By Ken Jackson
Sports Writer

Weather can get in the way of the Florida golfer who works the 9-5 shift and wants to sneak in a few holes during the week this time of year.

A morning round is just too early. In the afternoon, the only break in the despicable heat comes from the rain which comes in two varieties: heavy and that-storm-should-have-been-named.

The compromise is simple. Play after sunset.

But isn’t it dark then? Not seeing the ball defeats the purpose, right?

Not at Orange Lake’s Legends Walk course.

The nine-hole, par-27 walking course is Osceola County’s only lighted layout open for public night play.

While ChampionsGate’s Omni Resort has a nine-hole course under lights, it is an amenity for resort guests only. The public can get onto Legends Walk up until 9 p.m. for as little as $15 depending on the time of year.

The nine-hole course is part of the expansive 54-hole Orange Lake Resort on West U.S. Highway 192 a couple of miles west of Disney World, managed by longtime Director of Golf Jody Seifert.

While a par-3 course, Legends Walk is no pitch-and-putt, wedge-and-putter course. In fact, a few of the holes could be dropped on to some of the area’s best full-sized courses and enhance them, a sentiment echoed by Orange Lake Golf Operations Manager Aaron Hosman said.

“There’s a saying out here, that some of the toughest par-3s on the property are at Legends Walk,” he said.

Arnold Palmer, who designed Orange Lake’s feature 18-hole Legends course, also designed Legends Walk. He made use of undulations and elevation changes to create a bona-fide challenge for a player’s iron game.

The greens, which feature the same Floradwarf grass as the Legends course, are large and can accommodate many pin placements. With up to six tee locations, course managers can make every hole play from a short wedge to a long iron. Most play as a short or middle iron from the middle tees.

The fourth hole, for instance, plays from 130 to 222 yards slightly downhill over a pair of yawning bunkers, but the less powerful player can play around the traps and run a low shot up to the left side of the green.

Sand abounds at Legends Walk, but there’s only one water hazard, and it’s virtually out of play, so it’s very hard to lose your ball, even at night. When the lights kick on just before dusk, the tees and landing areas shine brightly, and tracking the ball in flight is almost as easy as in the daytime.

And, what the course lights don’t brighten, Disney World’s fireworks will. They are definitely heard and often seen from the course at 9 and 10 p.m.

Hosman said the novelty of night golf makes the nine-hole course pretty popular on property.

“It’s a unique thing for many people to be able to play under the lights at night. It’s incredibly popular,” he said. “And it’s unique for us to be the only golf course in the area to offer it.”

Like it’s same says, Legends Walk is exclusively a walking course, but complimentary pull carts are offered. Some of the holes do feature hilly undulations down the fairway, making that day’s Stairmaster session unnecessary.

But, even touring the course on foot, nine holes generally takes about 90 minutes, ideal for an after-work round slotted around dinner, which can be found in the resort’s many offerings, and chain restaurants are also nearby.

Since Orange Lake is a vacation resort, unit owners and resort guests get preferred rates and tee times, but Florida residents get the same rate as resort guests.

Rates run from $15 to $20, depending on day and time. Juniors (15 years and under) accompanying a paying adult play for free, and receive free rental clubs, golf balls and tees.

Tee times are taken on Legends Walk from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and from 3-9 p.m. on the weekends. Tee times are highly recommended, as pro shop staff reported they sometimes turn players away in the summer.

Times can be booked on the Legends, Legends Walk, and the resort’s Reserve and Crane’s Bend courses by phone at 407-239-1050 or online at www.golforangelake.com.