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Orlando is a great vacation spot, but stop by the ATM first for the tolls

Wednesday May 23, 2007 | 15:29:19 295 words, 5422 views
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Orlando is a great place for a family vacation and a great destination in general, but of all the big cities I’ve searched for golf courses in, it has to rank near the bottom.

I think it may even be worse than Houston, which hilariously doesn’t have any zoning laws, and where roads and streets switch names at random and for no discernible reason.

You absolutely, positively will not get lost trying to find Disney World in Orlando – I think I saw a bright, neon Disney World sign in my hotel bathroom – but looking for a street address anywhere else in the city is like trying to find someone of integrity in Michelle Wie’s entourage.

Then there are the toll roads. You can’t go down the street to the 7-11 without hitting a toll road in Orlando. You better hit the ATM before driving in Orlando. Pretty soon, you’ll have to pay a toll to walk down the sidewalk.

The problem, of course, is growth. Orlando is the Big Bang of uncontrolled growth. Florida is growing by leaps and bounds and Orlando is the epicenter.

The Orange County Expressway Authority keeps throwing up toll roads, telling everyone it needs the money to build more, more, more roads for the billions of tourists and new residents. Residents are already griping about all the toll roads that pay for yet other toll roads that hardly anyone uses.

“Additionally, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that Florida will become the third largest state in the nation, surpassing New York by the year 2020, and putting even more stress on our already overcrowded roads,” Johnny Duncan wrote in the Orlando magazine, Insight.

If you’re playing a golf course in Orlando for the first time, leave an hour early and bring cash.


Comments:

Comment from: Brandon Tucker [Member] Email · http://www.worldgolf.com/blogs/brandon.tucker
did you miss a tee time, Tim?
Permalink 05/23/07 @ 16:18
Comment from: GolfLady [Visitor]
Golf in Orlando IS great. I have been many times. Who cares if you have to pay a couple of bucks to get to the courses!? IT IS WORTH IT. (By the way, don't all major cities have toll roads today. I would think this is a problem in many cities and not just Orlando.)
Permalink 12/07/07 @ 13:50
Comment from: Steve [Visitor] Email
I actually love Orlando Golf Courses--Orlando truly is a golf mecca! The old days goes you get what you pay for. I've lived in orlando my whole life and toll roads just make things easier--why not pay a few bucks? I definitely reccomend Orlando golf!
Permalink 12/07/07 @ 13:58
Comment from: Tim McDonald [Member] Email
You guys wouldn't happen to be members of the Orlando Chamber of Commerce by any chance, would you?

Permalink 12/07/07 @ 14:03
Comment from: Steve [Visitor] Email
Nope--just happy to be in Orlando! You know what as for toll roads and tourism--necessity to the orlando economy! By the way when you rank Orlando near the "bottom" of golf course destinations where are you playing to create your rankings---Pirates Cove?!
Permalink 12/07/07 @ 14:27
Comment from: Tim McDonald [Member] Email
I wasn't referring to the Orlando golf scene. Orlando is a great golf town. But, they haven't done a good job of manging the explosive growth.
Permalink 12/07/07 @ 14:39
Comment from: Mike Jamison [Visitor] Email
Tim,
There is a reason why so many people come to Orlando for a golf vacation.
The outstanding golf experiences in Central Florida are well worth a little
extra time on the roads. Also, I can't think of a golf course here that
requires driving on a toll road to get to.
About those "griping" residents: They'd probably change their tune if they
were reminded that toll roads exist because residents don't have to pay
state income taxes that would otherwise fund road construction.
When you call us again to set up golf for you, remind me and I will make
sure we include a driver to whisk you around from course to course.

Happy Holidays
Mike
Permalink 12/07/07 @ 22:33

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