Panther Lake at Orange County National is an 18-hole, par-72 championship course in Winter Garden, FL, known for its rolling terrain, water-lined fairways, and tour-level challenge.
Here’s exactly what you can expect when you play it—keep reading for a full breakdown of the layout, booking tips, and onsite amenities.
Course Overview and Setting
You’re playing a true stand-alone golf property with no houses intruding on sightlines or strategy, which lets the design breathe and the wind matter.
Expect a natural Florida canvas—rolling ground, wetlands, and lakes—shaped into a modern test that rewards committed lines and solid contact.
What Panther Lake Is, At a Glance
Panther Lake is an 18-hole, par-72 course at Orange County National in Winter Garden, Florida.
Phil Ritson, David Harman, and Isao Aoki designed it, and it opened in 1997.
Greens are Champion ultradwarf bermuda, fairways are bermuda, so you get firm, fast-leaning surfaces that favor clean strikes and confident speed control on contoured putting faces.
Yardages, Ratings, and Picking a Starting Tee
OCN offers a wide spread so you can match the course to your carry numbers rather than your ego.
From the back, the course stretches to 7,269 yards with a stout 75.2/141 rating/slope for men.
Multiple forward options bring it down to roughly 5,421 yards, with women’s ratings provided on the White and Tan sets for proper handicapping.
Use the data below to anchor your choice, then adjust once you learn the lines:
- Champ: 7,269 yds — 75.2/141 (M)
- Orange: 6,806 yds — 73.1/137 (M)
- Green: 6,380 yds — 71.2/132 (M)
- White: 5,966 yds — 69.3/127 (M), 75.2/136 (L)
- Tan (forward): 5,421 yds — 66.9/123 (M), 71.2/129 (L)
Pick a tee where your 5-iron carry comfortably clears the course’s typical forced carries.
For example, if your driver carry is under ~240 yards, start on White (5,966) for a cleaner first look; once you know the preferred targets, move back if your approach yardages feel too short.
Turf, Greens, and How It Plays
Champion ultradwarf bermuda greens deliver pace and consistency, which matters on Panther Lake’s many elevated, contoured targets where two-putts aren’t automatic.
Bermudagrass fairways keep the ball sitting tight, so you should plan on precise contact and pay attention to your entry angles into pins.
Elevated greens often ask for one extra club, and fronting hazards on several holes make distance control the safer play than chasing back-edge numbers.
The Landscape: Elevation, Wetlands, and Water
The property rolls more than most Central Florida courses, with up to 60 feet of elevation change influencing both sightlines and club selection.
Wetlands and lakes come into play across the round, framing landing areas and guarding approaches.
The absence of housing means fewer artificial boundaries; the real penalties are natural—miss into water or native areas and you’re re-loading.
You’ll see gentle fairway tilts that feed toward hazards, so favor shapes that work away from trouble and leave uphill, full-swing approaches when possible.
Tournament Pedigree and What It Signals
OCN has hosted PGA TOUR Q-School Finals, using Panther Lake along with Crooked Cat.
That history tells you two things: setups can stretch and tighten when needed, and the architecture holds up under pressure.
You won’t face a gimmick-driven round; you’ll face a course that asks you to hit a window off the tee, choose a landing zone that opens the preferred approach, and manage speed on sizable greens.
If you prep with that in mind—especially your tee-shot patterns and lag-putting—you’re aligned with how the place has tested players for years.
Layout, Design Features, and Notable Holes
You get classic risk-and-reward golf here, not target golf.
Fairways are framed by trees, water, and well-placed bunkers, then approaches climb into elevated, contoured greens where speed control matters as much as line.
How the Course Tests You
Panther Lake builds decisions from the tee forward.
Landing zones are visible but rarely generous, and gentle fairway tilts tend to feed balls toward water or sand if you get too aggressive with line or shape.
Approaches often play uphill into sizable Champion ultradwarf bermuda greens; you’ll need one extra club more often than you expect, and you’ll want a preferred miss because many fronts are protected.
The greens roll true yet have enough internal slope that two-putts aren’t automatic, so hitting the proper section is as valuable as flag hunting.
Risk/Reward in Practice
The design is fair to shots that start on the intended corridor and hold their shape.
Stray offline and you’ll meet water, native areas, or bunkers that force a pitch-out or a penalty.
Play to your stock shape on tee shots that are visually “pinched” by tree lines or hazard edges, then favor center-green numbers on elevated targets to take short-sided misses out of play.
When in doubt, pick the angle that leaves an uphill, full-swing approach rather than a partial from a sidehill lie; you’ll score better even if the line looks safer the other way.
Hole Highlights and How to Play Them
- #3 “The Creek” (Par 4): The landing area is narrow with water carries in view. Choose a club that guarantees the first carry, even if it means a longer approach, and take one extra club into the creek-guarded green—long is usually the smarter miss than flirting with the front.
- #9 “Trace Lake” (Par 4): The fairway slopes toward water, so start your tee shot a touch away from the lake and hold your shape back to the fairway center. On the approach, play conservative yardage to the fat side; getting pin-high but dry is a win heading to the turn.
- #10 (Par 4): Famous as the backdrop for Nike’s “Frank” spot with Tiger; the best view is from about 150 yards in. Use that as your target picture: place the drive to your favorite 8–9 iron yardage rather than chasing extra rollout near trouble.
- #11 “The Rowdee” (Par 3): Longest par-3 and all carry over hazards. Take the number to the middle and swing a committed, balanced move—short is not an option, so favor a club that gets past the front edge even into breeze.
- #14 “The Long Man” (Par 5): 622 yards from the back with hazards left and around the green. Treat it as a three-shot hole unless conditions and your carry numbers say otherwise; set up a wedge by playing your second to a flat layup yardage that keeps left-side trouble out of play.
Keep that mindset across the round—choose stable shapes off the tee, add a club into elevated greens, and bias to the big side of the target—and the course will reward you without forcing heroics.
Choosing the Right Tees for Your Game
You’ll score better and enjoy the round more when the course fits your carry numbers, not just your handicap.
Think in terms of what you can comfortably fly, especially with a 5-iron into forced carries and elevated greens.
Tee Options and Yardages (with Ratings)
- Champ: 7,269 yds — 75.2/141 (M)
- Orange: 6,806 yds — 73.1/137 (M)
- Green: 6,380 yds — 71.2/132 (M)
- White: 5,966 yds — 69.3/127 (M), 75.2/136 (L)
- Tan (forward): 5,421 yds — 66.9/123 (M), 71.2/129 (L)
Course rating reflects the expected score for a scratch player; slope estimates how demanding the course plays for non-scratch golfers.
Higher numbers signal more difficulty, which matters on Panther Lake’s elevated, contoured greens and water-lined corridors.
A Simple Way to Pick the Right Set
Start with your 5-iron carry, because several approaches and par-3s punish short.
If that number clears the typical forced carries with room to spare, you’re in the right neighborhood.
Next, anchor on your driver carry to avoid too many long-iron or hybrid approaches.
Elevation changes (up to 60 feet) and wind can stretch yardages, so give yourself a margin.
Practical Examples (Use as a Starting Point)
- Driver carry under ~240 yards: Begin on White (5,966) to reduce forced-carry stress. If you’re facing too many long-iron approaches—or the breeze is up—drop to Tan (5,421).
- Driver carry ~240–260: Green (6,380) usually fits; move to Orange (6,806) only if your 5-iron carry is strong and you’re holding greens from mid-iron range.
- Driver carry ~260–280: Orange (6,806) is a good default if your 5-iron comfortably flies trouble.
- Driver carry 280+ and strong approach play: Champ (7,269) is appropriate, understanding the 75.2/141 demands and frequent longer approaches.
Treat these as guideposts, not hard rules. The course rewards confident swings more than bravado.
Fine-Tune for Conditions and Group Play
Morning dew, overseeding periods, or Cart Path Only days reduce rollout, which effectively lengthens the course—consider moving up a set when that’s in play.
Wind over water or into elevated targets also asks for extra club; stepping forward keeps you on offense.
In mixed groups, choose the most forward set that lets everyone clear carries without stress, then move back on a future round once you know sightlines and preferred angles.
On-Course Adjustment Cues
If you’re hitting hybrids into most par-4s or feeling forced to thread low-percentage carries, you’ve started too far back.
If you’re hitting wedges into nearly every par-4 and rarely pulling more than a short iron on par-3s like #11 “The Rowdee,” you can move back next time.
The goal is simple: play a set that keeps your stock shapes in play and gives you a fair chance to hold those elevated greens.
Booking, Rates, and Best Times to Play
Locking in the right tee time at Panther Lake comes down to using the correct channel, understanding how prices move, and checking maintenance dates before you commit.
Plan ahead, since early slots disappear fast when demand spikes.
How to book: Reserve directly through Orange County National’s Tee Times portal (TeeItUp), which uses dynamic pricing. Non-residents can book as far as 90 days out, while Florida/Orange County resident rates apply only on bookings made inside 30 days with valid ID at check-in. Dynamic pricing means rates shift with demand, day, and time, so compare multiple time windows in the portal before you choose.
Where to find deals: Join OCN’s Email Club for periodic tee-time promotions. Third-party tee sheets (such as GolfNow or TeeOff) sometimes post discounts, useful when your preferred window is nearly full on the OCN portal.
Maintenance calendar to watch: Expect overseeding in mid-November, and the course is often Cart Path Only during that period. Aerification in September sometimes occurs as well. Always confirm current dates with the shop before you book so expectations on green speed, firmness, and cart rules match what you’ll see on arrival.
Timing and availability: Popularity plus dynamic pricing means early tee times go first. If you’re visiting, check the portal as soon as your booking window opens (90 days for non-residents; 30 days for resident-rate eligibility). When overseeding or CPO is in effect, consider a slightly later tee time to reduce morning traffic, or pick another day if conditions don’t suit your group.
Quick pre-booking checklist:
- Compare two or three time windows in the TeeItUp portal to see price and availability swings.
- Verify resident-rate eligibility and ID if you plan to book inside 30 days.
- Call the shop to confirm overseeding/CPO or September aerification dates for your play day.
- Grab early slots as soon as you see them—those are the first to sell out.
Playing and Practicing at Panther Lake
Plan to ride, warm up with purpose, and lean on the facility’s training grounds to dial in speed and trajectory.
You’ll have GPS guidance on the cart, a walking-only short course next door for post-round reps, and a practice complex that makes it easy to show up sharp.
Carts are included in the green fee and come equipped with GPS, which helps you choose carry lines around wetlands and into elevated greens.
Panther Lake generally operates as a ride-only experience, so pace holds steady even on busy days.
If you want to walk some holes for feel, use the Tooth short course on site—it’s walking-only and set up for quick, focused sessions rather than a full 18.
Dress is straightforward: collared shirts or proper golf apparel, no denim on the course or the practice grounds.
For families and groups, note the junior policy—players must be at least 6 years old to be on Panther Lake.
That clarity helps when you’re planning a multi-tee-time outing or a stay-and-play with mixed ages.
Make time to use the 42-acre practice complex before you tee off.
The circular range and nine target greens let you work both shapes and trajectories without hunting for yardage markers.
The 22,000-sq-ft putting green is lighted, which is useful if you arrive late or want a post-round speed check; it mirrors the large, contoured surfaces you’ll face on the course.
The short-game area gives you realistic lies to practice nippy pitches that stop on Champion ultradwarf bermuda.
Use a simple, course-specific warm-up that matches what Panther Lake asks from tee to green:
- Driver/3W shapes (≈20 balls): Groove your preferred fade or draw to a safe side of the fairway. Picture tree lines and water edges; set a “start line” and hold it.
- Mid-irons to elevated targets (≈10 minutes): Hit to target greens one club longer than stock to simulate uphill approaches and fronting hazards.
- Lag putting on big surfaces (≈15 minutes): Roll putts from 30–60 feet across slopes to learn pace; finish with a few six-footers on slight breaks to lock in start line.
On course, let the GPS do the heavy lifting for strategy.
Check front-edge numbers to avoid short misses into creeks or pond fronts, then pick a landing zone that leaves you an uphill, full-swing approach rather than a touchy partial from a sidehill lie.
If conditions push you to Cart Path Only, stage your bag with three clubs (primary, one more, one less) before you step off the path so you’re not guessing yardage at the ball.
The combination of accurate prep and targeted practice pays off here—clean starts off the tee, one extra club into the high targets, and committed pace on those long lags.
Onsite Amenities and Stay & Play Options
Everything you need sits on property—clubs, food, lodging, and space for groups—so you can focus on the golf.
The setup favors convenience: quick access from room to range to first tee, straightforward policies, and options you can scale for a buddies’ trip or a small corporate outing.
Club Rentals
TaylorMade sets are available at $59 + tax: Qi10 for men (regular/stiff; right- or left-handed) and Kalea for women (right-handed).
Rentals are first-come, first-served, but larger groups should pre-arrange through the event coordinator so the right flexes and hand orientations are staged for your tee time.
Food & Beverage
Orange 83 Pub & Grill handles the post-round pivot with seating for 200+ and a bar area featuring 8 HD TVs.
Hours can be seasonal, so call ahead if you’re planning a group meal, a game-day watch, or need to confirm kitchen close times after twilight rounds.
The Lodge (Stay Onsite)
Rooms sit steps from the first tees and practice areas, which makes warm-ups and turnarounds simple.
Expect complimentary parking and the option to book hospitality suites for team meetings, scoring, or hosted receptions.
Capacity references list 30+ rooms plus two hospitality suites; treat that as a planning baseline and cross-check current inventory when you lock dates, especially around peak event weeks.
Stay & Play Packages
OCN promotes Stay & Play packages on its site, bundling lodging with tee times on property.
Use packages to secure morning starts and practice access without juggling multiple vendors; just confirm which course(s) and days are included before you finalize.
Quick Planning Checklist (use for groups)
- Confirm rental set counts (Qi10/Kalea), hand, and flex; pre-arrange via the event coordinator.
- Hold Lodge rooms and hospitality suites early; verify the latest room inventory.
- Set meal blocks with Orange 83; call ahead to align with seasonal hours.
- Tie your package to specific courses and dates; note any maintenance windows that could affect your plan.
This combination—ready rentals, reliable dining, walkable lodging, and package options—keeps logistics tight and helps your group spend more time on the range and the course.
Conclusion
Panther Lake delivers a championship-caliber round with tour-level conditioning, strategic variety, and a setting free from housing distractions.
With smart tee selection, early booking, and a focused warm-up, you can set yourself up for both scoring and enjoyment.
Use the onsite lodging, practice grounds, and amenities to turn your round into a seamless golf experience from start to finish.
