If you love to play golf then you will love what Orlando can offer you. There are an abundance of beautiful courses, catering for all levels of golfer all year round. Florida is blessed with glorious weather and the courses are kept near perfect 365 days a year.
You will notice many differences to what you are used to when playing golf in Orlando. Here, everyone is friendly, the courses themselves are pristine and you will even have a refreshments lady driving round selling you cold beer and other drinks whilst you play!
In the next few paragraphs I will describe a few of the courses which are my favourites, and then suggest others that I have heard good things about from all over the Orlando region.
To the east of Disneyworld on H27 the courses are fantastic. Kings Ridge and Legends Golf and Country club sit opposite each other less than 10 minutes north of the junction with the 192.
Kings Ridge is the easier course, (It actually has two courses) but is the prettier. It winds its way through pine trees and the greens are immaculate. Legends is the tougher course and has a couple of lovely signature holes. It also boasts spectacular views over Lake Louisa.
Just south of the jct with the 192 is Polo Park, which is basically a cheap $10 9 hole course. This is an ideal course if you are a bit rusty and just feel like hitting a few balls and getting your eye in.
Then there is Highlands Reserve which prides itself on its perfect greens (although when I played there recently they were not up to their usual standard). This is an open course with the biggest bunkers I have ever seen!
A further 10 minutes South is Ridgewood Lakes, a personal favourite. This course has lots and lots of water and a few resident gators! The course is very pretty and each hole seems to offer something different from the rest. This comes highly recommended. Just south of this is Southern Dunes, which has been voted in the top ten of golf courses to play in Florida. It looks very similar to Highlands Reserve in appearance, but I have not had the pleasure of playing the course. Yet!
On the 192 there are also some lovely courses. Orange Lakes has four courses, grading from easy to Championship. Then there is Orange County golf course which gains good reviews.
Then there’s Disney. As you would expect, Disney do not disappoint. They have 5 golf courses, one of which hosts a PGA tour event annually. Mickey shaped bunkers enhance the magic of playing these courses, just be aware that they are very busy and quite expensive. Also if you do not have a fourball you will be put with strangers in order to make one. If you don’t like this idea, like me, then these aren’t the courses for you!
Prices in Orlando are very reasonable and generally always come with cart included. There are various coupons and offers scattered all over the local press in Orlando for some good deals, and there is always a good twilight rate on most courses. I prefer the twilight golf, not just for the price but because the heat is generally subsiding which makes for a more comfortable round. Always call the course ahead of time, and don’t be afraid to ask for their best deals.
Golfing in Orlando is a wonderful experience. Enjoy and keep those scores low!