With world famous attractions such as Disney World, Sea World, and Islands of Adventure only a short drive away, Reunion Resort should be ranked among these top tourist attractions. Reunion Resort has its own 5-acre water park, with five pools, a peaceful lazy river and water slides galore.
However, the main attractions at the resort are their golf courses. Reunion Resort is the only golf resort destination that is home to three championship courses that were designed by three of golf’s greatest legends: Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, and Arnold Palmer. These three signature courses beautifully conform to their natural surroundings to provide a challenging, yet enjoyable experience for golfers.
Legacy Course
The Legacy Course designed by the legendary Arnold Palmer, is just as beautiful as it is challenging. The roller coaster-like terrain spans over the entire 6,916 yards of this par 72 course. The creation of a wide variety of risk/reward shots comes as a direct result from these significant changes in elevation.
Although the fairways tend to be quite wide, there are 80 bunkers and waste traps that have been strategically placed across the entire length of the championship course. Arguably the best hole on the Legacy Course, the par four 7th, is one of Palmer’s all-time best designs. The hole plays over a stunning water feature, through numerous bunkers, ending with a magnificent view of the towering resort behind the green.
Independence Course
The Independence Course was the first course to open at the Reunion Resort and was Tom Watson’s first Florida Signature Design. This links-style course is windswept and features fast, firm and wide rolling fairways. This 7,257 yard, par 72 course focuses on both strategy and power thanks to Watson’s creatively placed bunkers. The greens are fairly large and undulating which places an important emphasis on club selection.
Since the course serves as a frame to the property there is a nature preserve located on the side of each hole which provides amazing scenery and captures Florida’s natural beauty perfectly. Even though the resort is relatively close to the tourist hub of Orlando, the course offers a very rural atmosphere.
Tradition Course
Considered to be the most difficult course of the three, the Tradition Course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son. The parkland-style course is very smooth and flowing, and although it is very beautiful, it is also very deceptive. The course is spectacular at tempting golfers into taking risky shots in the hopes of gaining large payoffs. Unlike the other courses, the Tradition Course features small greens, narrow fairways, and has an abundance of water hazards.
The Tradition Course is the newest course at Reunion Resort and is also the largest, stretching to an impressive 7,300 yards from the championship tees. The tight fairways are lined with hundreds of oak, maple, and palm trees. With water hazards on nine of the eighteen holes, the course is as striking as it is tough. The course is hardly a walk through, but it is certainly destined to become one of Florida’s best golf courses.