Mountain Lake

Going back in time isn’t something that is actually possible, but when you drive through the gates and into the Mountain Lake community, you feel as though that’s exactly what you’ve done.

Mountain Lake is a sprawling, 3,500-acre complex in central Florida that is far more than a golf course. Conceived by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., son of legendary architect Frederick Law Olmsted (architect of Central Park in New York), Mountain Lake was an ambitious venture intended as a winter getaway for wealthy New Yorkers. Olmsted Jr. knew Seth Raynor from his work around New York and hired him to design a golf course in Lake Wales after deciding he shouldn’t attempt the design himself. The opportunity was one of Raynor’s first solo designs and is now the only remaining solo Raynor design in the state of Florida.

At Mountain Lake, visitors will see many Raynor-Macdonald templates infused with a classic Florida landscape. Lakes, palm trees, and grainy Bermuda grass combine with bold lines and iconic architecture to create a unique experience. While not the most dramatic piece of land that Raynor ever worked on, it is clear he had the opportunity to route the golf course as he best saw fit, seamlessly blending the land’s best properties with the course. It’s certainly a golf course community, but at no point do you feel as though the houses are creeping in. The course and its architecture are the focus.

Take Note…

Get the pancake. Those staying on site at the Colony House at Mountain Lake will be treated to many amazing meals throughout their trip. One I did not expect to obsess over was the breakfast, particularly the chocolate chip pancakes. Infused with syrup and lightly fried on the griddle, this is a breakfast treat you cannot miss.

And the ginger snap cookies. At Marion’s (the halfway house), you will see a jar filled with ginger snap cookies. Do not walk past the jar filled with ginger snap cookies without sticking your paw in for a couple.

Go fast. The pace of play expectation at Mountain Lake is a brisk 3 hours and 30 minutes. To assist with that, the course has golf carts which you could mistake for a sports car. Open up the engine when you can (responsibly) and see just how fast a golf cart can go.

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