On our recent buddies trip to Bay Hill we got to experience the newly created short game practice area-a welcome addition to an already full featured golf facility.  This baby was designed  by Thad Layton and Brandon Johnson of the Arnold Palmer Design Group.and they did not miss a beat in creating a wonderful place to work on all aspects of your your short game.  Tucked between the 9th green on the Championship Course and the Charger Nine it is conveniently located just a half wedge from the clubhouse and other practice facilities.

As with everything at Bay Hill player responsibilities are clearly articulated.

They left no stone unturned in creating a topographically interesting wall-to-wall bermuda grass practice area surrounded by a constellation of varied green complexes with bunkers and humps and hollows that replicate just about any short shot you can face at Bay Hill or anywhere else for that matter.

From the center you can hit this 75 yard pitch over a yawning bunker into a shallow green…..or you can take 10 steps back and make it 85 yards if that suits your fancy.

Here is an entirely different angle into that same green that allows you to practice ground approaches working around the bunker or even trajectory limited shots from under the tree.

The greens themselves have plenty of segmentation and movement for pitch and run, pitch and grip,  or Mickey aerial flop shots.  You can practice all kinds of scenarios with the full compliment short game arrows you carry in your quiver.

This green is at least 60 yards long and accepts shots from all sides. It is a study in ball movement on the ground.

From the angle above this green you can work on those delicate recovery up and downs you can get when you hit an extra club just a wee bit too far.

They even went as far as to introduce features you will not see at Bay Hill.  Short grass run ups into putting surfaces where you can use the 3 wood or hybrid pitch or even the putter and even severe sod-wall bunkers like you would see on a British Isle links course.

Here is a pit that would feel right at home at North Berwick or Ballybunion.

Len must be planning for a trip next summer….his technique is pretty flawless.

Bottom line is that an hour or so before you go out or maybe after you finish the 18 this is a great place to yuk it up with friends or grind some serious practice time on the true scoring aspects of the game.  Just another aspect to fill out the Bay Hill Golf Experience.

Orlando, Florida

(Click to see the moegolf Bay Hill Championship Course review)

(Click to see the moegolf Bay Hill Charger Course review)

(Click to see Bay Hill photos from the Postcard From Bay Hill)