By Len Ziehm Mission Inn: The Perfect Place to Play Golf, Plus Relax & Unwind Mission Inn and Resort includes one of the Sunshine State’s oldest courses, El Campeon, which opened for play just after WW I, in 1917. The companion course, 27-year old Las Colinas, isn’t exactly new, but is a nice complement to the older course. Even at 100 years old, El Campeon is the more difficult of the two courses and has held up well to top-level amateur competition. Both courses are always well-conditioned and used regularly for the Florida high school championships. College events and several USGA qualifiers have been held here, as well. George O’Neil, a Chicago teaching pro who dabbled in course design, created the course for owner, William Howey, a citrus magnate, who wanted something to entertain visitors to his estate. The 6,300-yard course was originally called Chain O’ Lakes and featured oiled and hard-packed sand greens until 1938. Without irrigation systems, the rest of the course was unkempt. A Scottish architect, Charles Clarke, refurbished the course and it attracted some very famous visitors, Ben Hogan, Patty Berg and Babe Zaharias. Nick Beucher bought the facility in 1964 and gradually transformed the place into a Spanish colonial- themed resort. Beucher once took a 39day, 1,400-mile horseback ride from Del Rio, Texas to Mexico City, stopping at old missions along the way for lodging, which inspired his fascination with Spanish design. Under Beucher’s ownership, El Campeon was stretched to 7,015 yards and the resort and hotel became the Mission Inn. Other amenities at the Mission Inn include, The El Conquistador restaurant, which provides an upscale dining experience, plus La Hacienda that serves a delicious breakfast and lunch menu. The Spa Mirabella will relieve stress By Len Ziehm Michigan Golf Journal
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