VIP Orange County National

GOLF OVERVIEW

Crooked Cat

Like Panther Lake, Crooked Cat features significant elevation changes, rolling fairways, and large, contoured greens. But with fewer trees, wider landing areas, native heather, and mounding framing the fairways, Crooked Cat presents golfers more of a links-style look. It may well be the most naturally beautiful Orlando Florida golf course. In the Summer of 2012, Orange County National completed a successful renovation of Crooked Cats greens using the highly regarded Champions Bermuda Ultra Dwarf Turf Grass. Champions Bermuda has received much praise from professional and tour players because of its true roll and quicker pace.
The course’s open feel encourages golfers to grip it and rip it off the tee, and there is certainly more room for error and multiple options for playing a hole both off the tee and into the greens. Crooked Cat is not a connect-the-dots course; feel free to go outside the lines like a kindergartener’s finger painting. But beware: As with links-style courses, there is an element of chance, and a wayward shot can end up in one of many seemingly randomly placed grass bunkers. Gamblers and scramblers will do well. So will shot makers.

Crooked Cat is more exposed and the routing twists and turns, so the wind comes at you from ever-changing directions and is a real factor. Players who appreciate the challenge of working the ball up, down, left, right to counteract or ride the wind will get a chance to showcase their mastery and get the most out of the course.
The back nine of Crooked Cat may be the best nine on the property and is the favorite of many low handicap golfers due to its length and challenge. Even if you don’t have ball shaping down to an art or the deft touch to escape like Houdini from any peril in your way, Crooked Cat is incredibly fun to play. And because of the unique design, you’ll never get tired of challenging this course because you will never play any hole the same way twice. No other Orlando Florida golf course offers this much versatility, challenge, and fun.

Panther Lake

Panther Lake is everything you could want in a golf course. Playing over rolling meadows, through native pines, around and over wetlands, lakes, and up and down elevation changes of up to 60 feet, it is first and foremost a visual delight, reminding you that natural beauty is one of the main reasons you play golf and a major factor in deciding which course to play.

Panther Lake offers some of the best examples of natural beauty that Orlando area golf courses have to offer. One of the highlights is that there is no development on or around the course ‘ a Florida golf course with no homes! You will likely encounter many native species of birds and wildlife during your round, which will be enjoyed in the most tranquil of settings. Every hole on Panther Lake is unique and requires something different from your shot-making repertoire. This is another feature that makes this Central Florida golf course so special; when you finish your round you will likely be able to recall each hole very vividly as they are all very different in appearance as well as appealing in design to the eye. The variety in design is evident in the way no two holes play alike. There are no boring holes at Panther Lake, and each is as distinct and memorable as the last. The only characteristic the holes share is that each shot demands good thinking and precise execution.

Off the tee, you will face gently sloping fairways guarded by strategically placed fairway bunkers, trees and water hazards that frame the holes and provide a clear line of play. From the fairway, you will hit many approaches into well-guarded elevated greens, which are large and have plenty of contours, so two-putting isn’t automatic. Our greens on Panther Lake are also Brand New. In 2011 we put down Champion Ultra Dwarf Bermuda Grass. These greens will produce similar putting conditions to those of Bent grass from up north. We are very excited and want you to come out and try the same new greens that were played at the Atlanta Athletic Club for the PGA Championship. Simply put, good shots will be rewarded and bad shots penalized, the hallmark of great courses everywhere.

If you’re looking for a bit more golf course, the tour tees provide as stern a test as you’ll find anywhere, with intimidating carries and risk-reward approaches that can lead to birdies or bogeys. From the three forward tees, you’ll face shorter carries, softer angles, and wider landing areas, making Panther Lake more friendly but no less memorable. When you play #10, look at the shot from 150 yards to the green. That is the spot where Tiger Woods was told to ‘Get more forgiving irons, the Nike Pro-Combos’ by his talking headcover, Frank, during the very popular commercial. Will you be able to hit the elevated green from there with your irons

About Us

Our Orange County National Director of Instructions Biography

Nick Duffy is a PGA of America Class “A” professional and Proponent group member. He was also named on the Golf Digest list of “Best Young Teacher” 18-19 & 20-21. His main focus has been on junior golf through being a Senior Head Coach at Bishops Gate Golf Academy, Core Golf Academy, and Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy. He has coached every level of player from Professional Golfers, Collegiate Golfers, AJGA Champions, numerous high-level junior golfers, and beginning golfers.

Mentored by many of the world’s best Golf Coaches, BioMechanics, and Mental Performance Coaches including Kevin Smeltz, Sean Foley, David Orr, James Lietz, Gary Gilchrist, Patti McGowan, Matt Messer, Dr Rob Neal, Dr Brendan McLaughlin, Iain Highfield, and Paul Dewland

Nick’s Certifications & Accolades

• PGA Class “A”
• Golfdigest “Best Young Teacher”
• Member of the GBN
• Decade Certified
• Penn State Golf BioMechanics Course
• TPI Golf Mechanic Level 2
• TPI Golf Fitness Level 1
• Boditrak Certified Ground Mechanic
• Swing Catalyst Level 1 and 2
• Lead Instructor for Clinics representing Core and Bishops Gate Golf Academy in Colombia, Panama, and Guatemala
• 2 Time US Junior Championship Participant
• 4 years at Northwood University played in 3 national championships
• Played full seasons on the Hooters Tour – Gateway Tour – Golden Bear Tour
• Come enjoy the best golf experience in Orlando at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge, along with, “One of Golf Digest Best Young Golf Teacher”, Nick Duffy.
• Orange County National features two championship courses, a 9-hole short course, and the largest driving range and practice facility in America.

VIP Package Includes:

• On-Site Accommodations
• Can Customs Dates and Daily Schedule
• Lunch
• 5 Hours of Daily Instruction
• 3 Hours of Daily Instruction Covering All Facets- Putting, Pitching, Chipping, Sand, Full Swing, & Video Analysis
• 2 Hours Daily On-Course Instruction- Covering All Facet Learned In Morning Session, Along With Course Management & Strategies, with Concentration On The 100 Yards & In-Game
• All Florida Golf Schools offers you the ability to improve your game in all facets. All our instructors have extended training, not only in the full swing but also in our “Performance Zone” program.

PERFORMANCE ZONE PROGRAM!

• Some of the short game fundamentals you will learn at all our Melbourne Golf Schools are as follows:
• Importance of both path and blade in putting
• Distance control in putting
• Hit your wedges closer to the hole
• Chip with confidence and accuracy
• Control your distance and spin
• Hit sand shots up and out of the bunker every time
• Learn to hit creative shots to escape difficult lies and situation
• Manage your Scoring Zone shots better
• Unlimited Green and Cart Fees for Days of School
• Maximum 2:1 Student to Teacher
• Custom Rates for 3 and 4 Students
• V1 High-Speed Video Analysis
• 1 Year Free Video Follow- Up Via Internet
• Florida Golf Schools Great Golfing Notebook
• Award-Winning PGA – LPGA and PGTCA Professional – Minimum of 20 Years Teaching Golf
• State of the Art Practice Facility for Improved Learning
• Take-Home Practice Program
• Custom Club Fitting
• Unlimited Use of State-of-the-Art Practice Facility