REUNION RESORT Independence Course (888-418-9611 )
Florida Golf Course Review 1/16/06
General information
Reunion Resort is one of the many Ginn Clubs & Resorts in the Southeast region that is built on 2300 rolling
acres near Walt Disney World. The focal point of this upscale residential and resort environment is golf - with
three championship courses designed by Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus. This is not only a
golfer's paradise however - but also a family retreat, as Reunion combines the best of resort amenities with small-town life.
Ownership opportunities are available in residences that include single family homes, condominiums and
townhouses. The resort includes horse stables, tennis courts, a state-of-the-art spa and fitness center, a water
park and swimming pools in various locations, miles of biking and hiking trails plus shopping and dining in
Reunion Square. The courses are open to members and resort guests only - with stay and play packages
available year round (two-night minimum stay required). You can call 888-418-9611 for information - and we also
recommend you visit our page for the resort with abundant photos, text and direct web links to the Reunion website by clicking here!
This is a wonderful place for a golf or family vacation!
The Legacy by Arnold Palmer and the Independence by Tom Watson were both selected by Golfweek Magazine
as two of the top 40 new courses in the United States for 2004. Ginn Reunion Resort is home to the LPGA Ginn Open - the only full field LPGA Tour event in the state of Florida (call 407-662-1700 or visit www.GinnOpen.com for more information). The courses are serviced by a beautiful 8000 square foot clubhouse with outstanding Golf
shop, restaurants, lounge and outdoor patio that serves a gourmet menu as well as bar items. The practice
facilities are comprehensive - with targeted grass range, putting greens and short game areas for chipping,
pitching and bunker practice. Each cart is equipped with UpLink GPS, a cooler and rear canvas covers to
protect clubs during inclement weather. There also are comfort stations set up along the course that feature ice
and water. All the tee boxes are marked, and sprinkler heads are also measured to the center of the green. This is truly a private club experience!
Independance Course by Tom Watson
The Independence course is a spectacular design along an undulating terrain with significant mounding and
wonderful shot values. We counted 119 sand hazards in the form of intricate fairway and greenside bunkers, plus
meandering waste areas finely landscaped with pampas and native vegetation. Unique to Florida - there are no
water hazards on this layout...but none are needed. Aesthetically, it is difficult to imagine a more pleasing layout in the Orlando area.
Five sets of tee areas play to distances and slopes measuring 7154 yards/140 slope, 6697 yards/131 slope,
6319 yards/124 slope, 5990 yards/120 slope for men and 126 for women, and 5395 yards with a slope of 114
for men and 119 for women playing from the forward sets. Mounds and moguls frequent the generous fairways,
sometimes creating a bowl effect. There are some significantly raised tee boxes and green complexes. The
putting surfaces are oversized and often tiered, with slopes, swales and collection areas greenside that can
create some tricky up and downs. The conditioning from tee to green on our mid-January visit was outstanding!
The 8th through 11th holes stand out in our memory, with sand hazards ranging from gargantuan bunkers to
conventional size traps that dot the landscape like minefields, creating awe-inspiring beauty that all golfers can
appreciate. The bunkers are intricately designed, with "fingers" of sod spaced between the depths of soft white
sand. Also memorable is the cart ride from the 17th green to the 18th tee, which traverses through a tropical
swamp from high up on a wooden pathway. Again - golf at Reunion is available to members, residents and
resort guests only. You can stay and play here on a variety of packages with a two-night minimum stay required.
For more info on the Independence, visit our page for the course, with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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