The best golf courses in Orlando that a visitor can book, ranked
The best golf courses in Orlando a visitor can book, ranked: OCN, Magnolia, Southern Dunes, the Waldorf and more, with slopes, fees seen and the trade-offs.
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The best golf courses in Orlando that a visitor can book are Orange County National's two 18s, Disney's Magnolia, Southern Dunes, the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club and Shingle Creek, followed by ChampionsGate International, the Grand Cypress Links and the Ritz-Carlton course at Grande Lakes. Bay Hill, Reunion and Tranquilo need a room, so they sit in a separate list.
This is a ranked short list for a trip, not a ranking of every course. We weighed the course itself, how easy it is to book, conditions in the research and price. Fees were seen in November 2026 unless dated, and rates change by season.
Quick facts
- Our top pick: Orange County National in Winter Garden, two public 18s plus a lodge.
- Longest and hardest from the back: Disney's Magnolia, 7,505 yards, 76.6/142.
- Highest slope you can book: Waldorf Astoria, 74.5/145 from 7,104 yards.
- Best value: Providence in Davenport, $99 in November-December 2026.
- Guest-only: Bay Hill (Lodge guests), Reunion (resort and partner-rental guests), Tranquilo (Four Seasons guests).
- Peak season: January to April, with the highest fees.
The best golf courses in Orlando, ranked
| Rank | Course | Back tees (yds, rating/slope) | Fee seen | Drive from downtown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orange County National (Panther Lake, Crooked Cat) | not rated in our files | dynamic on TeeItUp | 32-33 min |
| 2 | Disney's Magnolia | 7,505 (76.6/142) | no dollar rate; seasonal discounts | 34 min |
| 3 | Southern Dunes | 7,200 (not rated here) | not published | 52 min |
| 4 | Waldorf Astoria Golf Club | 7,104 (74.5/145) | $74.99 hot deal, Aug 24, 2026 | 31 min |
| 5 | Shingle Creek | 7,213 (74.3/137) | dynamic, not published | 22 min |
| 6 | ChampionsGate International | not rated here | $140-189, Nov 5, 2026 (GolfLink) | 36 min |
| 7 | Grand Cypress Links | 6,773 (not rated here) | not published | 28 min |
| 8 | Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes | 7,122 (73.9/139) | public $299-375 (2025 guide) | 22 min |
| 9 | Providence | not rated here | $99 / $59 Nov-Dec 2026 | 47 min |
| 10 | Mystic Dunes | not rated here | not published | 36 min |
Drive times are free-flow estimates from downtown Orlando; I-4 traffic often adds 15 to 45 minutes.
1. Orange County National: the best public 36
Panther Lake and Crooked Cat are the reason golf groups base in Winter Garden. Panther Lake is the more traditional course, through pines and wetlands with up to 60 feet of elevation change, big contoured greens and the 10th, whose approach is the spot from the Tiger Woods "Frank" commercial. Crooked Cat is open and links-style, hosted LIV Golf Orlando in March 2023, and is wider but more exposed to wind.
The trade-off: rates are dynamic and the files hold none. The practice ground is huge and the on-site lodge sells stay-and-play. More in our Orange County National guide and the Panther Lake course guide.
2. Disney's Magnolia: the long championship test
Magnolia is a former PGA Tour course with water on 11 holes, and holes 14-17 were rebuilt as Grumpy's Gauntlet. From the Classic tees it is 76.6/142; from the White tees it drops to 72.3/133 at 6,574 yards. Booking is simple: 90 days ahead for everyone, cart included.
The trade-off: it closes December 1-18, 2026 for overseeding, and Disney publishes no dollar 18-hole rates. Read the Magnolia course guide and Disney World golf courses.
3. Southern Dunes: the serious test south of Disney
Steve Smyers built Southern Dunes in Haines City on sand hills with about 100 feet of elevation change and huge bunkers, unlike most Orlando golf. It is semi-private and sells public tee times online. The research calls it one of the best public tests near Orlando.
The trade-off: it is 52 minutes from downtown and 35-40 from Disney by the course's estimate, and no rates or ratings are in our files.
4. Waldorf Astoria Golf Club: the hardest near the parks
The Waldorf Astoria course is a 2009 Rees Jones design through Bonnet Creek wetlands and pines, and the most demanding course near Disney at 74.5/145 from the Black tees. Most groups belong on the White tees, 6,257 yards at 70.7/135. It is open to the public and next to the Waldorf Astoria Orlando.
5. Shingle Creek: the everyday resort favourite
Shingle Creek sits behind Rosen Shingle Creek near the Convention Center, with water on most holes and a 2016 renovation by Arnold Palmer Design. Reviewers praise conditioning but report slow rounds on busy days. Our Shingle Creek Golf Club guide has the tees.
6. ChampionsGate International: links-style Norman
Greg Norman's International at the Omni is treeless, with pot bunkers and wind, and the tougher of ChampionsGate's two. GolfLink showed 44 tee times for November 5, 2026 at $140.28-$188.66. See ChampionsGate golf.
7. Grand Cypress Links: something different
Jack Nicklaus's Links Course, opened in 1988, is his homage to the Old Course: double greens, pot bunkers and a burn. It is public, with non-guests booking 60 days ahead. Its sister, the Cypress Course, is the old Grand Cypress 27 holes rebuilt as one 18.
8. Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Grande Lakes: polish at a price
Greg Norman's 2003 Grande Lakes course has caddies and resort service, and hosts the PNC Championship (event week December 14-20, 2026). The research's verdict: good, not essential, and Shingle Creek is close by for less.
9 and 10. Providence and Mystic Dunes: the value picks
Providence, inside a gated Davenport community, was an Orlando Sentinel Central Florida Favorite in 2025 and 2026 and publishes clear prices: $99 before 2 pm in November-December 2026, $149 before noon in February-March 2027 and $35 after 4 pm in summer 2027. Gary Koch's Mystic Dunes has rolling, sandy ground and real elevation changes for central Florida, about 10 minutes from Animal Kingdom by the course's estimate.
The ones you need a room for
- Bay Hill: members and Lodge guests only. See how to play Bay Hill.
- Reunion Nicklaus, Palmer and Watson: members, Reunion Resort guests and partner vacation-home guests.
- Tranquilo: Tom Fazio's former Osprey Ridge, for Four Seasons Resort Orlando guests and members.
Worth a long drive: Streamsong
Off the map to the south, Streamsong Red (Coore & Crenshaw), Blue (Tom Doak) and Black (Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner) are top-tier. Day guests paid $445 from January 14 to April 30, 2027, and the courses are walking-only from December 24 to February 28. It is an overnight, not a park-day add-on.
Fitting the best golf courses in Orlando into one trip
The top of this list splits into two clusters. West and around Disney: Orange County National, the Grand Cypress pair, Magnolia and the Waldorf. South: ChampionsGate, Mystic Dunes, Providence and Southern Dunes along I-4 and US-27. Shingle Creek and Grande Lakes sit between them near International Drive.
A four-day trip that takes in the best golf courses in Orlando might be OCN's two courses on day one (stay at the lodge), Magnolia on day two, ChampionsGate International on day three and Shingle Creek on the last morning. Book Disney 90 days out and Grand Cypress 60 days out. Check overseed dates for a November or December trip: Palm was closed November 9-27, 2026 and Magnolia closes December 1-18. Our Orlando golf trip itinerary lays out a full version.
Plan it on the map
Open the Orlando golf map to compare the best golf courses in Orlando with their tees, fees and nearby hotels. The $49 plan can build a trip around the ones you can book, with rounds fitted around park days. For the full list, see Orlando golf courses; for another Florida shortlist, see the best golf courses in Naples.
Courses in this guide
Questions golfers ask
What are the best golf courses in Orlando for visitors?
Our short list starts with Orange County National's two 18s, Disney's Magnolia, Southern Dunes and the Waldorf Astoria Golf Club. Shingle Creek, ChampionsGate International, the Grand Cypress Links and the Ritz-Carlton course at Grande Lakes follow. All of them sell tee times to the public.
Is Bay Hill one of the best courses I can play in Orlando?
Only if you stay at the Lodge. Bay Hill's golf page says its courses are available exclusively to members and to guests staying at the Lodge. It hosts the Arnold Palmer Invitational, with tournament week March 15-21, 2027, when the course is closed to guest play.
Which top Orlando course is closest to Disney?
The Waldorf Astoria Golf Club in Bonnet Creek is inside the Disney boundary, roughly 10 minutes from EPCOT and Disney Springs by the course's own estimate. Disney's Magnolia is about 10 minutes from Magic Kingdom. Both are public.
What is the best value among the good Orlando courses?
Providence in Davenport publishes $99 before 2 pm and $59 after for November-December 2026, rising to $149 before noon from February 1 to March 31, 2027. Stoneybrook West rates 74.8/135 from 7,101 yards and posted $49 with cart on August 2026 mornings.
Are the best Orlando courses expensive in winter?
Yes. January to April is peak. The Ritz-Carlton course at Grande Lakes showed $299-375 for the public in a 2025 guide, and ChampionsGate International showed $140-189 on GolfLink for November 5, 2026, before peak rates. Disney publishes seasonal discounts but no dollar 18-hole rates.
Is Streamsong worth the drive from Orlando?
It is roughly two hours each way by the map's estimate, so treat it as an overnight. Day guests paid $425 from October 1 to December 14, 2026 and $445 from January 14 to April 30, 2027, with resort guests $50 less. Non-guests book up to 30 days ahead.
Which top Orlando course suits a mixed-ability group?
Crooked Cat at Orange County National is wider than Panther Lake, and Disney's Palm is shorter than Magnolia at 6,840 yards. Shingle Creek's Gold tees play 6,600 yards at 71.4/130, a sensible middle tee for most groups.
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