Best Golf at Orange County National Center Orlando, Florida

Golf Travel Tips, Golf Travel Ideas, Golf Course Reviews, Florida, Orlando

The Orange County National Golf Center in Orlando has two of the finest courses in Florida: the Panther Lake and Crooked Cat. Each course offers a different experience, making this destination so popular among golf enthusiasts. With its Florida-style layout, the Panther Lake course will test your precision and strategy. Meanwhile, the Crooked Cat is enjoyed by golfers of all skill levels, promising a different but equally rewarding experience.

When you are planning a golf vacation at Orange County National, you can rest assured you’ll find on-site everything you need to make it memorable:

• Comfortable and stylish accommodation with top-notch amenities at The Lodge, conveniently close to both courses.
• Delicious meals and drinks at the Orange 83 Pub and Grill.

The Panther Lake Golf Course

Designed by Phil Ritson, Isao Aoki, and David Harman, Panther Lake was the first course to open at Orange County National in 1997. It offers everything an experienced golfer could want in a course. Playing over rolling hills, dramatic elevation changes, and gently sloping fairways guarded by perfectly placed fairway bunkers, the course fascinates with its natural beauty.

Featuring native pine trees and lakes, Panther Lake is one of the best examples of courses with breathtaking, perfectly preserved native natural environments in Florida. It is a must-play course for every golfer, as each hole is unique and requires a different technique. The course's greens are new and always well-kept; water is in play at several holes, but not as much as at many Florida courses.

Panther Lake's signature hole is the 17th one, a par-3 that requires a well-thought-out, precise shot over a swampy area to a multi-tiered green.

The Crooked Cat Golf Course

Crooked Cat has a distinct links style, with ample terraced fairways, native red-top heather grass, and many trees added to its layout since 2005. The course was designed by the same architects as Panther Lake and opened two years after the first course. Crooked Cat features noticeable elevation changes, gently rolling fairways, and ample greens. Since 2012, the golf course has Champions Bermuda Ultra Dwarf Turf Grass, which significantly enhances the play.

The course is enjoyable to play for everyone, regardless of their skills and experience. These factors made it the perfect option to host the LIV Golf League, which featured a new style of professional golf and debuted in 2023 here at Orange County National Golf Center's Crooked Cat.

In the past two decades, Crooked Cat has hosted various golf events, such as the following:

• PGA Tour Q-School Finals in 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2010
• Champions Tour Q-School Finals in 2014 and Korn Ferry Q-School Finals in 2016 and 2019

The Takeaway

With so many activities to relish, you will certainly enjoy your vacation at this golf destination and if you want to avoid the stressful planning process, leave it to a pro. With thousands of successful golf vacations planned to perfection, we know how to make yours carefree and memorable. Check out our fully customizable Orlando Golf Packages and contact us to discuss the details.