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Rating Index Rating
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4.0
428 Reviews (428)
5 Stars
270
4 Stars
103
3 Stars
38
2 Stars
13
1 Stars
4
Conditions
4.1
Value
3.3
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.4
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.1
74.0%
Recommend this course
392 out of 428 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.6
17 Reviews (17)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
5
3 Stars
1
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.6
Value
3.9
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.9
94.1%
Recommend this course
16 out of 17 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
28 Reviews (28)
5 Stars
14
4 Stars
8
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.3
Value
3.6
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
4.8
82.1%
Recommend this course
23 out of 28 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

4.0
428 Reviews (428)

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 12
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Amazing Golf Day

We played at the King and The Bear and found this course to be in fantastic shape.

The fairways were wide open and very forgiving for our husbands slices. For the women not having many water hazards was a blessing.

A very fun day of play prior to heading to golf school on Jekyll Island

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 6
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 86
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 53
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Georgia Advisor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

K&B > S&S @ WGV, but...

At the World Golf Village you should expect no less. Challenging joint Arnie-Jack layout; tougher than Slammer & Squire, with more of water and sand plus some "faced" greens. Great conditions throughout, although greens weren't 100% back from aeration a month ago. Great staff, starter, bev cart, etc. Good conditions throughout, however -

Greens weren't back from aeration a couple weeks ago. Sure, courses have to do this but it really detracted from the round not to be able to get a smooth putt. S&S was punched a month ago and not 100% back so figure 6 weeks for full recovery in wet FL.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Previously Played

Mind Blowing Upset

We were so looking forward to returning & playing the King & Bear, but had one of the worst experiences. It began with David in the pro shop…seemed like we were bothering him and he was the most unfriendliest person we have encountered at a golf course. We requested a cart for our wives to ride and was charged $31 plus tax & resort fees per wife. Also we were charged more at the course compared to our tee off confirmation. He stated it did not matter want the email said…he had to charge what his computer charges were. The course was not busy, so charging $62 plus taxes & resort fee for an extra cart was ludicrous. The course was not in good shape….no one told us the greens were aeriated recently. Tee boxes, fairways & approach’s were in fair condition. Overall, very very disappointed.

Conditions Poor
Pace Average
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

King and bear

Friendliest staff I have ever had from the bag drop to the rangers everyone went out of their way. Greens were punched a couple of weeks ago so some were a little bumpy but a great layout hard but fair

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 15
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
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
Conditions Excellent
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 12
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Review of King and Bear

Excellent staff. Amenities were great. Facilities were clean and appealing. Course was in decent shape. Looked like it had had lots of play and divots in the fairways were numerous without repair or sand. Greens were fantastic. Beautiful layout.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

I'm falling in love with the King and the Bear

I've always liked the Slammer & Squire more than the King and the Bear. This was about my 5th time on the K & B. I'm starting to remember to go up and look at where the water comes in on holes. The greens are not easy to read, but I'm starting to "feel" the breaks with my feet. It is a very interesting, challenging layout. The people in the clubhouse and on the course were very helpful. Love the driving range and practice greens.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Previously Played
Wet weather
Used cart

Ripoff

Not surprisingly, conditions were very wet after considerable rainfall the previous day. The driving range was closed and all of the pins were located on extreme positions close to the edge of every green, yet we were still charged the full rate of $159 per person. I understand trying to protect the course but don't charge a premium price if you don't provide the full experience.

Conditions Average
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Wet weather
Used cart

WGV - King and Bear Fun Course

Had a wonderful time playing the King and Bear course today with some first timers. Overcast and sprinkled on the front 9 but cleared up on the back. We played the blended white and blue tees and recommend them for 15-18 handicap players. (I shot a 48-40) The course greens were punched about 13 days prior so they were not at their best. I also played this course 3 weeks prior and the greens were fantastic. I agree with a prior reviewer's comments about the fun of guessing who designed each hole. I love the two par 3s on the back nine and I scored much better on the back also. (40) Par 5s are not that challenging but several of the par 4s' like number 2, 8, 9, 12, 15, and 16 are a good challenge for mid handicappers. I will be back.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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Golf Packages

World Golf Village Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL | Enjoy accommodations at your choice of several St. Augustine-area hotels and golf at World Golf Village - Slammer & Squire and King & Bear Courses.
Slammer & Squire at World Golf Village - Hole 2

World Golf Village Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL | Enjoy accommodations at your choice of several St. Augustine-area hotels and golf at World Golf Village - Slammer & Squire and King & Bear Courses.

Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $357 (USD)
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa and up to 4 rounds of golf at your choice of TPC Sawgrass - PLAYERS Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass – Dye's Valley Course, South Hampton Golf Course, and St. John’s Golf Course.

Omni Amelia Island Resort Stay & Play Package

FROM $427 (USD)
FERNANDINA BEACH, FL | Enjoy up to 5 nights’ accommodations at the Omni Amelia Island Resort and up to 4 rounds of golf at OMNI Amelia Island - Oak Marsh Course.

Jekyll Island Stay & Play Package

CLICK BELOW
JEKYLL ISLAND, GA | Enjoy lodging accommodations at the Hampton Inn & Suites Jekyll Island or the Home2 Suites by Hilton Jekyll Island and golf at Jekyll Island Golf Club - Pine Lakes, Indian Mound, or Great Dunes courses.
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