MISSION INNPOSSIBLE

In Florida, Golf Courses by Rich Styles

Mission Inn Resort Spanish Colonial design
Mission Inn Resort & Club

Location, location, location

The Mission Inn Resort & Club is a must-visit golf destination nestled in the rolling hills of Central Florida.  I know it’s hard to believe, but there really are rolling hills in Central Florida, but only in Howey-In-The-Hills, FL. In 1916, William J. Howey discovered the area and decided to purchase 60,000 acres of rolling hills, which he thought would be ideal for growing oranges.

With an ideal climate and rich soil, Howey envisioned investors buying acreage from him and then contracting with his company to clear the land, plant citrus trees, harvest, and ship the fruit.  To entice land buyers to the area, Howey built The Inn and opened the Florida Chain-o-Lakes Country Club.

A Risky Business Venture

Mission Inn course circa 1926

Howey hired designer George O’Neil from Chicago to create a golf course, and in 1917 the course opened to the public boasting rare tee to green elevations of 85 feet, towering forests, and sparkling spring-fed lakes the course was widely acclaimed as the finest golf course in Florida.

A few years later, Howey hired Charles E. Scott from Scotland, to enhance the original design, then disaster struck.  The stock market crashed, and so began the Great Depression, along with one of the worst freezes in Florida history, thus dashing Howey’s dreams of a citrus empire.  Howey closed up shop, and The Inn and golf course was left neglected for years.

Taking on Mission Innpossible

In 1964, Illinois native Nick Beucher, a successful businessman, saw an ad

in the Wall Street Journal and bought the Floridian Country Club in Howey-

in-the-Hills to become the resorts second family owner. Mr. Beucher began his mission innpossible by renovating the golf course and clubhouse.  Beucher was inspired and influenced by a trip he made through Mexico on horseback in his youth and wanted to create a resort that reflected Spanish Colonial architecture.

Today, the Beucher family is still involved in the business. His children and grandchildren own the Mission Inn Resort & Club.  They have 176 guest rooms and suites, two championship golf courses, El Campeón and Las Colinas, four restaurants, two lounges, and a poolside cabana bar. Other recreational amenities include Spa Marbella, Trap & Skeet range, eight tennis courts, an outdoor pool and hydro-spa, Cybex fitness center, and a marina with boat rentals.

El Campeón Golf Course

Rich in family history and beautiful architecture, the staff welcomed me as I checked into my suite and quickly made my way to El Campeón, rated by Golf Advisor as a Top 25 U.S. course. With spectacular views and rolling hills, the ride from tee to green was impossible to overlook.  Surrounded by trees, lakes, and rolling fairways, the course is one of the oldest in the South.

The signature hole is #17 which features a double dogleg with more obstacles than you’ll find on some courses.  El Campeón has hosted over 20 consecutive years of NCAA Championships, 8 years of Florida State High School Championships plus US Open and US Amateur qualifying.

Drinks & Food

After the round, our group made it’s way to the Patio De Sol for cocktails.  A great place with views of the course, pool, and cabana bar.  After a few drinks, we headed for dinner at El Gitano, one of four restaurants at the Resort.  After appetizers, the menu had many choices of steaks and seafood. I enjoyed the surf and turf; a meal fit for a King!  A delicious end to our first day.

The next morning I met friends at the breakfast buffet at La Hacienda, which featured made-to-order omelets by chefs that had been at the resort for over 20-years.  A perfect start to what would be a great day. 

The rest of the morning, I burnt off calories by taking a tour of the expansive grounds, including a marina that provides rental boats and offers unique gathering facilities perfect for weddings or any special event.  The venue includes a pool table, poker table, and a jukebox.

Las Colinas Golf Course

By midday, I was ready to play some golf and take on the Las Colinas golf course.  After a pit stop at the clubhouse for a quick lunch, it was time to tee off.  Gary Koch designed Las Colinas, which in Spanish means “the hills.”  The course opened in 1992 featuring an island links design with wide-open fairways, rolling hills and challenging undulating greens. Its signature hole is the par-5, 12th hole that is 493 yards and requires accurate shot placement — rated by Golf Digest as a top course in Florida.

Just opened during our visit were the new “gold tees” within the Las Colinas course, designed for members, seniors, juniors, or beginners with a par of 58.  Golfers can play 9 or 18 holes, basically creating a par-3 executive course within a championship course.

We ended the night at El Conquistador, another one of the fine restaurants at Mission Inn.  The restaurant featured a wide variety of offerings, from incredible salads, pasta to steaks to seafood, another mouthwatering end to the day.

The Mission Inn Resort & Club is rich in family history and beauty. It calls you back time after time. Many groups have been going there for over 20 years, and this is truly a place you can relax and rejuvenate.  Perfect for all occasions.

Hats off to Nick Beucher and his family for breathing life back into Howey-In-The-Hills and truly completing a Mission Innpossible.