Orlando
Fabulous Golfing in SW Orlando
By Mary Luster

World-class Orlando, Florida golf courses offer warm, sunny weather, tropical landscapes, relaxing estate homes, and full-scale hospitality.  Home of a cornucopia of family attractions, Orlando takes great pride in its quality courses designed by Norman, Lee, Dye, Palmer, Garl, Fazio, Watson, Nicklaus, Jones, Harman, and so many of golf architecture’s greats.  That is why professionals and other enthusiastic players travel from around the world to hit the links here in Orlando and play shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow lovers of the sport. 

The avid golfer could find a new course every weekend of the year, strolling past southwest Orlando’s luxurious golf course homes.  Starting with Disney’s Gold Medal golf courses at Eagle Pines, Lake Buena Vista, Magnolia, Osprey Ridge, or Palm Golf Courses, ask about a Disney golf villa or condo, or an investment property near Disney.  Main Street Realtors can also assist you with property management in Orlando. 

Consistently awarded by golf’s best are the Bay Hill Club and Lodge with its Championship Course midst Bay Hill real estate, along with Grande Pines, Cypress Creek Country Club and Ventura Country Club. 

We also must suggest ChampionsGate, Hunters Creek, Metro West, and Mystic Dunes.  ChampionsGate Golf Club offers golfers of all levels two distinct golf courses.  The International is an authentic links-style course reminiscent of the British Isles courses. The National is a traditional American-style course with a variety of shot-making challenges.  Hunter’s Creek Golf Course has a rating of 76.1 from the back tees that can challenge even the best golfers. The semiprivate-course golf pro recommends trying a 9-iron for chipping around the green, rather than a sand wedge, to allow the ball to roll out!

Voted second only to Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club as the best golf course in East Central Florida by Florida Golf Magazine readers, the MetroWest course, a Jones Sr. masterpiece, is a best golf experience from beginning to end and offers a summer junior golf camp.  With large, undulating greens and elevation changes that require an emphasis on playing the contours, Mystic Dunes Golf Club offers a unique, four-star experience, a full driving range, and chipping and putting areas open to the public at the Wyndham Palms Resort and Country Club

If you are on a tight budget, try Ridgewood Lakes, Victoria Hills, North Shore, King’s Ridge, Kissimmee, Diamondback, Forest Lake, Highlands, Kissimmee Oaks, the Mission Inn courses, and Remington Golf Clubs.  Or try Orange Lake Resort’s Legends Walk Course.

Crooked Cat and Orange County National at Panther Lake won accolades from Golf Digest, especially for Conditioning and Pace of Play.  On that note, there are also some local golf-fitness assessments that use videography and swing-analysis software to analyze the biomechanical components of a golfer’s swing.  It also identifies body control and motion restrictions that could limit your game or cause eventual injury.  The good news is that the swing and game can improve with golf-specific exercises that work to lower the golf-fitness handicap. 

So, this is a golfer’s paradise offering a wealth of opportunities and a healthy camaraderie.  And it is easily accessible from three international airports.  Just hop onto a flight and show up with your "A" game and we’ll help you find a way to stay!