Highlands Reserve Golf Club

If you are looking for a good round of golf for a small price, you might want to stop by the Highlands Reserve Golf Club. Although the course has no water or out of bounds, it still provides a challenge to good golfers and is very playable for the amateur. It does not, however, has a clubhouse, private membership, or a grand entrance. Despite this fact, it has been host to several annual events and tours, such as the Pro-am, the Senior Moonlight events, and the Amateur Playing Tour.

Highlands Reserve has a several transition and bunker, which can be very long and steep. Couple this with the 120 foot elevation change, and you might start to feel as if you cannot overcome the course. Highlands Reserve also features greens that are undulating, elevated and large, which causes the ball to move very fast.

At the 398 yard hole 2, you will need to cope with a downhill dogleg left, which is what earned the hole the name “High Point.” At the par 4 hole 4, which has been named “Horizon,” you will feel as if you are floating along the roofs. All of the 120 foot elevation can be seen form here, but you will run the risk of getting the ball in the small pot bunker located in the center front if you try to go for the long shot.

At the “Sidewinder,” which is the 515 yard hold 9, you will experience a dogleg right as well as numerous transitions to the right. These transitions are deep like craters and are framed by bunkers. When you are at the tee, you have no choice but to go left. This is a good thing because the fairway rises, peaks, and goes back downhill as it funnels to the hole. Therefore, staying left helps you take advantage of the wind and you might be able to get to the green in only two strokes.

The most unique holes of the back nine are 13 through 16. Each of these fairways are elevated above the previous fairway and running in the opposite direction. It can be a bit confusing at first to figure out the boundaries for each hole. As an example, the 476 yard hole 13 is a par 5 with the second bunker located to the right. This is the best spot to hit, but players on hole 14 will often push right or pull left into the transition. If you play the hole well, however, you can complete the entire hole with a long or mid-iron.

Hole 14 is aptly named “Entrapment” because this 418 yard par 4 comes off of an elevated tee and has five bunkers to its right and seven to its left. Generally, this hole is played into the wind and it also contains a natural scrub area, which is to the left and can be up to 20 feet tall. In addition, the green is protected and contains a number of ridges.

The 417 yard hole 15 has an extreme right to left property. If you hit the ball to the right, it will most likely land in a bunker our on hole 14. If this happens, you will need to hit an uphill carry onto the undulation green, which you will then need to play short with an uphill putt.

The 384 yard par 4 hole 16 has been named “Hourglass” because of the pinched landing found between the two fairway bunkers. The green seems long, flat, and narrow at first, but actually contains a deep swale. This eliminates the middle pin position. You will need to give the shot a lot of roll at the end or give it plenty of backspin to reach the poles at the back of the green.

Highlands Reserve plays at 6,673 yards and carries a course/slope rating of 72.1/118. The jades play 4,875 yards at 67.4/107 and the golds play 6,010 yards at 68.8/115.

Directions:

Highlands Reserve Golf Club is located south of Walt Disney Resort on Highway 27. To reach it, you will need to take Interstate 4 from Orlando west onto Highway 192 West to State Road 27. Then, turn left and drive another three miles south and make a right turn.

To get additional information, call (407)-629-6767 or toll free at (877)-508-4653. Or, visit http://www.highlandsreserve-golf.com.