The 12 Best Golf Courses in Orlando

Are you looking for the best places to play golf? Orlando has some of the best golf courses in the U.S.  If you are local to Orlando or are visiting on vacation, you are in luck when it comes to the best golf courses in Orlando. What better to enjoy the Florida sun than to be out on the green!

Whether you are a beginner requiring lessons or you want to improve your handicap, there are options for everyone when it comes to hitting the course. There is a reason why so many professional golfers reside in Florida!

If you want to know more, then we have the 12 best golf courses in Orlando to help you get on the green to practice your swing in no time.

1. Dubsdread Golf Course

Dubsdread Golf Course is regularly voted as one of the best courses in Orlando for all players. Boasting immaculate greens and challenging courses set against a stunning view, there is something for everyone at Dubsdread Golf Course, Orlando.

Located just minutes from downtown Orlando in College Park, Dubsdread is one of the oldest public freeways in the U.S. and is still a popular choice for golfers of all abilities today. Dubsdread Golf course is accessible for people with disabilities and has a range of onsite amenities, including a restaurant and golf shop in the clubhouse. While the best prices and items are reserved for members, non-members can book directly on the website to secure their visit.

Dubsdread has a learning center, women’s golf league, adult programs, junior leagues, and private tuition. You can also book outings and join tournaments too.

2. Shingle Creek Golf Club

Shingle Creek Golf Club is an all-year-round public golf course built in 2003 and recently redesigned in 2016. Featuring Bermuda grass on both the greens and the fairways, Shingle Creek Golf Club is regularly rated as one of the best golf courses in Orlando.

With undulating greens featuring bunkers and water features, this course has something for everyone from beginners through to experienced players. If you’re new to golfing before teeing off, you can practice at the driving range, take a lesson or two at the onsite golf academy or take a tip from a golfing pro.

You can find Shingle Creek Golf Club located just one mile from the Orange County Convention center, and you can visit for the day, weekend, or longer at this popular golfing resort.

Aside from the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel, you can dine from the Clubhouse Grill menu or the Par-take Cafe menu.

3. Ventura Country Club 

The Ventura Country Club is billed as Orlando’s best-kept secret on the golfing tournament. Located on the east side of Orlando, this semi-private golf course welcomes members and visitors to its well-maintained greens and fairways. An elevated tee-box requiring you to hit over water and 175 yards past dense trees is a signature hole on par-five 13th. A champion, Bermuda grass, was introduced to the system in 2012.

There are three different tee locations meaning players of all levels can enjoy this challenging course and put their skills to the test. There are over 50 sand traps, and the course has some stunning scenery for you to enjoy as you play.

The 19th Hole restaurant and bar is open to all residents of Ventura Country and players alike.

4. MetroWest Golf Club

A “must-play” for all experienced golfers, the MetroWest Golf Club is located a mere 10 minutes away from the Universal Studios Orlando. The artfully sculptured design of the course features elevation changes uncommon in this area. So if you want to try your hand at some new challenges, then MetroWest Golf Club should feature on your list of the best golf clubs in Orlando.

There are hundreds of trees, well-placed sand bunkers, and a few water hazards on the par-72 course, protecting the property’s lush fairways and manicured greens.

This public course, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1987, has a 25-year history of success. In addition to hosting several public events, the course is a popular destination for golfers of all ability levels from across the world.

Amenities include the Westerly Restaurant and the Sundance Tavern. You can also take in lessons for any age on the grounds that are designed to offer privacy in the state-of-the-art facilities, which include putting and chipping greens with experienced golf trainers.

5. Falcons Fire Golf Club

After undergoing some recent repairs and improving course conditions, Falcons Fire Golf Club has been named the Best Public Golf Course in Orlando for 2019. This year, Falcon’s Fire was just nudged out of first place by Orange County National, but it easily maintains its position as one of Orlando’s top five golf courses. 

Falcon’s Fire Golf Club, created by Rees Jones, boasts 6,901 yards of classic architecture, an immaculately kept course, and excellent year-round playing conditions on its championship course. With its classic golf course design, distinctive topography, and year-round tournament playing conditions, Falcons Fire Golf Club is widely considered to be one of the best golf courses in the Orlando area.

Falcons Fire Golf Club, located just minutes from Walt Disney World Resort in the heart of the Orlando tourist zone, provides excellent golf in a convenient location. The immaculate fairways are bordered by white sand bunkers, grass mounds, and natural water hazards, which create an aesthetically pleasing and beautiful backdrop. 

This exceptionally designed course boasts challenges for the most experienced players yet is playable for the more novice golfers and features many amenities, including club and golf cart rentals, a practice bunker, a teaching pro, and a chipping area. And when you’re finished on the course, you can relax at the full bar or grab a bite to eat at The Grill.

6. The Country Club of Orlando

The Country Club of Orlando boasts an outstanding course. The 18-hole Donald Ross-designed course is gorgeous to look at and play on, and the newly redesigned aspects include a driving range and chipping and putting greens. The knowledgeable staff is on hand to share their enthusiasm for the game with all players and assist when required.

With 6686 yards of length from the longest tees and a slope rating of 127, the Country Club of Orlando is rated 72.2 by the United States Golf Association. The course has four separate sets of tees to accommodate golfers of varying abilities. Bentgrass is used on the greens, and Bermuda grass is used on the fairways.

This private golf course has been attracting players from all over the country for many years, and patrons of the club can enjoy a variety of amenities at the resort dedicated to providing a genuinely exceptional experience.

7. Lake Nona Golf and Country Club

Its 18-hole championship golf course in Lake Nona, with its quiet, woodland canopy on the front nine and breathtaking lake views on the back nine, symbolizes the essence of the world’s greatest game. The challenging course, designed by renowned golf architect Tom Fazio, is a favorite of several professional golfers and world-class athletes that made Lake Nona their home base.

Over the years, Lake Nona Golf and Country Club have played host to many prestigious golf tournaments, including; Tavistock Cup: 2004, 2007, 2009, 2012, USGA Senior Amateur Championship: 2010, and the inaugural Solheim Cup in 1990.

A private golf course, members can enjoy the undulating course in all its glory. The longest tees at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club measure 7215 yards, with a slope rating of 140 and a USGA rating of 75.8. There are six sets of tees, each with a distinct ability level. Bermuda grass is used on the greens and fairways.

8. Celebration Golf Club

The course, which first opened its doors in 1996, is surrounded by a protective fence of native trees and natural wetlands, and it is peppered with clusters of native oaks, pine, and magnolia trees – a pure, picturesque wonder. Celebration Golf Club is widely regarded as one of Orlando’s best golf courses because of its immaculate playing conditions, outstanding guest service, and beautiful natural surroundings.

Celebration Golf Club is a challenging course that requires excellent approach shots and steady putting. The public course, which includes strategic hazards and tricky greens, as well as five sets of tees on each hole, welcomes players of all skill levels to compete on its fairways. The magnificent Orlando golf course, created with shot-making in mind, features 18 engaging holes that provide many varieties throughout. It is a must-play for any Central Florida golfer since it has eighteen different holes with Champion Dwarf Bermuda greens that offer a great deal of variety and wildlife throughout.

9. Walt Disney World Resort Golf

The Disney World Resort Golf Experiences combines four very different and unique courses for day-trippers and residents of Orlando alike.

Play on the Disney’s Palm Golf Course, Disney’s Magnolia Golf Course, Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course, and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course. Each course has “villains,” which are unique challenges for the four courses. 

• Palm: This course, designed by Joe Lee, has a par of 72 and is rated as such. Golf Digest magazine has given it a rating of 4 stars, which is the highest possible. The villain on this course is water.
• Magnolia: A par 72 course, Magnolia was also designed by Joe Lee and is recognized as a 4-star course by Golf Digest, which is the highest rating available. The number one villain on the system is sand, responsible for 14 bunkers on Hole 4.
• Lake Buena Vista: Another course created by Joe Lee, this par 72 course has received a 4-star rating from Golf Digest. Narrow fairways are the villain on the Lake Buena Vista course.
• Oak Trail: Designed by Ron Garl, this par 36 course is ideal for juniors and beginners, free of villains.

You can choose to play 9 or 8 holes, and all you need to do is walk up to one of the two clubhouses to take advantage of on-the-day prices for your game.

10. Southern Dunes Golf Club

The championship course at Southern Dunes Golf Club, located just west of Orlando, measures 7,227 yards. The golf course, built by Steve Smyers, offers rolling fairways that carve through extensive sandy scrub sections, creating a “Dunes” atmosphere with its setting. Golfers will be held accountable for accurate approach shots on the huge greens, which are artistically ringed by clever bunkering. Southern Dunes Golf Club was named one of the top ten golf courses in Orlando in 2015 by Golf Digest.

In contrast to the majority of Florida golf courses, Southern Dunes has elevation fluctuations of up to 100 feet. Five sets of tees welcome players of all skill levels to take advantage of the risk/reward chances presented by significant mounding and 180 strategically positioned bunkers around the course.

The Southern Dunes Golf Club continues to be popular, and its many accolades suggest that players are enjoying what is on offer time and time again. A public golf course for both vacationers and residents of Orlando, you can’t go wrong when setting foot on this 72 par 18-hole course.

The resort also hosts many events, has an extensive events calendar, and an onsite shop and restaurant for your convenience.

11. Grand Cypress Golf Club

Regularly featured in the top 10 best golf courses in Orlando, the Grand Cypress Golf Club features 36 holes designed by Jack Nicklaus. The course is traditionally designed yet still offers challenges and stimuli for players designed to test accuracy over strength and power. Featuring The Links Course and The Florida Course, you can play two different golf games.

The Florida Course is meticulously maintained and is expected to be open to the public in 2022, while The Links Course is set to remain a private course at the club. The Links Course is an homage to the St Andrews course in Nicklaus’ native Scotland and features all the challenges you would expect from a course of this grandeur. With double greens, 12 ft deep pot bunkers, stone bridges, and more, this challenging course is designed to test your skill and attention to detail thoroughly.

At the Grand Cypress Golf Club resort, you can benefit from working with a teaching pro, attending the Grand Cypress Academy of Golf, trying out the driving range, and putting green too. The resort also has a bar and restaurant for you to frequent onsite.

12. Ritz-Carlton Golf Club

You may recognize the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club as the annual host of the PNC Championship each year. If you are after the ultimate luxury golf course that challenges you, there is no better course than the one at the Ritz-Carlton. When you think of luxury, you know this comes with a hefty price tag, but if this is something you are happy to pay for, then this course is for you.

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando is one of the most challenging courses in the city. In the heart of the Florida Everglades’ Headwaters, the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club is surrounded by majestic pines, palmettos, and live oaks. You won’t find a more luxurious golf resort in Orlando than this one. Designed by two-time British Open Champion Greg Norman, the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club boasts an array of elements that make it both challenging and fair. Players must use their brains to navigate the course’s numerous water hazards, well-placed bunkers, and demanding greens complexes, which are always immaculately tended.

As you would expect, the service and amenities are second to none at The Ritz-Carlton, and you can be sure that your every need is tended to on and off the course.

Bonus: More of Orlando’s Best Golf

Are you looking for more top golf options in Orlando? There is no denying that Orlando has some of the best golf courses in the US, maybe even the world. Still, if the courses mentioned above aren’t enough to satisfy your appetite, then you can try your hand at some of the following public and private courses.

• Championship at Bay Hill Club and Lodge – Resort/Private golf club
• Eagle Creek Golf Club – Public
• Fairways Country Club – Semi-Private
• Hawks Landing Golf Club – Resort
• North Shore Golf Club – Semi-Private
• Shingle Creek Golf Club – Public/Resor
• Stoneybrook East Golf Club – Public
• Waldorf Astoria Golf Club – Public/Resort

Make Orlando Home to Enjoy Golf Year-Round

Orlando is one of the most beautiful parts of the world. There are, on average, 233 sunny days per year, which is one reason why it is a popular retirement location for many people. The abundance of golf courses is also another attractive option for many retirees and golfing enthusiasts. With easy access from many great Orlando neighborhoods and freeways, you aren’t far from one of the 25 golf courses in Orlando, and that isn’t enough. There are another 34 clubs within 20 miles of Orlando.

If you want to find out more about how you can relocate to Orlando so you can take advantage of the best golf courses in Orlando, then contact us for your home guide today, and we can answer all of your questions.