The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Grande Lakes

3.5
466 Reviews (466)
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3.5
466 Reviews (466)
5 Stars
305
4 Stars
111
3 Stars
29
2 Stars
12
1 Stars
9
Conditions
2.8
Value
2.5
Layout
3.6
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.8
89.0%
Recommend this course
416 out of 466 reviews
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About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Style Links
Par 72
Length 7122 yards
Slope 139
Rating 73.9

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Grande Lakes sits along the pristine headwaters of the Florida Everglades, surrounded by live oaks, towering pines, and palmettos. Two-time British Open Champion Greg Norman designed the golf course. He and his team focused on preserving the area's natural beauty and ecosystem. The ponds, wetlands, and mature trees were carefully protected and incorporated into the challenges of the design. The final result blends in so seamlessly it's as though the golf course had been there all along. Norman's commitment to the environment was recognized with the course's certification as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. The player-friendly layout has wide fairways and generous landing areas but the subtly contoured greens and strategically placed hazards will keep you on your toes. Five sets of tees make the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Orlando, Grande Lakes even more accessible to players of any skill level.

Course Details

Year Built 2003
Golf Season Year round
Architect Greg Norman (2003) Matthew Dusenberry (2003)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
Caddies Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed Yes
Dress code Proper golf attire required.

Food & Beverage

Bar

Lodging

Lodging Available

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Spa

Available Sports

Fitness

Accolades

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Reviews

3.5
466 Reviews (466)

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 134
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played

Great course with great service!

This course is always in amazing condition. I definitely consider it a treat to play here. The staff is always super friendly! I wouldn't pay $70-$100 mainly because I can't afford that. If you can find a good deal on here though it is an amazing experience. I can't wait to play here again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great resort course

Nice course with even better staff. Playing on a hot Florida day the staff went above and beyond making sure we kept cool. They brought us extra chilled towels and water bottles in the middle of the round. If you can stand the heat play here before the rates go up, you'll enjoy every bit of it.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 14
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Excellent customer service

Prompt bag / pro shop / starter staff, great carts with touch screen GPS so you can measure from sand traps etc. Cart coolers loaded with ice, free water, cool towels, and free refills came just before the turn. Also asked our names and gave free metal bag tags, awesome!

Course played great, fair. It's hidden behind the JW Marriott not nearest the Ritz Carlton so a bit of meandering to get there but well signed.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Course was great

Just had been aerated 10 days ago but was playable and enjoyed it! Price of $33 was incredibly affordable to be able to play here. Thanks!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Excelent course

Excellent course, pristine condition, challeging for a 12 hcp, very fast greens.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 41
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice Facility....So So Course

Being at a Ritz-Carlton you would expect things to be first class and they generally are. Very nice golf club facility, very well maintained, wonderful practice/warm-up area, courteous staff and plenty of other amenities....all surrounded by a typically ho-hum Greg Norman golf course. I recognize this is a Florida resort course but I have to believe Norman has done better work somewhere....at least I hope he has.
Would still recommend the course based on the service and course conditioning if the price were reasonable. But don't overpay!

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

GREAT PLACE TO PLAY

hAD A GREAT TIME AT THIS RESORT, AND RESORT GOLF COURSE, SOME OF THE FRIENDLIEST STAFF AROUND, WOULD MPLAY HERE AGAIN, AS SOON AS i RETURN TO mco,,,,,

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 21
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Over rated and boring

It appears that if a course has a big name it gets a good review without thought. I just played Grande Lakes and I can't remember a hole. It is very forgettable. Well maintained but forgettable. It has tee boxes, fairways and greens so technically Greg Norman designed them a course. I am fairly certain there is a golf course design app that could have done just as good. Very lazy Mr. Norman.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Cart Path Only

The course had taken on lots of rain so it it was a cart path only day. That being said, the fairways were very soft and caused the ground under the grass to be wet. Tough to hit the ball well. This course seems to be low lying and probably doesn't drain well. The layout is nice but my personal preference is a course with terrain as they are in lake county.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A touch of class!

Beautiful layout in great condition for this time of year in Florida. Played as a Hot Deal it proved exceptional value. This sort of experience I could aspire to.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 259
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Top 25 Contributor
Florida Advisor
First Time Playing

Pristine course w/ poor drainage - cart paths only

Beautiful pristine course designed by Greg Norman. Wide landing areas for tee shots. Fairways plush but mushy. Carts paths only therefore was a long arduous round. I can't believe a resort course that opened in 2003 doesn't have a better drainage system installed. Roughs are plush & pristine. Greens are large, fast, & rolling true. Carts are battery powered w/ windshields & bag covers in back. Carts have small GPS that gives measurements to front, middle, & back of greens. Range balls are provided as well as water & towels/towelettes. There are nice bathroom accommodations midway on each 9. Staff friendly. A nice resort style course. I would put in same category as Grand Cypress, Legends @ Orange Lake, Championsgate. This course is a must play at least once, the cart path only though will deter me from returning unless I can get a really, really good deal.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Easy
Played On
Reviews 9
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

It has great features

Maybe on a dry day it's better but unfortunately we played when it was wet. Rather than that it's a great course.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

BEST GOLF EXPERIENCE OF MY LIFE

The Ritz-Carlton was the ABSOLUTE BEST Golf Experience of my life. The course was extremely challenging and in pristine condition. I shot an 82 from the back tees and played with dad and wife who enjoyed the experience from the front tees (great experience for all levels of golf).

THE STAFF WAS AMAZING!! Every golf course in America should take notes from The Ritz-Carton.

Valet and Starter got us set up for the round and then Jonathan (On Course Concierge) met up with us on the 12th hole and asked how our round was going. He found out we were there to celebrate my 40th birthday and could not be happier.

Jonathan then came back out on the course and met up with us on the 15th hole----he gave each of us Engraved Bag Tags from the Ritz-Carlton and included a bag of tees, ball marker, and divot tool.

Then---after we finished putting on the 18th green---Jonathan met up with us and presented chocolate truffles on a silver platter before we even got back to our golf cart. (they tasted like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches).

After the round---Jonathan and the staff gave me a signed flag from the Ritz-Carlton and also gave me a hat to celebrate my birthday.

Jonathan then contacted the bar and restaurant and had us meet up with Jimmy. We had a great lunch with cocktails and more chocolate from the staff.

IT WAS AN INCREDIBLE EXPERIENCE AND THE BEST OVERALL GOLF EXPERIENCE IN MY LIFE.

The course and the staff were absolutely amazing.

We will be definitely be staying and playing at the Ritz-Carlton again in the near future.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Impeccable Service and Course

The course is very challenging and in pristine condition. The staff provides the impeccable service that Ritz Carlton is known for. Overall, it has a private club atmosphere and feel.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 32
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

Fantastic

This course never disappoints. Always in great shape, greens are always perfect. It was a little wet and was "cart path only", but that didn't dampen my experience.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 32
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Ritz Carlton was awesome!! Can't go wrong here

Great staff, great practice facility, course was in great shape

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

This course would've been great but...

I had a great time at this course but the one thing that ruined it was the cart path only rule for the day. Although it hadnt really rained in 24 hours they imposed the restriction which ultimately slowed the pace of play. Were there some soggy spots? yes, of course in FL you're going to get alot of rain and thats to be expected but about 95% of the course was in fine shape. Other than that, everything was great and its a fun course with a nice layout for golfers of all skills. Dont forget to ask for your bag tags!!

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Loved the Ritz!

This course has great amenities, waters and GPS included. And it's beautiful.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Pristine condition

Easily the best conditioned course I have played in Florida. It is pricey, but that limits # of rounds enhancing pace of play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

poor although the course was in good shape the gps was horrible

no scorecard on cart. the signs for approching the green were a hundred yards on most hole so you had to walk an extra 200 yards on every hole. Starter was not friendly.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Friendliness Poor
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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