The two courses at LPGA International are bold challenges for men and women
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- If you think the two courses at LPGA International in Daytona Beach are for ladies only, think again.
(based on 3 reviews) The Rees Jones-designed Champions Course and the Arthur Hills-designed Legends Course appeal to a wide range of players, male and female. After all, the courses are set in an expansive master-planned residential community that is home to numerous golf playing couples.
There are five sets of tees on each course, and they are strategically positioned to encourage all players in a foursome to play the same club for each shot on a hole.
If you're looking for a place to "Play it Forward," LPGA International, managed by ClubCorp, is a good place to start. Low-handicappers seeking challenge and playability won't be disappointed, either.
LPGA International's Champions Course
The older brother in the twosome is the Champions Course, which debuted in 1994.
Long and wide open, this course played host to the LPGA Tour's Mercury Titleholders Championship from 1996-98 and serves as the annual site for the LPGA Tour's Final Qualifying School.
Jones, whose other Florida designs include The Breakers Rees Jones Course in West Palm Beach, Waldorf Astoria Golf Club in Orlando and Naples Grande Golf Club in Naples, used innovative sculpting and mounding, marsh areas, nature preserves and numerous lakes to create the links-style Champions Course.
Stretching 7,088 yards from the back tees, the Champions Course is a fair challenge. As a mid-handicapper, I like it because you're offered a bit more leeway off the tee than the Legends.
Beware of the 576-yard par-5 13th, the No. 1 handicap hole. The entire right side is lined with either water or bunkers and Jones forces you to hit three accurate, strategic shots if you want a sniff at birdie.
LPGA International's Legends Course
The newer Legends Course, built in 1998, is more of a target golf experience. While the course isn't long by 2012 standards (the back tees are 6,984 yards), it'll challenge every phase of your game.
Designed by Hills, a veteran architect with more than 185 new courses to his credit, including Florida layouts like the TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs and Bonita Bay Club in Bonita Springs, the Legends is the quintessential shotmaker's course.
Make sure you visit the range and warm up sufficiently before you venture to the first tee. The parkland-style course has moderate to narrow fairways framed by beautiful magnolias and tall pine trees. Water comes into play on eight holes and many of the greens are well protected by bunkers.
It's imperative for mid- and high-handicappers to select enough club to traverse the bunkers on approach shots. If you're consistently short or off line, you'll spend lots of time flailing away in the sand. You might like the beach, but nobody wants to spend all day in Hills' bunkers.
Appealing amenities
LPGA International's practice facilities are exceptional, highlighted by an 80,000-square-foot natural turf area, 10 target greens and six practice putting greens (several with bunkers). For those seeking a major swing tune-up or some minor tweaking, the LPGA Academy features a three-hole practice course, private lessons, clinics and golf schools.
One important feature I like about both courses is the resources for getting yardage readings. The ProLink GPS system is on every golf cart, there are easy-to-read yardage blocks at 250 (on par 5s), 200, 150 and 100 yards and sprinkler heads are also marked with yardage to the center of the green.
For a quick bite to eat on the course, The Snack Bar, situated between the ninth and 10th tee on the Champions, is a great place to grab a cold drink, hot dog, sandwich or snack.
After the round, The Grille at the clubhouse, which opened in 2001, is a casual, well-appointed restaurant overlooking the 18th fairway. It features daily chef's specials, soups, burgers, sandwiches and salads.
July 6, 2012
Ed Schmidt, Contributor
Ed Schmidt, publisher of The Golf Travel Guru Blog, is the author of two books on Florida golf and more than 2,500 articles and columns on golf resorts, courses and destinations around the world. Follow Ed on Twitter at @golftravelguy.