Reunion features three signature golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer.
Recently Golf Aficionado had the opportunity to visit Reunion Golf Resort and play two of the three on-property golf courses. Reunion has long been on the list of places to play. Located in the heart of Orlando, FL it’s only a stone’s throw away from our headquarters in Lake Mary. Reunion is a modern resort that features luxury accommodations ranging from 700 to 2,350 square feet. Whether you’re planning a golf trip with friends or taking the family to Disney World you’ll find something that fits your style at Reunion. A step up from a hotel, Reunion features multi bedroom villas and homes that allow you to escape while still enjoying the comforts of home. One of the best things about Reunion is once you arrive you won’t need to go anywhere else. On property you’ll have access to golf, tennis, fitness center, The Spa, Water Park, 9 different pools, and more dining options than you’ll know what to do with. In terms of accommodations and amenities Reunion really sets itself apart from the crowd.
Reunion Resort is the only destination in the world to boast three Signature golf courses designed by legends Palmer, Nicklaus and Watson.
In regards to golf, Reunion features some of the most iconic names in the sport. The three signature golf courses are designed by Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer. Reunion is the only place in the World where you will find courses by all three legends in one location. Led by Kevin Baker the Director of Golf, Reunion features a staff of highly trained PGA Professionals which make sure the golf operations run smoothly. The fact that Reunion golf courses are only open to members and resort guests allows for ideal conditions on the golf courses. The luxury of three courses and the benefit of restricted play allows Reunion the flexibility of pulling courses in and out of service as maintenance is required. About a year ago the Nicklaus course was temporarily closed while the 17th and 18th holes were redesigned to allow for more development. The Nicklaus design team led the effort and at the end of the day members are saying the 17th and 18th are better than an ever after the redesign.
During our visit to Reunion we only had enough time to play two of the three signature courses and being from Florida we wanted to follow the advice of Kevin and play the Watson Course. Kevin recommends that visitors from Florida get a round in on the Watson Course because it such a unique design for Florida. The fact that there isn’t one water hazard in play is truly a unique characteristic for a Florida course, but don’t worry there are well over a 100 bunkers in play to give you more than enough trouble. This was Tom Watson’s first Florida course design and it’s truly a breath of fresh air for native Floridians.
We decided on the Palmer Course for our second eighteen. The Palmer Course is a perfect counterpart to the Watson Course because it’s a traditional Florida resort course layout featuring plenty of water hazards and beautiful views of the resort. One the things that sets the Palmer Course apart from most other Florida courses is the hilly terrain featuring elevation changes up to 50 feet. Both the Watson and Palmer Courses are on the East side of the resort and located close to the clubhouse and practice facility. The Nicklaus Course which we hope to play and review in the very near future is located on the West side of the resort. There is currently a lot of development underway and planned for the West side of the resort which include not only new homes but a new clubhouse which will serve the Nicklaus Course. If you don’t have time to play all three of courses at Reunion during your next visit we asked Kevin to sum up each course in one word which might help you decide which to play; Watson – Unique, Palmer – Traditional, Nicklaus – Challenging.
Regardless of which course you choose to play at Reunion you’ll be guaranteed three things; the course won’t be overcrowded, it will be in great shape, and you’ll be in for a challenge. Reunion is truly a golf destination and that is evident by the fact that 40% of the play is from large groups of 12 of more, the other 60% of play comes from the local membership and resort guest. When you factor in the proximity to the Orlando attractions and the vast resort amenities Reunion should be on the top of anyone’s list when visiting the Orlando area.
The Watson Course (Overall Rating 4 stars out of 5)
Just a few of the many bunkers on the Watson Course
The Watson Course at Reunion earned a 4 Star Golf Aficionado rating. In terms of golf courses in Florida it truly is unique and provides a different experience. One of the first things you’ll notice and remember most about the Watson Course are the numerous bunkers in play. In comparing the Watson Course to others we’ve played it reminded us most of Royal Birkdale and that’s an extremely high compliment as Royal Birkdale is part of the Open Championship rotation and will host the 2017 Open Championship. Considering Tom Watson won the 1983 Open Championship hosted at Royal Birkdale it wouldn’t be a surprise if he pulled from that experience to help design his course at Reunion.
As you make your way through the course you’ll enjoy a comfortable pace of play and an undulating course layout. The course offers five dedicated tees and two options for combination tees with yardages ranging from 5284 to 7154. With 7 different tee options to choose from and a slope rating ranging from 114 to 141 you’ll easily be able to tailor the course to your degree of difficulty and distance. Regardless of which tee you play from you’ll find yourself playing from the sand on at least a few occasions. The course features large greens with multiple tiers with enough undulation that will make putting and chipping tricky, short game specialist will be sure to have an edge. The biggest complaint we had about the Watson Course was that as you make your way around the course and finish the round every hole seemed to blend together. It’s a great course layout with plenty of challenges, however the more holes you complete the harder it will become to differentiate them from one another. Even if you walk away without having a few holes etched into your memory you’ll have an overall fondness for the course and appreciation of the unique design.
The Palmer Course (Overall Rating 4 stars out of 5)
A photo doesn’t do the 7th hole of the Palmer Course justice
The Palmer Course at Reunion also earned a 4 Star Golf Aficionado rating. When we calculated our course ratings for Reunion the overall ratings for each course were almost identical but with totally different numbers across our rating scale. As mentioned earlier the Palmer Course is a perfect contrast in so many ways to the Watson Course. The Watson Course does not have water hazards, the Palmer Course has tons of water hazards. Another distinction is that the Watson course has a unique design to the area with the feel of a links course where the Palmer course is more of your traditional Florida layout. The Palmer Course has a great mix of bunkers and water hazards to provide a visually appealing layout that provides plenty of challenges with a slope rating range from 120 to 142 depending on which tees you play. Reunion did a great job making 7 different tee combinations available to ensure that golfers of all skill levels have a course that meets their needs.
When you walk away from the Palmer Course you’ll definitely remember a few holes. Top among them will be the 7th which features a drivable par 4 over a large water hazard. The 7th is a visual masterpiece with the Reunion Resort serving as the backdrop. Compared to the Watson Course we found the Palmer course to be a little less difficult and required the use of fewer clubs. However, in terms of fun factor and memorability, the Palmer course scored extremely well. The great thing about the Reunion Courses is they all have their own personality and provide golfers with a distinct experience. If you go to Reunion with a group like so many do, we guarantee you’ll have a healthy debate over which course was everyone’s favorite.
The Nicklaus Course Rating (Coming Soon)