Nice Golf Courses in the Greater Disney Area

The home of the PGA Tour's former Bay Hill Invitational and future Arnold Palmer Invitational, this is Arnie's course and tournament (Tiger Woods won 4 consecutive years here). The course has 27 holes. Located due west of International Drive. You must stay at the Lodge to be able to play this course

This is 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus golf, including the 18 hole New Course at Grand Cypress, Jack's tribute to St. Andrews, which features 7 double greens and a "burn." Located off of 535 north of the Lake Buena Vista/Hotel Plaza Blvd entrance to Downtown Disney. According to their website, only guests of the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress or The Villas of Grand Cypress can play these courses.

On the Disney property, this features 99 holes of golf. They host the PGA Tour's Walt Disney World Resort Classic (formerly the Funai Classic, which Tiger Woods has won twice). Magnolia was recently redesigned to keep pace with professional players, and is traditionally the course used on Sunday at the tournament. Magnolia and Palm were originally designed by Joe Lee. Also there are courses designed by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye (Osprey Ridge and Eagle Pines; not sure which is Fazio or Dye) which are north of Downtown Disney. There is also the Lake Buena Vista Golf Course which is near Downtown Disney, and also the 9 hole Bonnet Creek Golf Club.

Grande Lakes Resort features a Ritz Carlton and the JW Marriott. Greg Norman designed the Grande Lakes Course, which features a caddie concierge program. Located east of the SeaWorld area, at the corner of John Young Pkwy and Central FL Pkwy

There are two 18 hole Greg Norman courses here, the National and International. Host of the Del Webb Father Son Classic, which features Nicklaus, Palmer, and Singh, among others. Located off of I-4 south of the Disney area.

Across I-4 from the Omni Resort at ChampionsGate, this club, when finished (and it may already be) will feature courses by Nicklaus, Palmer, and Watson. Hosted the LPGA Tour's innaugural Ginn Open in April 2006.

Located at the Orlando World Center Marriott, at 536 and I-4 just outside the Disney property, this course plays around 3 sides of the Marriott. Features water on every back nine hole (though often not right next to the hole) and has its own trio of challenging and tough holes, 12-13-14. Originally designed by Joe Lee, it was redone around 2001 by Robert Cupp.

Located on Hiawassee Rd. north of the Universal area, this is a Robert Trent Jones design, which features elevation changes not normally associated with Florida courses. Previously voted #1 of Orlando's public courses

On Osceola Parkway east of Disney and the Gaylord Palms Resort, and close to US192 in Kissimmee, this is a Rees Jones design, previously voted #2 of Orlando's public courses. No resorts or neighborhoods currently border the course.

Featuring two courses, Crooked Cat and Panther Lake, this course previously hosted the PGA Qualifying School Finals, and will host it again. Boasts an excellent practice facility. According to a prior radio advertisement, this is Michael Jordan's favorite place to play in Central Florida (though, if true, that may have something to do with the relative isolation of the course). Located due west of the Magic Kingdom Theme Park, though the way to get there is to take 535 north of Grand Cypress, then take another road west.

This resort features multiple courses, including The Legends at Orange Lake, an Arnold Palmer design. Located on US192 in the "Maingate West" area, four miles west of the Disney Maingate Entrance, and about 5 miles west of I-4.

Located at the Wyndham Palms Resort and Country Club off of Old Lake Wilson Rd. south of US192 and the Maingate West area, this course was designed by Gary Koch (golf course reporter on NBC), which features a "Florida" nine and a "Carolina" nine.

Located on International Drive south of SeaWorld, formerly known as the International Golf Club, this course was designed by Steve Smyers with Nick Faldo consulting. The front nine is mostly different from the former International GC nine, as it includes completely new holes, but the back nine mostly follows the old routing, though the new green on 11 is to the right of the old one, and the new green at 17 is a multi-tiered green (the author had the experience of seeing his putted ball come back to his feet). The course borders Marriott Cypress Harbor and Hilton Grand Vacations Club at SeaWorld International Center, as well as other resort condos.

Located at the new Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, off of Universal Blvd just east of the Orange County Convention Center, this course was designed by David Harmon. It plays near and around the Hotel, and is a mostly open course.

Located in the community of Celebration just south of US192 just east of I-4, this is a Robert Trent Jones design, which has been rated 4 1/2 stars in Golf Digest's "Places to Play".

Jack Nicklaus design located in Keene's Pointe, an exclusive lakefront community south of Windermere (Windermere is due west of Millenia Mall, take Conroy road west of the mall, go about 5-7 miles, then take a left when it dead ends, and you will eventually hit Keene's Pointe after about 1 1/2 miles). This course is private, but recently they have been open to guests of a few hotels (Westgate Lakes Resort & Spa was one of them; perhaps the other Westgate Resorts as well?).

Located off of US 27, south of I-4, on the north side of Haines City, about 15-20 miles south of US192, this is a course which has been rated highly in Golf Digest's "Places to Play". This is a very hilly course with lots of sand in a vacation home development.

Located off of US 27, north of I-4 and SW of Disney, this course advertises itself as having a Scottish feel.

Located in Howey-In-The-Hills (near US27 north of the Florida Turnpike NW of Orlando), this features two courses, including the "El Campeon" (sp?) course originally built in the 1920's, and a newer design by Gary Koch. Features elevation changes of up to 100 feet.

Located about six miles east of US 27 on the south side of Haines City, this is a Joe Lee design which was originally designed in a "minimalist" way. No homes or condos border this course. Since the '94 hurricanes, the course is a little more open, with fewer trees.

Across the street from Diamondback GC, this features two courses, the East and South courses, each 18 holes (the Grenelefe West course, though closed and in disarray now, was the former #1 ranked course in all of Florida; no word on if or when it will reopen). Bordered by resort and residential condos. Currently owned by Westgate Resorts.

Located south and east of Orlando International Airport, off of Moss Park Rd (which is off of Hwy 15--Narcossee Rd), this course features a Modern Nine and a Classic nine.

Located near the west shore of Lake "Toho", this course features oak trees as suggested by its name. South of the US 192 "Maingate East" area.

East of Downtown Kissimmee (which is east of the "Maingate East" area), and near the Osceola Heritage Park on US 192, near Boggy Creek Rd., this is a pretty looking course in a residential development.

Located near the Osceola Heritage Park and St. Cloud, this is another golf course in a residential development that is more wide open from the looks of it.

A municipal golf course located east of the "Maingate East" area of US 192, and near the Downtown Kissimmee area

Located about 4 miles south of the Grande Lakes Resort (Ritz, JW Marriott), on Hunter's Creek Blvd east of John Young Pkwy and north of Osceola Pkwy, this course runs through the Hunter's Creek neighborhood, featuring homes and condos on the course. This has been long advertised as the longest course in the area as being over 7,400 yards from the back tees (though I don't know if this is still true). Had work done to it about two years ago.

East of St. Cloud off of US 192 (St. Cloud is east of Osceola Heritage Park which is east of Downtown Kissimmee which is east of the "Maingate East" area which is east of Disney), this is an upscale Johnny Miller designed course.

Located off of Toll Rd 429 (the Orlando Beltway) north of the Florida Turnpike (hits the Florida Turnpike northwest of I-4), this course has no houses on it and is bisected by 429, and advertises a challenging last few holes.

This is a new upscale golf course in a new development somewhere near Orlando International Airport.

This course is located off of Rinehart Rd. in Lake Mary near I-4, on the northside of Greater Orlando, away from the touristy area. Designed by Ron Garl, this course has a variety of looks, from hills to multiple water hazards to large oak trees to even holes with few trees on them. Watch out for hole #2!

Located in Deland, FL about a mile west of I-4 (on the way to Daytona from Orlando), this course was designed by Ron Garl, and is said to have more of a Carolina look than a Florida look. Voted Best Area Course by the Orlando Sentinel (value was one of the factors included in the decision).

This course is in Longwood, just north of Altamonte Springs and a couple of miles or so from Altamonte Mall and Uptown Altamonte (see my Go-List "Orlando off the Tourist-Beaten Path"). If you like big live oak trees and hills, this is the place to go. While interested in it, I resisted playing it because I thought it was all straight ahead holes. While there are quite a few, there are some doglegs as well. Beautiful setting, older course (1926), reasonable price, and, of course, some hills. I particularly liked the front nine and the latter part of the back nine. Only things to note: some parts of the course run near suburban roads, some busier than others. Also, as it is an older course, some of the teeboxes are close to the line of fire from other holes. Just be aware. First week of January 2007, played for $33 on a Thursday; this includes lunch. Lunch was a sitdown, 30 minute affair; it was $30 without lunch. Take I-4 East to the Altamonte Springs/436 exit; take a left on Palm Springs (just past the mall). Go about 2 miles, cross North St., and you will see the course by the road and there will be a sign directing you to the clubhouse to the left.