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Rating Index Rating
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4.1
443 Reviews (443)
5 Stars
279
4 Stars
105
3 Stars
40
2 Stars
14
1 Stars
5
Conditions
4.2
Value
3.4
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.5
Pace
3.8
Amenities
4.2
75.8%
Recommend this course
403 out of 443 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
31 Reviews (31)
5 Stars
20
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
2
2 Stars
1
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.5
Value
3.9
Layout
4.7
Pace
4.1
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.8
87.1%
Recommend this course
27 out of 31 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.3
37 Reviews (37)
5 Stars
22
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
81.1%
Recommend this course
30 out of 37 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
443 Reviews (443)

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 11
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played

What a treat

The course is incredible, from the layout and conditions to the staff. Anyone who lives in NE FL or is passing through should try to play this track at least twice a year at a minimum to nremind themselves of what a top notch golf course is all about.

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
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

Being a first time player, something showing the course layout would be nice to have.

Conditions Excellent
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Nice course recovering from winter

Course was a nice layout but it had many sod patches apparent around the greens and bunkers, presumably from winter damage. this impacted my lie on several occasions.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice round of golf

Course was great condition, great layout and staff.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Course

Great course, beautiful design. It was a little dry but there had been a drought and it still played very well. And well worth it when you get the deal on GolfNow.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A great challenge

one thing, they should have a combo between the ladies tee and the man. Playing at 5100 yards is to short for me and the man tee is to long. Small greens with ups and down. I loved it.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Windy weather
Used cart

Worthy of the King

Definitely a course worthy of the King moniker. Mr. Palmer and Mr. Nicklaus did a great job of putting together a challenging course that was also fun to play. The large undulating greens definitely called for some local knowledge which we did not have in our group, playing to the right part of the green is at a premium or you face a very tough putt. The conditions were excellent and the short 20 minute drive from Jacksonville made it easy to get to while my wife was busy in the city. I will definitely return.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
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
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 17
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser

Great golf course

Great golf course, piece of play was good, condition of course was great. The price of the teatime was good only because I got a hot deal from the golf now otherwise the normal price is a little steep.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Course

As always it was a treat to play. Conditions were wonderful. Loved those apples!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Perfect weather
Used cart

Very Nice but Too Costly

The course is laid out beautifully and is in very good shape. PLayed the blue tees at 6500 and water really did not come into play. Greens hold well and are not fast. Played thru 3 groups so play was fast - had I been stuck behind a couple of the member walking groups it would have been slow..

Check in is very pleasant and the apples on 1 & 10 are a really nice touch.

Very nice course but I would never pay full price so would only play again with a great golf now discount.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Spectacular experience

The only Palmer Nicklaus coarse in the World!

Need I say anymore?

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Track !!!

In wonderful condition and great pace of play even on a Saturday. Super friendly and attentive staff!! Well worth the play!!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Expectation and Reality Clash

1). Map GPS route for Bear & King lead to a deadened street.

2). Bear and King course not integrated with World Golf Village proper.

3). Unbeknowns to me, the course was under substantial repair.

4). Only the back 9 was available for play...played it twice in under 3 hours.

5). The back 9 was also under repair in places, so if you landed there you had to move your ball out.

6). I was charged $100.00+ for half a course?

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Only 9 holes open

It was a great experience but we weren't told only 9 holes were open for play until we arrived for our tee time. The staff was awesome got us out at there sister course slammer and the squire. It was awesome as well. Looking forward to playing 18 holes next time

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 38
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice track

Good layout , great shape , good challenge even from front tees.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 11
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

King & Bear

First time playing the course since it's 5 hours from home. There was a member tournament that started 15 minutes before my time. This made the round miserable since there was a wait of 20-30 minutes per hole. Took 5.5 hours to play! But the course layout was very nice. I played from the tips which played out over 7k yards. Fairway was to high and back 9 greens are over watered. If you haven't played here, I do recommend playing despite my bad experience

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Good
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