Pros:
One of 3 courses in Bill Frederick park in the heart of Orlando. There is a $5/car fee to enter the park, so if you are playing 2, or all 3, well worth the price for this beautiful, well-kept park. I had a chance to play the Original course back in 2015 and finally got to play the other 2.
From what I remember of the Original course, I liked T2 a lot more. No truly open holes (#5 is about the closest) but the variety of partially wooded, to heavily wooded holes makes this very challenging. There is even a decent amount of elevation change here, and the knuckle tightening water carry on #16.
All holes have at least 2 tees, most have 3 and several even have a 4th (Gold) tee. So you have the choice to make this course as challenging as you want. Also a good variety of distances, 4 Par 4s and even a Par 5. It felt like a couple of holes on the back 9 could have been lengthened, to add a couple more Par 4s, but not a major issue.
The DGA baskets are all in good shape, with greens cleared to a good distance around them. Most can be seen from the tee (or fairway on the multi-shot holes) but the excellent tee signs show the hole design, or intended routes very well.
The course starts near the back of the park, very close to the Original course, with plenty of parking, restrooms and water right there (there's even shade trees to park under).
Cons:
While the Blue tees and Red tees are paved, the Blues are larger then the Reds. The big disappointment with the middle, or White, tees, in most cases these were older carpet (or mat) tees, most of these were rather short and not in good shape. I really wanted to play that level, but was not going to risk injury from those tees.
#18 was a rather disappointing finishing hole, short at 215', with all tees using the same patch of concrete, with slight differences in distance. Its a tight tunnel shot to a guarded basket, I guess there could be a good chance of scoring differences, but not the final hole I was expecting.
#1 starts out in the open, then tightens to a tunnel only 20' wide, with tight brush on both sides. You really have to have your accuracy and distance ready to start on this hole.
As I mentioned above, it appearred there was extra space beyond #13 basket and behind #14 tee that could have been used to lenghten those holes. I know the Original course plays in that area, but a couple more Par 4s would be great. (Probably a little picky on this Con.)
Other Thoughts:
The Orlando area is great for multi-course parks, River City Nature Park and Gordon Barnett both have 2, along with the 3 courses at Bill Frederick. I guess its kind of like the Theme parks, have multiple attractions in one location. It must really help with running tournaments, but I like it as a course bagger, just a walk (or short drive) from one course to another. Plus, if you show up for a round, and one course is busy, you should be able to jump over to the other one.
The Turkeynator provides many challenges, just like a great course should. Some very tight holes, #4, #6 and #18, the multi-shot holes mentioned earlier, #1,#5,#7,#11 and #17 and the water carry (with bailouts) on #16. Everything else in between has some trees, so you don't have any wide open tee shots, but you don't have to thread a needle on most holes. There's also a good variety of hole shapes, many are straight but the left and rights are mixed in as well.
Some of the more interesting holes are:
#4 - 188'/294' downhill tunnel shot, with a low ceiling of tree branches puts a premium on a straight, low fast drive to get down to the basket.
#5 - 580'/876' Par 5 is the longest on the course, the mostly open tee shot needs to turn right, then scattered trees to bisect while turning left to the basket on the left.
I checked #7 as my favorite hole (there you go dgaficianado), you actually step up a rise to the tee, then a downhill tee shot, a couple of large trees to miss on either side in the middle of the fairway, then back uphill to the basket, protected by a string of large trees that you have to beat. It plays 425'/555' for a Par 4, but the trees to beat on your 2nd shot requires a well played shot.
#11 has a fairly tight tee shot to open grass, then the fairway goes into the woods, about a 20' gap and curving downhill through the woods to the basket. This wooded fairway has a wide variety of trees that you have to split to get to the basket after 431'/506'.
#12-#14 play on somewhat of a sidehill, so you have to be careful to control your landing.
#17 is one of the more unusual holes I've played and has the most elevation change on the course. The tees are in the open across grass, then as the hillside rises, the vegetation begins and you have to negotiate a 80-85 degree fairway turn to the left and up. You can throw straight and have the largest entry, but its also the longest path to the basket. There are scattered trees and palm bushes to the left, but a shorter path to the basket. Then it continues uphill through a couple of tunnels to the basket. A very unique, challenging hole.
Bill Frederick Turkeynator is definitely one of the best courses right in the Orlando area. I haven't had a chance to play any of the courses west and northwest of Orlando, but this and River City Alpha deserve their high ratings. The number of interesting holes, beautiful scenery and excellent equipment make this a must play in Orlando.