Golf Insider

The Waldorf Astoria isn't a name you usually associate with either Florida or golf courses.

Until now.

Last week, Hilton Worldwide officially opened the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, along with the Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek. It's the Waldorf's first hotel outside New York and the first golf course.

The two hotels are on nearly 500 acres just outside Walt Disney World. The golf course, designed by noted architect Rees Jones, is unusual for Orlando in that it has no housing around it at all.

"I think the course is different than any in Orlando because it has an old, classic look," Jones told the media at the ribbon-cutting ceremony last week."...It will certainly be challenging for good players from the back tees."

The par-72 course is 7,113 yards from the tips and features small, elevated greens and a slope rating of 130. The layout was designed to be easily walkable, with tees and greens close together, and the routing takes you through a large, wetland preserve with extensive native vegetation.

The public, including guests of the two hotels, can play this course now at discounted, introductory rates through Dec. 24.

One package has unlimited golf and a $20 resort credit per person, with rates stating at $259 for the Waldorf Astoria and $189 for Bonnet Creek.

Another features a room, two rounds of golf and a $20 restaurant credit per person, starting at $329 a night.

For more information, call 407-597-3783.