Your first time around, regardless of your golfing ability, will be a remarkable one and you'll wish you were staying here (which you can) and playing it again tomorrow (which you can). Tip: If you are going to stay here ask for course facing top floor accommodations on the 3rd hole. They fill super fast... with good reason! The course conditions are exceptional for a resort course, and it plays equally fair across all 5 sets of tees.

The first hole betrays the rest of the course. The worst hole out here, it's nonetheless a good starting hole... if that makes any sense. The first-timer will be thinking... "What's so special about this?" You just wait. The 2nd hole has "intrigue"... The next 16 define the word. If ever there was a golf course built as a crescendo, it's this one. (I would have called it that.) Hole after hole it gets better and better.

The Castle Course is a "replica" course. Their theme is based on "Playing Golf's Most Legendary Holes... In One Day." These replicas include the famous 17th at Sawgrass, Augusta's beautiful 13th ("Azalea") and 16th ("Redbud") holes, the incredible Par 5 16th at Firestone, Oakmont's 3rd Hole and ending in spectacular fashion with Bay Hill's 18th. And for those of you who love 19th Holes, The Castle has a great and lively one (Island View Restaurant) overlooking the Sawgrass and Bayhill replicas. Yes, you'll have an audience when you completely miss the island green with your first tee shot and when you lose another ball trying to cut the corner for birdie on 18.

This is the course you'll want to play for your first round of the year, and it's the course you'll want to play for your last round of the year. Everything in between could be great... but this will be more funner. :)

Latest Update: 11/19/2010