FALCONS FIRE GOLF CLUB (407-239-5445) 
Florida Golf Course Review
Falcon's Fire Golf Club, one of Central Florida's finest courses located just minutes from Walt Disney World has recently undergone a $1.5 million renovation project highlighted by
resurfaced greens, a Championship-length layout stretching to just over 7,000 yards and a remodeled clubhouse.
As part of the golf course enhancement project, all greens were resurfaced with TifEagle variety of turf - an ultradwarf Bermuda grass - providing golfers with faster, smoother
putting conditions. Additional modifications to the course included the enlarging of bunkers, the re-sculpting of fairways, the creation of new run-off areas around certain greens,
and installing an improved greens irrigation and drainage system. Further, with the construction of additional tee boxes on select holes, the course has been stretched to over 7
,000 yards from the Championship tees, offering a fair challenge for golfers of all skill levels, while ensuring the shotmaking skills of elite players are tested when playing from the
tips. Complementing the exciting renovations are a new fleet of cars complete with a new GPS system.
Falcons Fire has been a regional qualifying site for the Senior PGA Tour and has received numerous recognition's including:
- Best Public Course in Florida - Florida Monthly, 2006
- 1996, 1998, 1999 , 2004 & 2005 - honored as one of 100 Best Golf Shops by World Golf Business
- 100 Best Golf Shops of all Time - World Golf Business - 2005
- 1997 - 2005 rated 4 stars by Golf Digest Places to Play.
- 1994-1998 Host Course to the Senior PGA Regional Finals
- 1993-1997-1999-2001 Host course to the Oldsmobile Scramble National Finals
Falcons Fire prides itself on being one of the finest conditioned courses in Central Florida. A wonderful clubhouse with fully stocked pro shop, fine dining area and 3,500 square
foot banquet facility compliments an expansive practice facility with grass range, putting green and short game area (with bunkers). The course features 4 tee boxes ranging from 5
,388 to 7,015 yards, with slope ratings of 123 - 138.
The putting surfaces at Falcon's Fire are of medium size with mild undulations, with considerable short fringe in front of many, affording opportunities for the "bump and run" shot.
Fairways and tee areas are finely sculpted, and the bunkers are numerous and of high quality white sand. Though water hazards are plentiful, generous landing areas allow most
golfers to keep their ball in play. This course is not easy - but choose the correct tee for your game and you should be able to post some reasonable numbers.
Hole number one provides an ample fairway though bunkers and mounding on either side make accuracy off the tee a necessity. The par four 2nd is quite open until about 100
yards out, as a pond right and bunkers short hamper the approach. From the two back tees the tee shot on the par three 3rd is over water - from the whites and reds the hazard is
in play on the right. There is bail out room short left, and placement on the correct portion of the ridged green is important. The break received from the two front tees is generally
evident throughout the layout - making this course quite playable - with the white tees recommended for the mid to high handicapper. Number four has bunkers and mounding on
both sides of the fairway, with sand traps also near the green. If you can keep it on the fairway off the tee, this par five is reachable in two. Players from the back two tees will have to
carry a marsh on hole number five, while the whites and reds provide an open tee shot. Beware of the hidden pond far right about 90 yards out on this # 1 handicap. There is also
water far right, but ample fairway all the way to the putting surface on 6. The par five 7th provides a generous fairway that narrows about 130 in with bunkers left and a lake situated
to the right. The beautiful par three eighth is the toughest of the three-pars on the course - nearly all carry form the two back tees - with some bail out room short left. Mounds, trees
and sand traps line the fairway on nine - though as the #15 handicap, some momentum can be gained heading into the turn.
The back side opens with a score-able par five that bends to the right near the fairway traps, with more bunkers guiding golfers to the green from 100 yards in. After a simple,
slightly elevated par three on 11, the twelfth offers a challenge off the tee with an oak grove to the right, fairway bunkers left and mounding serving as a funnel along the fairway. The
entire hole slopes left to right with a water hazard waiting past the slope about 20 yards past the green. A tee shot towards the center of the bunker complex will leave the most
advantageous approach on the par four 13th, which banana's to the right around a lake. Cut off as much as you can handle here. The par five 14th also has a water hazard to the
right that runs nearly the length of the hole. The rolling fairway is generous, but the approach to a putting surface guarded by water short right and mounding and bunkers left is a
tight one. The 15th is another pretty par three over water, and is followed by a short par four with water on both sides, and an intricate bunker complex just left of the green. After
what is probably the easiest stretch of holes on the course (14-16), one is confronted by an extremely tough par four. The lake on the left runs the length of the fairway, but the
design invites a left to right shot shape. Balls hit towards the right side are safe, but will leave a long approach to a well protected green complex. Golfers may choose to hit into the
short rough along the hazard - thereby creating a shorter 2nd shot - but one that is a considerable carry over water. The eighteenth leads towards the beautiful clubhouse - with
length being its most challenging aspect.
Falcon's Fire has developed a great reputation as a fine Rees Jones layout - and one that features outstanding conditioning and service. The property is conveniently located near
the Disney complex and other top Orlando attractions - making it a perfect fit for those wishing to get in a high quality round during a family vacation. Club and shoe rentals are
available. This is a highly recommended golfing experience - and very representative of what Florida golf has to offer. Visit our Florida Golf section for an informational page on
Falcon's Fire with a link to their website: click here.
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