Getting To Know: Harmony Golf Preserve

Whether you have played a course 20+ times a year or looking to play the course for the first time, insights from an insider can help enhance your golf experience. Below is an interview with Ryan Lanzen who shares some valuable tidbits about the course, memorable holes and must eats and treats at the 19th.

Give Our Readers An Overview of the Golf Course/Property
Operated by Troon Golf, this Johnny Miller Signature Design earned certification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, achieved only by courses that maintain the highest degree of environmental quality. Located in Harmony, Florida (about 25 minutes southeast of Orlando International Airport) in one of the best master planned communities Florida has to offer, the community of Harmony is the ultimate realization of a dream long-held by its founders, Jim and Martha Lentz. The Harmony Institute was founded in 1996 to develop peaceful, healthy, co-existing relationships with domestic animals and natural ecologies. But the dream was to create a complete town. It would be unlike any other master-planned community in Florida, with a vision to build an immersive expression of a more healthful, more fulfilling life experience, lived in closer contact with pets, wildlife and nature. Many locations were considered before deciding on the current property - 11,000 acres of Old Florida in an area historically known as the Triple E Ranch. Today, Harmony Florida is home to approximately 1,250 multi-generational residents and is an ongoing expression of the commitment to and vision of environmentally intelligent living.

If Someone Was Looking To Golf In The Area, Why Should They Play Your Course?
Harmony Golf Preserve is one of the finest golf experiences you are likely to find in Florida. You'll have the opportunity to play on the finest playing surfaces, experience incredible guest service, enjoy unmatched amenities and take pleasure in exquisite dining. As the only Johnny Miller designed course in Central Florida, it is a joy for golfers of all skill levels to play and is free of forced curves and arrayed carefully with bunkers, hazards and manicured Bermuda grass greens. Built on a 260 wildlife preserve, Harmony Golf Preserve has earned certification as an Audobon Cooperative Sanctuary which means you are likely to see all types of wildlife that are contained within Central Florida.

What Tips or Local Knowledge Would You Provide To Help Them Score Better At Your Course?
Playing Harmony Golf Preserve, the best advice I can give is to get the ball in the fairway off the tee. This golf course starts with getting the ball in play. From there, you will have a good chance to play well with solid approaches into the green. You will find large greens with slight undulations that will require you pay attention to the portion of the green you are hitting to. Lastly, stay out of the bunkers. We have both natural "waste" areas and manicured bunkers that are anxiously waiting to welcome any errant shots! The golf course is a blast and one of the best layouts in the state!

Recent Awards or What You Are Most Proud About The Course?
Harmony Golf Preserve is located in Harmony, Florida which is one of Florida's first Green Development Certified communities. That being said, we are most proud of our certification as an Audobon Cooperative Sanctuary and the interaction that you experience with nature while at our facility. In addition to that, we were named by Golf Digest in their "Best Places You Can Play" issue as 4.5 stars. We were also named by Golfweek Magazine to their list of "Residential Courses of Distinction."

What Is The Signature, Most Talked About, or Most Photographed Hole?
I would say hole #16 seems to get the most attention. It is a reachable par 5 that has a sprawling, serpentine waste bunker that wanders that entire right side of the hole waiting for any errant shots. A beautiful hole that could result in a score from 3 to 8 depending on how you navigate it. It is a gorgeous hole and fun to play!

What Is Your Favorite Hole? Any Tips to Play It?
My favorite hole is #17. It is a mid length par 3 over a lake to a green that is protected by bunkers. It takes a very precise shot, but if executed properly, can lead to another birdie on your finishing stretch and the hole is breathtaking. We have one of the best finishes in the state as far as I'm concerned, #16-#18 mix in a par 5, par 3 and par 4 and provide an opportunity to make up ground if necessary or plenty of challenge if you have to "hold on" to win the bet with your buddies. You won't be disappointed!

Must Have Dish or Drink after the round at the 19th Hole?
Combining old Florida elegance, a comfortable ambience, and artisanal expressions of distinctive cuisine, Graze will be savored by patrons addicted to intricate flavors at its true value. A passion for quality, paired with key select, local ingredients makes for a master of simple tastes and tantalizing taste buds. Our signature sandwiches that you must have following your round are the IPA Burger or the Turkey and Brie with our homemade fries. Food in Graze following your round will ensure that you end your round with a "birdie" every time!


Who Holds Course Record and What Was Their Score?
The official course record at Harmony Golf Preserve is a 64 which was shot by Ryuji Imada during a NGA Hooters Professional Golf Tour event. Ryuji is currently splitting time between the PGA Tour and the Web.com Tour and is a former PGA Tour winner!

The unofficial course record is 63 which was shot by Carl Paulson in a NGA Bridgestone Winter Tour event. The day this was shot, due to weather the field was playing lift, clean and place. Carl has also spent time on the PGA Tour in his career.

Back Tee Stats
Par: 72
Yardage: 7417
Slope: 135
Rating: 75.8

More Information
Harmony Golf Preserve
7251 Five Oaks Drive
Harmony, Florida, 34773
407-891-8525
www.harmonygolfpreserve.com