ORLANDO, FL – Just three weeks to the day after Hurricane Irma hit Central Florida, the playing conditions at the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club were perfect.
Coming from up north to witness this remarkable recovery at the Rees Jones-designed championship course confirmed that visitors can rest assured that playing a round there is as good as it gets, given the setting combining two iconic brands, a Waldorf Astoria encircled by the Walt Disney World Resort.
Being just a well-struck hybrid from Epcot elevates the experience, which is a magical journey through an 18-hole 7,108-yard course featuring a challenging Par 72 layout with tons of traps surrounding often-elevated undulated greens, while of course featuring Florida’s trademark lakes throughout.
Not only were there no restrictions driving the cart during our round, the GPS was so user-friendly that we were even able to order lunch and have it delivered to us on the ninth fairway.
This was just one of numerous examples of the excellent customer service under Director of Golf Rob Turner, which began with seamlessly setting up the tee-time and ended with welcome facial ice-towels presented the moment we ended our round.
An ending that featured finishing holes played alongside not only the wonderful Waldorf Astoria Orlando resort, but also its neighboring sister property, the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, with both providing playing privileges just steps away at the Pro Shop.
A walk worth taking since top golf publications have named it Top Courses You Can Play and the Best Public Course in Florida.
That’s likely because in addition to being a true test for golfers at any level with a five-tee system, complete with hole names like Sir Harry and Park Avenue, the huge wetland preserve also offers a serene natural beauty with tall pines and cypress trees alongside the fairways.
Fortunately, only a few on the far side of the cart paths were uprooted by the hurricane, which were the only reminder that a generational event of nature had occurred a mere 21 days earlier.
THE SKINNY
Resort Name: Waldorf Astorio Orlando
Course Name: Waldorf Astorio Golf Club
Architect: Rees Jones
Amenities: Full Pro Shop, Driving Range, Putting Green, Teaching Academy
Restaurant: Clubhouse Grille
Vitals: Par 72, 18 Holes
Tees/Yards: Pro: 7,108, Blue: 6,657, White: 6,301, Green: 5,998, Silver: 5,179
Website: Waldorfastoriaorlando.com
