Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

Many songs have been written about time. Jim Croce wrote about Time in a Bottle; "But there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do. Steve Miller wrote that "Time keeps on slipping into the future. And Pink Floyd tells us that "One day you find ten years have got behind you. No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun." Time is cruel; it wreaks havoc on our bodies and minds. Everything changes over time; sometimes for the good, sometimes for the bad.

Golf courses are not immune to change. Over time, greens are mowed smaller, thus shrinking in size. Organic matter builds up under greens and retards growth. Bunker edges get washed out; tree roots grow under cart paths and break them up. And on and on and on...

Last year, the time had come for the International Course at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate in Kissimmee, FL. It was time for a renovation and many changes took place, including new Champion Bermuda greens. This year, after 17 years and hundreds of thousands of rounds, the time has come for the National Course.

Recently, the staff at Championsgate introduced members of the media to the new Champion Bermuda greens on its National Golf Course. Not only were they re-turfed, they were returned to their original shapes and sizes. Champion Bermuda offer many advantages, one of which is that it stands up better in colder weather, negating the need to overseed. This eliminates the transition period in the spring that many area courses deal with annually.

Changes to the National Course were not limited to rebuilding the greens. A couple of tee boxes were raised several feet in an effort to create clearer lines of sight. Case in point, the short par-4 4th hole, where you can actually see the fairway over the Florida wetlands. Bunkers were also touched up, improving the overall aesthetics of the golf course. This Florida golf resort course is now more playable for all level of golfers.

Of the two courses, most players probably prefer the International Course. It was originally designed as an Australian coastal links-style course. It is designed around natural Florida wetlands, and features deep pot bunkers, dunes topped with tall grasses, and large well-undulated greens. From 2003 - 2008, the International Course was the host of the annual Father-Son Challenge. It has also played host to numerous other high-profile amateur and professional events. The resort is also home to the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, where many of today's top players practice and train.

As far as golf resorts go, the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate is second to none. For families, it's located close to Disney World and the other theme parks. For golfers, this 720-room, AAA four-diamond hotel has it all: world-class dining, rooms, suites and resort-style activities such as a lazy river and a lighted par-3 course for after-dark golf or practice. These facilities are available to all resort guests.

Great vacation packages for both families and golfers can be found on the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate website, https://www.omnihotels.com/hotels/orlando-championsgate.