Grand Cypress Resort's New Course - Orlando, Florida
ORLANDO, Fla. - The New Course at Grand Cypress Resort is Jack Nicklaus' tribute to the Old Course at St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf.
While it's not a copy hole-for-hole, the feel of the golf course does indeed invoke the feel of the Old Course. There are seven double greens, ala the Old Course. The first and the 18th run side by side in true links fashion, just as they do at St. Andrews, and the holes pretty much do replicate the opening and closing holes of the Scottish original.
There's a burn (or creek) that crosses in front of the green on No. 1 and 18th fairway, both holes basically share a super-wide fairway, and players must negotiate Grand Cypress' version of the Valley of Sin on the way to the 18th green.
There's also the notion that you can basically hit it anywhere on the New Course and still play the ball since there is no significant rough. That's not entirely true, however, when you consider the scores of difficult pot bunkers and a few water hazards that will catch errant shots. In general, though, you can spray the driver and get away with it. The real fun starts on and around these undulating greens and their closely-cropped surrounds. Bring plenty of imagination and short-game skill, and you'll have a lot of fun.
Kiel Christianson:
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Jason Scott Deegan:
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