Daytona Beach FL Golf Weekend
T&L Golf, Nov/Dec 2003 & 2006
Golf Magazine 1/06
From Nov/Dec 2006 T&L Golf:
DAYTONA BEACH
THE PLACE
Don’t be dissuaded by Daytona Beach’s party reputation; avoiding the masses is easy, and there are enough exciting, affordable courses here to satisfy serious golfers. More adventurous groups, however, will have little problem finding out why college students flock here every March on spring break.
PLAYING
LPGA International, Legends 386-274-5742; lpgainternational.com; $50-$75. Don’t be fooled by the name—this lovely Arthur Hills-designed course will eat erratic players alive with holes that jump across wetlands and snake through lakes and densely wooded areas.
LPGA International, Champions The longer holes on this Rees Jones–designed course are wide open and framed by mounds, but the undulating greens demand well-aimed approach shots and water threatens on ten of the holes.
Victoria Hills Golf Club 386-738-6000; stjoegolf.com; $69–$109. Ron Garl’s lovely Victoria Hills, twenty-two miles southwest of Daytona Beach in DeLand, rises and falls through the property’s mature pines and oaks with unusual grace. Sexy green complexes and several excellent short par fours add luster to this design, host of numerous state and local tournaments.
STAYING
The Shores Resort & Spa 386-767-7350; shoresresort.com; $139–$259/night. Located in the slightly less harried area of Daytona Beach Shores, this is a well-appointed hotel overlooking the Atlantic and within close range of the area’s nightlife and golf.
DINING
Ocean Deck Restaurant (Seafood); 386-253-5224. A spring-break institution, this oceanfront spot serves fresh seafood and has live reggae.
Stonewood Grill & Tavern (Steak); 386-671-1200. This is the original location of a popular chain known for its oak-grilled steaks and seafood.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Daytona International Speedway; 386-947-6800; daytonausa.com. Witness firsthand the incredible scale of what is arguably the world’s most famous racetrack by taking a tour or, better yet, catching a live event—NASCAR and motorcycle series races run through March.
From Nov/Dec 2003 T&L Golf article:
Traditionally known for Spring Break, the 500, hot rods, and bike week (and just 45 minutes east of Mickey), Daytona Beach has landed on the golfing map thanks to some recent course developments.
Where To Play & Stay: Think Nicklaus, the first oceanfront course in FL since 1929, a British Indies getaway, and a track like Royal Troon with better weather, and you've got Ocean Hammock GC&L (800-654-6538, $185-$205, Palm Coast). A fabulous parcel of sandy hammocks within sight and sound of the pounding surf. Using the earth from 10 manmade lakes to sculpt a prototype shoreline links, Nicklaus created a brilliant strategic test through scrub-covered dunes, oaks, and pines. Green shapes, bunker depths, and hole orientations were used to create a varied canvas that tests shot making to the max. The par-4 9th with rolling dunes framing the right side, is the real deal.
'07 T&L Golf Deal: Ginn Hammock Beach Resort, Palm Coast
The Deal
Stay & Play: choice of accommodations; one round at either Jack Nicklaus's Ocean course (formerly named Ocean Hammock) or Tom Watson's expansive, bunker-laden Conservatory course
The Golf
The Ocean course's four closing holes, known as the Bear Claw, are as challenging as their views are beguiling. Watson's new Conservatory course, which lies inland from the Atlantic, may be one of the toughest in the state.
Price*
From $189 per golfer, through December 31
Other Area Tracks To Play: Palm Coast Golf Resort (800-654-6538) guests can play Ocean Hammock and 4 other courses, ranging from decent (Palm Harbor) to well-above average (Matanzas Woods and Pine Lakes are brawny, open Palmer/Seay creations, and Gary Player's Cypress Knoll is the sleeper, short but enticing with narrow fairways and open-entry greens).
Muni-complex LPGA International (386-523-2001) features Rees Jones' Champions ($50-$95), which used to host an LPGA event. A versatile test with great variety of length, diversity of shot options, and green contours that reward accurate approaches. Strategic mounding and 100+ bunkers on this links-style gem. LPGA International's other 18 is Arthur Hills' Legends, featuring numerous forced water/marsh carries, narrow landing areas, and smaller, more undulating greens. It's more demanding than Champions.
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Best Spring Break Bar Nearby: Baja Beach Club (640 North Grandview Ave., tel. (386) 248 3224) is a spring break hangout, but even middle-aged golfers have a good chance of seeing bikini-clad babes. Bring your 5-iron. [TravelGolf.com]
Best (Non-Spring Break) Bar Nearby: Billy's Tap Room & Grill (386-672-1910, Ormond Beach) feels like an Old English pub with high-backed booths, congenial atmosphere, and choice steaks.
Fat Guy Research: For a cool tiki bar, Critiki.com likes The Green Turtle (part of the Hawaiian Inn). Teauila's (pronounced like "tequila" would sound if the q was silent) Hawaiian Luau Dinner Show takes place here four nights a week. The dinner show is a package deal, including the entertainment and a chinese-food buffet; tropical drinks are extra. The room is a little heavy on black lights, but the show features a full band, male and female hula dancers, and dramatic use of fire.
Where To Grub: 16th-century pirate port-of-call Ponce Inlet at the south end of Daytona Beach hosts Miss Genevieve's Lighthouse Landing (386-761-9271), billed as the East Coast's oldest restaurant, with picnic tables on a shaded deck, and excellent fried shrimp and raw bar. For upscale, hit Inlet Harbor Marina & Restaurant (386-767-5590) for 1st-rate seafood and lively nightly entertainment. OR Daytona's finest fare at La Crepe en Haut (386-673-1999) for flawless French, served by tuxedoed staff.
Where To Stay: The beautifully apppointed $25 million Lodge at Ocean Hammock (800-654-6538) is also new, with all 20 rooms featuring private balconies with ocean or golf course views.
Further Diversions: Daytona International Speedway's Richard Petty Driving Experience is a Nascar fan's wet dream, strapped into a 600-horsepower stock car going 150 m.p.h.
When To Go: If memory serves me, Bike Week is traditionally the last week of February, and Spring Break starts right after that, lasting pretty much through March. Patient partiers may want to brave the crowds for a long golf weekend among the Grrls Gone Wild, but rooms fill up quick, so book well in advance for this time of year.
Daytona, Florida Golf
By THE EDITORS
GOLF MAGAZINE
Published: January 01, 2006
The Daytona 500 is The Masters of NASCAR. It's held on the best track (Daytona International Speedway), awards the most prestigious prize (the Harley J. Earl Trophy), and race fans are secretly hoping for the same thing as the patrons at Amen Corner (an exciting wreck).
Before you buckle in for the 200-lap marathon with 168,000 other fans on Feb. 19, make a pit stop at these other great tracks around Daytona.
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LPGA International
Champions Course, 7,088 yards, par 72; Legends Course, 6,984 yards, par 72; Greens fee: $60-$105; 386-274-5742; lpgainternational.com
You'll have to steer accurate approaches to Rees Jones' devilish multi-tiered greens at the Champions course. Wrecks happen more often off the tee at the Legends track.
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Victoria Hills Golf Club
6,854 yards, par 72; Greens fee: $85-$109; 866-295-4385; stjoegolf.com
The Dale Earnhardt of Daytona courses, this celebrated design .mixes elevation changes, expansive waste bunkers and gnarly native grasses. The result is a first-rate challenge well worth pulling over for.
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Halifax Plantation Golf Club
7,101 yards, par 72; Greens fee: $65, 386-676-9600; halifaxplantation.com
The fairways here are flatter than .the Speedway racetrack -- and almost as firm -- but are mostly free of water and sand. You'll need to oil your putter for the spin around these large and severely sloping greens.
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Hidden Lakes Golf Course
5,100 yards, par 65; Greens fee: $33 386-427-4138
This course is shorter than a warm-up lap, but if the clock is ticking this well-conditioned and scenic venue is a decent place to crank up your engine.