Len Ziehm
Mission Inn and Resort has 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 39-day, 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 and soothe achy muscles. The El Cornedor Fitness Center is available for getting sweaty and the Plaza de las Palmas, is a beautiful outdoor bar and favorite gathering place. Other hotel locations, San Angel, San Diego and San Miguel offer hideaways for quiet time.
El Campeon features several large elevation changes, plus a double-dogleg hole dubbed, Devil’s Delight. The green is fronted by a live oak tree in the center of the fairway and a pond. This double trouble makes bogeys, doubles and the dreaded other a constant worry.
Former PGA Tour player, Gary Koch created the original Las Colinas design in 1992 and veteran Florida architect Ron Garl renovated it in 2007. It is the perfect resort layout and much more user friendly than the more difficult El Campeon.
The 1,100-acre Mission Inn also boast a 30,000 square foot conference venue, with 19 meeting rooms and two large ballrooms. The 176 guest rooms, suites and villas are supplemented by two lounges and a poolside bar.
Although Beacher passed in 2005 at the age of 88, he passed on his enthusiasm for the resort business to his six children. His son Bob serves as president and another son, Bud as vice-president and general manager. Two daughters also play prominent roles in the resort’s operation.
There is something at Mission Inn for everyone. Four lighted clay courts and two all-weather courts, along with two pickleball courts, will please tennis buffs. A rock-climbing wall, boat rides to nearby Mount Dora, and trips to nearby Tavares, the self-proclaimed “Seaplane Capitol of the World,” provide other must-see attractions in the area.
Historic Mission Inn is a place for great golf, but it’s also the perfect resort to unwind and enjoy an escape from the rigors of daily life.
