MYSTIC DUNES GOLF CLUB
Course Architect: Gary Koch
Year Opened: 2001
Location: Celebration, Florida
Slope: 141. Rating: 73.5
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,865
Hole-by-Hole: 1 - Par 4 373 Yds 10 - Par 4 346 Yds
2 - Par 4 477 Yds 11 - Par 3 181 Yds
3 - Par 4 428 Yds 12 - Par 4 429 Yds
4 - Par 4 333 Yds 13 - Par 4 412 Yds
5 - Par 3 179 Yds 14 - Par 5 492 Yds
6 - Par 5 494 Yds 15 - Par 4 359 Yds
7 - Par 3 189 Yds 16 - Par 5 532 Yds
8 - Par 5 571 Yds 17 - Par 3 245 Yds
9 - Par 4 354 Yds 18 - Par 4 471 Yds
Par 36 3,398 Yds Par 36 3,467 Yds
Awards Won: Rated four stars - Golf Digest's - Best Places to Play (2004-08),
Ranked #2 by FloridaGolfGuide.com - Orlando's Top 5 Golf Courses,
Ranked #2 by TravelGolf.com - Orlando's Top 5 Golf Courses,
Top-100 Best Resort Golf Courses - Golfweek Magazine (2007).
Key Events Held: Buick Scramble National Championships (2005),
PGA Pro-Pro Series Tournament (2005-07),
Darrell Armstrong Celebrity Golf Tournament (2005-07),
AJGA Medicus Preseason Junior Series (2007).
Website: mysticdunesgolf.com, mystic-dunes-resort.com.
HISTORY: Open just a few seasons, Mystic Dunes Golf Club has received rave reviews, including four stars by Golf Digest's, Best Places to Play. Designed by tour player and NBC golf analyst Gary Koch, Mystic Dunes is an exciting track featuring elevation changes, rolling fairways and sand dunes, wetland areas and beautiful vegetation. Mystic Dunes is just minutes from the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World and is home to the Advantage Golf School.
In 2007, the course went through a re-certification of its slope and rating and the USGA awarded Mystic Dunes with a course rating of 75, up from 74.3 and a slope of 145, an increase of eight points. "Since opening a few years ago, our landscape has had a chance to mature, offering golfers a truly unique experience on one of the area's most beautiful courses," stated Head Golf Pro Rick Smith.
To make matters worse, or better, depending upon how you see things, Mystic Dunes' greens were just named among the most difficult in all of golf by the 2008 PGA Professional's Guide to travel. "We are pleased with the growth and maturity of the course since our first rating," acknowledged Melissa Suttles, General Manager at Mystic Dunes Golf Club. "Although the slope rating did
increase, the course is still a fair, yet challenging test for every player."
REVIEW: The course opens with a solid, dogleg right par four, just 375 yards from the back buttons. Your tee shot must favor the left side, as you must carry over a sandy waste area that traverses the entire right side, in addition to the native love grasses. A short iron approach is left to a somewhat crowned green, surrounded by tightly shaved areas. A solid shot at birdie to start your round.
Your first real test comes at the second, a U.S. Open type par four, stretching 508 yards, yes, 500 plus from the tips. A big ball down the left side is needed just to reach the corner of the fairway as it bends to the right. From there, well, a fairway metal is required to have any chance of getting home in two. The green is very undulating, guarded only on the right with a pot bunker and by shaved slopes. Quite a hole to talk about, even if you make bogey.
The third is a straightaway par four with trees right and left, plus a fairway bunker to the left. The putting surface is quite difficult and very deep, so club selection on your approach shot will be key. Three pot bunkers to the left of the green do not come into play, however a trap long and
right will catch any misplayed shots. Take par and move on.
The fourth is a relatively simple par four with a wide fairway, as it moves to the right. The landing area is highlighted by four traps which challenge the player as he or she decides the angle of attack. The percentage play is three-metal off the tee and a little wedge to a sloping, sandless green.
Slopes and hollows protect the left side of the surface, but this hole can be had.
One of the many signature holes at Mystic Dunes, the fifth is the shortest par three on the course, featuring an island green. This clever one shotter is fronted by water and sand and on both sides by collection areas. If the wind is blowing, your choice of clubs will be quite difficult. The
green is quite narrow, sloping away on both ends. Par will be a good score.
As you reach the par-five sixth, thoughts of eagle run through your mind, as the hole is only 510 yards from the black tees. That however is where your idea of getting home in two should end. First of all, the hole doglegs severely left. Second, water and wetlands hug the entire left side all the
way to the green. Third, trees guard the right side of the fairway, from the tee towards the green. And finally, the putting surface has an eight-foot slope. Here's the plan. Take out driver and bomb one down the right side of the fairway. This will leave you a taste of the green. A long iron
or fairway metal may get you home, but play to the right, just in case. Pin position is key, as the green slopes severely from front-to-back. With a front cup, you'll be hard pressed to three-putt if you miss long. All in all, birdie is a distinct possibility.
The seventh is a lengthy par three that requires a carry over wetlands to a long, kidney-shaped green, with the only sand trap behind the surface. Another sloping green, so play center, two-putt and move on. Anything off target will roll off into collection areas, stressing out your short game.
The sixth might have been reachable in two, but the eighth, no way. It's 571 from the tips, uphill all the way and sand, sand and more sand from tee to green down the left side. Start off with a drive that must carry 200 yards just to reach the fairway. Layup towards the right side of the landing area to set up the best approach to the green, which sits below the fairway. The mounding around the putting surface will repel errant shots, but the green is fairly simple, so making birdie is a definite possibility.
The ninth hole is unique, as you look out from the tee box, which sits high above the landing area. The play is to the left side of the fairway, thus avoiding the series of bunkers that cross out towards the fairway. The second shot will be uphill to a green that slopes hard from right-to-left and
back-to-front. A front pin location is the easiest, so take advantage of the situation, play slightly long and right and let the ball feed towards the cup.
A perfect opportunity for birdie awaits as you tee off on the 10th. Just 350 yards with a wide landing zone, this hole requires just a fairway metal to the right side of fairway to set up the best approach to the green. The putting surface can be tricky, with three separate levels, but take advantage of a middle or front flag and make three.
The 11th is beautiful, dangerous and intimidating, but don't be scared. This spectacular hole features an island green that requires a mid iron from the tee. Water lurks everywhere, including waterfalls to the right and left. Let's not forget the sand, left, back and right which makes club selection a must. A back-left pin could spell doom, so play towards the center and two-putt for par.
The next hole is a straightaway par four, stretching 434 yards with a fairway bunker guarding the right side of the landing area. Play towards the left side to set up the best approach to the green. The putting surface is elevated, so make sure you have enough stick, otherwise your shot will
roll back down towards the fairway, finishing in a deep valley.
Although the 13th hole is straightaway, the tee shot requires a draw to avoid a large tree and waste area down the left side. A medium to short iron is all that is needed to reach the green, which is fairly flat by Mystic Dunes standards. One word of caution, the collection area to the right of
the green is quite steep, so to err, miss left.
If you thought the second hole was brutal, wait till you step up to the box on 14. Eight different teeing areas and you'll need a wallop just to reach the fairway from the black tee. The entire right side is waste area and sand dunes, while the left features more of the same with trees as you get
closer to the green. The putting surface is one of the largest on the course with a pot bunker looming, short and right. With so many different tiers to the green, you'll be hard-pressed to make four, let alone five.
Good news and bad news for the 15th. The hole only measures 366 yards, and yes, that is the good news. Unfortunately, the fairway slopes severely left to right with a bunker in the center of the grid and the green, well, there is no doubt that this is the most undulating putting surface on the course. After a successful drive, just a wedge is left to a green split in two by a large hump that will make putting difficult if you miss to the wrong side. A pot bunker resides to the left of the green, while a deep valley looms right. A fun hole that can put a smile or a frown on your face.
The three closing holes at Mystic Dunes are certainly no picnic, although the 16th will most likely be your last shot at birdie. A par five that doglegs to the right, this 546-yarder requires a belt over the trees and sand in an effort to cut the dogleg. From there, you'll have two options, go for the green in two or layup, short and right. The hole plays downhill to the green, however if going for it, you must carry the large sandy waste area fronting the surface and to the left. The sensible play is leaving yourself with a full sand wedge to a green that slopes from middle-to-front and away in the
back. A front flag will enable you to stick it close and make a four.
There's no doubt that your going to need it as you play 17 and 18. Picture this. The wind is in your face and you have 249 yards to the flag and your on a par three. That's what can happen on the 17th, a stern, slightly uphill hole with a severely undulating green. Even if you happen to land on the putting surface, the green slopes from back-to-front and when it's fast, you'll be hard-pressed to keep your ball on the green if you miss long. Par is a bonus, birdie a miracle and bogey, a very good score.
As you ride towards the 18th, you'll pass the first green and driving range, similar to your trip to the second hole. You'll be thinking of what might have been or that maybe you should stop by for some lessons. Whatever the case, don't forget you have one more bear of a hole to complete. The closing hole on the home nine is quite demanding, as it swings from right-to-left. It's 485 yards and a par four, not your weak sister. If you play down the left side to cut off some of the yardage, you'll run the risk of bringing trees and sand into play. The right side opens up the hole, but you'll be left with 200-plus to the green. From the landing area to the green, the entire right side is flanked by a bunker and beyond that, wetlands of no return. The putting surface is quite deep and slightly reminiscent of that famous mouse. Make par on 18 and you'll forget about how
tough this course was.
OVERALL: By most standards, Gary Koch had a pretty decent career as a PGA Tour player, winning six times, four of which were in Florida. Koch, who calls the Sunshine State home, has crafted another victory with Mystic Dunes Golf Club.
First of all, the layout offers surprising elevation changes, not normal to the region. Sand dunes and waste areas with majestic oaks invade the course throughout the layout with just 36 bunkers. The venue is a tale of two cities, with the outward nine driving through century-old trees while the closing holes play more to a scottish-style of rolling fairways. When people talk about courses, they always mention the signature holes. Well, how about Nos. 5, 11, 16 and 18 to name a few. Secondly, conditioning. The course is immaculate. Greens as smooth as glass and reminiscent, so the starter will tell you, of Augusta National. Beautifully manicured fairways and chipping areas make you wish your lawn was as nice.
Next, the challenge. If you don't believe that this course will bring out every club in the bag and test your nerve, then no course will. Mystic Dunes features holes that question your courage, thought process and ability. How about the practice facility you ask? The driving range alone is 60,000 square feet and is home to the Advantage Golf School. Not only that, the pro shop staff are more accommodating than the doting "cast members" at Disney. And speaking of the pro shop, a 3,000 square foot apparel home to everything your heart desires. The clubhouse alone is 20,000 square feet.
Finally, the price. Some might call it steep at $129 per round, but with Stay and Play packages or off-peak rates, the price could drop to as low as $79. This is a must play, no doubt about it. Yes, some of the buildings that surround some of the holes are obtrusive, but look past that. If you're
trying to find something wrong, then you're not on vacation and you have a bad state of mind. If you're looking for a challenging golf course, beautiful layout, scenery and friendly people, then you're in the right place. The course offers a wide variety of tee boxes, as it ranges from 4,665 to just under 7,000 yards, so it's a course for all levels of play. Let's not forget the GPS units on all carts to make life easier when selecting a club for your next shot or ordering lunch. The drawback is that this is not a walking course, especially when some of the cart rides take a lengthy time to reach the next tee.
Mystic Dunes has all the answers. There are over 700 spacious villa accommodations, featuring one, two or three bedrooms, with all the amenities - fully equipped kitchens, Whirlpool bath in the master bedroom, Internet service, washer and dryer, 52" large screen televisions and screened patios.
Let's not forget the four heated pools, Dunes Lagoon, a two-acre water recreation area with a two-story waterslide, miniature golf, tennis and basketball courts, fine dining and of course, the outstanding golf club.
Remember, you're just minutes from Disney, so your significant other won't mind a quick morning round, after which you're back in the park before noon. Mystic Dunes is an eagle of a course that will only get better with age. The key here is to choose the correct set of tees. You have five choices, from the red markers at 4,665 yards to the black buttons stretching over 7,000 yards.
On my first visit to Mystic Dunes, I opened with the back tees and struggled mightily. So after some soul searching and the realization of getting older and wiser, I decided to play from the blue markers on my second sojourn to the resort. Although my score was similar to the first, I thoroughly enjoyed the layout and can't wait for a return round. Mr. Koch, stop broadcasting and design more courses like this. You're right on the mark.