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Florida Golf Holiday

  • 02-08-2014 04:08PM
    #1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 241 ✭✭


    I am a member of a golf society and we are thinking of playing around 4 games in Florida next year. We normally go to Spain & Portugal but are looking to change next year.
    I am looking for some advice on where to play and some sites to use for booking the package

    Thanks
    Ken


Comments

  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 18,335 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    You need to check the time of year, I'm in FL the last 5 weeks and it would be very early rounds only due to the afternoon heat and expected afternoon thunder storms, having said that we've only had 3 thunderstorms in the last 3 weeks and golf was possible virtually every afternoon.
    I'd imagine the ball would be travelling a mile in this climate, feels like weather has been 100+ most days.
    Regarding courses, they are literally everywhere but given the amount I play when at home I stay away from golf on family hols so can't advise.

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,000 ✭✭✭Russman


    You'd be spoilt for choice around the Orlando area, dozens to choose from.

    Try Orange County National, there's 2 courses there, Crooked Cat and Panther Lake, both superb and fairly reasonable, plus there's no apartments lining the fairways.

    Orange Lake Legends is very good, as is the Reserve course also in the Orange Lake resort.

    Providence is about 40mins south and is really good too and very reasonable.

    Celebration is good too, can't remember the prices there, it's been a few years since I played that one.

    If you really want to push the boat out, Disney Magnolia is one of the best I've played, but expensive.

    We've used Cassidy Golf in the past to put together packages and they're fine. You could probably do it yourself online but for a large group it's easier to use a TO.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,882 ✭✭✭Golfgraffix


    Like Slave1 I have been here the past 4 weeks, have played 4 rounds and the heat has killed me. If you are starting anytime past 8:30 it's can be a real slog, staying hydrated is tough.

    In saying that I love golf here, been coming here for the past 10 years and have never played a bad course and have had great service everywhere. No need to spend a fortune either, some of the public courses are amazing. The courses mentioned at Orange County are superb, I think the have Tour School there. I played last week at a public course in North Palm Beach and was treated better than any of the top courses I have played in Ireland.

    I am usually here working in January and the weather is perfect for golf and very little risk of the big daily storms that you see mid summer.

    It can be a little pricey getting here but once here the cost on almost everything are low and if the dollar is week even lower.

    J


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 18,335 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    Yeah, CCY is important, you can effectively reduce the cost of your trip with wise purchases e.g. iPad or the like. I'm saving a whooping €1900 by bringing home a home cinema projector in the morning.

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 241 ✭✭kenkin


    Thanks for the info so far lads, should we stay in a hotel or a condo?, and is it possible to get airport and golf transfers?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,000 ✭✭✭Russman


    kenkin wrote: »
    Thanks for the info so far lads, should we stay in a hotel or a condo?, and is it possible to get airport and golf transfers?

    Totally up to you to be honest.
    I'd say it depends on how long you'll be there for. If only a few nights a hotel might be worth it but otherwise I'd look at a condo. There's so many places to eat and drink in over there you don't need all the benefits of a hotel.

    If you want transfers it might be easier to go through a travel agent, I don't really know. I'm sure you could book them online somehow, but depending on where you're staying relative to the golf and airport, taxis might be just as easy. Or you could hire a people carrier and split the cost. I was there with a group of 32 and golf transfers were included and were great, I've been there with smaller groups and done car hire and loved the flexibility. No right or wrong answer really, depends on what ye want and what the budget is.
    There are so many other things to see/do in Florida as well as the golf, it depends on how much other stuff you want to do.

    Are ye dead set on Florida ? You could also look at Myrtle Beach, much more golf orientated.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,882 ✭✭✭Golfgraffix


    kenkin wrote: »
    Thanks for the info so far lads, should we stay in a hotel or a condo?, and is it possible to get airport and golf transfers?

    I would go for car hire myself, much more flexibility, as already mentioned there is so much more to do than just golf, even the golf shopping is good.

    J


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 761 ✭✭✭Dayor Knight


    I would go for car hire myself, much more flexibility, as already mentioned there is so much more to do than just golf, even the golf shopping is good.

    J

    Agree about the car hire. Have been there a couple of times in January. Lovely golf in Naples. Service is great. If you're flexible about what time of day you play, very reasonable. Some great outlets for shopping if you have car to get around. Love it. Hoping to head there again next Easter. Pricey flights at that time but there ya go. Keeping an eye on the airline sales ...


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 761 ✭✭✭Dayor Knight


    kenkin wrote: »
    Thanks for the info so far lads, should we stay in a hotel or a condo?, and is it possible to get airport and golf transfers?

    If you have your dates, look at booking a condo/ hotel room through AlphaRooms or something similar. Can get v. good prices if taking a unit for 4 people or more..... Advance booking is the key.


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 18,335 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    Deffo car hire, I just stuck in a random week in October and a 7 Passenger Minivan: Dodge Grand Caravan comes out at £161 with everything included with Alamo. Driving in FL is a breeze.

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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 241 ✭✭kenkin


    Thanks for all the help.
    We have not decided on a date yet but will do so soon.
    Car hire makes sense alright. We decided on Orlando only because we can fly direct with Aer Lingus. We might look at staying somewhere near I Drive purely because of bars and restaurants
    Once again thanks to all for the input


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 758 ✭✭✭ShivasIrons


    How much are you willing to play per round?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 122 ✭✭Dave_


    Another option is an all in resort with multiple courses. Went with my local society to http://www.grandcypress.com in February and it was class. You stay on site so no need for taxis or getting up early to get everyone to a course that's an hour away. The courses were great (3*9 holes, and a championship 18) with a tonne of variety and some food & entertainment options close by as well as the opportunity to go to Orlando or Disney for better night life for the younger guys on the tour.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,445 ✭✭✭sky6


    If you can be flexible on date October is a great Month as Temperatures are lower more like what were able to handle 80 to 90 but without the humidity. You have to have a car as the distances are huge. Int Drive is 20 mile long. Although it's not all built on. ) A better location is I 92 or Irlo Bronson Highy giving it it's full title. Hotels generally cheaper than Int Dr. Shops closer together and great.
    Golf, Plenty of courses with high and low prices. The low priced ones are as good as some of our best.
    Food is plentiful and cheap with Buffet restaurants and Chinese Buffets. You can eat well on 10 to 15 Euro a day.

    The only thing I would say is it could be a great trip provided everyone behaves themselves. they don't have a sense of Humour like us and you wouldn't get away with behaving like in Spain. General buffoonery and messing about will be met by being carted away by local police.
    Drunkenness is rare to find and not really acceptable. Fines can be Hefty.
    Also anyone with any kind of a record or unemployed probably won't pass immigration. Would you be comfortable with leaving someone behind at the airport.

    All things to consider. But nowhere else better for a Holiday. As money goes further over there. Especially a Golf holiday.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,882 ✭✭✭Golfgraffix


    Very true, Florida is generally quite conservative so it won't be a wild trip. Some good bars and clubs in City Walk in Universal and you can always finish the trip with a good steak and very modest dancing girls at Rachel's on the way the airport.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 290 ✭✭carnsoreboxer


    http://www.teeoff.com

    This is a great site for discounted green fees in Florida. Have used it many times and when our clubs didn't appear Stateside and I'd to cancel a round they were superb about giving me the same deal when they did eventually arrive - 8 days later!!!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 241 ✭✭kenkin


    Strikegolf, pm sent


  • Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 18,335 Mod ✭✭✭✭slave1


    Depending on your numbers you could also look at renting a villa as there are many many options open to you and with high numbers the cost per person drops dramatically, it would have the advantage of a private pool as well as a more causal 'living at home' feeling.
    Personally I would not touch I Drive as you are into heavy traffic at most times of the day and certainly at 'rush hour' its just brutal, we always stay around Linfields just off the extreme west end of the US192 aka West Irlo Bronson Highway and it is very light on traffic and loads of restaurant options.

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