King and Bear Golf Course at World Golf Village
About
The King & Bear Course at World Golf Village is named for its designers, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. It is the first and only collaboration between the two legendary golfers. Combining the contrasting styles of the two designers created a challenging course that incorporates features from both traditional Scottish-links courses and new traditions in American golf. The course is known for the numerous lakes bordered by large coquina rock that come into play throughout. The front nine is dotted with loblolly pines while decades-old oak trees provide shade for the back nine. In addition to King & Bear, World Golf Village also offers another excellent 18-hole course, Slammer & Squire.
| Tee | Par | Length | Rating | Slope |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone | 72 | 7279 yards | 74.6 | 141 |
| Black | 72 | 6855 yards | 72.5 | 138 |
| Blue | 72 | 6506 yards | 70.6 | 133 |
| Blue/White Blended | 72 | 6217 yards | 69.2 | 132 |
| White | 72 | 5987 yards | 68.4 | 129 |
| White (W) | 72 | 5987 yards | 74.3 | 136 |
| White/Green Blended (W) | 72 | 5501 yards | 71.4 | 128 |
| White/Green Blended | 72 | 5501 yards | 66.1 | 117 |
| Green (W) | 72 | 5119 yards | 69.4 | 123 |
| Green | 72 | 5119 yards | 64.7 | 110 |
| Hole | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | Out | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | In | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stone M: 74.6/141 | 436 | 163 | 412 | 557 | 200 | 360 | 467 | 427 | 563 | 3585 | 426 | 435 | 227 | 383 | 546 | 194 | 573 | 462 | 448 | 3694 | 7279 |
| Black M: 72.5/138 | 406 | 148 | 373 | 531 | 179 | 334 | 441 | 409 | 540 | 3361 | 399 | 412 | 208 | 354 | 532 | 180 | 542 | 437 | 430 | 3494 | 6855 |
| Blue M: 70.6/133 W: 76.8/141 | 375 | 137 | 349 | 521 | 154 | 311 | 416 | 390 | 527 | 3180 | 381 | 393 | 181 | 343 | 519 | 157 | 529 | 416 | 407 | 3326 | 6506 |
| Blue/White M: 69.2/132 W: 75.2/139 | 356 | 137 | 349 | 521 | 133 | 311 | 384 | 324 | 496 | 3011 | 371 | 353 | 181 | 343 | 497 | 157 | 508 | 389 | 407 | 3206 | 6217 |
| White M: 68.4/129 W: 74.3/136 | 356 | 123 | 315 | 484 | 133 | 302 | 384 | 324 | 496 | 2917 | 371 | 353 | 167 | 309 | 497 | 147 | 508 | 389 | 329 | 3070 | 5987 |
| White/Green M: 66.1/117 W: 71.4/128 | 307 | 123 | 315 | 436 | 133 | 302 | 310 | 324 | 373 | 2623 | 342 | 328 | 167 | 309 | 434 | 147 | 449 | 373 | 329 | 2878 | 5501 |
| Green M: 64.7/110 W: 69.4/123 | 307 | 96 | 265 | 436 | 118 | 220 | 310 | 283 | 373 | 2408 | 342 | 328 | 146 | 257 | 434 | 125 | 449 | 373 | 257 | 2711 | 5119 |
| Handicap | 3 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 17 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 13 | 6 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 2 | |||
| Par | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 36 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 36 | 72 |
| Handicap (W) | 1 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 17 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 18 | 6 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 14 |
Course Details
Rentals/Services
Practice/Instruction
Policies
Food & Beverage
RestaurantAvailable Facilities
Clubhouse, JacuzziAvailable Activities
Swimming, BilliardsAvailable Sports
TennisAccolades
Reviews
Reviewer Photos
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King & Bear, hole 11 Photo submitted by TimGavrichGP on 06/28/2022
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Photo submitted by u705588131 on 02/27/2022
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Photo submitted by u705588131 on 02/27/2022
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King & Bear 1st tee Photo submitted by Icanhackit on 11/12/2021
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Photo submitted by usgolfwu on 04/07/2020
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Photo submitted by usgolfwu on 04/07/2020
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Photo submitted by scrooge75 on 12/20/2013
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Photo submitted by scrooge75 on 12/20/2013
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Photo submitted by scrooge75 on 12/20/2013
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Hole 3 Photo submitted by u000006149247 on 10/09/2013
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Photo submitted by William2950144 on 07/04/2013
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Photo submitted by VernonG9044437 on 04/19/2013
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Photo submitted by VernonG9044437 on 04/19/2013
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Photo submitted by VernonG9044437 on 04/19/2013
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#14 Photo submitted by u000007030060 on 04/08/2013
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Houses along #14. Photo submitted by u000007030060 on 04/08/2013
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#1 Photo submitted by u000007030060 on 04/08/2013
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Boardwalk from #1 green to #2 tee. Photo submitted by u000007030060 on 04/08/2013
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Photo submitted by u000005782350 on 02/05/2013
Great course
Staff from the start was awesome. Very welcoming environment for non-members. Practice area was in great shape. Great open fairways and challenging greens.will definetly be back.
Beautiful Layout in Great Shape
This course is a beautiful, challenging layout with water in play on most of the holes. Course was in immaculate condition and greens were perfect.
Bear and Grinning
Awesome course. Wish it was a little less money but i do see why they get the rate.
Will be playing in a tourney here in June hope it is as nice then as it was today.
Golf At Its Best
KIng and Bear is awesome. Fairways are lush and the greens are as good as they get. Great service from arrival to departure. Range balls, apples at tee boxes are added bonus. #16 is Mr Palmer's favorite hole and it is beautiful expecially the green surrounded by large rock wall. A must play course.
Amazing experience
This is a bucket list course. My barometer as far as top notch courses to compare it to is Harbor Town ,with wider fairways.I actually prefer the King and The Bear.From start to finish the people there cater to you. practice range was great. Fairways were plush and greens were smooth and fast. The clubhouse was quite an experience also.If you have the opportunity to play here,, you wont be disappointed.
Overpriced
I have played it multiple time . I'm hoping this was a transition time between the overseed and Bermuda grass coming in . Fairways where thin and greens where not good! Very disappointed for the price we paid!
A wonderful and hospital place to play golf
A visit to this course was a 'blow out' treat at the end of a holiday that included a trip to The Masters.
The whole experience was excellent from the bag drop to the farewell after a very good value lunch. This is a well-oiled machine manned by delightful people who are well trained and make the experience excellent.
The golf course was in wonderful condition and amongst the best I have played (including the Brabazon at The Belfry and The PGA at Gleneagles). The whole environment was superb and we had such a good day my son encouraged me to go on and play the sister course!
This was the most expensive round of golf I have ever paid for myself but it is a course I shall definitely play again. If you are the area you MUST play this course, if only once as a treat!
Good Golf Experience
Enjoyed the layout of this golf course. Front nine is different topography then back nine. Front has elevation changes approaching the green - down and up, deep bunkers are a result (one is over your head). Back is playing golf in a flat open parkland.
Bunkers, front & back 9s, have steep, deep lips to them. Sand ok but best to 'really' avoid them. There are 'middle of the fairway' bunkers.
Back tees encounter side water on most holes. Some holes have sandy areas where the carts use in lieu of a cart path.
Fairway grass is green, no weeds. Tee boxes excellent shape. Greens good. Asked about grass collar on Hole #17 (read prior GAdv review - different type of grass & color) but didn't get any answer. Could put thru with no issue.
Putting fast and affected by subtle changes greens. Long rangers can be thru 2 - 3 changes. Putting can add 10 strokes if your not careful.
Fun and Challenging
Pace of play was slow. My group was behind 2 walkers and 1 cart. The whole day. Course has lots of water so every shot is a challenge. Greens are hard to read but very fast and very smooth. Had a good time and would love to play again. Every one there was very nice and did a good job. Every hole was so nice to look at.
Great Experience
It is a great course. It is in excellent condition. The layout is terrific, providing golfers of all levels with a fair test.. It has a good mix of holes that that were both in and out of my comfort zone. If you are visiting the St Augustine area, don't miss the chance to play The King & the Bear. The course, the club house, the pro shop and the staff provide for a great experience.
I'll Be Back
K and B is a fun course and multiple tee options allow you to make it as challenging as you want. The greens were true and quick. My one question is why ring every green with a collar of grass that a) doesn't match, b) is three times greener than any other grass on the curse, and c) is a new kind of hazard I've never encountered before. Putting from off the green was next to impossible as the collar was a different height than either side of it. Hopefully it will grow in and blend in as the other grasses grow this summer.
Bucket List, and worth the visit
Ok so played the sister/brother course in the morning. Had the proshop book us for their double play. Both courses for one price. They booked us two tee times and gave us time for lunch. We were fine in the morning pace was great, in the afternoon at King and Bear, it was obviously overbooked..the group in front of us was two 4-somes that played as an 8 some. They slowed the course down a lot, over a 5 hr round. No course rangers to keep pace of play, called pro shop, and seemed very unconcerned about pace of play. We asked for cart girl to come out and she did met up with us by the next hole. We saw her a ton on front 9. Just be prepared to play a slow round here, especially if it's afternoon. They have a lot of groups play both courses. Worth the wait great layout, lots of water, challenging. but not too hard. Put it on your bucket list you will not be disappointed. I PROMISE
Great Layout
The King and the Bear bring the creative course designs of Nicklaus and Palmer together. If enjoy challenging length and strategic shot making this course will deliver! Excellent staff, facilities, course conditions
Great resort course
The wind was steady at 30 and gusts to 45 made for a tough day. The course was still in good condition and the greens were receptive. The course is on the expensive side, but worth it, if only once.
King and Bear
Good course. typical Nicholas design. greens hard to read at first.
Top Shelf - Under Construction Florida Resort Course
Tee to Green, well designed...some memorable holes...greens/tees in great condition...fairways pretty good....rough penal as it should be. Only turf issue was fringe...with greens rolling pretty well, should be able to putt or chip from fringe...not the case today...fringe thick...nearly impossible to putt with any speed control from even 1foot off.
Under Construction: Where this course really falls short of the $179 asking and even the $89 golf now deals is the environment surrounding the course. I have played great golf across the country and what stands out to me is premiere golf in a natural setting. I could only recall 2-3 holes tops that were not lined with houses/condos/thru roads. Too be clear; the homes are not right on top of you...and are nice...but they are present at every turn. What makes the setting even less appealing is the ongoing construction of new houses/condos on several of the holes.
It's too bad...this course on a natural Florida wilderness setting would command the current rates. Hope this review helps your decision to spend your golf dollars. I would play Slammer and Squire if deciding between the two.
What a Gem!
This golf course was in tremendous condition-best greens in Jacksonville area....I highly recommend that you play this course No rating on food as we did not eat at course
I battled the bear!
I love this course. I paid only 8$ with my 75$ voucher how sweet is that? course is well maintained and in excellent shape. challenging for any level golfer because it has multiple tee boxes.
Pricy but worth it.
The course is designed by Arnold and jack so it is very amazing to play. Mostly challenging with some water but the layout does include some easier holes.
King & bear
Great course. fairways needed cut and bunkers needed work. A little pricey but worth the afternoon deal on "golf now" $89 after 1:00. Would not advise paying full price.