Arnold Palmer's winter home course and longtime residence (owned by Palmer 1974-2016); hosts the Arnold Palmer Invitational since 1979.
This course is in our GSPro library — pull it up in any bay and play it wall to wall.
No. 6 — Bay Hill's iconic par 5Signature
Par 5 · 555 yds
A wrap-around-the-lake par 5 widely regarded as the course's signature hole, demanding a decision on how much water to bite off with the second shot.
No. 18 — The scariest second shot in golfSignature
Par 4 · 441 yds
A lake guards the entire right side of the banana-shaped green on this closing hole, the stage for Robert Gamez's holed 7-iron walk-off eagle (1990) and multiple Tiger Woods clutch birdies to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
"A strong Arnold Palmer tribute recommendation for members; confirmed in GSPro given its status as a long-running PGA Tour venue."
Arnold Palmer's home course, in every sense. Dick Wilson designed the original holes in 1961; Palmer fell for the place during an exhibition, leased it in 1970, and bought it in 1975. Since 1979 it has hosted what became the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and Palmer himself (with Ed Seay) rebuilt the 18th from a par 5 into a long par 4 curling around a bulkheaded pond — now one of the most feared finishers on the PGA Tour, stage for Robert Gamez's walk-off eagle and Tiger Woods' string of clutch Sunday birdies during his eight wins here.
PGA Tour fans, full stop. Few courses let you play the exact holes you watch every March, and the Palmer legacy is everywhere — his workshop, his tractor, his club. A pilgrimage for Arnie's Army.
The 18th is the headline — 450+ yards, second shot over water to a shallow green behind railroad-tie bulkheads, the hole Palmer built to create Sunday drama, and it has for 45 years. The par-3 17th over water sets it up as one of golf's great one-two finishing punches.
A stern test: water on the famous holes, thick Florida rough at tournament time, and length. Off-peak, from sensible tees, it's a fair resort round — just don't chase the Sunday pins on 17 and 18.
The closest tour venue to home: Bay Hill is about 75-90 minutes from Wesley Chapel in Orlando. The Arnold Palmer Invitational every March is an easy day-trip for members — watch it live, then replay 17-18 in the bay that night.
In GSPro with a quality recreation — and it's a perfect Clubhouse tournament venue: famous, fair until the water holes, and everyone knows what a birdie on 18 means. Run it in March during API week for maximum effect.
Private club, but stay-and-play works: book a room at the Lodge and you get access to the Champion Course. Expect a premium package price. Non-guests generally need a member. March (API week) is off-limits.
Source: — · high confidence
