REUNION RESORT Independence Course (888-418-9611 )
Florida Golf Course Review
General information
Reunion Resort is one of the many Preferred 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. 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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