Most golfers who have lived and played in the Orlando area are familiar with what is now the Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons Orlando. The course was originally built in 1992 and designed by Tom Fazio as Osprey Ridge, one of the Walt Disney World tracks. In 2014, Fazio was called in to give the course a new look, under new ownership. Fazio enhanced the Orlando golf course for its October 2014 launch and now the course plays 6,901 yards to a par of 71. From the back tees, Tranquilo carries a course rating of 72.3 with a slope of 127. Four sets of tees make this a fun and inviting challenge for golfers of all skill levels.
FL is a resort golf course that opened in 1992. Designed by Tom Fazio, Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons Resort Orlando measures 7101 yards from the longest tees and has a slope rating of 131 and a 74.4 USGA rating. The course features 4 sets of tees for different skill levels. Greens and fairways are Bermuda grass.
The Tranquilo Golf Club is unique to Central Florida; not too many courses in this part of the state have such varying elevation. You’ll also find an abundance of wildlife here, from deer and wild turkeys, to osprey, turtles, and much more. In fact the protected wetlands have led to Tranquilo being named an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary
The name Tranquilo pays homage to the Resort’s Spanish Revival design and tranquil setting. Although once part of the Walt Disney World resort, Tranquilo is located away from the hustle and bustle that is Disney and allows you to connect with nature and to truly escape.
Tranquilo Golf Club features a full-service clubhouse that includes well-appointed locker rooms with showers, and all of the necessities one needs to spruce up after a round of Florida golf and a golf shop that carries many of the upscale brands found only in the green grass shops of America’s finer courses. There is also Plancha’s, a flavorful Cuban-American restaurant that offers many dishes you don’t see often. My favorite item was the Yucca fries.
You won’t find many nicer practice areas then what they have at Tranquilo. The spacious driving range with multiple targets allows you to hit every club in the bag. There is a separate chipping area complete with some deep sand traps which get you ready for what you will find on the course.
The course layout at Tranquilo makes you feel that you’re the only ones on the course; you don’t usually see other golfers on adjacent fairways. Speaking of adjacent fairways, they are usually separated by pine straw. Many of the holes have a New England feel to them – tree-lined fairways with gently rolling hills leading up to well-framed greens. There is little depth to the lining of the trees which allows fairly easy escape routes directly to the green in many cases.
Greenside bunkers do not stretch across the entire green allowing for the senior golfer’s favorite shot – the bump and run. Wayward approach shots that don’t find either green or bunker usually find some sort of collection area, eliminating ball searching and speeding up play. The sand in the bunkers is firm and not overly powdery, which allows the ball to come out soft. Greens are magnificent with wonderful undulations and a fairly fast pace. The ball rolls straight and true.
Tranquilo saves the best for last. Number 18 is the signature hole, a 217 yard Par 3, with water all down the left side and a greenside bunker that separates water from green. The right side offers little relief with its hilly terrain. Number 18 is one of the few places you will actually see the Four Seasons Resort which provides a stunning backdrop to the conclusion of a memorable round.
As you make your way around the course, be sure to take advantage of the fresh fruit and bottled water that can be found at any of the numerous comfort stations. There are only a handful of courses that I have played that offer complimentary fresh oranges and apples during your round.
Last Word: If you played this course when it was Osprey Ridge and haven’t played it since, you owe it to yourself to get out and see what they’ve done to it. From the Pro V1 golf balls on the range to the iced-down towels the attendant hands you at the end of your round, The Tranquilo Golf Club at Four Seasons is top-notch all the way. The par 5’s on this course are not only beautiful and visually stunning, they also challenge your shot making ability. With a well-placed drive, the par 5 number 9 is reachable in two.
It all culminates on number 18, a long par 3. The green sits tucked just beyond a lake and sits at an angle that can make it very shallow depending on pin placement. From the tee box, you have a beautiful view of the Four Seasons Resort, which is visually stunning in its own right. Tranquilo is a must-play in the Orlando area.
To book your next tee time at Tranquilo, give them a call at (407) 313-6880 or for more information, visit the website at www.tranquilogolf.com.
