Orlando Golf - Course, Resort and Package Information

There's something about the country landscape in central Lake County, 25 miles west of downtown Orlando, that makes for some of the most exciting and interesting golf in the entire Sunshine State.

Perhaps it's just that the relatively wide open and hilly terrain is polar opposite from most of the state, which is ironic because if it were Oklahoma or the Front Range of Colorado, this would be about as standard as it gets. Whatever, there's no denying that the golf courses around Clermont are a unique bunch for Central Florida and TravelGolf.com has been singing their praises for some time now

A Diamond in the "Rough"
The atmosphere at Swiss Fairways is so relaxed and casual it may seem the staff doesn't care if you play there or not, if they notice you at all.

The attraction certainly isn't a posh, "wipe-your-clubs-down-and-ask-you-where-you're-from" type of curbside service that has become the norm for Orlando. The parking lot here is gravel and the bag drop is wherever you happen to set your clubs when you get them out of the trunk. The operations are so nonchalant that they're run out of a temporary clubhouse, except that it's not temporary.

The rather unkempt rough edges of the course give it a rustic charm that may be overlooked by those accustomed to perfectly groomed fairways and tees. It blends well, however, with the eclectic mixture of holes and frequently brash presentation of hazards. Long grasses line the fringes of fairways and bunkers and lend them real character, especially at two superlative stretches of holes, 2 through 5 and 14 through 17, where the course loosely resembles something from the south of England perhaps. Though much of this look has to do with a limited maintenance budget, it's quite appropriate, and the green keeper gets it right on the greens where it matters.

The address of the course, located southwest of Clermont major, is Skiing Paradise Boulevard, named for the Swiss (Water) Ski School. As if the course's daring appearance and variety weren't enough to draw it attention, several holes play across the watery ski school runs, including the 204-yard, All-Orlando par three 2nd. Just look to make sure there are no skiers coming down the pike before you drill that low liner 3-iron across the lake.