CELEBRATION GOLF CLUB/By Peter Blais
Robert Trent Jones and son Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed Celebration a dozen years ago as the focal point of the Celebration residential community.
The farm-style clubhouse and adjacent windmill welcomes golfers and blends nicely with a community featuring classic homes, schools, healthcare and a variety of recreational amenities for homeowners. The clubhouse also has a Jones' Room devoted to memorabilia from the course-design family. 
The 18-hole layout winds its way around a series of lakes and marshes. Water comes into play on all but one hole. Stands of native oak, pine and magnolia trees draped with Spanish moss are home for a vast array of wildlife.
Those playing from the back tees will be faced with frequent carries and will liken the course to desert-style target layouts. The forward tees usually take the hazards out of play or minimize the distance over open water. A far-forward fifth set of tees changes all 18 holes into par-3s making for great family golf. Players also get a kick out of the double-ended aqua driving range.
Celebration flipped its nines a few years ago because of the way the sun traveled relative to the course layout. The 211-yard 16th playing across a large body of water is the signature hole. Recently planted palm trees frame the back of the hole. Operators bulkheaded the green, which formerly ran down to the water's edge. They also added bulkheading around a half-dozen putting surfaces in the past 12 months.
Other recent improvements include bulkheading to the aqua driving range and the addition of an 80' by 60' floating target green with two accompanying bunkers. The club added canopies over the teeing grounds on both ends of the driving range for protection during inclement weather.
• Boomer Couples - The five sets of tees guarantee an appropriate yardage for players of all abilities. The golf academy offers half-day instructional schools at a very affordable $169. The Windmill Restaurant is an excellent post-round dining experience.
• Boomer Groups - Celebration offers quiet, secluded rooms for group functions and a variety of on-site lodging options. The golf school features group skill-development sessions
and will organize an entire group trip.
• Boomers With Children - Junior golf camps are available and Celebration's Junior Program offers youngsters with disabilities no-charge instruction and playing privileges. Near the clubhouse is a three-hole short-game course where adults are only allowed to play it accompanied by a young golfer.
Click here to visit the course website.
