COURSE
REVIEW
The National at
Championsgate:
Too much makeup
on an ugly woman
By Tim McDonald,
National Golf Editor
ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 25, 2004) - You would think a golf resort that wants to challenge the best golf destinations in the world could come up with something better than The National course at Championsgate.
In an area top-heavy with primo courses, the National just doesn't measure up.
"It's like a muni on steroids," said one golfer playing it for the first time, who wished to remain anonymous. "They should give you the option of wearing a helmet."
The course indeed seems to be searching for an identity - and a logical layout. The 7,128-yard layout is set amidst 200 acres of former citrus groves, thereby giving it a certified Sunshine State badge, but never really makes any sort of statement. Bland is the word that comes to mind.
"The course is a bit different," said Calvin Smith of Scotland, also playing it for the first time. "It's not what I expected. I pulled up in the car park and saw how wide open it was and thought it looked a bit like what we have in the UK. It's kind of disjointed, not very well defined."
Maybe Australian architect Greg Norman didn't know what to do with all those orange trees. There are places along the course, on the other side of the fence, where you can almost reach out and pick an orange, but this doesn't look or feel like a Florida course.
It looks and feels like a course that was built by a developer wanting to cut costs.
No.
14 is an exception. The 210-yard par-3 overlooks a wetland jungle, with
the flag just barely visible above the growth. The hole is framed by
pines on the left and dense trees on the right; you have to shoot the
gap to reach the green, which is big and backed by a sweeping bunker
and woods.
"This is a very picturesque hole," Smith said. "But, you look around and it doesn't even seem to be part of the same course."
Steve Pike of south Florida pointed out the various native grasses growing around the fairway bunkers.
"That's just sloppy," he said. "They did that because it's easier to maintain."
Norman has done great design work - much of it in Florida - but this is not one of his better efforts.
What the course does have in spades is bunkers: it's bunker derby out there. It's as if, lacking drama in the landscape (and possibly, money for the blueprint) he was forced to install as many bunkers as he could cram in to force-feed a little personality onto the course. It's like an ugly woman putting on too much makeup.
The National does have its attributes; it isn't all bad. Water comes into play on a half-dozen holes and all four par-3s are challenging: each plays more than 200 yards from the tips.
And there are some holes that will frustrate the distance-challenged among us: two par-5s on the back nine average 630 yards.
The verdict
This course does not live up to expectations, especially a course with the Norman stamp on it and one on the grounds of the massive, new Omni Hotel.
The Omni offers business travelers "sensible luxury." Maybe it's contagious: the National has a business-like quality to it, and too little imagination.
This isn't to say you should completely avoid it. The course has its charms, only they're few and far between. In the Orlando area, there are dozens of better courses.
Stay
and play
The new Omni opened on time and on schedule this fall, which is amazing feat considering central Florida was a magnet for hurricanes this past summer.
It is a huge resort, with aspirations to be one of the best golf destination in the country, and it isindeed an impressive result.
Minutes from Walt Disney World, the Omni is roughly twice the size of normal Omnis, with 730 rooms. It's the centerpiece of the master-planned community of Championsgate.
The hotel advertises itself as the "first true golf destination resort designed with the meeting market in mind," and it's hard to argue with its 70,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 25,000 square feet Grand Ballroom and 20,000 square feet Junior Ballroom. It can handle groups up to 2,000.
The four star/four diamond resort is the headquarters of the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, and has an ample, first-class practice facility.
It's aimed at golfers, but there is plenty for non-golfers to do, first and foremost being the 10,000 square feet European spa: one recent spa-goer said the massage she received was the best she'd ever had.
There is also a fitness center, outdoor heated pool, family pool with waterslides, an 850-foot "lazy river," nature walks, jogging trails, tennis, volleyball and basketball courts.
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Dining out
You may want to dine in. The resort has seven food and beverage outlets on the property, including the Zen restaurant, serving pan-Asian dishes, and Trevi's, which specializes in Italian.
There is also a sports bar and grill, a deli, a clubhouse restaurant and a poolside bar and grill.
Fast fact
The resort hosted the first Home Depot Father/Son Challenge earlier this year.
Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.
