Bay Hill Lodge & Club, America’s Golfing Treasure
Golf Writer Andy Reistetter started his “Play-Write” series in 2009 playing the course the Monday after tournaments. In this the 46th and expanded “Stay-Play-Write” article, Andy happily returned to Bay Hill after covering his sixth Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. Although he missed Mr. Palmer who headed up to Latrobe, Pennsylvania earlier in the month, he felt his presence and the sense of what the game of golf and golfing fellowship is all about. The best part is that this experience is available to everyone through a reasonably priced Bucket-List-Dreams-Come-True-Package by calling (888) 422-9445 or visiting www.BayHill.com. Come and experience Bay Hill for yourself with family and friends or come alone and meet new ones. If not, enjoy as Reistetter shares the tales and tributes of his recent visit.
On the practice putting green near the Rolex clock in front of the Lodge, the warn andf friendly confines of Mr. Palmer’s Bay Hill!
Bobby Jones, golf’s most famous amateur, once said “There is golf and there is tournament golf, and they are not the same.” The Bay Hill Lodge and Club are and has been a host to a PGA Tour tournament for the last 35 years. One of a select number of “Invitational’s” on tour, it is distinctly Arnold Palmer’s, whether you look at the golf course, the field or how the tournament is conducted. When I drove to the club to play golf (I am not a professional golfer so it was not championship week) it looked different. If you have played a golf course before or after seeing a golf tournament you know what I mean. It is different without the grandstands, galleries and ropes.
Bay Hill looked more alive than ever to me with her open vistas and magnolia trees in blossom. She was beautiful in her nakedness. Although the Bay Hill tournament welcome is as warm as anywhere on tour, the smile and greeting of Khadijah and Ginny at the front desk made me feel like family, I felt as invited as the golf pros in Arnie’s tournament. My room overlooked the putting green and the Rolex Clock it envelops. Looking past the green to the practice tee I did what I always wanted to do- hit some balls, work on my game in the evening, sleep and then again when I woke up in the morning. There is something special about staying on the grounds of a golf course.
I took a walk down the corridors of what is the nicest lodge I have ever seen. I went past a steward as he ran a rag along the top to dust a chair rail. The place was spotless. The accommodations so clean and maintained that one could eat off the light wood floors or sleep comfortable on the rugs of the long corridors. The pictures and artwork were so unique, so Palmer-esque that I knew there was no other place like this in the world.
I enjoyed a great foursome at Bay Hill- two Canadians, me and a muffin!
Heading towards the pro shop I saw plaque of the Past Invitational Champions. I reminisced about coming here for the tournament since 2008. How could Tiger make a 25-foot birdie putt to win by one? Then do it again the following year? That year though a man, I was a kid and hung around the 18th green a long time after the excitement dissipated. A real kid ran home and came back with a putter and a few golf balls. We tried that same putt 50 times and could not make it even once like Tiger did.
The plaque had more recent Tiger plates; for 2012 when Tiger broke his winless streak on tour dating back to September 2009 and only a few weeks ago when he ascended back to the World No. 1 Golfer. There were his four-in-a-row from 2000 to 2003 making eight the number of times Woods has won a tournament at Bay Hill tying Sam Snead’s eight Greater Greensboro Opens. Of course, if you ask Tiger, this is old news as he won seven times on tour at Torrey Pines, eight if you count his last major won, the U.S. Open in 2008.
The hallways of the Lodge is like a museum with all sorts on interesting golf history.
A trip down the corridors, into the locker room and around the grounds rates right up there with a visit to the USGA Golf House, the PGA Village and the World Golf Hall of Fame. The picture of Arnie in Church- Oakmont’s Famous Church Pews, the cover of the September 1954 Golf World magazine proclaiming “The New Amateur King” and having a quiet reflective moment in Winnie’s Hummingbird Garden were tops on my list of touch points. I wish my dad was alive. I would bring him here in a heartbeat.
Though they did not put it in the name of the Bay Hill Lodge and Club, remember there is a vintage 1961- Dick Wilson designed golf course that was modernized by a hands-on Arnold Palmer renovation in time for the 2010 tournament. Though I did not climb a tree like Sergio did on the tenth hole, I did take a ground level double bogey there on my way to a memorable back nine 39. After hitting some balls on the range I met a new friend and enjoyed an Arnold Palmer (the beverage) and dinner in The Bay Window Room. Though I missed the tennis, spa, salon, pool and fitness center, I can personally certify that the lodge, club, golf course and restaurant are all A-Plus.
Bay Hill opened 10 years before Walt Disney World. Dreams do come true in Orlando, whether at the Magic Kingdom or a few miles away at the King’s magical Bay Hill Lodge and Club.
More visuals from my visit:
Morning view at Bay Hill Lodge and Club from Room 205.
In Winnie Palmer’s Hummingbird Garden.
Played the Yellow Umbrella Tees (6,437 yards), Green Umbrella Tees available if you like at 7,381 yards!
Robert Gamez “walk-In” eagle plaque in 18th fairway from 1990 when he beat Greg Norman by one stroke.
My new friend Chad from Baltimore at dinner in The Bay Window Room.
Tasty hamburger with homemade chips with blue cheese.
Healthy “double-greens” at Bay Hill- broccoli and asparagus!
Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer and a broadcast assistant for the various golf networks. He spends time on all four major American golf tours- the PGA TOUR, Champions, Web.com and LPGA.
Reistetter resides within two miles of the PGA TOUR headquarters and the home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.
A lifetime golfer, Andy enjoys volunteering at the World Golf Hall of Fame and THE PLAYERS while pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it.
Friend Andy Reistetter on Facebook or touch base with him by e-mail at AndyReistetter@gmail.com
