photos from Central Florida: Southern Dunes, Lake Nona, World Woods Rolling Oaks

[Joe Bausch]

On a recent trip to Florida I played World Woods, Lake Nona, and Southern Dunes. 

First up in terms of photos to view is Southern Dunes in Haines City.  It came with good to very good recs and it did not disappoint.  Even though I always have trouble fully appreciating a course that is part of a housing development, I still found SD to be a well done and fun layout.  The green complexes were varied and the greens the best I've played in Florida.  The conditioning was at least a 9 out of 10 on my scale.  Here is a sample picture from the par 5 4th hole:



And another from the par 5 16th:



If you want to see the other 100+ pics I took w/ my commentary, go here:

http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Southern_Dunes/index.html

I hope they generate some discussion about this Steve Smyers layout.  It was 120 bucks to play 18, and the replay rate was 60 bucks so 36 at SD was cheaper than 36 at WW ($210).

[Tim Nugent]

okay, I'll bite.  Look hole #8 and #9 (pic's 41 and 46).  See the guy on the sand pro in #41?  Bet he spends alotof time on these 2 holes.  Why? It's out of play.  Could they do a bit less maintenance - produce a better look and save some $ in the process.  Maybe pass that savings along?  $120/rnd is a one time price.  My bet was that when Steve designed this, he put those in as low maintenance waste areas, now they are being maintained like formal bunker - they even edge them.  When will the madness end?

[Joe Bausch]

okay, I'll bite.  Look hole #8 and #9 (pic's 41 and 46).  See the guy on the sand pro in #41?  Bet he spends alotof time on these 2 holes.  Why? It's out of play.  Could they do a bit less maintenance - produce a better look and save some $ in the process.  Maybe pass that savings along?  $120/rnd is a one time price.  My bet was that when Steve designed this, he put those in as low maintenance waste areas, now they are being maintained like formal bunker - they even edge them.  When will the madness end?

Tim, that fellow w/ the motorized rake in the big bunker in photo #41...  Well, one guy in my group hit his vehicle not long after that photo was taken.  I kid you not... a big ole snap hook that took a couple of bounces off the firm sand and BAM, nailed him.

[Michael Dugger]

Do you have the other images up yet, Joe? 

Nice work so far, but I'm revved up to see World Woods and Lake Nona.

[Joe Bausch]

Do you have the other images up yet, Joe? 

Nice work so far, but I'm revved up to see World Woods and Lake Nona.

Michael, I do have the Lake Nona pics processed.  I happen to think the par 5's at LN (2, 9, 11, 15) are just wonderful.  Here is a pic from each of those holes:









Here is a link to all of the ~100 photos:

http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/Lake_Nona/index.html

[Joe Bausch]

Now a handful of photos from World Woods Rolling Oaks:









If you wish to view them all (100+), go here:

http://darwin.chem.villanova.edu/~bausch/images/World_Woods_RO/index.html

[Andy Hughes]

Joe, thanks for the pictures.  I actually found some of your older WW pics online several months ago (PB and RO).  What kind of shape was WW in?

[Joe Bausch]

Joe, thanks for the pictures.  I actually found some of your older WW pics online several months ago (PB and RO).  What kind of shape was WW in?

Good, but not great.  Some of the greens could have been better.

[Mark Bourgeois]

Joe thanks for the pics. Re SD it's nice to see so little water -- I think the course is one of the few that sits on the Florida Ridge though so it should be blessed with excellent terrain and great soils.  I would like to see less bunkering (esp FW bunkering) as the land should offer plenty of interest. It's almost like the bunkering is there as an apology for the lack of water...

[Michael Powers]

Thanks for the picks.  I always liked SD, especially before most of the houses were built.  I think Smyers is one of the more underrated GCA's out there.