Don’t wait another minute to start your Florida golf vacation. Jump straight from baggage claim onto Orlando’s undulating greens and keep playing until your game day. These premier Florida golf courses offer great tee times and are located less than 25 minutes from Orlando International Airport. They are perfect for rounds on the day of your arrival or departure. Let the warm tropical Florida breeze blow away your worries and remind you why those long plane rides are worth it.
1. North coast: 17 minutes
North Shore is only ten miles from the airport; if you keep an eye out your window during the landing, you can probably catch a few golf carts coming across the greens! Mike Dasher’s design features two distinct looks in the Modern Nine and Classic Nine. Experience Florida’s native wetlands right away on the winding Modern’s Links course. The Classic Nine is carved through a beautiful oak forest that is centuries old. The course is one of the easiest near the airport, with a beautiful layout, lots of birds, a full service bar and friendly staff. North Shore offers refreshing showers that are perfect for golfers coming straight from a game to catch a plane.
If you take a taxi or use a GPS, the North Shore address is 11507 North Shore Golf Course, Orlando, FL 32832. If you have a rental car, make sure you have change for the toll roads and head south through the airport . Boulevard to Jeff Fuqua Boulevard. Merge onto FL-528 and take exit 15. Merge onto FL-417 Toll S and take exit 23. Turn left on Moss Park Road, right on North Shore Golf Club Boulevard, and the course will be on your left .
2. Eagle Creek: 20 minutes
Eagle Creek is also only ten miles from the airport. This course has been a customer favorite for years. Golfers rave about the friendly staff, excellent food, beautiful birds, and the small alligator that inhabits the course’s lake. The European-style design was planned by Ron Garl and Howard Swan. Includes first class amenities and courtesy showers. The Audubon Silver Signature course uses technologically advanced Mini-Green turf, is lushly landscaped, over 90 white sand bunkers, water hazards and over 1,500 trees. The game is challenging and the clubhouse is luxurious. Eagle Creek is a quality choice for golfers looking for a course that will get them back on their game, but also allow them to relax after a long morning of travel.
Eagle Creek’s address is 10350 Emerson Lake Blvd., Orlando, FL 32832. To drive to the field from the airport, head south on Airport Boulevard toward Jeff Fuqua Boulevard. Merge onto FL-538 and take exit 13. Turn right onto Narcoossee Road and left onto Emerson Lake Boulevard.
3. Pebble Stream: 23 minutes
Many golfers first play Shingle Creek because it’s only 14 miles from the airport, but later discover that it was their favorite course of their entire vacation. Golfers return again and again to the David Harman-designed fairways, which are surrounded by stunning waterways. The course is very challenging and has received awards for being one of the toughest courses in Orlando and among the best in the country. The amenities are all first class and include showers. The conditions of the course, the design and the service to the guest are outstanding. Arrive or leave your Florida golf vacation feeling like royalty, or at least a pro, when you tee off at Shingle Creek.
Shingle Creek Golf Club’s address is 9939 Universal Boulevard, Orlando, FL 3219-8701. To drive there, head south on Airport Boulevard and continue on Jeff Fuqua Boulevard and South Semoran Boulevard North. Take the ramp onto FL-528 West and take exit 2 onto Universal Boulevard. The field will be on your right after half a mile.
4. Hunter’s Creek: 25 minutes
Hunter’s Creek is fourteen miles from the airport and offers a beautiful long drive if you have extra time before or after your departure. This Lloyd Clifton course recently came under new management and he is eager to demonstrate his commitment to customer service and ideal conditions. Its spacious fairways wind through majestic, towering pine trees and thirteen sparkling lakes. It has been very popular with recent golfers and is rated one of the “75 Best Courses to Play” by Golf Digest.
Hunter’s Creek is located at 14401 Sports Club Way, Orlando, FL 32837-6902. To get there, head south on Airport Boulevard and continue on Jeff Fuqua Boulevard, South Access Road, and Boggy Creek Road. Take the I-4 ramp to 417 Toll Road South. Then take exit 11 for Orange Blossom Trail, turn right onto Falcon Trace Boulevard and take the second right onto Sports Club Way. Hunter’s Creek will be on your right.
30 minutes or less
If you’re looking for more course options that are within a half hour of the airport, be sure to also check out Remington and Osprey Ridge. For more information, travel tips, customer reviews, statistics and car rental information, be sure to check out Tee Times USA’s online directory of Orlando golf courses.