8 of the Top-Rated Orlando Golf Courses

Endless Summer, lush greens, and tree-lined fairways. Unless you’re a resident in Orlando, it’s not every day that you are in close proximity to some of the best golf courses in America.

We’re spilling the tea on tee time at these top-rated Orlando Golf Courses! 

Whether with family or on a business trip, take a swing at the exclusive Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge or the opulent Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes. Fancy something more lowkey? Spend time honing your skills at the budget-friendly Winter Park Golf Course. 

Grab your clubs and read on to discover where your ideal golf game is waiting. 

How Many Golf Courses are in Orlando?

Florida is known for its luxurious beach resorts and world-class theme parks, making the Sunshine State a top tourist destination year-round. However, thanks to its warm, sunny climate and immense green complexes, Florida also boasts another claim to fame as the unofficial golf capital of the United States. In Orlando alone, there are 25 top-rated golf courses.

8 of the Top-Rated Orlando Golf Courses

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes

When you aren’t ooohing and aahing over the panoramic Grande Lakes resort, the on-site Ritz-Carlton Golf Club will keep you busy with its 18-hole championship-level golf course. Designed by legendary golf course architect Greg Norman, this upscale resort course boasts challenging greens, wide fairways, and hazards amid jaw-dropping natural scenery.

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If you’re golfing with family, here’s a freebie you can’t resist. Children and young adults up to the age of 17 can play golf, free of charge, with each paid adult round of golf. 

If you’re on a company trip and are entertaining your top business clients, rest assured that you will be treated to a level of personal service found only in the best golf clubs.

photo credit: The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes via Facebook

Shingle Creek Golf Club

An overview of the best golf courses in Orlando isn’t complete without mentioning the Shingle Creek Golf Club. Masterfully designed by the renowned Arnold Palmer Design Company, it’s no wonder why the newly renovated Shingle Creek course rises above the rest. Elevated greens and strategically placed bunkers are surrounded by enchanting flora and wildlife. 

Meanwhile, the three new holes still have the classic Arnold Palmer touch, except this time around, the average golfer will breathe a sigh of relief given the added recovery options along extra-long par-4s and par-5s. So for those who’ve already played the championship course at Shingle Creek Golf Club, your next visit will bring a totally new experience.

photo credit: Shingle Creek Golf Club via Facebook

Celebration Golf Club

Stay and play at one of the most celebrated golf clubs in Orlando! Since the Celebration Golf Club opened in 1996, pros and casual golfers alike have praised the rewarding experience of playing the game on such a well-designed field. Thanks to the brilliant minds of Robert Trent Jones Senior and Junior, players of all ranking will have fun because it can be enjoyed on many levels. 

Using their unique design strategies and the natural lay of the land, the two golf course architects crafted an upscale daily-fee golf resort that takes full advantage of the natural pine forests and Florida wetlands. 

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With five sets of tees and total yardage of 7,028, the eighteen distinctive holes invite competition from all skill levels. As per Robert Trent Sr and Jr’s belief, “every hole should be a hard par and an easy bogey.”

photo credit: Celebration Golf Club via Facebook

Waldorf Astoria Golf Club

Well-maintained fairways and top-notch greens make Waldorf Astoria Golf Club an outstanding course. The luxurious golf club’s visually stunning and immensely playable 18-hole championship golf course winds through a large wetland preserve that measures 7,108 yards. 

Up for a challenge? Test your skill on the last course built in Orlando with a Par 72, Slope 139, and 74.6 rating from its Professional Tees. And if you need last-minute equipment or gear, enjoy the convenience of an on-site Pro Shop with TaylorMade, Adidas, and Ashworth merchandise and club rentals.

photo credit: Waldorf Astoria Golf Club Orlando via Facebook

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is not your average resort course design. Instead, this exclusive to members and registered guests golf club offers two courses: The Champion or Challenger.

The Challenger, which many golf fanatics will easily recognize as a PGA Tour venue, is an 18-hole course that hosted notable performances from the likes of Dean Wilson, Vaugh Taylor, and the legendary Arnold Palmer himself. 

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Meanwhile, the Charger is a 9-hole course with an arduous, old-school layout that never ceases to impress. 

So how much is it to golf at Arnold Palmer’s Orlando Golf Course? It depends on the time of the year. The cheapest room rate to stay a night at the Lodge is around $200. The Club also offers a stay & play package, which usually costs around $308 daily. 

Although costlier than nearby Orlando golf courses, the stunning, pristinely landscaped 270 acres and impressive facility will win you over. 

photo credit: Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge via Facebook

Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course

What is the best Disney golf course in Orlando, you ask? The reviews are varied, but many will agree with our recommendation to swing by Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course. This 18-hole country club-style course is ideal for golfers of all levels. Test your swing over 6,745 yards of palmetto groves and pine trees.

Surrounded by the candy-colored villas of Disney’s Saratoga Springs and Old Key West Resorts. 

Pro Tip: The course’s tricky 7th hole has elevated bunker greens for some good ol’ challenging fun!

photo credit: Walt Disney World Golf via Facebook

Panther Lake at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge

As the original course at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge and one of two on-site regulation length 18-hole golf courses, Panther Lake is a one-of-a-kind golf course on your must-play golfing itinerary.

It offers some of the best visual delights of any Central Florida golf course. Swing your club through a scenic landscape of rolling meadows, native pines, and wetlands. 

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If you have the time, ride on to the Orange County National’s second 18-hole golf course. The Crooked Cat features dramatic elevation changes and rolling fairways framed with mounding. Some players say it’s a more challenging course than Panther Lake, but we leave it to you to be the judge. 

photo credit: Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge via Facebook

Winter Park Golf Course

Although not within Orlando’s immediate boundary, Winter Park’s finest golf course is still worth mentioning, given how Orlando golfers like to include it on their itinerary. Winter Park Golf Course is one of the oldest golf courses in Florida. It has been serving players of all skill levels since the 1900s. With its nine-hole golf course set over a wall-to-wall fairway and massive and undulating green complexes, be ready to sharpen your short game skills.

The narrow, tree-lined fairways and postage stamp greens challenge even the most experienced players. That being said, if you’re up for one of the most gripping short course experiences in this part of Central Florida, hold on to your clubs tight and head to Winter Park Golf Course!

photo credit: Winter Park Golf Course via Facebook

Experience the Best Golf Courses in Orlando

Amidst the many things you can do in Orlando, golfing is simply one of the best outdoor activities. Challenge your mind and physical skills with 18-hole golf courses designed by the best golf architects. Or, if you feel like taking it easy and breezy, a 9-hole course is a great way to start your tee time.

Once you’ve played at any top-rated golf courses we’ve listed above, it would be easy to see why experiences at Orlando golf courses are hard to beat.

Have You Golfed in Orlando?

Which is your favorite course? What’s your best score?

Leave us a comment below!


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Written by Nicole King

There are only two things that make Nicole really happy–books and travel! When her head’s not buried in a book, she’s most likely...


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