MYSTIC DUNES GOLF CLUB (407-787-5678)
Florida Golf Course Review
Mystic Dunes is one of Florida's premier upscale golf facilities - featuring a layout designed by NBC golf analyst
Gary Koch on 156 acres of natural, central Florida topography. Lush landscaping and country club conditioning
greet players on this 7012 yard course, which provides tremendous variation on two distinctive nines. The
western nine has the feel of a British links course, with elevation changes along native sand dunes, while the eastern nine is reminiscent of the classic Carolina courses with wetlands and oak forests.
Just as importantly, Mystic Dunes affords visitors the opportunity to enjoy a wonderful array of amenities - making
a day of golf for business travelers or family vacationers a real treat. The spectacular 20,000 square foot
clubhouse includes a spacious pro shop with golf equipment and accessories, and Taylor Made rentals.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available at the bar and grill, and locker rooms with showers and towels are
accessible for men and women guests. Wedding and banquet facilities that can host up to 300 people provide
great incentives for booking special events - especially with the Mystic Dunes Resort adjacent to the golf course.
A 60,000 square foot practice facility includes a large grass range with target areas, practice bunkers, plus
putting and chipping greens. Range balls are complimentary with all paid greens fees. Lessons of all types from PGA staffed professionals are available, and the Advantage Golf Academy is also on property.
The Par View GPS on all carts not only provides graphic hole diagrams and yardages from tee to the pin, but
also displays an electronic scoring feature. For those wishing to grab a quick burger or sandwich, a food
ordering system with complete menu appears at the beginning of the 9th and 18th holes - and your order will be
ready for pick up or for dining in. This is one fine golf facility - and paired with villa accommodations at the
upscale Mystic Dunes Resort, can result in an incredibly wonderful golf getaway. All this...just minutes from Disney and all the main Orlando area attractions.
To supplement the GPS, standard yardage marking systems are also in place, including yardage blocks and
sprinkler and tee markers heads measured to the center of the green, as well as pin placement information.
Golfers of all abilities should be able to find a yardage that suits there game, choosing from tee areas that
measure7012 with a 137 slope rating, 6574/131, 5893/126, 5332/119 for men and 123 for women and 4665
with a 115 slope rating that indicates a player friendly round for the average woman golfer. The blue tees have a
number of long, tough par fours (5 that measure between 400 and 468 yards) making the white tee areas a good choice for the average male golfer.
The opening hole doglegs right with a tee shot aimed just left of the tree near the cart path the recommended
play. There is a huge waste area along the right, and the green here slopes front to back. Number two also
bends to the right, and invites a tee shot just left of the tree line on the right side. It is easy to drive thru the fairway
middle or left (from the white tees), so a left to right shot shape will come in handy here. At 508 from the tips and
468 from the blues, this is one tough par four! The third presents a rolling fairway, with a tee shot placed right of
the left fairway bunker providing the best approach. Land on the short grass and this is a very score-able # 3
handicap. Stay out of the wood walled pot bunkers fronting the fairway and the 4th is also a good scoring hole.
Most golfers should be able to clear the two left traps off the tee, but a lay up placed just left of the traps will also
provide a clear shot at the green. Number 5 demands a carry over a marsh to a wide (but not deep) putting
surface, fronted by a bunker running the width of the green, with about 10 yards of grass behind. This par three is
rated as the # 5 handicap. Lay up to the left center on the dogleg left par five 6th, and try to be right of the tree on
the second shot. The approach on this snaking par five must be aimed at the flag, as a 7 foot swale separates
the two tiers. The par three seventh is all carry over a marsh to a small green, with bail out room in the
surrounding swales. The par five 8th bananas to the left along an extremely rolling, undulating fairway, as it cuts
through the beautiful Wyndham Palms Resort property. The approach is a bit uphill, but not as much as it
appears from the fairway, as the slope rises then drops near the green. Golfers have a couple of choices on the
score-able par four 9th. There is plenty of fairway left of the bunkers for a lay up, which leaves a simple approach,
or big hitters can drive over the pot bunker facilitating a wedge approach and great birdie opportunity.
The backside begins with a short par four, inviting a tee shot to the right side, away from the center pot bunker.
From here, the approach is simple. Number 11 is a beautiful par three, with landscaping that includes a waterfall
to the left and a babbling brook along the right. (first photo in this review). Go for the flag, as this putting surface
is double tiered. The left center of the fairway provides a good landing spot on 12, and an approach hitting the
right bank will trickle down to the green. The putting surface on the par four 13th is huge, with a similar bank
along the right side guiding shots towards the hole. The sculpted waste area off the tee defines the par four 14th,
which plays a whopping 496 yards from the tips and 453 yards from the blue tees. Be aware that a deep slope
rests behind the green, making up and downs from that area a chore. Players will have to decide what to do with
the deep pot bunker in the center of the fairway on 15 - drive over or lay up in front of...either way this is a good
scoring hole. A pot bunker on the right off the tee and a waste area on that side from about 100 in are the only
impediments to a good score on the par five16. Pay attention to the pin placement though, as this green is also
2-tiered. The par three 17th is long but simple, making this 3-hole stretch the easiest on the course. You will have
your work cut out to finish strong however, as the finishing hole is a daunting par four. There is a waste bunker left
off the tee, and another to the right that deepens as you near the tight green complex. At 485 yards from the tips, 460 from the blues and 423 from the white tees...par is great here.
Mystic Dunes is upscale all the way - great facilities, interesting layout, friendly service and wonderful
conditioning. You will impress clients, relatives and friends by bringing them here. Long hitters will delight in the
long par fours, which require accuracy as well as skill. Resort players should choose their tees wisely. If the 5893
yards from the whites insults your ego, perhaps play the blues on all but the long par fours (# 2, 14 and 18 which
play 468, 453 and 460) and the par three 17th, which is 222 from the blues and 199 from the whites. These
adjustments will make the day more "resortful", and give you a more reasonable chance to score your handicap.
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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