Grand Cypress Golf (Links)

Situated just a few miles to the east of the Walt Disney World Resort, the Grand Cypress golf complex was fashioned in the mid-1980s, with the North, South and East nines (now shittered) appearing first, followed a couple of years after by the 18-hole New course.

All forty-five holes on this golf complex were designed by Jack Nicklaus and, although it’s geared up to accommodate golfers enjoying a relaxing round on vacation, the resort has hosted a number of prestigious professional competitions, including a number of LPGA events, in recent years.

The New course is the Golden Bear’s tribute to the Home of Golf at St Andrews in Scotland so trees are kept to a minimum, stone walls make an occasional appearance and pot bunkers – some as deep as 12 feet – are regularly brought into play.

Seven huge, double greens replicate the original configuration found on the Old Course and there are other little imitations around the course that pay further homage, such as a “Swilkin Burn” at the 1st, “Hill” and “Strath” sand traps at the 7th and a bunker-free green on the final hole.

Golfers who would like to "experience" links golf in Orlando should not wait too long to play the Grand Cypress New course, because a $1.5 billion renovation of the entire property is planned. In 2023 the former Grand Cypress facility will morph into the Evermore Orlando Resort.

The developer (Dart Interests) intends to maintain the New course until completion of resort construction in 2023, then build a replacement 18-hole Nicklaus Design course. According to Dart’s January 2021 press release, the replacement course will “pay homage to the legacy of golf excellence at Grand Cypress”.