Bay Hill Club and Lodge

Would you be interested in playing a few rounds of golf at a prominent Florida venue that hosts a very popular PGA tournament every year? In fact, it's one Tiger Woods' favorite tournaments, probably because he has won it eight times in his career.

Yes, you guessed it. I am talking about the Arnold Palmer Championship perennially held at Bay Hill in the Orlando area. This (mostly) private club offers stay and play golf packages to the general public.

The Bay Hill Club & Lodge combines superb meeting facilities with attentive staff and world-class golf in an exclusive club setting. It's also the winter home of Mr. Palmer, who can often be seen around the course and especially in the dining area. Be sure to ask your host or hostess to point out his favorite table; there's a pretty good chance he might be around it!

The 70-room lodge is very unique with seemingly every room paying homage to Mr. Palmer. Pictures and awards don the walls, trophies and golf memorabilia are everywhere. Golfers will delight in the ambience created by this environment.

In addition to golf, Bay Hill also has six beautiful tennis courts - four Har Tru and two DecoTurf as well as a fully stocked tennis pro shop. As a club member, you are eligible to participate in tennis leagues offered by the club.

There are plenty of amenities to take in before and after your round at Bay Hill. Women will delight in the Salon at Bay Hill which offers personally customized full and half day packages. Whether you're looking for a new coif for the evening, a soothing mani/pedi or an aromatherapy scalp massage, you'll find it at the salon.

The Spa offers 25, 50 and 80 minute massages of all types: Swedish, therapeutic, hot stone and prenatal as well as many different types of personalized skin care and body therapies. There's a fitness center available to guests as well as a large junior Olympic-size pool where you can swim a few laps or just laze about after your round.

Dining is available in any of three venues around the club. Mr. Palmer brings forth his passion for quality food and good taste as well as an extensive wine list. The Members Lounge provides a cozy fireside setting and serves wine, beer and cocktails. It's the perfect setting to relax and simply enjoy all of the charm this venue has to offer.

Any trip to Bay Hill is not complete without a round or two of golf. Over the summer, the golf course underwent some pretty major renovation. Tee boxes were redesigned, new greens were installed and many architectural and aesthetic enhancements were made.

As you play the Championship course, you can picture seeing each hole on TV multiple times. Remember telling yourself how you would play that shot after watching your favorite pro pull off the feat on TV? Well, now's your chance. Experience memorable holes such as number 16, the short par 5 where a good drive will afford you the opportunity to get on in two, the par 3 number 17 where sand and water can wreak havoc with your tee shot and number 18, where Tiger Woods himself as pulled off some pretty amazing feats.

Bay Hill Golf Packages include:

* Accommodations in a Lodge Room (based on double occupancy)
* 18 holes (cart included) per each night's stay on Bay Hill Champions course
* Range Balls
* All taxes
* (Forecaddie fee not included)

Packages start at $194/night per golfer during the summer up to $336/ night per golfer during the winter season. Reservations can be made online at www.bayhill.com. And, in case you forget to bring home any mementos from your trip, just about everything from the pro shop is available online.