With well over 150 courses all within an hours drive gives you plenty of choice for you to either improve your game or just enjoy a few rounds and have some fun. Orlando is home to six golf instruction academies including the renowned David Leadbetter Golf Academy. Designed not only by recognised designers such as Robert Trent Jones, Tom Fazio, Ron Garl and David Harman but also by golfing legends such as Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman. It’s easy to see why so many people come to Florida to participate in endless rounds of world-class golf. If you’re a keen golfing enthusiast, Central Florida and Sunset Lakes are, by far, the best place for you!
Here are just a few of Central Florida’s best golf courses:
Celebration Golf Club: This fantastic golf course offers a challenge to players of all abilities. The perfectly maintained fairways provide the perfect lie, whilst the varying cuts of rough can test the very best players. The course looks and feels just like those you see on The PGA Tour. Go on treat yourself you will not regret it. There is also a 3 Hole Junior golf course available.
Website Address: www.celebrationgolf.com
Kissimmee Golf Club: Located less than 20 minutes away from Walt Disney World, Sea World, Universal Studios and Orlando, Kissimmee Golf Club (KGC) provides the best golfing value year-round in Central Florida. Golfers of all abilities will enjoy a challenging, beautifully conditioned golf course unobstructed by any houses or hotels lining the fairways. Reasonable rates and convenient location make KGC the perfect destination for the local and international golfer.
Website Address: www.kissgolfclub.com
Highlands Reserve Golf Club: This is not your typical Orlando, Florida golf course! Highlands Reserve sits atop one of the highest areas of Florida and offers remarkable scenery along with a course designed for hot golf. This championship Mike Dasher design gives you pine tree-lined fairways reminiscent of the Carolinas, open spacious fairways likened to the great Scottish courses, and a bit of old Florida with citrus trees along the countryside. Large, fast, undulating greens make this course challenging and fun for all levels of golfers. Conveniently located just minutes from Disney and all major attractions.
Website Address: www.highlandsreserve-golf.com
Champions Gate Golf Club: Champions Gate Golf Resort is the home of two Greg Norman designed courses that feature world class golf, amenities, and service that is second to none in the Orlando area. The facility also boasts world headquarters for the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, and is located only 10 minutes from Disney World Resorts and 15 minutes from Universal Hotel Resorts. This 36-hole layout offers players two distinctly different styles of golf to choose from: The National Course and The International Course. Blending tradition and modern elements to create a unique and dynamic layout.
The “International Course” with its authentic links style golf reminiscent of the great courses of the British Isles. The fairways are long and tight, and the greens are small and quick- forcing players of all calibres to maintain consistency and good putting throughout the round in order to score well. Truly one of the country’s most distinctive golf challenges, the international course boasts the highest course rating in the state of Florida at 76.3.
The “National Course” at Champions Gate is equally impressive, albeit more in the traditional mould of courses that Florida has become popular for providing. Although this course does not provide the difficult level of play that the International Course features, golfers of all levels will appreciate the year-round tournament conditions and shot making opportunities the National Course offers. Most often commented on are the memorable par-3 holes, awesome bunkering, and long, tough tee shots that force players to be accurate from the tee-box. This course will give you the opportunity to use every club in the bag.
Website Address: www.championsgategolf.com
Mystic Dunes Golf Club: Tour Player and NBC Lead Golf Analyst Gary Koch has created a masterpiece of blended philosophies and unrivalled challenges that is certain to go down as one of the most unique in all of Florida.
This course is unique in the fact that you feel as if you are playing two completely different “nines” during your round. The western nine is pure links, reminiscent of golf courses designs famous in Western Europe, complete with extensive perimeter mounding and large sandy waste areas. It is not overly difficult, but does place a premium on accurate iron play and consistent approach shots to the relatively large greens.
The eastern nine at Mystic Dunes is more traditional, reminding players of classic Carolina-style courses- replete with native wetlands that are bordered by large oak and cypress trees. There is a bit more trouble on this side, however better players will easily navigate the wide fairways and accessible greens that are featured on this nine.
Website Address: www.mysticdunesgolf.com
Reunion Resort Golf Club: Quite possibly the most well known golfing resort in Florida is Reunion. Situated within a tropical setting, Reunion Resort is associated with nothing but luxury, style and sophistication.
The Legacy Course – An Arnold Palmer Signature Design.
Innovatively routed on hilly, roller coaster-like terrain, Palmer’s 6,916 yard, par 72 Legacy Course boasts dramatic elevation changes – up to 50 feet in some places – creating a unique variety of risk/reward golf shots. That varied menu of shot-making opportunities is further ensured by six tee locations on each hole, a variety of natural preserve areas, generously wide fairways and strategically placed bunkers across all eighteen holes.
The Tradition Course – A Jack Nicklaus Signature Design.
Unlike the severe hills of the Legacy and Independence courses, this Parkland-style layout is smooth and flowing, with long horizon lines as well as elevated tee boxes and greens. Yet The Tradition can be as deceptive as it is beautiful. Designed to tempt golfers into hitting risky shots with potentially big payoffs, The Tradition challenges the golfer to step up to the ball with a carefully organized series of shots in his or her mind.
The Independence Course – A Tom Watson Signature Design.
Highlighted by fast, firm and wide rolling fairways, a variety of strategically placed bunkers and large greens, the 7,257-yard, par 72 Independence Course is as much about strategy as it is about length. Demanding a well thought out approach from every player regardless of skill level, The Independence puts a premium on a solid short game with spacious green complexes where club selection can vary from putter to lob wedge to three-wood.
Website Address: www.reunionresort.com/golf