Pros:
9 hole Airport Lakes Park is just a very short drive from the Airport in Orlando . This park has multi uses and is popular , but it is very clean , mowed and well cared for . There is a nice bathroom next to the spacious parking lot , along with benches and trash receptacles . A short walk behind the bathrooms leads you to hole #1 . There is a nice course map here . This course is yet another rendition of World Champion Disc Golf Design . Their motto should be " If it doesn't have 2 baskets and 2 tees , then it probably isn't ours " . Print the map here . The course flows well , but there are a couple of dead ends that you have to navigate your way out of . There are 2 nice tee pads per hole , blue striped in the back for longer tees and red striped for the shorter version . There are also 2 baskets per hole , Discatcher s , Red for the short placement and yellow banded for the longs . This is such a great idea , with 2 tees and baskets , being able to play each hole 4 different ways . There are nice signs at all of the tee pads giving you the hole number , par , distance of each option and flight path . The course is tightly packed in to the side and back of this small park , but the designers did a good job with what the had to work with . The course is flat , even for Florida , but is easy on the knees . This course plays fast . Even playing from the longs , I played it in less than 30 minutes . A group of 4 can get through in just over an hour . That is , if they wanted to .
The course is a very fun play . It is not set up for the pro or a tournament . It just keeps giving you reasons to unwind and have a good time here. The course is has a certain Florida flavor , with it's large , low branched trees with Spanish moss hanging from them . Disc Risk : Low for a tighter , kind of woods sectioned course . The park is manicured , so you might only lose one if off a bad ricochet and you took your eye off of it . You will have company most of the time that you play the course . It looks to be a popular hangout for the disc golf locals . There must have been 25 players her when I played on a late Wednesday afternoon . I will just give you some highlights of the holes . #1 is a good starter hole , going out of a bush surrounded tee pad to a basket just over a very small hill . #4 is a nice hyzer shot ( 300' from the longs ) with a tight window to bend your drive through . #5 is a tunnel drive , only 215'-275' , but the tunnel seems only about 2' wide to you . #6 is the second longest hole at 435' from the longs , into a tight doorway , bending slightly left then slightly right , and a fair par 4 . #9 is a fun finishing hole . Although only 285' from the longs ( 225' from short ) it kind of makes you throw an S shot in order to snake your drive through the trees and brush . Signature hole : #8 . At 515' ( par 4 ) , both tees make you eventually turn your drive slightly right .Precision is the key here , and the fairway makes you earn all of it .
Cons:
Not much in the way of cons . The course is constricted , so it can never be 18 holes ( so what . You have 2 tees and 2 baskets to make it an 18 hole round ) , or have the 9 hole course expand to include a dogleg or 2 , or a par 5 . Safety might be an issue . holes 3,4,and 5 are packed in close together . A ricochet might ruin your round if hit by an errant drive . Also , be careful when teeing off on #1 . There was a couple that had spread a blanket near the hidden basket just over the hill . I came a little close to them . I think it was #7's long basket was broken off and all that was left was a pole . Some of the yellow baskets were showing their wear . Try to be nice to the unaware locals . Bring bug spray in the warmer months . Be on the lookout for snakes .
Other Thoughts:
Okay . The course may be a little too flat and the holes aren't the most memorable . What you DO GET , is a disc golf park that Orlando takes serious enough to put some $$$ into this course . How can you go wrong with 2 nice tees and 2 baskets !?! I am bringing this idea back to Cincinnati with me . It can make an average 9 hole course a great one . The course was surprisingly clean for a protected area ( i get it . I have one of those types of course back home . You have to get permission to trim a bush ) . A fast play , you can decide to go for another round , or just kick back , relax , and watch others have some fun , too . My Recommendation . Maybe not a course that you go too far out of your way for , but another in a great line of Florida 9 hole courses if anywhere close by , or stuck at the airport . Great for flight layovers , or disc golf enthusiasts that are on their way to/from the airport , fantastic for locals and newbies that like to hang out after or between rounds , and families that look for something to involve the family after dinner or on the weekends . Good for course baggers grabbing course on the way to I-4 or going to rt. 528 . Challenging enough for ams or tournament tested players to work on their short and technical game . If anywhere in the Orlando Area , Play It !!!