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Rating Index Rating
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4.1
444 Reviews (444)
5 Stars
280
4 Stars
105
3 Stars
40
2 Stars
14
1 Stars
5
Conditions
4.3
Value
3.5
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.2
76.1%
Recommend this course
404 out of 444 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
32 Reviews (32)
5 Stars
21
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.5
Value
4.0
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.8
87.5%
Recommend this course
28 out of 32 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
38 Reviews (38)
5 Stars
23
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
5
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.4
Value
3.8
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.8
81.6%
Recommend this course
31 out of 38 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
The staff consistently earns top marks for being genuinely friendly, helpful, and attentive from the clubhouse to the course. The layout impresses with a challenging, water-featured design that rewards big hitters and strategic play.

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 7279 yards
Slope 141
Rating 74.6

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.

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World Golf Village - King & Bear Golf Course
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Course Details

Year Built 2000
Fairways 419 Bermuda Grass
Greens 419 Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round. Peak Season: Mid-February - May
Architect Arnold Palmer (2000) Jack Nicklaus (2000) Ed Seay (2000) MacCurrach Golf (2017) Nicklaus (2017) Bruce Borland Jim Lipe

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fee
GPS Yes
Caddies Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Golf Simulator Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Indoor Practice Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Jacuzzi

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards

Available Sports

Tennis

Accolades

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Reviews

4.1
444 Reviews (444)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 37
Brunch 19
Dinner 15
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 74
Bunkers 71
Undulating Greens 47
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 54
A Weekend Splurge 44
A Bucket list/Top 100 Pick 43
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 42
At a Resort 35
Near Local Attractions 35

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great atmosphere!

Considering the course was recently aerated, it was a beautiful course. Nice touch with the apples (on ice) on 1 and 10 on such a hot day. The ranger was around to give us water and cool towels as well, but not pestering us. It was a nice experience.

Conditions Average
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

overall great course

Greens were so so due to recent aeration. bartender was very rude and needs to be fired.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 15
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

The course to play.

I am new to the Jacksonville area and have played seven different courses now. This was the best of them all. I enjoyed this course as much as TPC Sawgrass. It was in beautiful shape. The greens were true and speedy but still held approaches and chips. The driving range and warm up area was great and the staff was the most friendly, professional staff I have ever encountered. A must play course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Great Course

King and Bear looked great, the only thing I didnt really like was that you could still see where they had punched the greens. There wasnt any holes but it looked like they didnt fill the holes with enough sand. Other than that very nice course and the staff was great. The price was steep but if you get the hot deal its not so bad

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great experience

Course was in great shape, staff was very friendly and helpful, iced apples, plenty of ice water on the course/range. Couldn't ask for a better round of golf

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Beautiful course, well maintained, fun to play

Except for the rain-shortened round, this was a great time. Will definitely play again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

This course is great and a great restraunt staff and cart service

Simply a must play while in Florida. Great people, great course fast greens. Time your play and you can save some coin. Cart girl Terri was super duper.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 53
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Crown Jewel of the WGV.

This is a fine course. Absolutely beautiful. The staff was super friendly. The course was in fine shape. The course had recently been aerated but had bounced back very nicely. Fairways and tees in super shape. We thoroughly enjoyed our round. My only knock is that this course is a bit pricey for your average golfer. The course wasn't very busy especially for a Sat afternoon. Every golfer should play this course at least once.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The course is very good

I like this course. The greens were being aireated when we played so the greens were not at their best

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 87
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played

Normally a great place to play

However - I don't think it's right that they charge $129 for a course that's recently aerated their greens. Greens were bumpy and slow. Also - tried to grab a bite at the turn (at 3PM) and the kitchen was closed already.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good Florida Course

I have played this course 4 or 5 times over the years and it is always in good shape. The greens looked like they had been punched a few weeks earlier but they ran fine. If you are a design nut like I am you can definetely tell which holes are Jack's and which are Arnold's.
Most people prefer this course to Slammer and Squire, I am not one of them. While it is the nicer walk with more picturesque views, I prefer the track at S&S. I have played at WGV about 20 times, and I have choosen to play S&S most of them.
Both however are always in great shape and fun to play. Play both of them back to back and choose which one you like best. Hard to go wrong with either course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great layout, transitioning from aeration but still on good shape. One of the higher greens fees in the area though.

K&B is one of the best courses around, a real treat to play. Played about three weeks after aeration but it will be in perfect condition by mid July and will remain that way all summer.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
Previously Played

Not bad for the discounted price

Greens were a little bumpy and of average speed--found that disappointing. Fairways and boxes were in great shape. Rough is challenging. Played behind a foursome of members. On the 13th hole we were 40 mins behind per the marshall. Round took over 5 hours. They would not open the tips, which forced a friend I played with to play at 6800. He fired a 68 in large part because he could sting it around with a 3 wood all day. Overall not a bad course for the discounted price. No way worth the full price. There are a couple of courses in St. Johns county that are better buys.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

nice layout

The course had recently been aerated and I asked at the counter when I checked in and the person told me it was fine and the greens were rolling like normal. In fact he asked me if I played a few weeks ago and I said no. The truth is the fairways and greens still had holes. I was disappointed in that.

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Golf Now rate allowed me to enjoy a great course.

I love this course. Its long, wide, and challenging. It was really wet when I played so it wasn't at its best and it played even longer. But the greens were soft and smooth with a reasonable pace. I played Slammer & Squire the day before and its greens have not yet recovered from aeration. Normally, I don't get to play K&B because of the rate. Thank you Golf Now for providing me an affordable rate.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Wonderful Course to Play

I cannot give a high enough rating to the staff of this golf course. Everyone I met was incredibly friendly and eager to assist in any way. The golf course was in beautiful condition even though it was a little wet due to recent rain. It still played beautifully though. The greens rolled very true and the fairways and bunkers were immaculate. I will definitely be returning to this course on my next visit to the Jacksonville area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
oz4
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

The best greens I have ever seen!!

Breathtaking and very fun course ton play. Even though the pace of the course was slowed down by weather my friends and I had an unforgettable time playing this course. Superb experience!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Disappointed

Greens were terrible. I was Told they were punch 2 weeks ago

played and looked as if they just completed the job. The reason
for empty holes throughout the greens was from heavy rains
soon after the holes were punched. They could not return to the greens and over sand , they had TWO weeks!!!! . The greens were impossible to putt on.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Course

Enjoyed my round on a well maintained course. The King and Bear was worth the wait.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Well maintained course-excellent greens

Would recommend. Different tees allow various handicaps to play at their level. It is a good value at $89 rate, but not $169. Very cordial staff and good warmup facilities. Enjoyed very much.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
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