Don't bother filling your divots at Grand Cypress' North-South Course - just play

By Tim McDonald,
Contributor

ORLANDO, Fla. - Two of the critiques of Jack Nicklaus's golf course designs are that he never met a bulldozer he didn't like, and that he designs courses to suit his style of play, that long draw he hit to near-perfection.

Well, in flat Florida, moving dirt isn't always a bad thing. Witness the North-South course at Grand Cypress villas.

The course, the original layout of the 45 holes of exclusive Nicklaus design, has tall, shaggy mounds and elevated, turtleback greens that often overlook sand and water.

Without that bulldozer, you'd have another flat course that can be found just about anywhere in the golf course-crazy peninsula.

"A lot of dirt was moved making these courses, a lot of mounding and a lot of undulation through the fairways, and not too often do you get that straight lie,"said head pro Jason Tomaras.

If you like your courses al naturel, you might tend to avoid the North-South course, but if you like dramatic movement in a land that doesn't have it naturally, you'll like this course.

It has rolling fairways and some elevated tees to go with the greens. No. 6 in particular stands out. It's a long par-5, 570 yards from the back tees, that wraps around a lake to a green elevated about 15 feet, which drops off sharply to water. It's a crowd-pleaser and thought-provoking to anyone from a scratch golfer to the high-handicapper.

The course also has wide, generous fairways that gives you options with a fair amount of risk/reward.

"Jack never made anything ridiculously tight, so you have options," Tomaras said. "There are some people who appreciate some of Jack's design techniques and the fact that, unlike some other designers, it's not real tight. You don't have too many 10-yard landing areas in the fairways but there is still plenty of challenge. I think people respect that."

Nicklaus' draw is evident here, but not to the point where it overwhelms you.

"I know Jack cut the ball a lot, that was his strength, but that's not the case on every hole here," Tomaras said. "I think the great thing about Jack's designs are that they aren't tailored to one kind of golfer."

He might get some argument there, but one thing that isn't up for debate is the course's conditioning: it is one of the most well-groomed courses in central Florida.

"I feel like I'm at a theme park," said Nathaniel Eberle, playing the course for the first time.

The conditioning is so good, in fact, that they don't want amateurs fooling around with it. Unlike most golf clubs, the carts here don't have sand in them to fill your own divots. Leave that to superintendent Tom Alex and the grounds crew; they're at it every morning.

"You're coming out here to enjoy the golf and we'll take care of the golf course," Tomaras said.

There are a number of memorable holes, like both finishing holes on the two nines which are fairly long par-4s - the 435-yarder on the north course and the 463-yarder on the south. Both slide by the lake going toward the clubhouse, and both can be complicated by cross winds.

No. 5 on the North course, a 450-yard, slight dogleg left, can be cut, putting you either about 150 yards out or up to 210, depending on how brave and accurate you are.

No. 5 on the South is a near-drivable par-4, a gentle dogleg right with a lot of bunkers and grass on the left, and a long bunker right. Poke it good here and you'll be on the fringe.

The Verdict

The North-South course is one of the more enjoyable plays in Orlando, a well-manicured, if slightly gussied up, layout that gives you a little room to work with off the tee, but challenges you in other areas.

Green fees are a little pricey, but not much out of whack for the Orlando area: $180 January through April, $115 May through September and $175 October through December.

Stay and Play

The Grand Cypress villas have club suites and one, two and three-bedroom Mediterranean style units with waterway and fairway views of the North course. The villas have twice-daily housekeeping, concierge and valet service, 24-hour room service, full kitchens, fireplaces, whirlpool tubs and private terraces.

There is plenty to do for the non-golfer: the villas have a renowned equestrian center, with scenic trail rides, lessons in dressage, a lighted, covered arena and riding instruction.

There are also 12 tennis courts - eight clay courts and four synthetic turf. The tennis facility features five lighted courts and daily clinics.

For non-tennis or golfers, there are exercise trails, swimming, hiking, biking, fishing and jogging on nature trails. The villas also provides transportation to nearby attractions.

Dining Out

The villas have seven full-service restaurants, five lounges and two poolside snack bars. The Black Swan is the ritzy one - try the jumbo prawns stuffed with crab meat and coated with a tempura and cocoanut batter.

The Club and White Horse are sports bars, La Coquina has a great Sunday brunch and Hemingways tries for the old Key West flavor.

Cascades has a giant statue of a mermaid and is a two-story, atrium-style restaurant.

Fast Fact

Grand Cypress officials are hoping Nicklaus will design another nine at the resort one day. "We have the land and we'd like to add nine more holes," Tamaras said. "And if we can get Jack to come out and do something, maybe that would be kind of a swan song. I know he's not doing a lot of that any more, but we'd love to have 54 Jack Nicklaus holes."

April 22, 2005

Veteran golf writer Tim McDonald keeps one eye on the PGA Tour and another watching golf vacation hotspots and letting travelers in on the best place to vacation.

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management.