There is an incredibly rich golfing history in Orlando, which is home to over 150 courses in and around the city, as well as the golf industry’s world-leading event, the PGA Merchandise Show.

With courses to suit all budgets and handicaps – from novice to world class, as well as many courses close to your villa this is the perfect opportunity to live your golfing dream. You can even book a home on Highlands Reserve, near to the famous 18-hole course which many of the villas back onto! If you just want to dip a toe into the golfing world, there are a range of mini-golf courses where the whole family can have a competitive game together too!

For those who are more serious about their game, with so many famous golfers living and playing in the area, this is the perfect time to follow in the footsteps of your heroes and check out where the experts play; don’t forget to visit the 19th hole afterwards for a well-earned drink in the clubhouse!

Shingle Creek Golf Course

Named after the waterway at the northernmost headwaters of the Everglades that gives the course its name, Shingle Creek realises the golfing designs and dreams of champion Arnold Palmer.

Shingle Creek plays host to the US Open qualifiers, and offers a par 72, 18-hole, 7213-yard course featuring a host of tournament course conditions. With rolling fairways and sloping greens, strategically-placed bunkers and water traps, set against a backdrop of oak and pine woodland, this is the perfect place to play a round with family and friends. Proving a challenge to every golfer of all abilities with a variety of holes, you’ll need to think carefully about your strategy to come in under par!

Take the opportunity to fine-tune your swing at the driving range, as well as practise your putting and chipping before heading out onto the course! While you are there, you might want to check out the Brad Brewer Golf Academy which is located at the site. With a range of courses and short lessons to help brush up on your game, you’ll be on the green impressing with your newfound skills in no time!

9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32819

Grand Cypress Golf Courses

There is a course for everyone over at Grand Cypress! Choose your combination of courses to make up your perfect 18-hole golfing experience! With a grand total of 45 Jack Nicklaus Signature-designed holes, you will be able to test your skills just like the champions. Warm-up on the driving range before heading out – you will be provided unlimited balls, so you have the chance to practise your swing before the real challenge begins!

The North, South and East courses each offer nine holes of golfing fun, suitable for those of all levels, from beginners to professionals. However if you combine two courses for the complete 18-hole experience, you are sure to meet with some challenging play. The North course suits those with a daring style of golf, as although both the tee and approach shot on Hole 9 can be rewarding, they also carry a lot of risk! Hole 6 of the South course is a par 5 which is great for those who love playing long shots – stretching to nearly 600 yards! Over on the woodland-style East course, Hole 5 is to be found on an island, so be careful, unless you want your ball to end up in the water! The fourth and final course is the links-style New Course – Jack Nicklaus’ homage to the Old Course at St Andrews. Make your way around this meadow-set 18-hole green, watching out for stone walls and bridges, gorse mounds and bunkers that are reminiscent of its Scottish ancestor!

If you want some extra tuition before taking to the green, check out the Grand Cypress Academy of Golf, which offers a range of programmes and lessons tailored to any aspect of your game.

1 N Jacaranda St, Orlando, FL 32836

Waldorf Astoria Golf Course

Designed by renowned course architect Rees Jones, the 18-hole golf course at Waldorf Astoria makes great use of the natural landscape to provide a challenging experience for golfers.

Make good use of the practice range and putting green before taking your scorecard out onto the course! The par 72 course stretches 7108 yards and features fairways lined by lofty cypress trees and sloping contours. Golfers of all abilities are able to play here, as the course makes use of a five-tee system so that professional and novice players alike are accommodated for.

As with the other courses, there is a golfing academy onsite – the Waldorf Astoria Golf Academy. With a range of lessons to suit all players, you’ll be competing like a pro in no time!

14200 Bonnet Creek Resort Lane, Orlando, FL 32821

The Ritz-Carlton

The brainchild of Greg Norman and his team, The Ritz-Carlton golf course, which is a PGA Tour Challenge host site, maintains many of the surrounding area’s natural elements, including oaks, cypress, wetlands and ponds. This dedication to helping preserve the environment has earned the club the recognition of the Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary Program for Golf Courses.

This is a great course for families playing together, as children and youngsters under 17 years of age will play for free, with every paid adult round!

The five sets of tees make this the perfect course for beginners and experts alike, as you make your way down the wide fairways and past strategically-placed tricky hazards for a fantastic day of golf. You might want to hire a caddie concierge to get that special service that you would only expect to find at the best private clubs. Take the advice of the knowledgeable attendant to help make your golfing experience even more memorable. If you are feeling keen to improve your golf play, you can even book a day of instruction with former PGA Tour player Larry Rinker!

4040 Central Florida Parkway Orlando, FL 32837

Tempted to tee up on your next trip to the Sunshine State? Check online with the venue for details of green fees and golf club hire. If you are already a golfing fanatic, you might want to take your own clubs with you, so contact your airline for any restrictions before arriving at the airport!

Have you played golf at any of these locations before? Which is your favourite? We’d love to hear your thoughts on golfing in Florida, and anywhere else that you recommend fans of the sport should check out, so get in touch with us!

Photo credits:

• Shingle Creek: www.shinglecreekgolf.com/gallery/
• Grand Cypress:www.grandcypress.com/resort_media/
• Waldorf Astoria: www.waldorfastoriaorlando.com/gallery/golf/
• The Ritz-Carlton: www.grandelakes.com/Photo-Galleries-10.html