RITZ-CARLTON GOLF CLUB, Orlando Grande Lakes (407-393-4922)
Florida Golf Course Review
The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando Grande Lakes is a Greg Norman signature course that meanders through a diverse ecosystem of ponds, wetlands, and natural marshes with
plentiful cypress and mature oaks. This environment offers golfers one of the most serene and secluded tracks in the resort area and has recently been recognized as the 6th golf
course in the U.S. to become Golf Environment Organization (GEO) Certified. This achievement, along with being Audubon certified, makes the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando
Grande Lakes a golf industry leader in being stewards of the environment. The course sits adjacent to and is part of the Ritz-Carlton Resort which features 584 well appointed
guest rooms and suites, a full service spa and fitness center, lazy river heated pool, plentiful event and meeting space, a variety of restaurants, and much more. The 1,000 room
JW Marriott is also on property. For more info on the Ritz-Carlton, visit their website by clicking here
The Golf Club features outstanding practice facilities including a grass range with complementary practice balls, short game area with sand bunker, plus spacious putting green.
The clubhouse includes a restaurant/lounge, locker rooms with showers, plus a well stocked pro shop. This course is open for public play, and features one of the most
comprehensive caddie programs in the region. The outstanding caddie program at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes is optional for all golfers and the fee is $25 per player
plus recommended gratuity. Walking caddies are also available. For those not taking advantage of a caddie, the DSG Tag GPS system provides players with front, middle and
back yardage to the green from anywhere on the hole.
There are 5 sets of tees designed to provide opportunities for golfers of all skill levels to enjoy a round here. The tips measure 7122 yards and play to a slope of 139. Alternate sets
measure 6708 yards/135 slope, 6324 yards/127 slope, 5835 yards/121 slope, and 5223 yards with a slope of 114 for men and 126 for ladies hitting from the forward tees.
There are 70 sand bunkers situated along the landing zones on the gently rolling fairways or greenside, and water comes into play in some shape or form on 16 holes. There are
several forced carries over natural areas or ponds, but most of the water is located on the perimeters. The well manicured fairways are usually bound woodlands, water and or
sand bunkers. Golfers will also encounter several sprawling sandy waste areas.
This course is immaculately maintained, with tropical foliage lining the cart paths and sprucing up the tee boxes. Most of the ponds and lakes are pristine, and are replete with
plentiful native wildlife. One of the hazards is advertised as a "fly fishing pond". The Tif Eagle greens run quick and true, and are mildly undulating. Miss with approaches however,
and golfers will find their ball rolling into the collection areas that often surround the gently raised green complexes. Bump and run chips can be utilized here extensively.
The Ritz-Carlton Grand Lakes Resort is located at the headwaters of the Florida Everglades and offers Fly & Spin Fishing, Kayaking, Canoeing and Zip-Lining adventure activites
right on site.
With the 5 tee areas, plentiful room near the greens and generally wide fairways, this is a course that can be fun for resort golfers. Avid players will be challenged by the distance
and variety in design that will require pretty much every kind of shot in the book. We highly recommend a round here – and keep in mind that walking is possible! For more info, visit
our page for the course with direct link to their website by clicking here.
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