With dozens of championship golf courses, Central Florida has evolved into a true golfer’s paradise. Whether you are a beginner who wants to take lessons at one of the area’s renowned golf academies or a more experienced golfer who seeks new challenges, you will find a golf course in the Orlando area to meet your specific needs.
Walt Disney World Resort itself boasts five championship golf courses: Osprey Ridge, Palm, Magnolia, Eagle Pines and Lake Buena Vista. Designed by legendary architect Tom Fazio, Osprey Ridge is arguably the most difficult course at Disney World. The Palm course has been rated 4 stars by Golf Digest. The Magnolia course is known for the abundance of beautiful Magnolias that line the fairways. Eagle Pines is a par-72, 18-hole course designed by Pete Dye. Opened in 1971, the par-72 Lake Buena Vista course features 6,819 yards of golf. Disney World also offers the nine-hole, par-36 Oak Trail golf course.
Plenty of championship-caliber golf courses lie just minutes from Walt Disney World Resort. For instance, the award-winning MetroWest Golf Club was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and offers a wide range of challenges, including numerous bunkers and plentiful water hazards, as well as expansive fairways. Celebration Golf Club, which lies just 5 minutes from Disney World, was also designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr., along with his son Robert Trent Jones Jr. ChampionsGate Golf Resort boasts 36 holes of championship golf and is also home to the world-renowned David Leadbetter Golf Academy. Designed by Ron Garl and Howard Swan, the par-73 Eagle Creek Golf Club boasts five par 5 holes. The Shingle Creek Golf Club has already received the “Greens of Distinction” award from Corporate & Incentive Travel magazine.
Two area courses, Grand Cypress Golf Club and The Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe, were both designed by “The Golden Bear” himself, Jack Nicklaus. The award-winning Grand Cypress Golf Club features three nine-hole courses, as well as the 18-hole New Course. It is also home to the Grand Cypress Academy of Golf. Amenities at the Golden Bear Club at Keene’s Pointe include a 24,000-square-foot clubhouse, full-service restaurant, fully stocked pro shop and driving range.
Orlando also hosts several golf tournaments on the PGA tour such as the Arnold Palmer Invitational (formerly known as the Bay Hill Invitational) at Bay Hill Golf Club March 22-28, 2010, and the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Walt Disney World Resort’s Palm & Magnolia Courses November 11-14, 2010. Both of these immensely popular tournaments draw some of the top professional golfers in the world such as Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh and Phil Mickelson.
Traveling to Orlando this summer? Check out the great deals at The Seasons by Westgate Resorts, which lies just 3 miles from both the Florida Mall and the Mall at Millenia, 7 miles from Gatorland, 8 miles from Universal Orlando Resort, 12 miles from SeaWorld Orlando and 18 miles from Walt Disney World Resort. Onsite amenities at The Seasons include an outdoor pool, hot tub, children’s pool and fitness room, as well as tennis and racquetball courts. Each of the two-bedroom suites at The Seasons features a fully equipped kitchen. For more information about The Seasons by Westgate Resorts, visit www.westgatedestinations.com.
