needed to carry the deep bunker fronting the green. There ia abundant room left on the par three
16th. Anything leaking right will probably find the water hazard that protects the putting complex on that side. Another short par four follows, and demands
a tee shot hit down the middle to about the 100 yard marker. Anything longer may find the water right or one of two fairway bunkers left. The approach is
extremely narrow. An ample landing area greets you on the finishing hole, which is the longest hole on the course. The advice in the yardage guide
booklet - complimentary to all players - is to lay up on the second shot, short of the water hazard on the right, about 100 yards from the green. We second
the motion. Like seventeen, the fairway narrows considerably as you approach the green. A deep bunker left and the hazard right, make this a challenging shot.
A day at Celebration Golf Club is one well spent. On our visit, the course was in wonderful shape from tee to green. The golf ambassadors were
knowledgeable and friendly, and the practice facilities left nothing to be desired. Besides an ample putting green and short game area with practice
bunkers, a unique water driving range is also on property. Accolades include: *Ranked in the "Top 25 Public Courses" by Golf World's 2009 Readers'
Choice Awards; *Rated 4 1/2 Stars & in the Top 200 in North America for Service & Course Conditioning by Golf Digest's "Best Places to Play"; *Ranked in
the Top 25 Best Family Golf Resorts and in the Top 30 Courses for Women by Golf for Women Magazine. Our personal experience there bears this out! .
Stay & Play packages are available through the Gaylord Palms Resort - click here to visit their website.
Click here to visit the Two Guys Who Golf Detailed Information page with a link to this course's web page (if available).
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