Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club - Orlando

Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club in Haines City could easily be called Southern Bunkers but that probably wouldn't fly with the marketing people. They're happy to let the word of mouth and national awards accrued by this Orlando-area golf course speak for themselves.

But back to those bunkers. There are 182 of them, in a variety of shapes and sizes, in keeping with designer Steve Smyers' signature strategic concept. They're yawning, gaping, maddening and always in play. Right, left and middle, on all sides of the green.

The upside is that Southern Dunes gives you plenty of alternate routes around them, with wide fairways and generous landing areas. Even if you avoid the bunkers, though, you have an adventure waiting on the large, very fast, undulating greens. The conditioning is excellent, and locals say it stays that way year-round.