On Location: Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Arnold Palmer extends a warm and welcoming hand to guests at his Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, Florida.

 While many of America's exclusive private clubs have rigid guest play policies, Mr Palmer (A.K.A. The King) makes it simple and easy to play the highly rated Bay Hill Golf Club, home to the PGA TOUR's Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard.

All you must do to tee up at Bay Hill is stay at Palmer's 70-room lodge. Better still, as a resort guest you essentially become a member during your stay.

"We're different from a standard golf resort in that every guest at the lodge has member privileges during their stay with access to all the various services and amenities our members enjoy every day," says Roy Schindele, director of sales and marketing at Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge. "You get a distinct feeling of exclusivity you won't find at a golf resort."

The prices aren't bad either. Schindele says Mr. Palmer insists on giving guests the same prices that members pay. For instance, I had a terrific breakfast of French Toast with prime choice bacon for $10 and paid only $4.5o for a glass of Cabernet (Luna, Arnold Palmer 2011). Mrs. Guru opted for Mr. Palmer's Chardonnay for the same price. 

Moreover, there are no annoying resort, parking or Internet fees.

"Our amenities are things to be enjoyed by our guests and members, not profit centers," he says.

Schindele insists what makes the property special beyond the great golf course and Mr. Palmer's input is the tremendous staff.

"We're different because we have so many long-time employees on our staff who are very dedicated and take great pride in representing Mr. Palmer," Schindele says. "It's one of the main reasons we have so many repeat visitors."

If you visit the Club & Lodge from mid-October to April you might even get to meet Mr. Palmer, who is a part-time resident at Bay Hill. Several staff members told me Mr. Palmer retains a strong presence at the club and is approachable and loves to mingle with guests on the course and in the dining rooms and Members Lounge. 

GOLF

Just a few steps from the Lodge are 27 holes of golf comprised of three nines.

Site of the PGA TOUR's Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard, the 7,381-yard, par 72  Championship Course (comprised of the Challenger and Champion nines) is a spectacular layout that incorporates beautiful lakes, bold bunkering, elevated tees, sometimes rolling fairways and dogleg holes.

Bay Hill reflects the personality of Palmer, one of the modern era's most daring and aggresive players. The course, which sweeps along the shores of the Butler Chain of Lakes, is long with a good number of tight fairways.

The most talked-about, and fun-to-play holes are the final two. The seventeenth is a 221-yard par-3 with a large green protected by water and treacherous pin positions. One of the best finishing holes on the PGA TOUR, the eighteenth, a 458-yard, par-4 is as picturesque as it is challenging. For birdie, you must hit an accurate mid-iron shot over water to a huge, undulating green bordered by deep bunkers on the left side.

Palmer first encountered the course in 1965 during an exhibition match with Jack Nicklaus. Smitten by Dick Wilson's design and the surrounding terrain, Palmer immediately began pursuing its purchase. He and several associates took over a lease on the property in 1970, exercising a purchase option in 1976. Since then, Palmer has tinkered with the course and made numerous nips and tucks to make it better every year.

The 3,324-yard, par 36 Charger Nine is an enjoyable layout with a great mix of holes. Less crowded than the Championship layout, it's an absolutely joyful place to play a late afternoon nine holes or a leisurely round with a spouse who's just learning the game (like Mrs. Guru). 

For a video view of the Bay Hill Championship Course, click here to Golf Travel Guru T.V.

ACCOMMODATIONS/AMENITIES

The comfortable and cozy lodge has 70 newly renovated guestrooms with private balconies and patios overlooking the golf course and gardens. Every room is situated just a few steps from the clubhouse, golf course, pool, spa and beauty salon. 

Guestroom amenities:

--Plush bedding
--27 inch flat screen T.V. with cable channels
--Work desk
--Complimentary coffee and tea presented in sitting areas a few steps from guestrooms
--Great views from private balconies and patios
--Luxuriously appointed bathrooms

Major amenities and offerings:

--27 holes of golf
--3 restaurants
--2 lounges
--Spa and Salon at Bay Hill
--Fitness center
--Swimming pool
--9,000 square-foot Conference Center
--6 tennis courts
--Marina at Bay Hill

10 Little Things I Liked:

1. The exclusive toiletries that are made for Bay Hill and Latrobe Country Club guests.

2. The amazing, high-quality, prime choice bacon served at the Grill Room for breakfast.

3. The phenomenal vintage pictures of Mr. Palmer and other golf scenes which dot the hallways and common areas in the Lodge and clubhouse.

4. The delicious grilled chicken wrap at the Terrace Cafe overlooking the swimming pool.

5. The traditional and cozy Members Lounge (bar) where resort guests are welcome.

6. The extra large showerheads in the beautifully appointed bathrooms.

7. The large, junior Olympic size swimming pool.

8. The expansive Bay Hill Pro Shop, which has a wide selection of apparel and accessories with the Bay Hill Logo.

9. Every room is located just a few steps from the putting green, pro shop, driving range and the first tee.

10. The location in the Bay Hill Subdivision allows for great walks or jogs throughout the community.

DINING AND LOUNGES

Grill and Classic Rooms--Evoking the ambiance of a friendly and welcoming private club, these dining rooms offer a casually elegant environment with attentive service from long-time employees.

Members Lounge--A relaxing, fireside bar with comfy chairs and sitting areas and drink menu featuring a good selection of single malt whiskeys, traditional cocktails and Arnold Palmer wines.

Bay Window Lounge--The recently renovated lounge, overlooking the putting green and famed Rolex clock, features big screen televisions.

Terrace Cafe--Featuring indoor and alfresco dining, this cafe overlooking the swimming pool has a menu of lighter fare selections and Arnold Palmer wines.

THINGS TO DO

Universal Orlando--Located about a 5-minute drive from the resort (2.3 miles), the theme park complex is home to various movie-based attractions, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.

On-site marina with world-class bass fishing--Little known to non-residents and lodge guests is the fantastic marina near the resort. You can catch bass, speckled perch, bluegill, catfish and more. Veteran fishing guides are available, too.

Restaurant Row on Sand Road--Orlando's highest concentration of restaurants are located less than a five-minute drive from Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge. Among the most popular are locally owned, upscale favorites Chatham's Place and Christini's Ristorante Italian and celebrated chains like Roy's, Seasons 52, Ocean Prime, Rocco's Tacos and Tequila Bar and Bar Louie.

Shopping at the Mall of Millenia--About a 10-minute drive from the resort, this expansive mall is Orlando's most upscale with anchor stores like Macy's and Bloomingdale's, specialty stores such as Apple, Kate Spade and Vera Bradley, restaurants like Capital Grille and The Cheesecake Factory and the Blue Martini lounge.

Play golf at a nearby course--Courses within a 15 minute drive include MetroWest, Marriott's Grande Pines, Grand Cypress Resort and Walt Disney World Resort.

LOCATION

Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge is located in a beautifully landscaped residential community in southwest Orlando a few minutes from Universal Orlando Resort. Address: 9000 Bay Hill Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32819

GET THE SCOOP

For more information and or reservations, click to Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge or call 407-876-2429.

Ten Reasons Why I Absolutely Love the Masters

Ten Reasons Why I Absolutely Love the Masters

I can't wait for the Masters to start this year. With Tiger, Rory and Phil playing well, 2013's version should be phenomenal and most likely, as usual, will come down to the back nine on Sunday.

One aspect of the Masters’ appeal is that while many things in America are changing at microwave speed, the tournament and it’s setting remains transfixed in another era. From its Magnolia Lane, a picturesque and darkly shaded boulevard leading up the clubhouse, to the blooming, colorful azaleas, to the green blazer awarded the champion each year, few things seem to change.

To fans, the Masters retains its aura because—except for the first week in April—the public is rarely exposed to the Augusta National golf course. The club has repeatedly refused deals for licensing agreements, and the only place you can get Masters memorabilia such as hats, visors and shirts is at the tournament.

Here are my top 10 reasons why I love the Masters:

Knowledgeable and polite golf fans.

I know it sounds elitist, but keeping drunk, rowdy, golf illiterate fans away from Augusta National is a good thing. I love the fact there are no beered up clowns yelling “In the hole” on par five tee shots or “You da man” to everybody inside the ropes. 

Champions Dinner on Tuesday of Masters Week

What a great tradition? When you win the Masters you become a member of golf’s most exclusive club. One of the perks is the previous year’s winner gets to select the menu (and pick up the tab) for the annual dinner. Some of my favorite selections include Tiger Woods’ cheeseburgers and milkshakes in 1998 when he was 22 years old; Jose Maria Olazabal’s Paella (a Spanish rice dish with seafood) in 1995 and Ben Crenshaw’s Texas barbeque in 1996.

No corporate signage

One of the reasons Augusta National is so pleasing to watch on our television screens is the total lack of corporate signage. It’s one of the few places left in America where you’re not subjected to some sign wanting to sell you something. With pop up ads on the Internet, intrusive advertisements at movie houses and endless signs and corporate tents at your typical PGA Tour event, it’s a welcome reprieve to see Augusta National, a throwback to a simpler time.

Par Three Contest

You can see the joy on the player’s faces as they walk around the course accompanied by their small children, who are wearing mini-sized caddie outfits. The event was first held in 1960. The course designed by George Cobb plays over DeSoto Springs Pond and Ike’s Pond, which is named for President Dwight Eisenhower. One of my favorite bits of Masters trivia is that no winner of the Par 3 Contest has ever gone on to win on the big course. Another great bit of Masters trivia: How many hole-in-ones have been scored on the Par 3 Contest? Give up? 70.

Caddie coveralls

While the green jacket is the most renowned Masters fashion statement, the white coveralls worn by the caddies instantly tell you this tournament is “a tradition like no other” to borrow a Jim Nance phrase. I love watching the golfers walk down the verdant fairways next to their caddies, who wear green caps and the white coveralls with the name of their golfers on the back in green lettering. While PGA Tour caddies have pretty much taken over the caddie duties, the old-time Masters caddies like Stovepipe, Pappy, Iron Man, Cricket and Cemetery will be as much a part of Masters lore as Amen Corner and Magnolia Lane.

Azaleas and magnolias.

I never get tired of seeing the bright azaleas that accent the golf course. Nothing signifies spring better than these brightly colored plants that provide the perfect color contrast for the verdant green surroundings. What I learned recently was that the golf course was built on land that previously served as the first nursery in the South. Through the years, more than 80,000 plants of more than 350 varieties have been added to the grounds.  The 61 magnolia trees that line Magnolia Lane are an awesome sight as well.

Real food and real low prices

Forget about hot dogs and hamburgers at the Masters (the smoke from the grills would presumably damage the garden-like ambiance), the real concession star is the pimento cheese sandwich that sells for $1.50. Yes, $1.50. Masters concession prices are stuck in a time warp. While other major American sports events have introduced price gouging to new levels at their concession stands, the members at Augusta National seem to care less about turning a profit on their concessions. Other $1.50 sandwich selections include egg salad, tuna salad and turkey. Want a brewski? How about two bucks?

Ceremonial honorary starters

I absolutely love the concept of having golf’s great past champions hit the ceremonial first shot. This year Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player will share the honor. The ritual started in 1963 and through the year’s greats like Gene Sarazen, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead have participated. Sadly, between 2002 and 2007 the tournament didn’t have an honorary starter. In 2007, Palmer accepted the invitation after declining it in the previous years. Now, this year with Arnie and Jack it couldn’t be better. They represent everything that is good and wholesome about the game and its great traditions.

No tickets

People adore and want what they can’t have, right. The Masters definitely falls into that category. It’s the toughest ticket in sports. There is a waiting list but it was closed in 1978. Even if you open up the list, thousands of names are already ahead of you and me. You have a better chance of getting tickets to the Super Bowl, World Series, or NBA Championship than to the Masters.

The Green Jacket and other awards

Even the poor slug who can a barely tell the difference between a tennis ball and a golf ball knows about the green jacket awarded to the winner of the Masters. Most people don’t realize there are a host of other prizes at the Masters. For instance, the winner also receives a gold medal; the runner-up receives a silver medal and silver slaver and each day’s low score is awarded a crystal vase.

5 Reasons Why Arnold Palmer Will Always be King

1. With his “go for broke”, swashbuckling style, he almost singlehandedly is responsible for making golf on television watchable and successful.

2. His record of achievement includes the 1954 U.S. Amateur, four Masters, two British Opens, a U.S. Open, 62 PGA Tour victories and 10 Senior PGA Tour wins, including the PGA Seniors Championship and U.S. Senior Open.

3. He was instrumental in starting the Golf Channel, which has helped elevate the game globally.

4. He set the gold standard for class and how a modern day athlete should interact with fans and media.

5. He created the “Arnold Palmer”, that wonderful, refreshing libation of ice tea and lemonade mixed together.

5 Worst (But Most Successful) Golf Swings

There's one major difference between your hacker's swing and the list of gentlemen on my list of worst golf swings. They've managed to win millions of dollars with their less-than-technically perfect swings, and you probably don't have a dime to show for efforts. Check out my latest post at Golf Partners Online to see who made my list.

5 Best Golf Shots Ever

For my list of the 5 Best Golf Shots ever, go to my latest post at Golf Partners Club

Rancho Park's Arnold Palmer Tribute?

A couple years ago, I moved about 20 miles west to the beach town of Santa Monica, CA. As a result, my home course went from the Rose Bowl parking lot to Rancho Park, former home of the L.A. Open. On the par-5 18th tee, there's an interesting plaque to commemorate Arnold Palmer's achievement at the 35th L.A. Open in 1961.


Here's the engraving:

The first day of the 35th L.A. Open, Arnold Palmer, voted Golfer of the year, took a 12 on this hole.

As an inspiration to all Golfers The L.A. Jr. Chamber of Commerce dedicate this monument.

Palmer hit a fine drive. He sliced his next 2 shots into the driving range, then hooked two more onto Patricia Ave. Hit the green with his sixth shot, and two putted. Eight strokes plus four penalities add up to 12.

Here's the detailed story according to Golf For Dummies:

Palmer needed a par 5 on the 18th for a 69 in the second round. After a good drive, instead of laying up with an iron for the tight second shot, he went for a birdie and pushed a 3-wood out-of-bounds onto the adjacent driving range. He paused briefly to regroup and then hit another 3-wood. This time, he hooked it onto Patricia Avenue. Stubborn if not downright foolhardy, Palmer hit the 3-wood yet again, and again hooked it out-of-bounds. On the fifth try, after four straight penalties, he finally put his 3-wood on the green and went on to make a 12. A long, sad story. Arnie's description was more succinct. Asked by a reported how he managed to make a 12, he replied, "I missed my putt for an 11."

The plaque and story are great comic reliefs to any golfer having a bad day on the golf course. But did anyone bother to check the grammar before it was engraved in stone!?