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Duffer Dan at The Tradition at Ginn Reunion Resort
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Ginn Reunion Resort
7593 Gathering Dr
Reunion, Florida 34747
www.GinnResorts.com |
The Gang took a short drive west on
I-4 to experience the new Jack Nicklaus
designed Tradition course, which
completes the perfect trifecta for the
Ginn Reunion Resort. There were already
two magnificent layouts designed by Arnold
Palmer and Tom Watson, the Legacy
and the Independence, both of which begin
their routing at the beautiful hilltop clubhouse
and opened simultaneously in 2004.
The 7244-yard par 72 Tradition will have
its own clubhouse and is a few blocks from
the centerpiece of the community, the Reunion
Grande, a luxury high-rise with one
and two bedroom suites, fine dining and
meeting space. April 14-20, 2008 the resort
will host its 3rd LPGA Ginn Open, utilizing a
mix of the Palmer and Watson courses, with
FGCM’s favorite young LPGA star, Brittany
Lincicome, defending her awesome win
against Lorena Ochoa and Laura Davies on a
wind swept Sunday afternoon last year.
Let’s talk Tradition. I am not Tevye from
‘Fiddler on the Roof’ but Duffer Dan. After
a long drive to the beginning tee, which is
around the large |
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practice green, and driving
range, we got our first glimpse of the Parkland-
style layout. The smooth and flowing
fairways with abundant horizon lines, elevated
tees and greens and risk reward opportunities
throughout are a sharp contrast
to the other two courses. There are four sets
of tees to accommodate anyone’s ability.
The first hole is a short uphill par 4 with a
good chance for par, which none of the Gang
obtained. The second is another par 4, the
#1 handicap hole at 440 yards, which we did
par. Sometimes luck is just better than skill.
The course’s longest hole is the 3rd, a 585-
yard par 5, which the Duffer played extraordinarily
well. A great drive and second shot
to less than 150 yards, and keeping the water
out of play a beautiful shot to the green
to come away with a bird. There was no fiddling
around here. It didn’t take long to lose
the momentum when I doubled the 4th, a
par four that seemed easy enough. Our first
look at a par 3 came on #5, the longest of the
four at 223 yards, followed by another par 5 that we had little trouble with. The frontnine is the shorter of the two nines by almost
150 yards. With a slope and rating at
147 & 76.7 it is the highest of the three layouts,
but does not play as hard to us. The
cart service was there on a regular basis.
The back nine starts out with a tough
and the longest par four at 461 yards where
smart shots will outdo a long bomb that
could put you in an awkward position to
reach the green. The easiest hole, the par 3,
11th is 184 yards from the back tees but did
not present any problem to the Gang. We
enjoyed the routing of the back nine as it
wove its way through some beautiful vistas
and lush landscaping. Playing at Reunion
Resort is always a pleasure. Kevin Bacon, the
Director of Golf, and his fine staff take care
of their guests with topnotch service. The
finishing hole is an uphill par 5, with about
a 180-yard carry over a deep ravine from the
back tee, and then a hard dogleg left to the
green. Keeping the ball in the middle or favoring
the right side of the fairway will give
you a better chance to reach the green. We
got there in good condition but the undulating
green and back pin placement gave us
a fit. The greens have many different levels
and undulations, but they do putt true.
After our round we went back to the
main clubhouse to enjoy a snack and a
few drinks. Much to our surprise the ‘Ginn
Open Got Game Challenge’ was just finishing
up. After two days of tough competition,
Lindy Duncan, a 16-year-old amateur
from Plantation had just won the playoff
against Sookhee Baek, a professional from
Bradenton, on the second extra hole. With
her win Lindy earned a qualifying spot at
the Ginn Open, Come out and follow her
and Brittany April 17-20 at the magnificent
Ginn Reunion Resort. To learn more about
Reunion and other Ginn properties go to
www.GinnResorts.com. |
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