If you go to Orlando to play golf and money is no object there are hundreds of courses to choose from.

The best courses, however, such as the Disney courses, Champions gate, Reunion and the like, will cost you top dollar – especially in the height of the golfing season.

The high season as far as golf is concerned is January until April, when the weather is at its most conducive as far as playing the game is concerned. The next most popular (and expensive) season is October until December.

In the summer months, the heat and humidity conspire to keep most people (perhaps with the exception of mad Dogs and Englishmen!) off the golf courses. Consequently, rates are slashed in the summer.

If you are in Orlando in the summer and have to play golf, it is recommended that you play very early in the morning, or in the evening. Most golf clubs have special “Twilight rates”. These rates allow you to pay less for your round but you will run the risk that in some circumstances you may not be able to finish the full 18 holes.

In the peak season (January to April) prices for the top golf courses are around the $120 mark (Like all other prices, this does of course include the use of an electric golf cart). Clubs can be hired from between $20 - $30.   Other courses in the area will cost between $60 to $80.

In the peak season too, of course, there are saving to be made if you play very early or late. Prices come down at 1pm on many courses, and down further for 3pm tee-offs.

This February (2009) we played Ridgewood lakes early in the morning (7.15am and it was chilly to begin with!) for $45. We played Kissimmee Golf Club after 1pm for $40 and after 3pm for $25.

We also played the new course at Providence after 3pm for $30, where we shared a couple of holes with alligators! We played Sanctuary Ridge in Clermont at 10 am (full rate) for $58. A little further afield in Mount Dora (a town well worth a visit about an hour north of the Davenport/Kissimmee area) we played the Mount Dora Golf Club at mid-day for only $28. –Yes, there are certainly financial benefits in playing well away from the main tourist areas.

The courses all vary tremendously and while I would not dare to presume to recommend any particular course, I would just say that we enjoyed them all – and naturally some more than others.

Andy Brownlie

But there is an alternative. In the UK it is often called ‘crazy golf’, but this doesn’t do justice to the standard of miniature golf courses in Central Florida. There are many, often situated alongside the major roads such as International Drive, or the 192. And, of course, Disney don’t miss out, with several excellent courses of their own. So, why play miniature golf? Most of the courses are floodlit, so they can be played well into the evening, when for most of the year temperatures are ideal for a little gentle exercise. For many, the opportunity to play away from the heat of the daytime sunshine is a real plus.

The courses are themed - Disney, of course, are masters of this, but don’t discount the other courses (talking of ‘discount’, don’t forget to look out for money-off coupons in many of the free tourist magazines). Many people’s idea of miniature golf is ‘hitting a ball through a windmill’ - but that wouldn’t be good enough for Florida! The attention to detail is unbelievable.

And miniature golf is for the whole family. The youngsters can compete with the adults - and maybe even beat them. A game of miniature golf doesn’t take too long - it can fit in with the rest of the day’s activities (perhaps after the evening meal).

Where to play?
New courses are springing up regularly. Disney has 2 miniature golf courses, each with 2 separate 18 hole courses. Once in Walt Disney World, just follow the signs for ‘Fantasia Gardens’ or ‘Winter-Summerland’. Fantasia Gardens is just off Buena Vista Drive, whilst Winter-Summerland is close to the entrance of Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park. Along the 192 there is River Adventure Golf, with a Mississippi theme, Pirate’s Island and Congo River. International Drive offers another Congo River course, Tiki Island golf, Hawaiian Rumble…. This only scratches the surface - but many visitors agree that a game of miniature golf is a great attraction for all the family.

You normally have the choice of two fun-filled 18-hole adventures, some of which are on different levels.  We normally end up doing both.   The one we recently went to, Jungle Golf, lets you buy an “All Day Pass” so you can return as many times are you like during that day.  During the very hot days, it is probably better to play during the evenings.

Most of the courses can be found along the 192 in Kissimmee and International Drive, but you can also find a few in Disney, namely Fantasia Golf and Winter Summerland, next to Blizzard Beach.  These are slightly more expensive than the others, but still great fun.  You can also prebook these ones as they are generally more busy.  When we visited these on our last visit we purchased our tickets for Fantasia, and received a discount voucher to play one of the other Disney miniature golf courses the following day. 

Before buying your tickets, check out the discount books for the various discount vouchers available.  Its worth looking as you save a few dollars per person. 

For most visitors, there’s nothing quite like this back home, and I think a visit to at least one miniature golf attraction should be included in every Orlando vacation.

Some Miniature Golf courses to visit:

Hawaian Rumble (www.hawaiianrumbleorlando.com )

Jungle Golf

Congo River (www.congoriver.com )

Pirates Cover (www.piratescove.net)

Have Fun!

And, of course, the shopping!

But there are many more reasons why Central Florida has to be the world’s number one vacation destination.  Here are a few suggestions for golfers, who will find some great courses to test their skills.

Where To Play

There is a huge number of courses - with new ones being planned to add to the variety.  Some of these are for members only, but that still leaves many courses open for public use.

Where To Stay

It is probably true to say that whichever vacation home you choose, you will be close to a golf course.  Check with the owner of your home to see where the nearest course is.

Walt Disney World

Disney has 5 championship courses, including Magnolia, which has hosted the final stages of the PGA Funai Classic.  In addition to the 5 full courses, a sixth option is the 9 hole course at Oak Trail.

Celebration

If 5 courses at Disney is not sufficient, just alongside Walt Disney World is the course at Celebration, designed by the father and son team of Robert Trent Jones senior and junior.  Fabulous surroundings, just minutes from the major attractions.

Mystic Dunes

Barely a mistimed hook away from Disney is Mystic Dunes, adjacent to the popular vacation homes at Indian Ridge and Indian Ridge Oaks.  Created by Gary Koch and rated 4 star by Golf Digest, this course claims to ‘create alternate feelings of elation to frustration, calm and turmoil, and joy with the occasional bouts of fear’.  For those of us who see the par 71 as the impossible dream, the feelings of elation may be limited, but not the enjoyment.

Champions Gate

Champions Gate (created by Greg Norman) boasts 36 holes - and a location convenient for all the other attractions, so its easy for part of the family to spend a day in the attractions whilst the golfer enjoys a relaxing day’s golf (but don’t miss out completely on the fabulous theme parks)

Miniature Golf

As an alternative, and to involve the whole family, there are many miniature golf courses with incredible theming - popular courses can be found alongside the 192 highway, International Drive and the I-4 Interstate.  Whilst slightly less challenging than the full size courses, they are an opportunity for the youngsters to take on (and perhaps beat) the adults!

Recommendation

Whatever your standard, there will be a golf course suitable for you.  Why not take your clubs on vacation - or perhaps hire a set?

The first things to catch your eye when you arrive are the (not too scary) baby alligators! They are in a safely fenced off section of the river, but are easy to see and you can buy small amounts of food to drop in for them. There are also koi fish in one section of the river and food for them is available too.

At the ticket booth you are given your score card, pencil, golf club and your own choice of coloured ball (which makes things much easier when there is a group of you playing). This also has advantages when trying to spot which one is your ball at the bottom of the river or water hazards!! As well as playing golf there is a sort of Treasure Hunt for you to complete as you go round the course. You are given a list of artefacts to spot and must write down the number of the hole you were on when you saw them. If you get all the answers correct there is a small prize at the end.

The lay out is amazingly imaginative and exciting as well as challenging, with two eighteen hole ‘courses’ which run alongside each other. You can opt to play both courses, or just one of them. The theme is exploration and the courses are named after the famous African explorers Dr Livingstone (the harder course) and Henry Stanley (the easier one). There are waterfalls crashing into pools, hills, paddle boats, mine shafts, mysterious caves, rocks and streams all set amongst lush tropical vegetation and beautifully manicured ‘greens’. The eighteen holes on each course are varied; some are fairly straightforward with a simple bend, some have just a few rocks to get round, some have bumps, dips and tunnels to negotiate, and there are others which have all of these and are uphill! As you make your way around the two courses, you will discover spears, dug-out canoes, masks, mud huts and totem poles. With the accompaniment of piped calypso music, the overall ambience and atmosphere is terrific.

When you have completed the golf you can cool off with a drink and then test your skills further by challenging the family to a high-tech competition in the electronic games arcade.

There are two Congo River Adventure Golf locations – International Drive and Hwy 192.

Southern Dunes is beautifully maintained and a pleasure to look at. Golf buggies are compulsary and are included in the Green fees. There are five sets of tees to suit all levels of golfers. There is a luxurious Clubhouse with a bar and restaurant, which serves breakfasts and lunches at very reasonable prices. The Sunday breakfast especially is renowned. Why not finish your game of golf in the Clubhouse and enjoy a drink and a meal or a snack? The Clubhouse and golf course are open to members of the public. There is a Pro Shop, offering a variety of name brand mens and ladies golf clothing, equipment and accessories. The Pro Shop also offers custom fitting and club repairs, as well as lessons with PGA Professional Staff. There are also numerous other “Pay and Play” golf courses within a short driving distance. Community facilities include 3 communal swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness centre, games room, library, childrens play area, and also a fishing lake.

Southern Dunes has a very important advantage over other developments in the Orlando area, in that there are all the essential facilities for your vacation within walking distance. At the entrance you will find a 24 hour Walmart Hypermarket, several restaurants, shops and take-aways, banks, petrol station, Dollar stores, and a 24 hour Pharmacist. Some restaurants offer a home delivery service. Southern Dunes is also very conveniently situated for the ideal vacation as it is only approximately 15 - 20 minutes to Disney World, 40 minutes to Orlando International Airport, approximately an hour to the beautiful beaches at St. Petersburg, and an hour and a half to Kennedy Space Centre. Busch Gardens at Tampa is approximately one hour away, whilst Cypress gardens is only approximately thirty minutes. Further on Highway 27 is the Eagle Ridge Shopping Mall, with the usual well known names. 

Champion Gate Golf Course

David Leadbetter’s World Teaching Headquarters

David Leadbetter is internationally recognized as the world’s best golf instructor. His “holistic” approach to teaching and innovative teaching methods is what has set David and his elite staff of instructors apart from all others. As a guest at ChampionsGate Golf Resort we can customize a golf clinic that will meet the needs of you and your guests.

The David Leadbetter Golf Academy at ChampionsGate caters to the individual and corporate learning experiences of a lifetime, at the personal teaching head quarters for David Leadbetter himself. It’s the dream academy for those serious about improving their game.

ChampionsGate Golf Resort, a nationally acclaimed golf facility for world-class golf, offers 36 holes designed by International Golf Champion Greg Norman and is the World Headquarters of David Leadbetter Golf Academy. 

ChampionsGate is home to both the National and International Courses.  Greg Norman designed the 36 holes of golf featured at ChampionsGate to offer golfers a blend of tradition and modern  elements and to create a unique golf experience.  Whether you choose to  play the International,  with its authentic  links style golf reminiscent of the great courses of the British Isles, or the National with its traditional American style, you will experience a challenging round of golf.

As a guest at ChampionsGate, you will experience superior service.

Located just 10 minutes from Disney World Resorts and 15 minutes from the Universal Hotel Resorts, our courses are in tournament-playing conditions year-round. Known for our first-class amenities including valet parking, iced towel service and our digital GPS Caddy System. Prolink, the #1 GPS system acts as a professional caddie that gives you the opportunity to improve your skills, experience PGA-type scoring and enhance your overall play.

The Courses

National Course: The National Course at ChampionsGate is a classic layout of America’s finest destinations.  A pleasure to play, the ChampionsGate National Course is a cut above the rest with its majestic greens and long ranges.

International Course: The International offers a golf experience unlike any other in the Orlando area, but one that will be familiar to those who have played the links courses of Scotland and Ireland.

Many PGA Tour players including Tiger Woods and Ernie Els alongside legends Arnold Palmer and Gary Player make Orlando their home. Why? Within an hour’s drive of Orlando are more than 150 superb golf courses designed by the best players, Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman and Johnny Miller to name but a few. Designers like Robert Trent Jones, Tom Fazio, Ron Garl and David Harman have added to the plethora of challenging and spectacular courses on offer right on your doorstep.

Prices vary from as little as £12 per round without a cart in low season to £90 per round with a cart in high season. With an average annual temperature of 72 degrees seasonal weather doesn’t vary nearly as much as in Britain.

If you just want a bit of fun then fun you will have. If you want to improve your game, Orlando is home to six golf instruction academies including the renowned David Leadbetter Golf Academy where he personally teaches. Tuition courses vary from three hours to three days.

Mystic Dunes Golf Club is an 18 hole championship course offering an unprecedented golf experience, a dunes-style western nine similar to a British links course and an eastern nine of low American classic wandering through wetlands and oak forests. This course was rated 4 star and ranked number 2 in “Orlando’s Top 5 Golf Courses”.

Champions Gate International and National 18 hole courses were both designed by Greg Norman. The International provides a British links-style experience and the national is traditional American style. It’s next to here you will also find the David Leadbetter Golf Celebration Golf Club is rated 4.5 stars and in the top 3 in central Florida for service and in the top two for course conditions in Golf Digests “Best Places to Play”. This championship-calibre course invited competition for many skills level and golfers of all ages and abilities can improve in an environment especially designed to facilitate learning.

Possibly Kissimmee Golf Club offers the best value for money for the not so serious golfers. This course has long been a favourite of locals and visitors alike and prices are wallet friendly.         
 
  Golf Club                         Location                   Telephone  
         
  Bobby Nichols’ Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-933-4055  
  Buena Ventura Lakes Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-348-4915   
  Celebration Golf Club  -  Celebration  -  407-566-4653  
  Championsgate Golf Resort  -  ChampionsGate  -  407 566 GOLF  
  Conway Golf & Recreation Centre  -  Orlando  -  407-859-8565  
  Crystal Brook Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-847-8721  
  Cypress Creek Country Club  -  Orlando  -  407-351-2187  
  DeBary Golf & Country Club  -  DeBary  -  407-668-2061  
  Diamondback Golf Club  -  Haines City  -  800-222-5629  
  Diamond Players Club  -  Clermont  -  407 862 5116  
  Eagle Pines Golf Course  -  Walt Disney World Resort  -  407-939-4653   
  Eastwood Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-281-4653  
  Falcon’s Fire Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-239-5445  
  Faldo Golf Institute  -  Orlando  -  407-238-7677  
  Forest Lake Golf Club  -  Ocoee  -  407-654-4653  
  Grand Cypress Resort  -  Orlando  -  407-239-4700  
  Golden Bear Club  -  Windermere  -  407-876-5775   
  Greens Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-351-5121  
  Greenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort  -  Haines City  -  800-237-9549   
  Hawks Landing Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-238-8660  
  Hunter’s Creek Golf Course  -  Orlando  -  407-240-4653  
  International Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-239-6909   
  Kissimmee Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-847-2816  
  Kissimmee Bay Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-348-4653  
  Kissimmee Oaks Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-933-4055  
  Lake Buena Vista Golf Course  -  Walt Disney World Resort  -  407-939-4653  
  Magnolia Golf Course  -  Walt Disney World Resort   -  407-939-4653   
  Meadow Woods Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-850-5600   
  Metrowest Country Club  -  Orlando  -  407-299-1099  
  Mystic Dunes Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-787-5678  
  Oak Trail Golf Course  -  Walt Disney World Resort  -  407-939-4653  
  Orange Lake Country Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-239-1050  
  Orange County Golf Centre  -  Winter Garden  -  407-656-2626  
  Orange Tree Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-351-2521   
  Osprey Ridge Golf Course  -  Walt Disney World Resort  -  407-939-4653  
  Palm Golf Course  -  Walt Disney World Resort  -  407-939-4653   
  Poinciana Golf & Racquet Resort  -  Kissimmee  -  407-933-5300   
  Remington Golf Club  -  Kissimmee  -  407-344-4004  
  Rock Springs Ridge Golf Club  -  Apopka  -  407-814-7474  
  Rosemont Golf & Country Club  -  Orlando  -  407-298-1230  
  Southern Dunes  -  Haines City  -  407-422-0070  
  Stoneybrook Golf Club  -  Orlando  -  407-384-6888   
  Ventura Country Club Community  -  Orlando  -  407-277-2640   
  Wedgefield Golf & Country Club  -  Orlando  -  407-568-2116  
  Walt Disney World Resort Golf  -  Walt Disney World Resort  -  407-939-1600  
  West Orange Country Club  -  Winter Garden  -  407-656-4882   
  Windermere Country Club  -  Windermere  -  407-876-4410  
  Windermere Golf Centre  -  Windermere  -  407-654-0200  
  Winter Pines Golf Club  -  Winter Park  -  407-671-3172  
  Zellwood Station & Country Club  -  Zellwood  -  407-886-3303