On our recent trip to Disney World, we stayed at Marriott’s Grand Vista Resort. It was the perfect spot for our family vacation. The resort had plenty of swimming pools for my wife and daughter, and luckily for me it also had a 9-hole golf course, the Grande Vista Golf Club.
Our villa looked out onto the 7th tee box, so every morning while we had our coffee on the patio, I got to envy the golfers playing. On the last day of our trip, I finally found some time to play a round at this nice Orlando golf course.
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Grande Vista Golf Club Overview
This picturesque 35-acre, 9-hole golf course is surrounded by gorgeous oak and cypress trees. It is a par 32 course designed by Ron Garl with families in mind.
Location
Grande Vista Golf Club is located on Marriott’s Grande Vista Resort property, just off International Drive.
Just follow the road to the resort entrance, turning right just before the gatehouse.
Address: 12001 Avenida Verde, Orlando, Florida
Booking a Tee Time at Grande Vista Golf Club
You can book a tee time online, via phone call to 407-238-7677, or in-person at the Pro Shop. The general public may make a reservation up to 30 days in advance.
We had been looking at rates and availability the week before our visit. There seemed to be singles open every day, so I wasn’t too worried about booking too far in advance and wasn’t sure on our schedule if I could even fit in a round.
The course was pretty busy every day we were there, so if you are planning to go with 2-4 people, I’d recommend booking in advance and planning time for 18 holes.
Grande Vista Golf Club Rates
Rates vary by season. Below are the current rates from when we visited in February 2024. You can also check the most up-to-date rates here.
| 9 Holes | 18 Holes | |
|---|---|---|
| Before 2pm | $69 | $99 |
| After 2pm | $55 | $69 |
| 3-Day Membership | $245 |
| 5-Day Membership | $395 |
| 7-Day Membership | $545 |
| Bucket of Range Balls | $18 / $36 |
| Foot Golf – 4:00pm Start Mondays | $25 |
| 1 Day Range Pass | $69 |
| Weekly Range Pass | $199 |
| Monthly Range Pass | $399 |
| Rider Fee* | $20 |
*Rider Fee only applicable if warranted by business levels.
Discounts and Specials
- 15% off Greens Fees for MVW Owners and Local Residents.
- Kids 15 and under play free with a paying adult after 3PM (one child per paying adult)
Grande Vista Golf Club Membership Cost
If you’re interested in an annual membership, here are the current costs:
- Individual Annual Membership: $2169 (adult), $1849 (junior)
- Family Annual Membership: $2699 (member, spouse, and all children under 18)
Benefits include:
- Unlimited use of practice facilities, exlcuding closed areas and those reserved for golf instruction
- Free green fees & cart fees for 9-hole course (subject to availability)
- 20% off golf shop merchandise at Grande Vista Golf Club
- 20% off food in The Grill
- 50% off retail golf rates at Grande Vista Golf Club for accompanied guests
- Complimentary Bag Storage
Grande Vista Golf Club Rentals
If you’re traveling and don’t have your golf clubs with you, not to worry! Grande Vista Golf Club has rentals available.
Rental Costs
- Club Rental (includes 2 sleeves of balls): $49/day, $129/week
- 9-Hole Rental (includes 1 sleeve of balls): $35/day
- Rental Clubs for Driving Range: $10 partial set
Review: Playing Grande Vista Golf Course
Rates and booking
On the day I played, we had gone to breakfast with Minnie Mouse and arrived back at the resort around 2 PM. There were quite a few open tee times so I was able to just show up at the pro shop and book a 2:45 tee time at the $55 rate. It happened to also be Super Bowl Sunday so most of the late tee times were open.
I paid by credit card at the pro shop counter, but if you are staying at the resort they can also charge it to your room.
Rental Clubs
The rentals were a set of TaylorMade Stealth golf clubs. They were pretty nice. The driver was a 10.5 degree stiff flex. Also in the set was a 3 wood, 5 wood, 5 iron through sandwedge, and a Spider GT mallet putter.
Personally, I would have preferred more player-style wedges and a bladed putter, but they were just fine for a rental set.
It cost me $35 for the 9 holes and it even came with a sleeve of TaylorMade Tour Response golf balls. I had bought a sleeve of TP5 golf balls not knowing it came with a free sleeve.
Practice Area
I didn’t opt to hit any practice balls and rather just chipped and putt before my round.
The practice area was very nice. There are 3 different short game areas. Two larger putting greens (one for lessons) and a public side with about 10 different holes cut. The chipping area had a couple bunkers and 3 holes cut.
I believe the grass was Bermuda which is a very big blade that is very grainy and catches the club easily.
I think the greens were also Bermuda and were very slow against the grain and much quicker with the grain. Judging from the practice putting green it felt like they were running at about 9.5 – 10 on the stimpmeter.
Driving Range
The driving range was nicely laid out with lots of greens, flags and yardage markers. That day, they were hitting off the grass, but they also had a very long hitting mat running along the back of the range.
I only noticed their gigantic Trackman behind the range after finishing my round. That would have been nice to know so I could have got my yardages on the rental clubs.
On their website, it says you can download the Trackman app and use the features like target practice, flight path and even virtual golf. It was quite high tech for just a 9-hole course and a very nice practice facility if I was just going there to work on my game.
The Course
The starter was very informative and friendly. One piece of information I heard him say, and totally forgot during my round, is that the red stakes in the fairways are 100 yards to the center of the green. I am used to the stakes being 150 yards, and it got me into some trouble on number 5.
There were three sets of tees. The Green (back tees) were only 2375 yards for nine holes. White – middle was 2033 yards. And the Gold – forward tees were 1660 yards. The back tees play as a par 32 and the middle and forward tees are a par 31.
I should have looked at the scorecard and maybe played from the Green – back tees as every other hole was a par 3 and the course wasn’t very long.
Hole 1: Par 4 – Green 315, White 262, Gold 235
The first tee is a short par 4 to start. I hit a 3 wood up the right side and just off the fairway. I was only about 25 yards short of the green. Luckily, I had cleared the bunker on the right.
There wasn’t much trouble except for a bunker near the right side of the green. I was having a hard time getting used to the Bermuda and chipping. I had left myself a 15 footer for par which luckily I made.
Hole 2: Par 3 – Green 160, White 144, Gold 90
The 2nd hole was a fun par 3 with water all up the right side before the green.
I hit mine a little further than expected as I was still getting used to the clubs and the ball flies further in Orlando than back home in Victoria. (Excuses, right?)
The green sloped from front to back and I short-sided myself by hitting it too long. I stubbed a chip and wasn’t able to make my putt and made a dreaded double bogie.
Hole 3: Par 4 Green 291, Par 3 White 160, Par 3 Gold 147
This was the most interesting hole at Grande Vista Golf Club. From the back tees, it is over 100 yards longer than the middle tees. You have to hit your tee shot about 100 yards over the water to reach the fairway which dog legs to the left.
Near the green was a huge bunker up the right side. Luckily, I had cut the corner up the left side, avoiding the bunker.
I struggled with a couple bad chip shots from the rough and made bogie.
Hole 4: Par 3 Green 160, White 149, Gold 106
I believe this was Grande Vista’s signature hole as it was a beautiful par 3 over the lake that splits the resort. The rooms and lake are on the left of the hole and the right side runs along the street near the resort entrance.
With it being so close to the hotel, you can get some spectators watching and adding to the pressure of hitting a good shot.
There was some room before the green after the water if you came up short like I did. Luckily, my second shot I hit to a couple inches and tapped in for par.
Hole 5: Par 4 Green 324, White 309, Gold 262
This was the hole I made my course management mistake. I hit my driver up the right side and luckily missed the bunker and water that ran along the right of the fairway.
I was just in front of the red stake, which I thought was 150 yards. But If I had listened and remembered what the starter said, I would have remembered that stake is only 100 yards.
So, I flew the green by 50 yards and had to hit my 3rd shot from the fairway of number 9. Luckily, I scrambled and made bogie by making about a 12-foot putt.
Hole 6: Par 3 Green 166, White 131, Gold 101
Of all the par 3s, this hole was one of the easier ones with only a few bunkers on the left side of the green. There is a little bit of trouble with water on the right side, but from the tee box it really does not come into play. It is more to separate the hotel from the course.
My tee shot hit the center of the green and I was able to two putt for my par.
Hole 7: Par 4 Green 356, White 322, Gold 285
I was most excited to play this hole, hoping Louise, our little girl and Grandma could watch me and take some photos. Unfortunately, they were a little late getting back from the pool so they only saw me in the fairway.
The tee shot was over some water on the right side, but I could only hit a 5 wood because there is a waste area just before the green. It looked like I could have reached with my driver.
Luckily, I remembered this time that the red stake was 100 yards and hit a great approach to about 10 feet. It was my best chance for birdie but my putt slid past and I settled for par.
Hole 8: Par 3 Green 193, White 169, Gold 70
This hole was one of my favorites at Grande Vista Golf Club. The green seemed like it was slightly elevated. There was lots of water before the green and to the right.
All the rough before the green also slopes down into the water so our member playing partner recommended to aim left or long.
I hit a decent shot to the left of the pin but still had about 30 feet. I struggled on my first lag putt and ended up three putting for bogie.
Hole 9: Par 4 Green 413, White 387, Gold 364
Having the number 1 handicap hole for a finishing hole is perfect if you’re betting. And this one had all the challenges.
From the tee box, there was water up the right side that you needed about 100 yards to clear. The fairway narrows with a bunker protecting the left side and water (with alligators that I didn’t see, luckily) up the right side.
I hit a nice drive up the right and was just short of the water in the rough. My second shot was over the water to a pretty big green. I came up just short but was able to get up and down for my par.
Grande Vista Golf Club Scorecard
Final score = 5 over 37
It took about 2 hours to finish 9 holes on what the pro shop said was a steady day. The temperature was a nice 24 degrees Celsius with a little bit of wind. Luckily it didn’t rain and it wasn’t hot and humid.
Marriott Golf Academy at Grande Vista
If you’re interested in improving your game, Grande Vista Golf Club is also home to the Marriott Golf Academy. You can choose to enroll in a 1-day, 2-day or 3-day golf school, take a private lesson, or even sign up for a family clinic.
Check the Marriott Golf Academy website for current rates and to make a reservation.
Grande Vista Golf Clubhouse
The two-story clubhouse features the pro shop, an indoor swing studio, the Club Fitter’s Workshop, and The Grill restaurant.
The Grill
The Grill is Grande Vista Golf Club’s clubhouse restaurant, serving up breakfast, lunch and dinner with scenic golf course views. You’ll find classic American fare, from biscuits and gravy for breakfast, to gourmet burgers, ribs and pasta for lunch and dinner.
Hours: 8am-9pm daily
Reservations: Online or call 407-238-6365
Grande Vista Golf Club Menu
Grande Vista Golf Club Verdict
The staff were very friendly, from the Pro Shop to the Starter and the Cart guys. They were all genuinely very nice and made good conversation.
For just a 9-hole course, Grande Vista is kept in very good condition. The greens were a little slow, but that should be expected with Bermuda.
The practice area was probably the best part of the whole facility – a well laid out driving range and large practice putting and chipping greens. Even though it was a little busy, it did not feel crowded in the practice area. Next time I will definitely take advantage of the Trackman.
If you are staying at Marriott’s Grande Vista Resort, I would highly recommend spending an afternoon playing the Grande Vista Golf Club, or at least hitting balls at the driving range and practice greens. It was definitely worth going.
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