DJTheoret - 3/31/20
The Reunion Resort and Golf Club in Kissimmee, Florida is a beautiful 2,300-acre property that includes single-family homes, condos, and extraordinary amenities such as a water park, delicious dining options and three golf courses designed by three of the game’s greatest players: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson. Reunion is the perfect destination for family vacations, buddy golf trips, weddings, social events, and corporate meetings. Reunion Resort is a AAA Four Diamond-rated property and is just one of six resorts to receive Golf Digest’s “Best Golf Resorts in Florida” award.

Early in 2019, Kingwood International Resorts purchased the iconic Reunion Resort, previously managed by Salamander Hotels & Resorts and a mere twelve months later, changes within the resort are evident and playing conditions at all three courses have improved dramatically. I recently had the opportunity to visit the resort, sample the cuisine and play the courses. As I made my way around the courses, I spoke with several players who were familiar with some of the improvements. All commented that since Kingwood had assumed ownership of the property, course conditioning was a lot better.

Kevin Baker, Corporate Director of Golf, has been with Reunion for over 16 years serving in several different capacities including Director of Golf and General Manager. He has survived the Bobby Ginn and Salamander years and is pleased with what he sees already from the new owners. In the last year, Kingwood has invested over $1 million in enhancements to the three courses including upgrades to bunkers and landscaping around all of the green complexes. This scale of renovation has not been seen since the early days of LPGA tournaments at the resort.

The Watson Course was Tom Watson’s first Florida golf course design and is a job well done. Of the three courses, it has more of a links feel to it and what the course lacks in water hazards – there are none – it makes up for in bunkers. The Watson Course features wide, rolling fairways and fast, firm, undulating greens. There are over 120 bunkers of varying sizes, shapes and depths. A good sand game is a must if you want to score well. Common sense prevails on this course as well and the course favors a shot-maker over a long hitter. There are several memorable holes but none more so than Number 9. From the Blue tees, the hole plays 384 yards and with all of the bunkers lining the fairway. the tee shot is very intimidating. If I were naming holes, this one would be “A Day at the Beach!”

Believe it or not, the Palmer Course rates the toughest of the three courses when comparing slope and course rating. Interestingly enough, it’s also the shortest! The Palmer Course has the most elevation changes of the three courses – albeit 50 feet - and the rolling terrain that the course is built on can make for some interesting lies. Many of the greens are humongous with a tremendous amount of undulation and several with crowns and ridges. The risk/reward par 4, 7th hole plays 248 yards from the Blue tees over water and is a lot of fun, even if you don’t find the green off the tee. Palmer is a course that can be enjoyed by everyone, regardless of ability.

The Nicklaus Course is located down the road from the other two and with a new clubhouse and restaurant, it’s that much more popular. Of the three courses, the Nicklaus Course is the longest and for my money, the toughest. This parkland-style layout features elevated tee boxes and greens surrounded by beautiful – and evil – bunkers and waste areas. In all, there are more than 120 bunkers on the course and you’ll face a few forced carries but nothing outrageous. As with most Nicklaus courses, it’s the greens that make this course; they roll quick and true with a lot of subtle undulations. Depending on the hole locations, the greens can have you talking to yourself. To score well, you’ll need accuracy off the tee and the ability to think your way around the course; it’s brains over brawn!

As far as warming up before your round, both facilities have comprehensive practice facilities with full-length driving ranges, short game areas, practice bunker, and practice greens. There’s no excuse not to play your best!

Reunion Resort offers its guests a variety of accommodations options. Choose from luxury 1 - 3-bedroom villas and multi-bedroom vacation rental homes. Regardless of what you pick, you’ll have spacious living and dining areas, full kitchens, patios, and balconies. Each master suite has a king-size bed and private bathroom; living rooms and bedrooms have flat-screen TVs and DVD/CD players. Many units have washers and dryers and if you’re in a rental home you may even have your own private swimming pool, game room and possibly your own putting green! All units have complimentary high-speed wireless Internet. These aren’t your average hotel rooms!

Guests at Reunion Resort have several dining venues to choose from as well. Eleven is the resort’s signature steakhouse and sits on the 11th floor of the Reunion Grande. Eleven was remodeled recently and has an elegant feel thanks to the open dining room. Many dishes use farm-to-table ingredients paired alongside premium steak cuts and signature entrees. Be sure to try one of their award-winning steak enhancements: truffle balsamic glaze, jalapeño hoisin sauce or crab Oscar. Chef’s creations include pan-roasted scallops accented by a lobster butter sauce and a crab-crusted Florida grouper filet drizzled with citrus butter. Be sure to leave room for dessert and choose from such sweet delicacies as Brown Butter Bread Pudding with whiskey glaze and Peanut Butter Macadamia Chocolate Torte. Eleven boasts an impressive wine list and an intriguing selection of dessert martinis. After your meal, step outside on the veranda and, if you’re lucky, catch evening fireworks compliments of Walt Disney World.

Inside the new Nicklaus clubhouse – once named The Tradition Course – you’ll find Traditions, another great Reunion Resort dining venue. Traditions offers a seasonal menu with a local flavor and a focus on farm-to-table freshness and excellent service. Ask for Mary Ellen and you’ll see what I mean! You don’t have to be a member or even a resort guest to eat at Traditions, although you can charge it to your room! They offer a breakfast menu and an all-day menu. If you’re looking for something different for breakfast try their Sunshine Smoothie, made with bananas, almond milk, orange juice, fresh strawberries, and ginger. Traditionalists will enjoy one of their heartier dishes such as a Skillet Breakfast with includes eggs, andouille sausage, caramelized onions, spinach, potatoes, and mozzarella cheese.

The lunch or dinner menus offer savory entrees such as Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Boneless Braised Short Ribs and Crusted Snapper. Or try something light and fresh like a Chef’s Artisan Salad with heirloom tomatoes and goat cheese, or a Tuna Poke Bowl with fresh tuna, arugula, couscous, edamame, and pickled ginger. Before your main course, may I suggest the Ale & Cheese Fondue with Bavarian Pretzel Bread? Craft cocktails, a signature barrel-aged bourbon program, and weekend entertainment make Traditions a gathering place for all.

The Clubhouse at Reunion is always a good choice for breakfast before your round, a quick bite as you make the turn or a mouthwatering bite to eat afterward. They feature regional American cuisine served in a casual and comfortable setting. For breakfast, you can order off the menu or choose to eat from their breakfast buffet. For lunch or dinner, I highly recommend the burgers and Turkey Avocado sandwich.

Reunion has something for everyone; there’s a spa for mom, a water park for the kids, dining, and accommodations for all and golf for dad. Lots of golf!

  bkuehn1952 - 3/18/20
All the courses are interesting, modern designs. Watson supposedly has 170+ bunkers, which I think is overkill. The Palmer is most playable and Nicklaus was the best conditioned of the three (last week of Feb.)

We stayed in a home on the Nicklaus course. We could walk to the clubhouse. Watson and Palmer are located together a 3 minute drive away. We did all our own cooking at the home. The prices in the clubhouses were fairly stiff so unless you have a lot of excess money you have to spend, bring your food to the course.

All the courses are "real estate" courses so many of the holes are lined by homes, condos, etc... The real estate does not intrude on the course and our group of 8 only hit one condo during 12 rounds.

  thegolfinguy@gmail.com - 5/27/18
Reunion Resort, an AAA Four Diamond-rated property, is an exclusive 2,200-acre destination which promises a vacation wonderland and conveniently located six miles from Walt Disney World and only 20 minutes from Orlando International Airport.

Orlando is a town full of surprises and excitement around every corner. At Reunion Resort, you’re in the middle of all of it. It’s just minutes to downtown Orlando and to all the theme parks. No wonder this is a top family vacation resort year after year.

The resort’s accommodations include luxury 1 - 3-bedroom Villas and multi-bedroom vacation rental homes. No matter what you choose, they all include spacious living and dining areas, full kitchens, patios and balconies. Master Suites feature a king size bed and private master bathroom, fully equipped kitchens and flat-screen TVs and DVD/CD players in living room and bedrooms. Washers and dryers are available in most units. Some vacation rental homes include added benefits such as private swimming pools, game rooms and even their own putting greens. There’s also complimentary high-speed wireless internet and complimentary self-parking. Sit down and relax; this ain’t your average hotel room.

You’ll never run out of things to do at Reunion Resort. The fitness center offers cardio and weight-training equipment or, if you’d rather see more of the property, bike rentals are available. There’s also yoga available on Mondays and Thursdays at Heritage Crossing

Reunion also offers an amenity that can be enjoyed by the entire family, a waterpark! There’s a one-mile lazy river where you can relax on an inner tube and just float to your heart’s content; waterslides with twists and turns, a large kid’s area with water activities, a kid’s pool area and volleyball courts. If solitude is more your style, there are 11 pools around the property.

After a day of energy-expending activities, the Boutique Spa is the perfect place to relax and unwind. Here you’ll find five luxurious treatment rooms where the staff embraces a personalized approach and offers soothing massages, signature facials, body wraps, manicures, pedicures and hair services. They use only the finest botanical products that provide stupendous results for every skin type. These services provide indulgences that enliven the senses, soothe the body and replenish the spirit.

Not all, but many of the guests at the Reunion Resort are here for golf. And why not? You’ve got three of the best courses in the area built by three of golf’s finest Champions: Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer. It’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity.

The Palmer Course is built on hilly, roller coaster-like terrain and boasts dramatic elevation changes – up to 50 feet in some places, which is a lot for Florida! Short par 4s and reachable par 5s create a unique variety of risk/reward shots. The greens feature quite a bit of undulation. Many of them are oversized, some feature multiple tiers, crowns and ridges; very seldom do you find yourself with a straight putt. While it may be the shortest of the three courses, it still offers a good mix of long and shot holes that will have you hitting every club in your bag. Something else you don’t usually experience in these parts of Florida are uphill shots. There are several elevation changes whether it is hitting over a deep depression on a par three hole or trekking uphill to the green on a par 5, it is certainly a welcome change from your typical Florida round of golf. Six tee locations on each hole make The Palmer Course enjoyable for golfers of all abilities.

The Watson Course is highlighted by fast, firm and wide rolling fairways, undulating greens and a variety of strategically placed bunkers and large greens. This was Watson’s first crack at a Florida design and for my money he couldn’t have done a better job. It has more of a links style to it than its two sister courses. The one hazard absent from this course is water – you won’t find it anywhere except at the comfort stations. What you will find is sand in over 120 bunkers of varying shapes, sizes and depths. If that’s not daunting enough, there’s also a few waste areas and some fairly significant elevation changes for this part of Florida. The Watson Course is as much about strategy as it is about length and embraces a shotmaker more than a long ball hitter. Using common sense and not trying to overachieve or be heroic as you make your way around the course will go a long way to putting up a good number.

The Nicklaus Course is a parkland-style layout that will test every level of golfer from tee to green. With elevated tee boxes and greens, this Signature design by Jack Nicklaus can be as deceptive as it is beautiful. There are more than 100 bunkers on the course, as well as small, postage-stamp greens, and a few forced carries. Tee boxes are beautifully landscaped and well maintained, fairways are meticulously trimmed and groomed, and the greens deserve their own article! Many of them are elevated and surrounded by evil bunkers and waste areas. The Nicklaus course is not your typical resort course; it's more of a "player's" course. Scoring well here requires a significant amount of accuracy off the tee - anything hit wide left or right will either be irretrievable or in some sort of hazard - most likely a waste bunker. A player who is more of a thinker as opposed to someone who wants to grip it and rip it will prevail out here.
All three courses are in great shape year-round and the grounds crew is painstakingly meticulous. Staff is friendly and helpful, especially the starters. If you haven't played the course before, listen to them carefully. They will give you a wealth of information. If you're in the area, you owe it to yourself and your golf game to play all three courses at Reunion Resort. It's the perfect destination for a round of golf on one of three fabulous courses designed by three of golf's greatest players. It's also a great spot for a family vacation.

A world class resort needs world class dining and Reunion doesn’t disappoint. Their flagship restaurant Eleven, sits atop the Reunion Grande on the 11th floor, and is unquestionably Orlando's unparalleled star gazing destination.

Eleven is best described as a modern steak house with a nouvelle feel. Their creative menu offerings include premium steak cuts and signature entrees. The ambiance and décor cater to today’s generation and the open-air veranda and nightly fireworks accentuate the sights and sounds of the open kitchen. Their dynamic wine list, signature cocktails and an expanded by-the-glass selection offers wine pairing for every palate. Seating is done on a first come, first serve basis.

If Italian’s more your mood, then Forte’s your answer. They are an authentic Italian Bistro, and serve up specially prepared dishes in a warm and rustic atmosphere. Their fresh ingredients are indigenous to the region of Tuscany, but also serve dishes found in all regions of Italy. The dining area is both formal and warm, with Italian music playing softly in the background. Forte features an extensive cabernet and merlot wine list as well as signature sections from different regions of Italy. No matter what your menus selection, the well-educated staff at Forte will help you find the perfect pairing. Forte is located on the main floor of the Reunion Grande.

If you find yourself famished after your round and can’t wait to bite into something, the restaurant at the Reunion Clubhouse is always a good choice. They feature regional American cuisine served in a casual and comfortable setting. The menu appeals to golfers, members and resort guests alike with selections that are simple and recognizable staples of American comfort food. Their servers provide speedy service so that you can get back to enjoying your favorite resort activity and forget about that one bad hole.

  MasterSgtRet - 5/24/15
Better than Bay Hill

  dkfishnh - 3/7/15
Played in February. Course wasn't in great shape. Greens extremely slow and inconsistent in speed. Hard to believe they're using a mobile unit & tent for the Nicklaus course. Was told on our third hole by a ranger that a ladies invitational was starting on the 8th hole. Who starts a tournament in the middle of set tee times? I doubt it was the ladies that slowed play down as the guys playing in front of us were slow, but the ranger told us the group in front of them was behind already (after only 3 holes). But we never saw a ranger after that so the situation never changed all day. I had plenty of time to admire the courses but the experience was soured by an agonizingly slow play & unsatisfactory golf operations.

  LanceBendiak - 10/19/14
Great condition and interesting to play.

  meenman - 7/5/14
Played Nicklaus - perfectly manicured - only divots I saw were my own.

Just couldnt miss the bunkers - there are quite a few.

  Golfpecan@Yahoo.com - 6/1/14
Played the Nicklas and Palmer courses and consider them both two of the best courses I've played anywhere. Scenic with a lot of elevation changes for Florida.

  DiamondJ73 - 12/2/13
Three beautiful courses (Nicklaus, Palmer, Watson) with outstanding accommodations. Higher handicap golfers or those that don't hit the ball as far should stick to the Palmer and Watson courses. With several sets of tees all courses present a challenge at any level.

  tsheadds - 6/29/13
best golf vacation ever!!!!!