Has anyone played the course near Orlando that plays like a Scottish links?
Bradley:
I finally got out. First round since Jack's arrival. At your suggestion, I played St. Cloud. It is about an hour from my house, but I'll go back.
Here are a few thoughts on the topic I introduced...
The New at Grand Cypress is hardly a Scottish experience. Overwatered, enormous resort, and immaculate grasses. "Inspired" by the Old Course, only in that the holes are bunkered and they have some of the green doubling.
Imagine a small town where the locals can convene in a small clubhouse for an affordable ($35 peak with golf car) experience on decent conditions. (Greens were awesome, BTW.) The layout is rock hard and treeless. A few ponds, but such are the environmental constraints of today. Plus, the course is named for the town where it is located - you don't see that anymore.
Which city has yet to be swallowed by Orlando's growth? That will change in about 5 more years, but for now it is the rural community closest to Orlando (actually tied with Mount Dora). Clermont, Kissimmee, and Apopka are now in the Orlando area, but this town is still rather distinct.
Saint Cloud Golf Club is pioneering in it's retro-ness. Remember when you played on the town's course where you lived. Everything since then has been targeting the upper-scale market, but not SCGC. I had a good time and know Brad did when he played it in November. My tease was to see how many people would say the New. C'mon, does that actually play like a Scottish links?
I think Brad is working on a similar concept for Bloomfield. The world needs more courses like it.
A guy who builds courses worked out a lease from the city and assembled an ownership group. That makes it quasi-municipal? That's what I'll call it.
Because he is familiar with construction costs, the result is a very basic layout. It makes for an enjoyable round, but would probably not offer sufficient challenge for today's college player unless windy. Fortunately for us, it was real breezy yesterday.
"Faux links on an open brownfield" pretty well sums it up. A lot of people (on this board, but unfortunately nowhere else!
) say they want to play on conditions like this. Not one tree and not one blade of rough. Just good hard turf as a playing ground.
Don't expect too much if you go; I'd hate to have someone expecting something it's not. But if you are looking for an interesting example of a course that isn't trying to get players to "ratchet-up" (like when the casino is busy and gets $5 players on $10 tables and $50 players on $100 tables) to pay more than they really want, go see St. Cloud.
Also, if you are wondering what a course would cost if you DIDN'T follow the convention of everything you are "supposed" to be doing to compete with the glitzy stuff, go see St. Cloud.
On my deciling system, it probably rates a 6th decile - firmly average when compared to everything in Florida. The price is below, so the value is above.
Sadly, it stands out in our area as one of very few modern courses targeting this market.
It tips at about 7100 yards, but with the hard ground and open space affected by winds holes can play much different than the posted number.
By the way, what is the green fee at the New? Seems like a lot of you have played it. I only have played it in events and when I worked there. I think it runs close to $200 in the winter, so $35 for a course I like almost as much seems like a steal.