1300 trees, sand bunkers and waste bunker have all been added along with changes to the finishing hole.
November 21, 2005, Winter Garden, Fl���..When 160 aspiring PGA TOUR professionals arrive at the Finals of PGA TOUR Qualifying School November 30 at Orange County National they will begin their quest for a PGA TOUR card on two championship golf courses that have undergone significant changes in the past 10 months. Between the two courses, Panther Lake and Crooked Cat, a combination of 1300 trees, 10 sand bunkers and 2 waste bunkers have been added. On the finishing par 5 hole at Panther Lake golfers will now have a driving option with a new split fairway design.
"Prior to us hosting the 2003 Q-School finals we planted more than 100 oak trees to better define playing lines and create strategic decision making opportunities," stated Bruce Gerlander, General Manager, Orange County National. "This year we planted over 1300 trees, mostly pines of which three quarters of them were added to Crooked Cat. This has helped define the fairway corridors and frame holes for better sight lines. Some holes will be played differently now though most will simply appear different."
Keeping it in the fairway on both courses will be key to the success of the PGA TOUR graduates. The Panther Lake Course will play 7350 yards from the Tour tees and Crooked Cat Course will play 7460 yards from the Tour tees. Each course is unique in its characteristics. Panther Lake is a magnificent test routed through oak hammocks, pines and wetlands on rolling land and elevation changes up to 60-feet. Crooked Cat is more of a links-style look that is open to the tricky winds that tend to blow at this time of year. The golfers will experience 3-inch Bermuda grass rough and large, contoured elevated greens that register about an 11 on the stimp-meter. One more significant change golfers will find is a split fairway on the par 5 18th hole on Panther Lake. It now offers a risk / reward proposition to this great finishing hole.
The professional golfers who make it to the final stage of PGA TOUR will be guaranteed status on either the PGA TOUR or Nationwide Tour for 2006. The grueling week of golf comprises of six days, 108 holes of mind-draining, pressure packed golf that determines their job for the following year. The top 30 players plus ties at the end of the week will receive their 2006 PGA TOUR cards. Then the next group of players nearest to top 50 and ties will receive their Nationwide Tour card and the remaining players will receive conditional playing status on the Nationwide Tour based on their final position.
Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge is a 36-hole Phil Ritson, Dave Harman and Isao Aoki designed golf resort located in the greater Orlando area. In addition to two championship golf courses, there is a 42-acre world-class practice facility, 22,000 square foot clubhouse with a restaurant, lounge, meeting rooms and an award winning golf shop. Additionally, there is on-site lodging. For more information on Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge call 888 727 3672 or visit www.ocngolf.com.
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