Disc Golf at Bill Frederick Park: A MetroWest Outdoor Favorite
Why the 183-acre regional park on Turkey Lake's west shore is Central Florida's go-to disc golf scene
Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake is a 183-acre City of Orlando regional park located at 3401 South Hiawassee Road, Orlando, FL 32835, on the west shore of Turkey Lake directly bordering the MetroWest community. The park offers multiple 18-hole disc golf courses included with general park admission, which is $5 per car or $2 for a driver-only vehicle. The flagship layout, called the Original Course, features open fairways along Turkey Lake, mild terrain changes, and a typical round of about two hours. The park is open daily from 8 a.m. and also includes a swimming pool, cabin and RV camping, a fishing pier, kayak rentals, a dedicated drone flying area, and miles of paved and natural trails.
Here's something most Orlando newcomers don't realize: one of the busiest disc golf scenes in Central Florida is happening five minutes off Kirkman Road, on a lake you've probably driven past a hundred times without noticing. That'd be Turkey Lake, and the place is Bill Frederick Park — a 183-acre City of Orlando regional park locals just call "Bill Frederick" or, if they're really old-school, "Turkey Lake."
For residents of MetroWest, it's effectively the neighborhood's back yard — the park's west boundary runs right up to the community, and plenty of MetroWest condos have Turkey Lake views looking straight across into it. For folks in Dr. Phillips, Windermere, Gotha, and Downtown Orlando, it's a short drive to one of the best disc golf setups in the metro.
The Lay of the Land: What You're Actually Playing
Disc golf is included with general park admission — no separate disc-golf-only fee, no club membership, no tee time. Pay $5 per car (or $2 if you're rolling solo as the driver only), park near the courses, and you're playing. Discs and course maps are sold at the entrance building.
The park hosts multiple 18-hole courses. The flagship is the Original Course — mostly open fairways alongside Turkey Lake, mild terrain changes for famously-flat Florida, and the kind of wind off the water that turns a routine hyzer into a character-building experience. A casual round takes about two hours and covers roughly 1.9 miles of walking. The PDGA course directory lists more wooded layouts on site as well, for players who prefer tighter, technical shots.
Course availability shifts around tournaments and special events — the city posts a disc golf closure schedule that's worth checking before you make the drive. If you're coming in from outside the immediate area, calling the park (407.246.4486) the day before is a smart move.
A Real Park, Not Just a Disc Golf Park
Bill Frederick is a full-service regional park — disc golf is just one of about a dozen things you can do there. The 183 acres include:
- A swimming pool (huge plus on a 92-degree July afternoon)
- Cabin rentals and an RV/tent campground — yes, you can camp inside Orlando city limits
- A fishing pier on Turkey Lake, which the city describes as one of the top-five rated fishing lakes in Florida
- Canoe and kayak rentals
- A dedicated drone flying area with power installed at the pavilion for charging battery packs
- Paved walking paths, hiking trails, sand volleyball, and outdoor fitness stations
- Horse stall boarding and pavilions of every size, plus two playgrounds
That mix is why Bill Frederick works as a family day rather than a disc golf hit-and-run. One person can throw 18 while the kids hit the playground and the rest of the crew posts up at a pavilion. Try doing that at a typical disc course.
A Quick History (Because You Asked)
The park is named for William "Bill" Frederick, Orlando's mayor from 1980 to 1992 — the run that bridged Orlando's citrus-town past and its theme-park-megacity future. The lakefront layout has anchored Orlando-area recreation since the 1970s, and the disc golf courses came later, riding the national boom of the 1990s and 2000s. The park has steadily added infrastructure since — most recently, a powered drone-flying pavilion.
Turkey Lake itself is part of the chain that defines Orlando's western edge. Its location made the park a natural anchor when MetroWest was master-planned in the 1980s, and it remains one of the area's strongest amenities — though strictly speaking it's a public regional park, not a MetroWest community asset.
Why MetroWest Residents Care (And Should Brag About It)
If you're house-hunting in MetroWest — or in the corridors that flank it, from Dr. Phillips down toward Restaurant Row, or up into Gotha — Bill Frederick is a quiet quality-of-life upgrade that doesn't show up on a Zillow listing. No HOA dues, no waiting on a community build-out.
For comparison: the next closest competitive course is Barnett Park in Pine Hills (about 5 miles north), then Prairie Lake in Ocoee or Airport Lakes near MCO at 7+ miles. MetroWest residents are spoiled for proximity here, and most don't realize how good they've got it until they move and have to drive 25 minutes to throw a round.
What to Bring (And What Not to Bother With)
Bring sunscreen, water, and bug spray. The Original Course is mostly open fairway, which in Florida summer means there's nowhere to hide from the sun between holes 4 and 13. The entrance shop carries discs if you forget yours, though selection is more "we have something for you" than "pro shop."
What not to bother with: alcohol (not allowed, and rangers enforce) or your full tournament bag for casual play. A starter pack in a backpack is plenty.
The Pros and Cons of a Day Here
The Pros
- Strong multi-course value for the entry fee — among the cheapest pay-to-play setups in the state
- Lakefront setting that doesn't feel like a typical urban park
- Family-friendly infrastructure that lets disc golf coexist with kids, swimmers, and picnickers
- Minutes from MetroWest, Dr. Phillips, and Universal
- Restrooms, drinking water, cart-friendly paths, pet-friendly areas
The Cons
- Tee pad signage on some holes is showing its age — reviewers regularly mention faded signs
- Wind off Turkey Lake is no joke, especially on the open Original Course
- Park closes at 5 p.m. for much of the year (with seasonal extensions), which kills the after-work round
- It can get crowded on weekends — go early or go on a Tuesday
Getting There
The address is 3401 South Hiawassee Road, Orlando, FL 32835. From I-4, take Kirkman Road (exit 75B) north about 1.8 miles, west on Conroy Road about 1.5 miles, then north on Hiawassee. From Horizon West or Windermere, you'll typically come in via Apopka-Vineland Road or SR 408. Drive times:
- MetroWest — 5 minutes (often less)
- Dr. Phillips — 10–15 minutes
- Universal Studios area — 10 minutes
- Downtown Orlando — 15–20 minutes
- Windermere — 15–20 minutes
What the Locals Know
Bill Frederick Park is one of those Orlando assets that punches well above its profile. It's not on the tourism brochures, and it doesn't have an Instagrammable name. But if you live in MetroWest or anywhere on Orlando's west side, it's a recurring backdrop for weekend mornings and "let's just get out of the house" Saturdays. Disc golf is the headliner, but the campground, the lake, the pool, and the trails are why so many local families end up here without ever picking up a disc.
If you're new to the area: pay the $5, take a slow first lap of the Original Course, and treat it as recon. By round two you'll know which fairways punish a forehand and which holes demand respect for the wind off Turkey Lake. 🥏
For current hours, course closure dates, fees, and reservation info, visit the official Bill Frederick Park at Turkey Lake page on the City of Orlando website.
Considering a home near Bill Frederick Park? Browse our MetroWest community guide, or contact our team for personalized neighborhood and relocation advice across Central Florida.
