Falcon's Fire & Nearby Golf Courses a Short Drive from Hunter's Creek
Beyond Hunter's Creek Golf Club, championship fairways are closer than you think
Hunter's Creek is a master-planned community in south Orlando, FL, located approximately 10–15 minutes from Walt Disney World and 10 minutes from Orlando International Airport. Falcon's Fire Golf Club, a Rees Jones-designed public championship course at 3200 Seralago Blvd, Kissimmee, is the closest top-tier option for Hunter's Creek golfers, about 8–10 minutes away. The course opened in 1993, measures 7,006 yards from the back tees, carries a slope rating of 135 and a USGA rating of 73.2, and has earned a Golf Digest Four Star Award. Celebration Golf Club in nearby Celebration, designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr. and opened in 1996, is roughly 15 minutes away and stretches 7,028 yards with a slope of 140.
Here's something golfers considering a move to Hunter's Creek will want to know upfront: the community's own golf club, the historic Hunter's Creek Golf Club, is currently closed and undergoing a significant transition. Sold to homebuilder Park Square Homes in 2020, the course's future remains under community review.
But here's the thing — that's not the end of the story for Hunter's Creek golfers. Not even close. This community sits in one of the most golf-dense corridors in Central Florida, with multiple championship-caliber public courses within a 10–20 minute drive. Falcon's Fire Golf Club leads that list, and it's worth every minute of the commute.
Falcon's Fire Golf Club: The Closest Flagship Course
Roughly 8–10 minutes south of Hunter's Creek via John Young Parkway to US-192, Falcon's Fire Golf Club is widely considered one of the finest public courses in all of Central Florida. Designed by the legendary Rees Jones — son of golf architecture patriarch Robert Trent Jones Sr. — the course opened in 1993 at 3200 Seralago Blvd in Kissimmee and has been collecting accolades ever since.
The numbers tell part of the story: 18 holes, par 72, stretching 7,006 yards from the back tees, with a USGA rating of 73.2 and a slope of 135. Four sets of tees make it genuinely playable for all skill levels. Golf Digest awarded it four stars, Golf & Travel included it in "Florida's 50 Finest Golf Courses," and Golf for Women named it one of "America's Top 15 Women-Friendly Courses."
The design is classically strategic: wide-open enough for aggressive play, but beautifully bunkered to punish inaccuracy. Water hazards intensify on the back nine, where hole names like "Watery Grave" and "Test of Courage" set the tone. An all-natural turf driving range, short game area, large putting green, and GPS-equipped carts round out the experience.
Why Hunter's Creek Residents Love It
Beyond the course quality, Falcon's Fire earns its reputation as a serious tournament venue. It hosted the Senior PGA Tour Regional Finals for four years and the Oldsmobile Scramble National Finals for eight years. The National Association of Golf Tournament Directors has repeatedly recognized it as one of the "Top 10 Golf Tournament Facilities" in North America. For Hunter's Creek residents who play in leagues or corporate events, this caliber of infrastructure nearby is a genuine perk.
Falcon's Fire also operates a Flight Club membership program tailored for Florida residents, offering discounted rates on green fees, the Golf Shop, and the on-site Falcon's Nest Restaurant. If you're going to be playing multiple rounds per month, this membership can make a real dent in your costs. Complimentary valet parking is another touch that separates Falcon's Fire from the average daily-fee course.
Celebration Golf Club: A Legend 15 Minutes Away
Head about 15 minutes northwest and you arrive at Celebration Golf Club in Celebration. This is a genuinely special course: one of only three in the world co-designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr., and their final collaboration before Sr.'s passing in 2000.
Opened in 1996, it stretches 7,028 yards from the back tees (par 72), with a slope of 140 and a USGA rating of 74.5, consistently ranking among the top 10 public courses in Orlando. Five tee boxes keep it accessible at every skill level. Water comes into play on 17 of 18 holes, native oaks and pines frame the fairways, and the atmosphere leans firmly toward "private country club" despite being fully open to the public. The Windmill Restaurant is a local favorite for the post-round recap.
The club has hosted the U.S. Senior Open Qualifier, the Robert Gamez Celebrity Invitational, and the Golf Channel's Drive, Chip and Putt Finals. It's located at 701 Golfpark Dr, Kissimmee, just steps from the charming town of Celebration.
More Fairways Within a Short Drive
Hunter's Creek's location puts several other strong options within reach. Here's a quick look at what else is on the map:
Kissimmee Bay Country Club (~15 Minutes)
A semi-private 18-hole, par-71 course designed by Lloyd Clifton — the same architect behind the original Hunter's Creek Golf Club — Kissimmee Bay Country Club was cut out of a natural oak forest, giving it a very different character than the open, water-heavy courses common in Central Florida. Century-old oaks, towering cypress trees, and a dozen distinct water hazards make for a round with genuine personality. Memberships are available, though the course also accommodates visitors. Visit our Kissimmee sports and recreation guide for more local golf and recreation resources.
Walt Disney World Golf (~15–20 Minutes)
Disney's golf operation in Lake Buena Vista offers three 18-hole championship courses: the Magnolia, Palm, and Lake Buena Vista layouts. The Magnolia has hosted PGA Tour events and is one of the most famous resort courses in the Southeast. Green fees run higher, but for a special-occasion round the conditions and atmosphere are hard to beat.
Orange County National Golf Center (~30 Minutes)
A bit farther north near Winter Garden, Orange County National has hosted PGA Tour qualifying events and offers two full 18-hole championship courses (Panther Lake and Crooked Cat) along with a 9-hole short course. It's considered one of the best daily-fee golf complexes in all of Florida, and the drive up SR-429 from Hunter's Creek is easy and straightforward.
A Note on Hunter's Creek Golf Club
No article about golf near Hunter's Creek would be complete without addressing the elephant in the room. The community's namesake course — an 18-hole, par-72 layout designed by Lloyd Clifton that opened in 1986 on 188 acres, once rated among Golf Digest's top 75 public courses nationally and a founding member of the Orlando Golf Trail — was sold to Park Square Homes in late 2020. The course is currently closed and undergoing renovation, with its future use subject to a community vote. The Hunter's Creek Community Association has stated it supports a "well-run" golf course returning to the property, so there may be more good news ahead. We'll keep our Hunter's Creek golf courses page updated as developments unfold.
What the Locals Know
Yes, the on-site course is in a state of transition — but Falcon's Fire is 10 minutes away, Celebration Golf Club is 15, and multiple other championship courses are within easy reach. For golfers weighing a relocation to south Orlando, the fairways are very much open for business.
Falcon's Fire is the clear anchor right now: Rees Jones pedigree, tournament history, fully public, year-round conditions. Throw in Celebration Golf Club's legendary father-son design legacy just down the road, and you've got a 1-2 punch most communities would envy. 🏌️
For tee times, membership options, and current green fees, visit the official Falcon's Fire Golf Club website.
Thinking about living in Hunter's Creek or the surrounding south Orlando area? Browse our Hunter's Creek homes for sale, explore our Hunter's Creek sports and recreation guide, or check out the Kissimmee community guide to see what the broader area has to offer.
