Orlando is a haven for the youngin’s. With theme parks from Disney World to Universal and SeaWorld to boot, it’s easy to see why any young wanderlust wound jump at the chance to visit the Central Florida tourism hub. But, thanks to the pristine accommodations and grown-up fun of the Grand Cypress Golf Resort, adults can delight in this destination too.
Just minutes from Walt Disney World, the Grand Cypress Resort spans 1,500 acres to encompass luxury villa-style lodging, 45 holes of golf, dining, meeting spaces, and more. The Mediterranean-style resort offers a variety of lodging accommodations including one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom Villas and Club Suites. The latter spaces include approximately 650 square feet of living space including a bedroom, sunken sitting area, large luxury bath and either a patio or veranda. For those seeking more room to relax, one- and two-bedroom Villas offer up to 1,700 square feet including an oversized living room, dining room and full kitchen. Three- and four-bedroom accommodations span up to 3,100 square feet for the ultimate stay. To fit families and vacation groups of all sizes, Villas come in a variety of layouts with master suites, king bedrooms and double/double rooms along with luxury features such as fireplaces and whirlpool baths.
Additional amenities include high speed internet access, 24-hour room service, and complimentary transportation services throughout the resort and to nearby theme parks such as Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld. More active guests can opt for complimentary use of club bicycles or the health club while those who wish to relax can enjoy in-room spa services.
For dining, Grand Cypress offers a selection of options without ever leaving the resort. Nine18 Restaurant, an upscale, dinner-only restaurant, offers fantastic views of the North-South Golf Course. The fine-dining restaurant holds an extensive wine list – to the tune of 500 bottles – and offers seating for up to 85 guests as well as smaller settings for private or semi-private parties. For a more casual dining experience head over to The Club, the resort’s restaurant and sports bar. Open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, The Club offers a comfortable and relaxed setting to enjoy a quick meal or full dinner. The Club serves traditional breakfast choices such as eggs and bacon yet offers specialty items such as premium waffles and omelets as well. For lunch or dinner be sure to try out a delicious panini, fresh salad, or any of the restaurant’s extensive selection of entrees. Executive Chef Alan Gould, an award-winning chef with 15 years experience at the helm of each restaurant, manages the culinary operations for the entire resort.
The Grand Cypress Resort also includes an incredible amount of meeting space to entertain business or personal guests on site. The Executive Meeting Center totals 14,000 square feet in space consisting of a 7,200 square foot meeting space and adjacent pavilion. Three rooms can divide into eight sections to hold a maximum of 220 people in a theater seating arrangement. Each room offers a completely private, soundproof environment to conduct personal business matters simultaneously. To assist you in your business endeavors, the on-site professional conference services staff can aid with meeting and meal planning services as well as plan for specialty theme events.
But of course Grand Cypress takes it fame for its renowned golf courses. The resort holds four distinct golf courses – the North Nine, South Nine, East Nine, and New Course – each designed by Jack Nicklaus and Nicklaus Golf Design. The North, South and East courses combine to form 27-holes of classic challenges from Jack Nicklaus which require expert strategy and accuracy from players. The New Course was inspired by the Old Course at St. Andrews and features 18 holes. The distinctive course is admired by many tour pros who often use the New Course for training for the British Open. The North-South combination presents a challenging target-style course featuring sharp ledges on fairways and plateaued greens with many water and sand hazards. Double greens connect the eighth holes and closing holes for each side of the double course.
The East Nine features the infamous par-3 fifth hole with an island green. Starting with an elevated tee, the hole is reminiscent of the 17th hole at the TPC of Sawgrass. The New Course – a distinguished Scottish design – represents Nicklaus’s personal tribute to the Old Course at St. Andrews. Constructed with burns, 12-foot deep pot bunkers, stone bridges and walls, the New Course is almost devoid of water and trees but still manages to present a great challenge to golfers. For those looking to step up their game while visiting, the Grand Cypress Academy of Golf offers private instruction led by Fred Griffin, who was recently honored as one of the Top 100 golf instructors in the country by GOLF Magazine. The resort clubhouse includes two dining options along with a full golf shop for both equipment and apparel.
With the fun and activities available within the confines of the Grand Cypress Resort, you may forget about the nearby attractions. But hey, maybe Donald will be up for a round on the North Nine.
