With year-round sunny weather and a plethora of championship golf courses in Orlando, this is the ideal vacation spot for golfers. It’s no surprise, then, that this Central Florida region has become a popular choice for golf trips with adventure, excitement, theme parks, and great nightlife.
This article will guide you through the best courses you can play during an Orlando golf holiday. The courses are not only some of the most challenging and well-known in the area but can be packaged with excellent value accommodation to ensure you enjoy a fantastic golf trip to Florida.
How many Orlando golf courses are there?
There are currently around 50 Orlando golf courses, making it an excellent destination for golfers. Of the courses here, the public can book around 25 courses. The remainder is reserved for club members only.
This makes it one of the best destinations to play golf as a travelling golfer because there is such a large selection and variety of public golf courses to choose from.
Our Selection of the Top Orlando golf courses
Falcon’s Fire Golf Club is one of the finest public golf courses in Orlando, and it has received national and regional acclaim. This Rees Jones-designed championship course with its impressive clubhouse provides a magnificent venue for any occasion. A beautiful golf course offering the greatest level of service and facilities with GPS carts available. The golf course at Falcons Fire is one of the most unique you will ever play. The layout winds through the natural Florida wetlands, and you will often find yourself golfing alongside alligators and other wildlife. The course is challenging, with plenty of water features and long par 4s and 5s.
Kissimmee Bay Country Club is located on the banks of Lake Tohopekaliga, which offers a stunning backdrop for golf. The first-class course, which was established in 1990 and designed by Clifton, Ezell & Clifton, features water on 16 holes, smooth fairways and multi-tiered tees. This golf course is known for its layout, testing your skills on every hole. So if you’re looking for an exciting and scenic golf course in Orlando, the Kissimmee Bay course is a perfect choice.
One of the best golf resorts in Orlando, with 45 holes of championship golf on-site. This golf resort offers an unforgettable golfing experience, with various challenging golf holes. A complete Scottish links masterpiece from Jack Nicklaus with twin greens, stone bridges and walls, gorse mounds, burns and pot bunkers all in the spirit of authentic Scottish origin. Although very little water enters into play on the Links Course, it will challenge you to make accurate shots when it does. Currently, the course is being renovated and will be split between the Florida Course and Links Course.
Hawks Landing Golf Club is one of the newer golf courses in Orlando, having only been open since 2006. It’s a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course and is widely considered one of the best golf courses in the area. The course is a par 72 and stretches out to over 7,000 yards. It’s a challenging golf course, but it’s also very rewarding to play which now includes an island green. If you’re looking for a golf course that will test your skills, then Hawks Landing is worth playing.
The Bear Creek Golf Course are one of Orlando’s newest courses, opening in 2000. The course was designed by PGA touring professional Mark Brown, who aimed to create a challenging but fair golf course for players of all levels. The golf course winds through a large conservation area, providing beautiful views of natural Florida landscapes. The Bear Creek golf course will test even the most experienced golfers with narrow fairways, tricky greens, and water to deal with.
The Bella Colina golf course is one of the hidden gems in Orlando. Nick Faldo’s course design is more than 7,500 yards long from its longest tees. Faldo saw the rolling terrain of Bella Collina as a source of inspiration for the course’s design. The layout, which is unique to Central Florida, features wide fairways and sweeping dunes.
The Providence Golf Club is one of the top golf courses in Orlando and is a must-play on any golf trip to Orlando. This championship golf course offers golfers a challenging and rewarding experience with well-manicured greens and tight fairways. The golf course is set amongst beautiful wetlands and provides golfers with stunning views, designed by Mike Dasher.
Shingle Creek Golf Club is one of Orlando’s newest golf courses, having only opened in 2003. The golf course was designed by Arnold Palmer and winds its way through wetlands and forests. It’s a challenging golf course with plenty of water hazards, so make sure you’re on your game when you play here.
The clubhouse at Shingle Creek Golf Club is also worth a mention. It’s one of the most impressive in Orlando and offers fantastic views over the golf course.
Our Recommendation for the Best golf course in Orlando
The Bay Hill Club & Lodge was home to golf great Arnold Palmer, and it’s known for its PGA Tour event, the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The Club is private, but as a lodge guest, you are entitled to play the course. This is one of the most exclusive golf courses in Orlando, and it’s definitely a must-play for any golf lover.
The golf course at the Bay Hill Club is one of Orlando’s most renowned courses. Spaning over 7,200 yards and is a Par 72 it is known for its challenging design, with water hazards on many holes. The golf course was designed by Dick Wilson and featured narrow fairways, rolling terrain and large greens.
We select the Bay Hill Golf Club as the best golf course in the Orlando area for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it is exceptionally well-maintained, with lush fairways and pristine greens. The course is challenging, with tight fairways and plenty of sand traps and water hazards. And finally, the staff at Bay Hill are amicable and welcoming, making your visit an enjoyable one.
Further Orlando courses to consider when visiting the area
- Orange County National, which includes the Panther Lake and Crooked Cat golf course
- Walt Disney Lake Buena Vista Golf Course is set amongst lakes and pines. Has hosted PGA and LPGA Tour events.
- Southern Dunes Golf – one of Orlando’s hilliest courses with strategically placed mounds and water features.
- Champions Gate Golf Club, featuring the National and International Courses.
The Top Orlando Golf Courses For Families & Beginners
The Oaks Golf Club
This course is great for beginner golfers. The Oaks is a relatively short course, and it has wide fairways that will give you plenty of room to work with.
Orange County National Golf Centre
This golf course is excellent for beginners. The golf course layout is very forgiving, and the greens are relatively easy to hit. An on-site academy and junior golf school are perfect for introducing kids to the game. This golf centre includes the Panther Lake and Crooked Cat loop of nine holes, plus The Tooth, a more manageable and shorter course.
The most challenging golf courses in Orlando
The Ritz Carlton Golf Club
The Greg Norman designed Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Grande Lakes is an excellent example of championship golf courses based on a golf resort in Orlando. Often one can find more demanding golf courses at these golf resorts, which have multiple on-site courses open to the public. They are typically more expensive than the other golf courses in Orlando, but they offer a unique experience worth the price tag. These golf courses will put your skills to the test while also providing a variety of tee boxes so you may challenge yourself further.
Reunion Golf Resort
The Reunion Resort is one of these golf resorts worth a visit. It has three world-class golf courses designed by golf legends Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson. These golf courses are a must-play if you want to take your game to the next level, featuring elevated tees and greens.