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Grand Cypress North Course
Here are some facts about Jack Nicklaus you may not know: Most Powerful Person in Golf 2004-07, PGA Professional Hall of Fame Inductee 2006, Golfer of the Century/Millennium, Best Individual Male Athlete of the 20th Century, 73 Official PGA Tour Victories, 58 Second Place or Ties, 36 Third Place or Ties, 105 Victories Around the World, 18 PGA Tour “Major Championship Titles” and 20 Hole in One’s.
The Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland is the “Home of Golf” where golf was first played 600 years ago. The first written record of golf being played at the Old Course dates all the way back to 1574. The Swilcan Bridge, spanning the 1st and 18th holes, has become a recognized icon for golf across the world. The Old Course is unique because the course can be played in either direction, clockwise or counter-clockwise. The famed 17th “Road Hole,” where golfers using the back tee cannot see where their shots land, forces players to take aim over a corner of The Old Course Hotel. Golfers all around the world have named the Old Course as “One of the most sought after rounds of golf”… ever!
Out of all the golf courses in the world that Jack Nicklaus has played, why did this links legend choose Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, Florida as his tribute and homage to the famed Old Course? I’m not sure I’ll ever know the answer to that, but I can tell you that, as someone who has played both the Old Course in Scotland and the New Course at Grand Cypress, Cypress was as close to the real thing, i.e., the Old Course, as it gets. My golf vacation in Orlando, Florida would definitely be something to remember.
Mickey Mouse, Epcot, SeaWorld, and Universal Studios drive the tourism industry in Orlando. To have your picture taken in front of Magic Kingdom with a background of nightly fireworks and have your name embroidered on a pair of Mickey Mouse ears seems to be the dream of starry-eyed children (and adults!) around the world.
My dream was to stand on the Swilcan Bridge and wave like Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, and so many others as they made their final sojourn up the 18th fairway of the Old Course. There was no way I was going to be able to convince seven of my friends to hop on a plane to Scotland and enter the lottery for a chance to play The Old Course, so I booked a 4-day, 3-night golf vacation to Grand Cypresswith 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Golf that included lodging in a 4-bedroom villa complete with 8 beds, a full kitchen, and a screened in porch perfect for the late afternoon Single Malt and Double Madero Cigar!
I have great friends. Every encounter starts with bear hugs, high fives, chest bumps, and now what seems to be a growing fad in college football – a tribute to Walter Payton…Jumping Chest Bumps. Ok, so the vertical jump of all my friends (and me too!) has drastically reduced over the last few years, and we seem to have more grey hairs appearing, but the love for great golf has stayed constant. It’s that love that was the catalyst that got all of us together for a great golf vacation.
Upon checking in (on a Thursday), the super friendly staff went over the amenities of the resort. As we listened, my friends and I noticed that Greg, one of our group, was nowhere to be found. It didn’t take long to find him. As if we were a group of deer caught in the headlights of a huge truck, we all turned around, and there he was….pouring his own drink from the complimentary full bar. We wouldn’t have expected anything less from Greg. It was nice to unwind. Some of us had come from as far as San Francisco, and the only way to get ahead of jet lag is to slow down.
4 Bedroom Villa with 8 Beds
We arrived at the Villa, and everyone scrambled and jumped on their beds. Yep, we’re just a bunch of frat boys at heart! We looked like a bunch of cats that found a bag of cat nip. Each person immediately claimed their rooms and their roommates. Of course, those buddies of mine each looked at me disapprovingly with a look of, “Hey how come we didn’t each get our own room?” I laid down the law. After all, we were there to play golf, play more golf, and, when it was impossible to play any more golf, YES, we’ll play one more round!
We decided we’d take the first evening to just relax. I usually like to play an arrival round on most of my trips, but this time it seemed appropriate to run up to the local grocery store and buy handmade subs with a few cases of beer and catch up on old times. After a few hands of Texas Holdem, it was early to bed, because tomorrow at 9:00am we were going to be teeing off on the same holes the LPGA plays for their championship the first week in December!
South Course
Friday morning came and we had elected to play the North and South Courses first. Each 9 holes offer a test on how well you can make shots. There are sharply edged fairways, tall shaggy mounds, and plateau greens above water and sand. We spent most of the time basking in how nice it was to be right in the middle of everything Orlando had to offer but feeling as if we disappeared from the world once we came through the gates. There wasn’t one house on any of the holes, and there was wildlife all around. I have always said, “It’s the little things that make all the difference in a golf course. You can drastically improve any golfer’s experience by just edging the sand traps.” And, this place proved me right. It was heaven on Earth!
When I write reviews about courses I visit, management usually encourages me to talk about how this award and that award is proof of how much service and dedication they give to the satisfaction of their guests. I could rattle on about how The Villas of Grand Cypress is a AAA Four Diamond Resort, but what matters most to me is what resorts do when the occupancy is low. I have been to many resorts all over the world, and so many times, when they are at low occupancy, they drop many of their amenities to make their bottom line healthier.
I will tell you first hand, Grand Cypress provided everything. Could they have saved a few dollars by not setting up the full complimentary bar upon arrival? Yep, but to the staff at Grand Cypress, guest experience is at the top of their list of duties. I talked to the Golf Sales Manager, and he said, “We are honored to have guests choose Grand Cypress as their destination, and we want to make sure they get everything they expect and pay for!”
Friday evening, we went to a local sports bar right up the road called The Ale House. If you have not had their Zinger Melts then you have not lived! They are deep fried chicken strips in whatever sauce your taste buds can imagine, with melted cheese, scallions, and sour cream. Yum! Served with buckets of beer and many on tap, and high-definition TV’s broadcasting sports from all around the world, they are truly the best!
New Course
We all looked forward to Saturday. A few of the guys had earlier flights on Sunday afternoon so it was important to make sure that they wouldn’t miss their opportunity to stand on the replica of the Swilcan Bridge. When we rounded the corner of the first tee, it was as if we left palm-tree Florida behind and were transported to Scotland. The starter came out and greeted us in traditional knickers. He asked if we have ever played Scottish-style links. Turns out only two of us had.
We could not see the course because of the elevated tee box. He explained how the course moves in a Clockwise and Counter Clockwise motion and that certain landmarks were direct replicas of The Old Course. We drove up the first tee and the entire golf course lay majestically below. You could look directly down the first hole and see the next 7 holes. Double greens, gorse mounds, burns, and stone bridges were all around the first tee. It was everything that Jack Nicklaus wanted to bring across. It truly was an opportunity to experience many features of the Old Courseitself.
New Course
After a fantastic round of golf and a quick shower, it was off to an evening of fun at theGrand Hyatt. One phone call, and within 10 minutes, a shuttle showed up at our front door. Just a few miles and we were entering the Hyatt. The Hyatt has charging privileges back to Grand Cypress, and we were looking forward to a nice dinner and an evening of entertainment.
We stopped at the Sushi bar where we were entertained by the Sushi chef, Asanuma Yoshio, or, as they call him… Chef Yoshi. The sushi bar features Nigiri Sushi, Makimono, as well as a Japanese microbrewery with six different kinds of Sake. After some sushi appetizers, it was time for the boys to eat. We wanted seafood, and there’s no better place than Hemingway’s. I heard rumors that the Mangrove Snapper with chorizo, clams, and sofrito was something to try. The rumors were right! Everything from Florida Rock Shrimp Chowder, Cornmeal Crusted Oysters, and Herb Basted Diver Scallops filled the table along with many bottles of Vino! It was great!
My friends and I concluded the evening with a heavy hand of cards and lots of laughs. The next morning, we played the East course followed by the North. The East course is the sportier, more-wooded nine holes of golf. It has fewer bunkers, and the greens are not as protected. It’s possible to shoot for the front of the green and let the ball roll up.
If I were to summarize our experience at Grand Cypress in one word, that word would be… “Experience.” I believe experience is exactly what Jack Nicklaus was trying to bring across the pond to golfers who wanted to wet their “golfing whistle.” I believe if you are looking for an experience, the Villas of Grand Cypress and the Grand Cypress Golf Club should be at the top of your next Florida golf vacation list.
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