Legendary golfers…the unofficial
WWII officer’s club…and a dispute over gambling
are all part of Dubsdread Golf Course’s storied
history. A lot has changed in the course’s 84
year history. On Thursday, July 10 Orlando Mayor
Buddy Dyer and Orlando City Commissioners will
celebrate the new course with a re-opening
ceremony and tournament.
The festivities will commence with
a historic look at the course, christening of
the course with a first tee-off and
world-renowned rendition of the National Anthem
by Broadway star and Orlando resident Davis
Gaines.
The renovations raise the
difficulty of play with additional yardage,
varying elevations and contours in fairways and
greens. A new putting green, two short game
practice ranges and an aqua driving range with
lights have been added to the practice facility.
The renovation of the course was
made possible through a public partnership
between the City of Orlando, Florida Department
of Transportation (FDOT) and the St. John’s
Water Management District. The golf course was a
beneficiary of the need to filter storm water
running into Little Lake Fairview and manage
runoff from the upcoming widening of Interstate
4.
Open public play begins on Friday,
July 11. To schedule a tee time call
407-246-2551.
DUBSDREAD HISTORY
The historic course first
opened in 1924 by Orlando resident Carl Dann
Sr. Dann was originally criticized for the
location being too far from what was then
the town, but as Orlando grew the course
gradually became part of the City.
Dann had a disagreement with
the Orlando County Club (supposedly about
the club’s discomfort with serious wagering)
and in response Dann walked down Orange
Avenue asking people for $1,000 pledges to
start a less formal golf club. He had at
least 100 founding members the first day.
Over the years, golfing legends
such as Sam Snead, Babe Zaharias, and Ben
Hogan have played at Dubsdread.
It was purchased by the City of
Orlando in 1977, making it the only
city-owned golf course.
