Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Arnold Palmer's home club and the March stage for the Arnold Palmer Invitational — a private Orlando championship course that opens its fairways to anyone who books a night at the lodge.
Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge in photos
Can I play Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge?
Yes — but essentially only if you sleep here. Bay Hill is a private club owned by Arnold Palmer's family, and the standard route for visitors is to book a room at the on-site lodge, which entitles you to play the championship Champion/Challenger course. Each overnight stay includes a round, and lodge guests are treated as members for the duration of their stay.
How to book: Reserve through the Bay Hill lodge; the room booking is what unlocks tee access, so plan a stay-and-play package rather than a walk-up round. Book well ahead for the January–May peak, and note the course closes to guests around the Arnold Palmer Invitational each March. Contact the club directly or use its website to arrange rooms, rounds and caddies.
About Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge is a private club with a public heart: while members and their guests play freely, the more common path for travellers is to book the on-site lodge, which turns visitors into 'members for a day.' The Dick Wilson design, later reshaped under Palmer's own hand, has hosted the PGA Tour every March since 1979, most famously the Arnold Palmer Invitational, and remains a demanding test of water carries, deep bunkering and slick Bermuda greens. The par-4 18th over the lake is a bucket-list finishing hole. It is the rare chance to walk the same closing stretch as the Tour's best, provided you stay to play.
Signature hole
The par-4 18th is one of the PGA Tour's most dramatic closers, with a lake hugging the entire right side up to a green backed by a rock wall; the par-5 6th, bending around water off the tee, is the other celebrated hole.
What makes it special
Arnie's own club
Palmer owned and lived at Bay Hill from 1974 until his death in 2016, and his family still runs it today.
A March PGA Tour stage
The Arnold Palmer Invitational has been contested here annually since 1979, keeping the course in tournament condition.
Stay-to-play access
A night at the lodge includes a round on the championship Champion/Challenger course and full club privileges.
Tournament pedigree
- Arnold Palmer Invitational / Bay Hill Classic (PGA Tour, 1979–present)
Need to know
Best time to play
Playable year-round; the dry, mild January–May window is peak season (and priciest), while summer is cheaper but hot and humid with afternoon thunderstorms. Avoid the Arnold Palmer Invitational week in early March, when the course is given over to the tournament.
Dress code
Proper golf attire — collared shirts, no denim, soft spikes only.
Good to know
Carts are included and caddies can be arranged; expect a round of around 4.5 hours. No formal handicap is required, but this is a full championship layout with water in play and firm, subtle greens, so bring your game.
Upcoming golf tournaments
Prefer to watch the world’s best? Book tickets to an upcoming tournament, then add a hotel and flights.
Getting there
Nearest airports
Orlando International (MCO) ~20–25 min; Orlando Sanford (SFB) is a secondary option.
On arrival
The club sits in the Bay Hill/Dr. Phillips area southwest of downtown Orlando, about 20 minutes from MCO by car or rideshare. It is close to the Universal and Disney corridors but tucked into a quiet lakeside residential enclave.
Stay near the course
The Lodge at Bay Hill on-site is the natural — and effectively required — base, since staying is what grants play. The wider Orlando area has endless hotels, but only a Bay Hill stay gets you onto the championship course.
★★★★ 4-starTap for live prices Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Doctor Phillips
★★★★ 4-starTap for live prices Orange Tree Golf Club
Doctor Phillips
A taste of the luxury stays near Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge — tap any hotel to see live availability and prices for your dates, or search them all.
Plan your golf trip
Hotels near the course
Live-priced stays a short drive from the 1st tee.
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Explore OrlandoFrequently asked questions
Can the public play Bay Hill?
Not as a walk-up. Bay Hill is a private club, but non-members can play by booking a stay at the on-site lodge, which includes access to the championship course.
How much does it cost to play Bay Hill?
Green fees are bundled with a lodge stay and are highly seasonal — roughly US$100 per round in summer, rising to about US$500 in the January–May peak, with the cart included.
Do I need a handicap to play?
No handicap certificate is required, but it is a serious championship layout with water and firm greens, so it rewards competent players.
When is the best time to play?
January to May offers the finest weather and course conditions (and the highest prices); summer is hotter, cheaper and stormier. Avoid Arnold Palmer Invitational week in early March.
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Green fees, access rules and tee-time policies change frequently and vary by season. The figures here are indicative for trip planning — always confirm on the official site before booking.
Guide updated 2026-07-27.