I would second playing LBV. It’s going to be the easiest option for you. If you want to go off Disney property, Waldorf and Grand Cypress would be super easy and cheap Uber rides.
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It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I have a lot of fun everytime I play Grand Cypress New.
I don’t make a habit of raving about Nicklaus courses, his ‘max pain’ approach can be tiring. But the new course has some fun green run-off areas, and is actually fairly forgiving off the tee.
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Agreed with the exception of the approaches on 8 and 10; the burn gets in my head and I’ve deposited a ball or two into it.
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If you’re ok with getting off Disney property I just played Orange county national last week. Didn’t realize it’s where the Korn ferry finals were last year when I booked but was pleasantly surprised. Probably 30 minutes from Disney property.
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Additionally home to “the nation’s largest driving range”
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Yeah, both OCN courses are quite nice. Despite the potential “intimidation” of the KFT and other mini-tour qualifiers historically being held there, both tracks are quite playable.
Crooked Cat is my preference. It has short par-5s and long par-3s. From the tees I play (~6300 if I recall correctly), all of the par-5s are reachable with the longest being 484. 17 is my favorite as it’s a big dogleg right where you can cut the 'leg off the tee if you’re long. But you have to carry/avoid some trees to do it.
Panther Lake is also nice and similarly playable. And they have a short course there too (though I’ve never played it).
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Played Celebration last Saturday with my dad to celebrate his birthday. Course was in as rough of shape as I’ve ever seen it. Numerous tee boxes were dirt with patches of St. Augustine, with not a shred of Bermuda to be found. Fairways were OK, but several green surrounds were mostly loose sand/dirt. The greens were fair, but certainly not the traditional immaculate conditions from a few years ago.
I don’t know if prior maintenance practices were unsustainable for cost or environmental reasons, but this course needs some TLC.
What a shame, the one thing about that place is that it was always in solid condition.
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Yeah, it’s not in goat track territory yet, but it isn’t trending in the right direction. It was also CPO, which is understandable given it’s in such a low spot.
That’s definitely a bummer. As @Big_RanDeer said, the course itself is just OK (a little too target-golfy for me), but the price-to-condition ratio was always very good.
This same thing happened to Mystic Dunes at least a decade ago. I stopped going and haven’t made it back. It fell to “out of sight, out of mind” status for me.
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Loathe everything about that place.
Haha, good to know I’m not missing anything!
What other local spots are on the ups or downs lately? I play almost exclusively Dubsdread (live a mile from there and my son is in their Junior program) and WP9. As far as “big” courses go, I end up at Nona, Ritz, and Bay Hill somewhat often (relative to how often I play “big” courses) due to colleagues and their memberships.
Eagle Creek seems to be in decent shape when not underdoing maintenance. Rio Pinar is trying hard, but I just can’t bring myself to enjoy its dirt patches around the greens.
Anyone played North Shore lately? I used to play there a TON, but it’s been at least 5 years.
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I’m still trying to figure out how to play the updated course at Grand Cypress, allegedly it opened last month.
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FTFY 
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I’ve played it twice this summer and was pleased with the conditions; not amazing but not bad. I like the diversity between the front and back nines there.
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Eagle Creek punched last Monday, otherwise the rest of the course is in solid shape. They’ve got one more round of the small holes later this month I believe. I can’t see that place being in subpar condition anytime soon.
“Mystic Dunes” now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time…a long time.
First ever golf trip back in 07 and MD was far and away our favorite course. Playable, fun, great conditions. We went back in 11 and it was a different place. Run down and beat up. What a shame.
I would if I could!
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Legends in Clermont reopened a couple weeks ago and apparently is in solid shape. Booked a 4ball on Saturday at 2PM looking for one more to join myself and @bogeytax
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@PGA_ALLTHEWAY and I have one spot open on Monday at 8:15 am at the Deer Run course at Sun N Lakes if anyone wants to join.