Orlando / Florida

Must play

Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge - Championship Course

Designer: Dick Wilson / Arnold Palmer refinements
Year: 1961
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,466 for tournament setup
Difficulty: High
Green fees: Access generally requires membership/guest or Lodge stay; current package/rate details should be verified directly with Bay Hill.

Bay Hill is the Orlando headline because it has actual tournament gravity. But it is not the default public round. Treat it as a premium access play: excellent if you can secure it cleanly, not worth contorting the entire trip if you cannot.

Strengths

Arnold Palmer legacy
PGA Tour host
Strongest Orlando trophy round
On-site lodge

Weaknesses

Not normal public access
Expensive
Less practical for big rental-house groups

Must play if access is real. Do not fake it.

0/5

Signature holes: 6, 16, 17, 18

4.4(2,074)

16301 Phil Ritson Way, Winter Garden, FL 34787, USA

(407) 656-2626

Strong play

Orange County National - Panther Lake

Designer: Phil Ritson, Dave Harman, Isao Aoki
Year: 1997
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,350
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Dynamic public rate; book direct and verify current seasonal pricing.

Panther Lake is one of the smartest Orlando anchors because it is good, accessible, and paired with Crooked Cat. It is not trying to be famous. It is trying to work.

Strengths

Strong public access
Natural setting
Pairs with Crooked Cat
Excellent practice facility

Weaknesses

Can be busy
Seasonal pricing moves
Not a luxury resort experience

Core Orlando round.

0/5

Signature holes: 3, 7, 11, 18

Strong play

Orange County National - Crooked Cat

Designer: Phil Ritson, Dave Harman, Isao Aoki
Year: 1997
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,493
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Dynamic public rate; book direct and verify current seasonal pricing.

Crooked Cat is the other half of why OCN matters. If the group wants one efficient 36-hole day, this is the Orlando answer.

Strengths

Same-site pairing
Strong width
Good for 36
Less resort fluff

Weaknesses

Less polished than premium resort rounds
Can be exposed
Not nightlife-adjacent

Pair with Panther Lake and call it smart.

0/5

Signature holes: 5, 9, 13, 18

Image coming soon

Strong play

ChampionsGate - International Course

Designer: Greg Norman
Year: 2000
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,363
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Dynamic resort/public pricing; verify direct with Omni ChampionsGate.

International is useful and sometimes very good for the right group. It fits the ChampionsGate ecosystem better than it fits a trophy-course list.

Strengths

Resort convenience
Good scale
Pairs with National
Strong group logistics

Weaknesses

Not a top-tier architecture anchor
Resort pricing can climb
Can feel exposed

Strong if you are based there.

0/5

Signature holes: 3, 7, 14, 18

4.6(1,174)

8575 White Shark Blvd, Championsgate, FL 33896, USA

(407) 787-4653

Strong play

ChampionsGate - National Course

Designer: Greg Norman
Year: 2000
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,128
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Dynamic resort/public pricing; verify direct with Omni ChampionsGate.

National is the calmer resort companion. That can be exactly right for mixed groups or a departure-day round.

Strengths

Playable
Convenient
Useful for big groups
Less demanding than International

Weaknesses

Lower ceiling
Less distinctive
Can feel like itinerary filler

Useful support, not protected golf.

0/5

Signature holes: 4, 9, 15, 18

Image coming soon

Strong play

Reunion - Palmer Course

Designer: Arnold Palmer
Year: 2004
Par: 72
Yardage: 6,916
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Resort/guest and package pricing; verify direct with Reunion.

The Palmer course is the fun Reunion round. For mixed groups, that matters. Not every trip needs another stern examination.

Strengths

Playable
Elevation changes
Good resort fit
Most welcoming Reunion course

Weaknesses

Resort access matters
Lower ceiling than Bay Hill/OCN
Conditioning can be seasonal

Best Reunion starting point.

0/5

Signature holes: 2, 7, 12, 18

4.3(270)

7599 Gathering Dr, Kissimmee, FL 34747, USA

(833) 258-0472

Strong play

Reunion - Watson Course

Designer: Tom Watson
Year: 2005
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,154
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Resort/guest and package pricing; verify direct with Reunion.

Watson is the more tactical Reunion play. Use it when the group wants more bite than Palmer.

Strengths

Firmer feel
Short-game interest
Good contrast within Reunion

Weaknesses

Less visually dramatic
Access/package constraints
Not a standalone reason to choose Orlando

Good second Reunion round.

0/5

Signature holes: 4, 9, 14, 18

4.7(120)

7593 Gathering Dr, Kissimmee, FL 34747, USA

(866) 880-8563

Strong play

Reunion - Nicklaus Course

Designer: Jack Nicklaus
Year: 2006
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,219
Difficulty: High
Green fees: Resort/guest and package pricing; verify direct with Reunion.

Nicklaus is the toughest Reunion course and should be sequenced accordingly. Do not put the weakest players there after travel and act surprised.

Strengths

Strongest test at Reunion
Elevated greens
Good for better players

Weaknesses

Can be too stern for mixed groups
Not the most fun first round

Strong play for the right group.

0/5

Signature holes: 6, 10, 15, 18

4.5(876)

9939 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA

(407) 996-1559

Strong play

Shingle Creek Golf Club

Designer: Arnold Palmer Design Company renovation
Year: Original resort course renovated in 2016
Par: 72
Yardage: 7,213
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Dynamic resort/public pricing; verify direct with Shingle Creek.

Shingle Creek is the clean convenience play. If you are staying there or need a polished round near the airport/convention side, it makes sense. If you are chasing pure golf value, look harder.

Strengths

Close to MCO/convention corridor
Polished resort
Good lodging/dining tie-in

Weaknesses

Value can be questionable
Not a pure-golf anchor
Resort setting drives the appeal

Strong when convenience matters.

0/5

Signature holes: 2, 9, 14, 18

Strong play

Grand Cypress - New Course

Designer: Jack Nicklaus
Year: 1988
Par: 72
Yardage: About 6,700 yards
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Resort/public access can vary; verify current Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress availability and rates.

The New Course is Orlando's best "wait, this is actually interesting" round. Nicklaus borrowed openly from St. Andrews: wider corridors, double-green ideas, bump-and-run options, and enough oddity to make it stand apart from the water-and-condo template. It is not the Old Course, obviously. It is still one of the smartest Orlando adds for groups that want something with a point of view.

Strengths

Distinct concept
Shared-fairway feel
Strong contrast to typical Orlando golf
Resort convenience

Weaknesses

Not a true links course
Access/rates should be checked
May confuse players expecting normal Florida target golf

Put it high on the list if the group wants more than resort autopilot.

0/5

Signature holes: 1, 5, 12, 18

4.6(589)

1570 Evermore Wy, Orlando, FL 32836, USA

(407) 239-1909

Strong play

Grand Cypress - North/South/East

Designer: Jack Nicklaus
Year: 1984
Par: 72 by rotation
Yardage: Varies by 18-hole combination
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Resort/public access can vary; verify current Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress availability and rates.

The original 27 holes are useful because they make Grand Cypress a real golf base rather than a one-course novelty. Play them if staying there. Do not choose them over The New Course if the itinerary is tight.

Strengths

27-hole flexibility
Resort convenience
Good conditioning
Useful for longer stays

Weaknesses

Less distinctive than the New Course
Not a must-travel standalone

Strong supporting depth.

0/5

Signature holes: Depends on rotation

4.4(475)

1950 W Magnolia Palm Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USA

(407) 454-5084

Strong play

Disney's Magnolia / Palm

Designer: Joe Lee
Year: 1971
Par: 72
Yardage: Magnolia about 7,500 yards; Palm about 7,000 yards
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Disney public dynamic pricing; verify current renovation status and tee times.

Disney golf is competent, convenient, and not the reason to fly to Orlando. Use it when the group is already in the Disney orbit. Skip it when the trip is golf-first and the tee sheet has better options.

Strengths

Disney logistics
Public access
Familiar resort operation

Weaknesses

Not a serious architecture anchor
Can feel generic
Best only when Disney matters

Fine if Disney matters. Otherwise, choose OCN or Grand Cypress.

0/5

Signature holes: Magnolia 6, 14, 18; Palm 3, 9, 18

Image coming soon

Strong play

Mission Inn - El Campeon

Designer: George O'Neil
Year: 1917
Par: 72
Yardage: About 6,900 yards
Difficulty: Medium-high
Green fees: Resort/public pricing; verify current Mission Resort rates.

El Campeon is the sleeper for people who think Orlando has no old golf character. It has more elevation and more history than the market stereotype allows. The cost is the drive.

Strengths

Historic character
Rare Florida elevation
Different from resort-corridor golf

Weaknesses

45-minute-plus drive
Less convenient
Not ideal for large loose groups

Strong if the group values history. Skip if logistics are already strained.

0/5

Signature holes: 1, 7, 13, 17

Full course library

Where to stay, eat, and stray

Lodging

Where to stay

Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Stay here only if Bay Hill is the point. If Bay Hill is not secured, this is not the default Orlando base.

Orange County National Lodge

This is the efficient golf-camp answer. Not glamorous. Very useful.

Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

Omni works when the group wants everything in one system. That is often exactly what Orlando groups need.

Dining

Where groups actually eat

A Land Remembered

Useful if Shingle Creek is part of the trip. Do not cross Orlando just for it.

Traditions at Reunion

The right meal when you are already at Reunion.

David's Club Bar & Grill

Good buddies-trip fit when staying at Omni/ChampionsGate.

Things to do

Beyond the golf

Theme parks

Great for family/mixed trips. Terrible if the group pretends it can do 36 holes and a full park day. Pick one lane.

Topgolf / entertainment venues

Useful for arrival night or non-golfers, not a substitute for a planned dinner.

Pools / resort downtime

This matters in Orlando. A rental house or resort pool can carry the non-golf hours.

Planning mechanics

Logistics

Flights, driving, walking

Flights

Orlando International (MCO): best airport for almost every group. Orlando Sanford (SFB): useful for some carriers/routes, less central. Tampa (TPA): possible only if routing/pricing makes it worthwhile.

Ground transportation

Rent cars or arrange vans. Rideshare can work for evenings, but golf bags and spread-out courses make cars the practical answer.

Walking

This is a cart-first destination. Walking and caddies are not central. Do not sell Orlando like Bandon.

Weather

When the trip works best

Best window

November through April.

Spring

Strong weather, more demand.

Summer

Hot, humid, storm-prone, cheaper for a reason.

Planning ranges

Cost and value levers

Bay Hill

Premium access / Lodge-dependent - Verify direct; access is the first issue.

Orange County National

Dynamic public pricing - Usually the best quality/logistics/value anchor.

ChampionsGate / Reunion / Shingle Creek

Dynamic resort pricing - Pay for convenience and amenities.

Itinerary builder

Build your itinerary

The sample on the right is an illustrative Streamsong example.

It is meant to show the depth and shape of a real plan. Build your own around your group, dates, rounds, lodging, dining, and travel timing.

Build my itinerary

Illustrative sample output

Streamsong in 3 Days: 4 Rounds, Mixed Group

3 nights at Streamsong Lodge covering all 3 courses plus a repeat of whichever lands best with the group. With a mixed-skill group and a social thread running through the trip, the sequencing matters: start approachable, build toward bold, and protect evenings for the group to decompress together.

Recommendation

Start with Red to set the right tone for mixed players, not Black. Black's scale can deflate weaker players early and that poisons the rest of the trip.

Day 1

Morning: Arrive, check in to Streamsong Lodge, and get settled without rushing. Arrival timing is unknown, so do not force a same-day round.

Afternoon: If arriving early-to-midday, use the practice facilities to shake off travel; skip forcing an afternoon round on an unknown schedule.

Evening: Make this the nicer dinner night. Gather the group, debrief the plan, and use the evening to build energy for the heavy golf days ahead.

Insider note: Day 1 is the setup day, not a golf day. Burning a round here on travel legs is the most common mistake groups make at Streamsong.

Day 2

Morning: Tee off on Streamsong Red first thing. It is the most balanced course and the right anchor for a mixed-skill group on fresh legs.

Afternoon: Afternoon round on Streamsong Blue. It is more open and wind-affected, which rewards better players while staying manageable enough for the group.

Evening: Keep dinner casual and on property. Two rounds is a full day and the group needs to recover, not power through a production.

Insider note: Red in the morning lets the group settle in before Blue asks harder questions in the afternoon wind.

Day 3

Morning: Play Streamsong Black. Use it as the bold contrast round the guide describes, not as the centerpiece, and set expectations accordingly for higher-handicap players.

Afternoon: Replay the course that resonated most with the group. Red is the likely call for mixed groups, Blue for stronger players who want another look.

Evening: Final evening on property. Keep it relaxed since departure timing is unknown and no one should be grinding through dinner logistics.

Insider note: Black is the experience round, not the best round. Frame it that way for the group before the first tee so no one is quietly disappointed by the rougher edges.

Tradeoffs

Four rounds in two full golf days is aggressive but workable at a comfortable pace. The plan keeps Day 1 golf-free to protect legs and group cohesion rather than chasing a fifth round nobody would enjoy.

Black is scheduled for Day 3 morning rather than being skipped. It adds useful contrast and a memorable moment, but it was deliberately placed after the group already has two courses under its belt rather than as an opener.

The nicer dinner was placed on Day 1 rather than a golf day. This protects energy on the days that matter and gives the group something to build toward without splitting a long golf day around a formal meal.

Book first

Book all four tee times at Streamsong before lodging fills. The property manages its own tee sheet and availability tightens fast in peak season.

Confirm Streamsong Lodge rooms for all three nights in a single block. A small group of 3-4 makes this manageable, but winter weekends can still book out early.

Arrange caddies for at least Red and Blue if the group is open to walking. First-time looks benefit significantly from local knowledge on both courses.

Watchouts

Two rounds on Day 2 is the heaviest ask of the trip. If anyone in the mixed group is a high-handicapper or infrequent player, build in flexibility to skip the afternoon Blue round rather than grinding through it.

Streamsong is genuinely remote and there is no nightlife option off property. Groups expecting energy beyond the lodge bar will be disappointed, and that expectation gap kills trip morale faster than a bad round.

Black's scale and difficulty can frustrate less experienced players, especially after already playing 36 holes the day before. If the group's weakest player struggled on Day 2, consider swapping Black for a Red replay.

LodgingExpand

Orlando lodging is the whole strategy. The right base makes the trip easy. The wrong base turns every tee time into a traffic argument.

Private-club lodge

Bay Hill Club & Lodge

0/5

Best for: Bay Hill access and premium small groups

Cost: Dynamic lodge/package pricing; verify direct.

4.7(1,300)(407) 876-2429

9000 Bay Hill Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA

Monday: Open 24 hours

Stay here only if Bay Hill is the point. If Bay Hill is not secured, this is not the default Orlando base.

Pros

best path to Bay Hill access, intimate golf-club feel, Arnold Palmer identity

Cons

limited inventory, not ideal for big groups, less flexible than rental houses

Golf lodge

Orange County National Lodge

0/5

Best for: OCN-focused golf groups

Cost: Dynamic; verify direct.

4.4(2,074)(407) 656-2626

16301 Phil Ritson Way, Winter Garden, FL 34787, USA

Monday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM

This is the efficient golf-camp answer. Not glamorous. Very useful.

Pros

footsteps from Panther Lake, Crooked Cat, Tooth, and the practice facility

Cons

not luxury, limited nightlife, focused purely on golf

Full-service resort

Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate

0/5

Best for: large groups, resort amenities, ChampionsGate golf

Cost: Dynamic resort/package pricing.

4.5(8,510)(407) 390-6664

1500 Masters Blvd, Championsgate, FL 33896, USA

Monday: Open 24 hours

Omni works when the group wants everything in one system. That is often exactly what Orlando groups need.

Pros

36 holes, restaurants, pools, group infrastructure

Cons

can feel packaged, not the best pure golf in Orlando, location matters

Resort villas and vacation homes

Reunion Resort villas/homes

0/5

Best for: large buddy trips and family/golf hybrids

Cost: Dynamic villa/package pricing.

Reunion is the big-group house play with golf attached. Very practical, not necessarily elite.

Pros

space, three courses, water park, strong group setup

Cons

access/package details matter, more resort-residential than golf-core

Full-service hotel/resort

Rosen Shingle Creek

0/5

Best for: airport/convention corridor, polished convenience

Cost: Dynamic hotel/resort pricing.

4.6(14,277)(866) 996-6338

9939 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA

Shingle Creek is the polished convenience base. Use it when the map says yes.

Pros

near MCO/convention corridor, on-site golf and dining, easy for mixed/business groups

Cons

not a golf-only feel, can be busy, value depends on rate

Full-service golf resort

Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress

0/5

Best for: Grand Cypress New Course, Disney-area groups, and resort/golf balance

Cost: Dynamic resort pricing; golf packages and access should be checked direct.

4.6(6,734)(407) 239-1234

1 Grand Cypress Blvd, Orlando, FL 32836, USA

Grand Cypress is the best Orlando base when the group wants actual resort polish plus golf with a different design idea. It beats generic hotel sprawl.

Pros

Grand Cypress golf on site, strong resort amenities, good Disney-area location, serious non-golf appeal

Cons

not ideal for Bay Hill/OCN-heavy plans, rates spike in peak family periods

Group houses

Rental houses

0/5

Best for: 8+ players and budget control

Cost: Wide range by size, quality, and season.

Rental houses can be the best Orlando lodging option. They can also be a trap if someone picks the pool photo and ignores the drive map.

Pros

best group space, flexible evenings, good for large groups

Cons

quality varies, geography can be terrible, no single service layer

DiningExpand

Orlando has plenty of food. The challenge is not finding restaurants; it is not spending forty-five minutes getting to dinner after eighteen holes and two highway mistakes.

Steakhouse / resort dinner

A Land Remembered

0/5

Best for: Shingle Creek groups and polished dinner

4.6(765)(407) 996-3663

9939 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA

Monday: 5:30 – 10:00 PM

Useful if Shingle Creek is part of the trip. Do not cross Orlando just for it.

Pros

on-site at Rosen Shingle Creek, strong resort fit, easy premium dinner

Cons

only convenient if based nearby

Clubhouse / resort dining

Traditions at Reunion

0/5

Best for: Reunion-based groups

4.7(743)(407) 396-3150

7880 Nicklaus Clubhouse Ln, Kissimmee, FL 34747, USA

Monday: 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM

The right meal when you are already at Reunion.

Pros

convenient, golf-course views, works after a Reunion round

Cons

not worth a special drive

Sports bar / resort grill

David's Club Bar & Grill

0/5

Best for: ChampionsGate groups

4.3(450)(407) 238-6565

1500 Masters Blvd, Championsgate, FL 33896, USA

Monday: 4:00 – 11:00 PM

Good buddies-trip fit when staying at Omni/ChampionsGate.

Pros

easy group meal, sports-bar format, on-property

Cons

not destination dining

Off-property dining district

Restaurant Row / Dr. Phillips

0/5

Best for: Bay Hill or west-Orlando groups

This is the better off-property dinner zone if the group is west/central. Make reservations. Orlando improvisation is how people end up eating wings at 9:45.

Pros

more choice, better evening energy, practical for Bay Hill side

Cons

traffic and reservations matter

Dining / entertainment district

Disney Springs

0/5

Best for: mixed groups and non-golf companions

4.7(236,503)(407) 939-5277

1486 Buena Vista Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USA

Monday: 10:00 AM – 11:00 PM

It is not subtle, but it works for mixed groups. Know your audience.

Pros

broad options, easy entertainment, good for family/golf hybrids

Cons

crowded, touristy, not golf-trip cool

Gastropub / local dinner

The Ravenous Pig / Winter Park

0/5

Best for: Food-focused groups willing to leave the resort corridor

4.5(3,209)(407) 628-2333

565 W Fairbanks Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789, USA

Monday: Closed

The Ravenous Pig is the best proof that Orlando dinner does not have to mean hotel steakhouse or theme-park crowd management.

Pros

real Orlando-area credibility, better than tourist-zone dining, good drinks

Cons

Winter Park is a drive from Disney/ChampionsGate

Old-school local fine dining

Chatham's Place / Dr. Phillips

0/5

Best for: Bay Hill or west-Orlando groups

4.8(537)(407) 345-2992

7575 Dr Phillips Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA

Monday: Closed

Chatham's is the better quiet dinner after Bay Hill, especially if the group wants to be treated like adults rather than theme-park evacuees.

Pros

close to Bay Hill/Restaurant Row, intimate, strong service

Cons

not built for loud giant groups