Golfing in Orlando FL
Geoff’s Insider Guide to Great Golf
If you golf we can recommend fantastic courses to play in the Orlando area and some of my favorites are away from tourist spots and tourist prices. Slightly longer drive but ‘worth the detour’ as they say in the Michelin Guide Amazing scenery, alligators, birdlife, weird trees and fantastic courses!
Tip: book a tee time through www.golfnow.com early morning for best deals. With same day bookings you can often find half price green fees or lower!
Falcon’s Fire
This is about 25 minute drive from Vista Cay. Usually in really good shape and a pretty decent layout. Greens are fast and fairways are usually immaculate. Challenging and enjoyable but sometimes can be overbooked with slow rounds.
Mission Inn Golf Course
Voted number 1 in Florida a few years ago. About a 45 minute drive from the condo but worth it. You will most likely see alligators, eagles and plenty of other wildlife. Always in great shape.
Deer Island Golf Course
About the same distance as Mission Inn and it would be hard for me to pick which is better. Mission Inn is in much better shape but Deer Island is magical. One of my top three courses to spend a day at. When I found this place I was like a kid in Narnia. The course is beautiful, a real treasure and at least $100 cheaper than it should be. $25-$60 depending on time of year. You will definitely see alligators here and with the amount of water you will most likely feed them a few balls. Ask what kind of shape it is in when you call. Can be hit and miss but the new owner appears to be keeping the course in good shape.
Tip: make sure you have GPS to find this off the beaten track course.
Bella Collina Golf Course
This one is more expensive but one of the best courses in the area. In my top three. And the club house is just fabulous! Make sure you take the time to walk around the grounds and feel as if you have been transported to rural Tuscany. They spent so much money on the clubhouse they didn’t have enough to carry on and went under. It has now been taken over by one man.
I’m pretty sure I saw skeletons in bunkers – golfers who just couldn’t get their ball out. Faldo designed it and I’m guessing he had shares in a company that supplied the sand. Make a day of it and enjoy the huge hot tub and steam room in the locker room. Non golfers can enjoy the gorgeous spa and the pool area. Stunning golf course in great shape. One of the best courses in the area
Eagle Creek Golf Course
About 30 minutes from here. Not over the top, just a nice track. And it sure adds excitement to the round when you see an alligator bring down a small deer on the 12th tee box. Nice big greens which could be the fastest around here, like a snooker table some days.
Shingle Creek Golf Course
Right across the street from Vista Cay. It used to be reasonably priced, but now, in my opinion, a little overpriced. You get a 10% discount if you mention you are staying with Your Vista Cay. Can be busy and slow. It’s convenient tho if you just want the driving range or putting green for some practice.
Orange County National Golf Course
30 mins from the resort. Both courses in great shape and very much worth playing. Cheapest of the “Tourist” courses and one of the most scenic in the area. PGA qualifying school is here so the courses are well cared for but for some reason, the quality has dropped slightly in last couple years. Although both courses are worth playing, “Crooked Cat” is the one to play if you only go once.
Royal St Cloud Golf Course
If I was only playing one course in the area, would it be this one? – absolutely not. But for $25-35, buggy included, it is certainly worth a knock. Surprisingly in great shape for such a busy public course.
Red Tail Golf Course
About an hours drive from here, but again, well worth the detour. As if alligators and snakes aren’t enough to distract you from your game, as you get close to RedTail, there are Black Bear warning signs! Played here many times and not seen a bear yet, so don’t be put off. The course is great and you will love it. Out of the tourists zone so it’s reasonably priced and sometimes even has lunch included with the green fee. The last four holes are stunning!
Waldorf Astoria Golf Course
Pricey, but try and get a deal on Golfnow.com. Fantastic course. Great layout and always in great shape.
Disney Golf Course
The Palm and Magnolia courses at Disney are both worth a visit. Can be expensive depending on time of year. Can also be overbooked and very slow at times.
Tip: If you book on Golfnow and it says Florida Resident price, they Will ask for your ID at the Pro Shop. This is the only course I know of that actually checks.