Mission Inn Resort & Club - El Campeon Course

For context, any golf is good golf at this time of year for a Canadian escaping the snow and cold. We were staying south of Orlando and we had a +1 hour drive to get to Mission Inn. We arrived plenty early and paid the green fees for el Campion and then they told us that things were 40 minutes delayed and then the starter told us the pace of play was not great. Needless to say we were disappointed but, hey no snow!

Then when we were told that we probably would not get full 18 in before dark even though we paid full rates that was upsetting. Meanwhile the tees on the other 18 hole course were empty. I asked if we could play there and were were accommodated. We enjoyed the course even though there were a lot of bare patches in a lot of the fairways.. We got our 18 in before dark (1:30 tee time) and headed back to our holiday rental. Later I learned that I paid an extra $10 x 4 for the course we never got to play and we really ought to have been paying a further reduction because the delay put us on the tee so close to time for twilight rates. So had fun but a bit of a bitter aftertaste.

We were told by the starter our tee time was 25-30 minutes behind. We were at 1:48 scheduled, plenty of time normally for a full 18.

They PACKED the course, pace of play was horrendous and multiple groups on each hole. Even with groups quitting in front of us, we were not getting close to finishing. It was frustrating and I doubt uncommon.

Course was OK, unique for FL as there is a fair amount of elevation change. It was more of an Up this hole and Downward on that hole. maybe skewed by the pace of play, but I was not very impressed. The exception being a couple island greens that were fun...although I didn't have daylight to play all four.

Unlikely to play again while in FL.

This is a popular destination for us every year. What a beautiful course. We played in 4 hours which was fabulous. Course conditions were great and what a friendly staff.

Course is long and very well designed, therefore, very challenging. Found a lot of poor conditions in course maintenance that needed to be addressed for both fairways and greens.

Way overbooked , we had 4 groups on 1 hole . We waited on every hole . I will not return .

This layout was awesome and super challenging. I wish the grass was in better condition for the drive that we had to make. Really nice day and the staff throughout the day including the pro-shop, cart person, and on course drink caddie were soooo friendly.

Did not expect to find such a hilly course in Florida. Great layout and equally great conditions. Three island greens. Not a course for the faint of heart.

I played both their courses on the same day and they were spectacular.

That’s not a $70 course! Did not care for the terrible pun placements. Almost every hole on the green was placed on an angle! Putting was not fun on your course and it would have been nice to at least have one flat lie on the green! We as a group didn’t care for hole 3 running parallel to another fairway from the back nine. Doubt I’ll be back.

I absolutely loved this course. Unfortunately it was getting very windy and cold to really enjoy it comfortably. So luckily they have quite a selection of clothing for women so I picked up a jacket to stay warm while golfing.

The course layout is outstanding. I have played it before, and it is a privilege.

The condition of the fairways were fair, greens & surrounds good.

Thought it was odd that the staff did not help me with my golf bag at the bag drop.

The pro extended me a PGA rate which was very nice of her.

Good day on the course!

I hadn’t played here in 30 years. I’m 75 now and the course let me know why I felt so old!! It is a great course but you’d better be able to hit your driver long to get up the hills. The uphill holes are brutal, even from the white tees. The course was in really good shape, the greens hold very well. There were some diabolical pin placements for a resort course…no need for PGA tournament placements for non-PGA players. My playing partner’s handicaps were +2 and scratch and neither one broke 80. The pace of play, 5 hours, was unacceptable. No ranger to be found…anyone who teed off after 1:00 pm, would not have finished.

Other than the pace of play which was amazingly awful (5+ hour pace for a mid afternoon round), the course and amenities were great.

The course is very challenging due to elevation changes on nearly every shot, some subtle and some significant. They challenge your club selection and game management. The greens are fast and all have a tilt in addition to the humps, bumps and tiers. So stay BELOW the hole if at all possible!!! Or be ready for lots of 3 putts from close.

Most importantly, bring your patience and a fun attitude and enjoy the beautiful scenery and vistas from the elevated tees.