By Len Ziehm
The Mount Dora Golf Club sits 30 miles north of Orlando and was founded in 1944 by several WWII veterans returning home. A historical sign on the first tee box proclaims the course a,
“Living memorial to Mount Dora’s military troops that served in World War II and all veterans and members of the Armed Forces since.”
The Mount Dora Golf Club is a member of the Florida Historic Golf Trail and provides a great day at the golf course.
What’s not to like about course whose owners describe as “the longest 5,700 yards in Florida.’’ The golf carts even provide your favorite tunes during your round.
The price is right, too, even in the heart of snowbird season, plus there’s a patriotic component as well.
American military veterans get a price break beyond the modest $34 greens fee (cart included) and Mini American flags are used for tee markers. There is even a VFW hall located next to the course and tournaments dedicated to the men and women in the Armed Forces are held every year.
After the war, the city council leased an 80-acre plot of public land for use as a golf course. They also agreed to provide up to $2,000 each year to help maintain it and donated an unused traffic kiosk for the first pro shop.
Stock certificates were issued and the Mount Dora Golf Association quickly had 90 members who voted to build a no-frills nine-hole course. They used a mule and bulldozer to clear land that had been covered with pine trees, and a 3,056-yard course was up and running in roughly a year’s time.
No well-known golf architects were commissioned to design Mount Dora. It was built entirely by returning servicemen.
The first ball was hit on Dec. 15, 1946 by William Wadsworth, who had donated $50,000 for the project.
A second nine was added in 1959 with Harold Paddock listed as the architect. That same year the Mount Dora Women’s Golf Association was formed.
The clubhouse was expanded to its present size in 1985, but the club operated without a general manager until Doug Passen was hired in 1990. While 200 trees were planted in a busy 1978 season, almost all were lost when three hurricanes, Charlie, Francis and Jean, hit the course in 2004.
Through it all the Mount Dora Golf Club survived with their small greens and tight fairways. Back-to-back par-5s (Nos. 5 and 6) were found to be serious challenges. One plays uphill, while the next drops back down the hill with steep elevation changes going both directions.
There aren’t many public courses in Florida that pays tribute to our American Military and is filled the rich history of Mount Dora Golf Club.
If you are headed to central Florida this winter check out Mount Dora Golf Club. Learn more at: https://www.mountdoragolf.com/
