Orlando Golf News

The 8th annual Special Olympics Golf Classic presented by Publix was held at ChampionsGate Golf Club on May 15th and 16th. The sold out tournament was supported by more than 60 sponsors and raised a record amount of revenue for the athletes of Special Olympics Florida. The event kicked off with a reception Friday night hosted by MillerCoors and presented by Golf Channel.

More than 150 guests enjoyed great food and drink, and spirited competition. Master of ceremonies, Golf Channel’s Adam Barr, managed the evening’s events which featured four golf challenges: Putting Championship, Glow-in-the-Dark Long Drive Contest, Par 3 Team Championship and a Closest-to-the-Pin Shootout. There were many highlights, but the most impressive stroke was played by Paul Wise as he aced the 5th hole.

A countless number of golfers have experienced moments of euphoria on the 9th green at ChampionsGate Golf Club’s National Course, dropping birdie putts or making miraculous par saves. But it wasn’t anything like the emotion felt when Chris Smith dropped to one knee to propose to his college sweetheart, Nikki Waning.

On Friday April 17th the green at the par-4 403-yard 9th hole was the site of ChampionsGate’s first proposal and engagement. That’s right, she said yes.

ABD Development Company, recently opened three new luxury model homes at Heritage Green at Providence Golf & Country Club, the master planned, 2,200-acre community ABD is developing on U.S. 441 in the Loughman-Davenport area of Polk County.

David Kohn, president of ABD Development Company, said new four, five, six and seven-bedroom luxury homes at Heritage Green at Providence Golf & Country Club are priced from $490,000 and only three luxury ready-to-move-in homes remain to be sold.

The University Club of Orlando’s recent golf tournament at Eagle Creek Golf Club drew 108 entries and raised more than $8,000 for the University Club Foundation Scholarship Fund.
 
Petréa Litscher, communications and services director at the University Club of Orlando, said the University Club Foundation Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to Orlando-area students attending the University of Central Florida, Seminole Community College, Valencia Community College, the Hamilton Holt Graduate School of Business at Rollins College and Florida A & M University’s College of Law in Orlando.
 
The foursome Scott Fosgate, John Fosgate, Jimmy Gardner and Ron McPherson ranked as low gross winners of the tournament. 

The much ballyhooed TPC Sawgrass, headquarters of the PGA Tour and home of the Tour's richest tournament, The Players Championship, will be one of the two courses to host this year's Florida State Golf Association's Amateur Championship, June 25-28.

Sawgrass Country Club will share hosting duties. Sawgrass CC was designed by Ed Seay of Arnold Palmer Course Design.

It's true that opulence does exist within the section of society that strives to cut back on our environmental footprint. It can be costly to go green with expenditures like biodegradable shirts, hemp-fiber sheets and homes strapped with pricey solar panels. But the majority of us have a misconception about eco-friendly living; we equate going green with sacrifice of quality. For example, parting with our prized SUV's in favor of a hybrid equipped with less horsepower that gets more mileage per gallon.

Harmony Golf Preserve, which is just one component of the award-winning master-planned Town of Harmony, has shown a strong commitment to the environment, providing a sanctuary for wildlife on the golf course property as well as an unencumbered experience for players. Last year, Harmony Golf Preserve achieved its designation as a "Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary" through the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for golf courses.

Golfweek magazine recently kicked off its new Golfweek's Junior Series in Tampa, Fla., with Brandon Liu, 16, and Ericka Schneider, 17, both from Bradenton, Fla., taking the top spots at the event.

The tournament was the first of four qualifiers in the series, which offers a new generation of rising talent from across the country the chance to compete against their peers in Golfweek-ranked events.

Mystic Dunes Golf Club will offer a special low rate this summer to those in the emergency services community.

"Mystic Dunes wants to recognize this group of everyday heroes by inviting them to play the course at a very special discounted rate, as our way of thanking them for their service to our community," said Rick Smith, Mystic Dunes director of golf.

As a three-time host of the PGA Tour's rigorous Qualifying School Finals, Winter Garden's Orange County National Golf Club is one of the most recognizable and celebrated golf facilities in a city known for its outstanding golf courses.

Orange County National has yet another award to add to its growing total, as Zagat Survey again recognized its courses (Panther Lake and Crooked Cat) as two of America's top layouts in its recently released 6th edition of "The Ultimate Golfer's Guide."

ORLANDO, Fla. - ABD Development Company reports only five villa homes remain for sale at Lakeside Villas at Providence Golf & Country Club, located of U.S. 17-92 in the Loughman-Davenport area of Polk County.

David Kohn, president of ABD Development Company, said the five villa homes remaining range in size from 2,246 square feet to 3,000 square feet, priced from the high $200s.

Kohn said a three-bedroom model home is available for viewing. With 2,500 square feet of living space, the model is priced at $369,000.