Black Bear GC
View of a green at Black Bear Golf Club.
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Rating Index Rating
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3.7
1755 Reviews (1755)
5 Stars
605
4 Stars
723
3 Stars
254
2 Stars
89
1 Stars
84
Conditions
3.4
Value
3.8
Layout
4.3
Friendliness
4.2
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.0
76.0%
Recommend this course
1454 out of 1755 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.2
58 Reviews (58)
5 Stars
9
4 Stars
11
3 Stars
23
2 Stars
11
1 Stars
4
Conditions
2.7
Value
3.2
Layout
4.0
Pace
4.4
Amenities
3.8
StaffFriendliness
4.1
55.2%
Recommend this course
32 out of 58 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
3.5
101 Reviews (101)
5 Stars
28
4 Stars
26
3 Stars
26
2 Stars
13
1 Stars
8
Conditions
3.2
Value
3.6
Layout
4.2
Pace
4.2
Amenities
3.9
StaffFriendliness
4.2
69.3%
Recommend this course
70 out of 101 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Black Bear's hilly, non-traditional Florida layout consistently earns high marks for its challenging elevation changes and well-regarded course design. Friendly staff, smooth pace of play, and strong overall value make this a rewarding round worth revisiting.

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private
Style Links
Par 72
Length 7041 yards
Slope 140
Rating 74.1

P.B. Dye-designed Black Bear Golf Club offers good value and a challenging day. Six sets of tees give you plenty of options. This 18-hole championship facility course, located within 45 minutes of the Orlando attractions boasts of a complete practice facility that includes a double ended driving range, as well as a 40,000 sq. ft. short game area.

Golfers at Black Bear can count on the Dye trademark touches which include sandy waste bunkers, undulating greens and dramatic elevation changes-in short, Black Bear Golf Club is most definitely a "do or Dye" golf course.

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Black Bear Golf Club - Orlando
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Course Details

Year Built 1995
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect P. B. Dye (1995)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
GPS No
Pull-carts No
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf Simulator No
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Practice Hole No

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Walking Allowed No
Dress code Proper golf attire required

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse
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Reviews

3.7
1755 Reviews (1755)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 32
Patio Dining 17
Brunch 13
Course Challenges Include:
Bunkers 62
Elevation Changes 55
Undulating Greens 49
This course/club is great for:
Locals 40
Advanced Golfers 34
Seniors 18
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 49
In the 'Burbs 29
Convenient to the City 7

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 20
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

greens are rough

played a few times before tough course but greens are in rough shape

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 65
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

I always enjoy playing Black Bear. This time we were disappointed in the condition of the greens.I hope they willl be better the next time we play.

Conditions Fair
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Overly difficult

I played PGA National The same month as this one and the Bear Trap was easier. The course is OVERLY designed. It's hilly with blind traps EVERYWHERE....and not just that 6ft deep ones surrounding ALL the holes to pedestal greens. If you managed to stay out of that, every hole, you can have fun with chips to have to get up 12ft, while the ball is a foot below your feet. NOT KIDDING!!

There is a happy balance between difficult and impossible to enjoy, it's the latter. I won't go back again

Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 21
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Disappointed

I’ve played Black Bear many times and was truly disappointed in the condition of the course and especially the greens. It’s as if they weren’t watering the course.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 154
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 250 Contributor
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Food Great! - Course not so much....

I love the layout of this course, but the conditions were terrible. You would have a better roll of your ball in the parking lot, the greens were bumpy and in poor condition.

I hope they work on the conditions because I love this course and have been playing it for years.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart

Challenging Course

The hills and terrain make this course a small challenge for Central FL. Greens were bumpy and dried probably due to the weather. Course needed aerating and water. Otherwise ok for this time of year.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
1.0
Previously Played

Course is not in good shape

Owner not a friendly guy at all, shouldn’t be running a business

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Fair
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens really rough shape. Fairways thin and spotty. Maybe it's just the time of year but conditions are not good. The layout is good.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 29
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great layout. Tough conditions around the greens.

Grass is still not growing around the greens. You can't pitch chip or putt the ball easily. The only way you can get it on the green is to throw it. Haha. Great chili in the restaurant.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played
Hot weather
Used cart
Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Great Layout

Tough course- lots of fairway bunkers and small greens. This course had a "Tabacco Road" lite appeal- the only downside was the greens. They need some work but I'll be back once things improve. Great staff with a nice simple 19th Hole.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 50
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Better than you think.

The challenge of Blackbear is the elevated greens which were also quick. Number 9 green had some bad patches on the lower front otherwise ok. Greens overall could use better grass coverage. Traps were excellent although a few have erosion problems. In all traps you are allowed a free drop closer to the hole but in many cases that is unnecessary. A fun course in better shape than some have said.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0
Previously Played

Embarrassing shape

Shame on Black Bear for taking people’s money for its condition now. Greens are un-puttable and barely have grass on them. You would think you are putting on temporary greens. Fairways are not much better. Not worth the money. A shame.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

No grass greens

The course is starting to look rough around the edges, and the greens were kind of a paste mixture of fertilizer and sand, not a great experience, I think their better than that!

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Average
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