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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.

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Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Lots of interesting designed holes

We decided to play the White tees which measure just under 6000 yards. The Blues play at just under 6600. That would have been a bit much for some of us. Wish they had a set of tees somewhere in between. Course was in very good shape, but I wouldn't call it "pristine", especially the greens. I thought they were a little bit slow, probably due to a recent aeration. They were playable though. The green fee is steep; however, we got a discounted rate via golfnow.com. Issue is that the number of available discounted tee times is very limited, and the earliest was late morning.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Very nice course.

Course was in excellent condition. Staff from check in to starter to ranger were all very friendly. Pace of play could be improved as we waited at almost every tee. You will have to be able to play your tee shots left-right or right-left depending on the hole. Greens are quick and the breaks are deceiving. A very challenging and humbling course.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser

Nice course but the prestige of being in the World Golf Village makes it an expensive treat.

The course was in good condition and I played with a member and his wife who were the nicest people. In my opinion is not a 169+tax course but more of a 120.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great Layout

Played the Blue Tees - Appoximately 6300-6500 yds, I believe. Most holes are straight forward with ample landing areas. Great variety of holes, every club in your bag will probably be used. Green complexes outstanding -smooth and fast greens. Nice, well maintained bunkers.

One of the nicer courses that I've played. Good practice putting green, practice hole, and range.

No GPS on carts as advertised. Used my rangefinder. Course is located approximately 3-4 miles away from Golf Hall of Fame - next visit will play Slammer and Squire which is conveniently located right at the World Golf Village/Hall of Fame.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Fast Greens

If your after the challenge of a Professional this would be the course. Only a couple days after very heavy rains the course was in excellent shape. A lot of workers were out making sure the course was in pristine shape. Two cart girls circling so you didn't have to wait for anything.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 30
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Nice course

Both wgv courses are fantastic. Pricey until the summer

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 10
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

King & Bear worth it

The course is on phenomenal condition. And the layout is beautiful. It is a great place to treat yourself to an outstanding round of golf.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Loved the course!

If I could have stayed out of the bunkers - a nearly impossible task with the number there are - I would have had a chance to shoot my handicap. It was a fantastic day!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0

Great Course

This course is totally pristine and absolutely beautiful, as well as a challenge to play. If you're lucky, you might see a few of the local residence swimming in the water holes. (alligators).

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 33
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

absolutely fantastic course

Jack Nicklas design...lots of bunkers. Bring your best short game, greens and entire course is in fantastic condition. Bunkers are very deep but sand is soft and fluffy, still a challenge to get out.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 43
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great condition. Beautiful course!!!!! Loved every minute of it.

See above. Only slight negative was a slower rate of play than I'm accustomed to.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Phenomenal - A MUST

The course lives up to the rep of the names it bears, no pun intended. Played the black tees. Driving the ball is a premium or you will have long approaches or be living in the lakes. The whole experience was top notch.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
2.0

No Bang for the Buck....

Was hoping that the course was BETTER than it's "sister course" the Slammer and Squire, but was definitely wrong. Play was LONG and the course did not manage the pace of play. Extremely slow groups and the only course warden was overloaded. The course was good, but the frustration build up due to slow play made the overall experience negative. Disappointed overall, but any bad day on the course beats a good day at work.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Was an excellent experience.

Very few players due to final round of Master's was being televised,so pace of play was 3 hours. Excellent course in excellent condition.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
2.0
Verified Purchaser

Poor condition

The course can be nice but WAY overpriced. Not nearly worth the money it charges. Not even for half of the full price. A twosome was squeezed in between us at the turn and the pace of play slowed down dramatically. The course was also in poor shape for the money they charged. I would recommend if the price was cheaper and in much better shape.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 23
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

AWESOME !!!

The title says it all. Yes it is expensive but worth treating yourself once and awhile.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays Twice a year
I Recommend This Course
5.0

BEST COURSE in Jacksonville FLORIDA

Best Course you can play in Florida.. Great Design with great conditions of the course and True rolling greens.... JUST ALL AROUND GREAT COURSE TO PLAY>>>

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Poor
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Superb

This is a fantastically laid out course. Plenty of water and well-placed obstacles. Trees and landscape has excellent maturity for the course's age. Extremely friendly staff; very helpful and courteous.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Greens were in excellent condition, beautiful course

The course was between average and challenging, the holes were challenging but you could recover easily.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser

Very nice course but tough.

Great course very challenging, lots of water. Approach shots are extremely important.

Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
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