Bay Hill C&L - Fat Guy's Guide to Golf, Beer, Wings, and Life

Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Orlando, FL

www.bayhill.com

Golf Magazine, 2/10

T&L Golf

Fat Guy Notes: You used to see Tiger winning Bay Hill on TV nearly every year, so I'll spare you the accolades. Every golfer knows this is Arnie's Florida retirement lair.
I did some brief research into playing Bay Hill in 2008, and discovered mandatory stays at the pricey resort to book a tee time, to go along with greens fees in the $250-$325 range. By all means, if you can afford it and aren't obligated to stay at Disney World because of the kids, then go ahead and book it. Bay Hill's three tough finishing holes are among the most respected on Tour. If you're in town to do Mickeyland with the kids in tow, forget it. Save this one for an empty nester weekend with the wife once the kids are in college (at which point you'll be too broke paying for college to afford it).

Golf Magazine's Top 100 You Can Play Up Close: Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club

Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club
Orlando, Fla.
7,381 yards, par 72
Green fees: $100-$185 (hotel guests only)
407-876-2429
www.bayhill.com

Tiger Woods has hoisted six Bay Hill champion's crowns, but make no mistake: this course still belongs to the King. Arnold Palmer purchased Bay Hill more than 30 years ago and has been tweaking the layout ever since, including making substantial changes in 2009. Ranked No. 54 in our Top 100 Courses You Can Play, Bay Hill is a 1961 Dick Wilson design that has Palmer footprints all over it.

The mostly flat track defends par on every hole with an exhausting array of bunkers, lakes and length. Forced carries throughout makes Bay Hill play every inch of its formidable yardage. New for 2010 are rebuilt greens, shaved-down greenside roughs to create chipping areas and propped-up bunkers that are closer to the greens and more visually intimidating. It's hard to imagine making the par-3 17th and par-4 18th any harder — both sport scary approaches over water to slender greens — but check back next year. As long as Arnie's breathing, he's tinkering.

T&L Golf Review:
BAY HILL CLUB & LODGE, CHAMPIONSHIP
9000 Bay Hill Boulevard, Orlando; 407-876-2429, www.bayhill.com. YARDAGE: 7,267. PAR: 72. SLOPE: 140. ARCHITECT: Arnold Palmer, 1961. GREENS FEES: $207-$378. T+L GOLF Rating: *****

Paying homage to the guy who put professional golf on the map is part of the reason Tour players want to compete in the Bay Hill Invitational every March, but it is more than mere obligation. Like the King, the place exudes a genuine bonhomie. In a similar vein, most of us amateurs will get a kick out of playing holes we have seen the pros play on television—for example, the croissant-shaped sixth, a 558- yard par five ringing a lake, or the eighteenth, a 441-yard par four with water impinging on the right—while forgetting that the Championship eighteen, played from the appropriate set of tees, also doubles as a very enjoyable resort course. The place says golf, right down to the forecaddies required for any group of three or more lodge guests.

Best Bar Nearby: Golf Magazine digs Bay Hill's Member's Club. This is Arnie's house, so order Arnie's drink. A half-and-half mix of lemonade and iced tea is known around the country as an Arnold Palmer. But in this plush bar and lounge, with deep leather chairs and warm wooden touches, they simply call it a Palmer Tee ($3). Fat Guy Note: For a stronger version, order a John Daly-- a double shot of Firefly Sweet Tea vodka mixed with lemonade; if they don't carry Firefly, downshift to a Palmer with a shot of lemon vodka.

Where To Booze & Grub, Orlando: See Fat Guy's Disney Golf/Familiy Weekend