Golf Traveler: Rolling out the green carpet at Shingle Creek in Orlando Florida

Celebrity golfers Arnold Palmer, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Nick Faldo and Annika Sorenstam have all called Orlando, Florida home as one time or another. With over 170 courses, 20 golf academies and warm weather year-round, it's easy to see why. Many of the area's most spectacular courses were designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and David Harman, giving golfers an unparalleled experience.

Shingle Creek Golf Club, part of the holdings on Harris Rosen, owner and operator of seven hotels and resorts in Orlando area. It is a 7,149-yard course featuring an award-winning golf academy. Nestled next to its namesake stream, Shingle Creek Golf Club is one of the reasons the highly acclaimed Rosen Shingle Creek hotel is so popular and a visitor's oasis in the heart of Orlando's densely populated tourist and convention center corridor.

Right from the first tee golfers are surrounded by a lush variety of colourful and attractive flora -- much which has been preserved in its original Florida state. The picturesque setting is enhanced by a backdrop of dense oak and pine trees that wind along the bank of Shingle Creek.

Shingle Creek Golf Club opened in December 2003 and has racked up numerous awards from prestigious publications like Meetings and Conventions and GOLF magazine. The course was designed by David Harmon who is recognized as one of the world's finest golf course designers. He designed courses for the like of Tom Fazio and Arnold Palmer in more than 150 locations world wide.

Based a stone's throw from Orlando's convention district it is not surprising that Shingle Creek hosts over 200 corporate events every year. "We specialize in corporate golf events where your're looking at guys who may only play once or twice a year," says, David Scott, director of golf. "Its business golf at its best. The course is fun to play because we have wide fairways and most of the greens you can run the ball up."

While attending a recent publishing conference in Orlando, I had the opportunity to play the 18-hole tract. It was comfortable Florida day -- not too hot or sticky but warm enough to enjoy the heat and the generous layout. It was a best-ball tournament and I was able to ride the good fortunes of a three other good golfer, and our foresome came in third with a respectable 7 under.

My foursome consisted of young gun John Oldham from Provo, Utah, who could hit the ball a mile, Brent Cooper of Beaufort, South Carolina who was always straight down-the-middle and Jeff Hunter, of Sterling, Virginia who was a big hitter as well. Leaving me the opportunity to sharpen my game on my first 18 holes of the year.

Shingle Creek Golf Club proved to be a lot of fun and thanks for our many generous sponsors everyone came away with a memorable golf experience. So remember, whatever your skill level might be, visiting golfers will find that Shingle Creek Golf Club offers a compelling combinations of service, conditions, practice and play.