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Top 5 driving ranges in Florida

ORLANDO, Fla. ' During our early years as a clearing house for whatever job no sports editor would touch with a 10-foot dictionary at the local newspaper, one curious task was highlighting local Tour players from each days scores for print the next morning. At most stops, the list may include two or three names. In Orlando, Fla., the roll call of Tour types was almost limitless.
 
More Tour players call Florida home than any other state in the union, partly due to an almost endless supply of golf weather and partly because of the absence of a state income tax. It is a statistical fact that makes the Sunshine State the best place on the planet to catch of glimpse of a Tour player in their natural environment, on the practice range.
 
These are the best Tour ranges in Florida:
 

No. 5
bay hill 489
Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Orlando, Fla.
 
Extra stripe: Bay Hill, because it is a resort, probably provides the easiest access to a Tour populated range, but if one wants the full experience show up for the daily Shootout, a club competition that regularly features club owner Arnold Palmer.
 

No. 4
bears club 489
Bear's Club
Jupiter, Fla.
 
Extra stripe: The south Florida club is building a solid core of Tour players, but the one that sports the most cache is namesake Jack Nicklaus.
 

No. 3
tpc sawgrass 489
TPC Sawgrass
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
 
Extra stripe: One could kill an entire day watching Vijay Singh dig holes in the recently remade practice ground, and since every Tour member has access to Sawgrass one never knows who is going to show.
 

No. 2
lake nona 489
Lake Nona Golf & Country Club
Orlando, Fla.
 
Extra stripe: Check the Tavistock Cup lineup and you realize that Nona is an ideal place to watch Tour swings, but more importantly its probably lots of fun as well with the likes of Ian Poulter, Justin Rose and Ernie Els hanging about.
 

No. 1
isleworth 489
Isleworth Golf & Country Club
Orlando, Fla.
 
Extra stripe: The double-sided, perfectly manicured range is a vision, but lets face it, Isleworth is a great place to empty a bucket because its where Tiger Woods hones that record-breaking action.
 

Honorable mention: Seminole Golf Club, Juno Beach; The Donald Ross classic doesnt have a lot of Tour members, if any, but with Woods relocating soon to south Florida it may become home to the circuits most high-profile member... Golden Bear Club at Keenes Point, Orlando; Good range, great grill, fun layout and, on any given day, home to at least a half dozen card-carrying members that could win a Tour event.