Golf is a big part of the sports scene in Lake County.
There are golf courses around nearly every corner and plenty of golfers to keep area layouts bustling with activity.
Lake County is also the home to two of the top facilities in the country, according to recent rankings released by golfadvisor.com, a website that provides course ratings and reviews for enthusiasts of the game.
El Campeon, a 99-year-old track at Mission Inn Resort and Club in Howey-in-the-Hills, was named the second-best course in the country. In addition, Bella Collina Golf Club in Montverde was tagged as the fifth-best facility for off-course amenties.
Both courses were named in golfadvisor.com’s “Best of Golf Advisor 2015.” The rankings, according to the website, were prepared from reviews provided by users of the courses and its facilities, as well as “expert lists from our editorial team.”
“It is a distinct honor to be ranked second in the entire country by Golf Advisor,” Donna Beucher Line, part owner of Mission Inn, said in a release. “We appreciate Golf Advisor contributors recognizing El Campeon’s blend of Old Florida charm and tradition, along with its variety of shot-making challenges.”
Michael Bowery, golf director at Mission Inn, said the ranking is a tribute to the Beucher family, which has owned the resort for the past 51 years.
“El Campeon might be an old course, but it’s not like many courses in Florida and that sets it apart,” Bowery said. “Our topography is unique. Many courses in the state are flat, but we have a great deal of elevation change here. The course is always in great shape and because we have multiple tees, El Campeon offers a tremendous challenge to golfers, regardless of their skill level.”
With six tees boxes, El Campeon plays to a variety of differences. From the back tees, it measures 7,003 yards and is 4,811 yards from the forward tees.
That variety also is an attraction for golfers, many of whom flock to the area from around the country.
“I’ve played El Campeon a lot over the years,” said Jim Pierce who travelled to the area from Tulsa, Oklahoma. “I love playing here. It’s a shot-maker’s course. There are so many tee boxes, that anyone can play and have a good time. It should never be too long, no matter much you play.
“I’ve play about 15 courses around Lake County and this one is the best, by far.”
Variety is also a big selling point for Bella Collina, although from a different point of view.
A private club that does permit non-members to play on a space-available basis, Bella Collina is unlike any other golf facility in the country, according to Director of Golf Jim Kroll. In many ways, Kroll saidl Bella Collina’s uniqueness comes from the fact it is not just a golf course.
“When you come to Bella Collina, it’s like visiting a Tuscan Village in Italy,” Kroll said. “You drive up cobblestone streets to get here and as you get to our clubhouse you see a bell tower sitting on top of a hill. We’re on one of the highest spots in the state and the view is fantastic. A lot of people come here and don’t even play golf. They play tennis or go to the spa.
“Each trip to Bella Collina can offer a different experience.”
Kroll said Bella Collina’s 75,000-square-foot Tuscan-inspired clubhouse is one of the club’s biggest selling points. In addition, there is a “19th hole,” a spa, men’s and women’s locker rooms, a formal banquet facility, a wine cellar containing more than 1,000 bottles, along with the tennis courts and golf course.
“We host a lot of weddings and just people wanting a fabulous dining experience,” Kroll said. “You don’t have to come here just to play golf and that’s what makes us special.”
For Marc Campos, head coach of the Swiss Junior National Golf Team, the opportunity to play at Bella Collina is like being home.
The atmosphere at Bella Collina, said Campos, feels like a European facility.
“It’s home away from home for us,” Campos said. “There are hills here and I think it inspires our players because everything here feels like home. It might be too cold to play in Europe right, certainly in Switzerland, but everything around this clubhouse makes you feel like you’re closer to home and not an ocean away.
“We come here and it feels special whenever we’re here.”