Clermont Sports & Athletics Guide

Legends Golf & Country Club is ranked #1 in Top Ten Golf Courses in Central Florida, offering incredible elevation drops up to 300 feet and 8-mile views. Clermont National Golf Course was named Best Golf Course in South Lake County for 2024 and 2025 and features a Top 50 Driving Range in America. Green Valley Country Club provides over 50 years of community tradition with rolling hills and scenic lake views. These courses offer something rare in Florida - true elevation changes that create a mountain golf experience.

Yes, Clermont offers several public golf options. Clermont National Golf Course and Green Valley Country Club both welcome public play, while Legends Golf & Country Club offers public tee times. Clerbrook Golf & RV Resort also provides access to resort guests and visitors. Most courses offer memberships for frequent players as well as daily rates for visitors seeking the unique elevated terrain golf experience.

Clermont offers exceptional fitness options led by the world-class National Training Center (37,000 sq ft facility with Olympic-level amenities). Fitness CF has two large locations including a 38,000 sq ft South Clermont facility with three studios and a giant video wall. National chains like Planet Fitness ($15/month starting) and Anytime Fitness (24/7 access) provide affordable options. Specialized studios include HOTWORX for infrared fitness, Burn Boot Camp for women's training, and various yoga and Pilates studios. The city's athletic culture ensures high-quality facilities for all fitness levels.

Clermont offers comprehensive youth sports through several excellent organizations. Reach South Lake provides basketball, soccer, volleyball, football, and dance with more games than traditional leagues. Clermont FC Soccer Club (since 1992) offers competitive soccer with professional-level coaching at affordable prices. i9 Sports serves ages 3-16 in flag football, soccer, volleyball, basketball, and baseball with convenient same-day practice and games. South Lake Little League and South Lake Youth Sports provide baseball and softball programs. The city's athletic culture ensures quality instruction and community support for all youth sports.

The Clermont Chain of Lakes offers exceptional boating through 11 interconnected pristine lakes designated as an Outstanding Florida Waterway. Cypress Cove Marina on Lake Minnehaha provides full-service slip rentals and boat rentals with direct access to the entire chain. Waterfront Park at Lake Minneola offers a public 10-slip dock and boat ramp. Lake Louisa is the largest at 3,573 acres, while Lake Minnehaha and Lake Minneola provide the deepest waters. The tea-colored waters wind through cypress-lined canals connecting all lakes, offering miles of scenic cruising, fishing hotspots, and wildlife viewing. Multiple boat rental companies including Carefree Boat Club, Butler Boat Rental, and Catboat Escapes make boating accessible to all.

Clermont is known as "The Choice of Champions" for good reason - it's home to the world-renowned National Training Center where Olympic athletes train on a 400-meter Eurotan track and Olympic-sized pool. The city's unique rolling hills (the only significant elevation in Florida) attract professional athletes from over 25 countries for cycling, running, and triathlon training. Championship golf courses feature elevation drops up to 300 feet, creating a mountain golf experience unlike anywhere else in Florida. The Clermont Chain of Lakes Outstanding Florida Waterway provides 11 interconnected lakes for water sports. Whether you're an Olympic athlete or weekend warrior, Clermont offers elite facilities and natural terrain found nowhere else in the state.

The National Training Center (NTC) is a 300-acre world-class athletic facility part of Orlando Health South Lake Hospital. It features a 400-meter track designed for Olympic speed, a 70-meter Olympic pool, 37,000 sq ft fitness center, Human Performance Lab, five athletic fields, and softball complex. Yes, community members can access the NTC through fitness memberships which provide access to the gym, pool, group classes, and personal training. Athletes who trained at the NTC won 10 medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. The facility serves both elite athletes (including sprinters Noah Lyles and Wade Van Niekerk) and Clermont residents seeking world-class training amenities. Location: 1935 Don Wickham Dr, Phone: 352-241-7144.

Clermont's golf courses are exceptional because they offer true elevation changes rare in Florida. Legends Golf & Country Club is ranked #1 in Top Ten Golf Courses in Central Florida with breathtaking elevation drops up to 300 feet, 8-mile views, and an 18-hole par 72 championship layout (6,808 yards, slope 132). Clermont National Golf Course was named Best Golf Course in South Lake County for 2024 and 2025 with a Top 50 Driving Range in America. Green Valley Country Club offers over 50 years of tradition with rolling hills and scenic lakes. All courses feature the challenging terrain that makes Clermont golf unique. Most offer public play, memberships, practice facilities, and dining options.

The Clermont Chain of Lakes Outstanding Florida Waterway offers exceptional water sports through 11 interconnected pristine lakes covering 167+ square miles. Cypress Cove Marina on Lake Minnehaha provides boat slip rentals and access to rental companies including Carefree Boat Club, Clermont Boat Rental, and Butler Boat Rental. Waterfront Park at Lake Minneola offers public boat ramps and a 10-slip dock. Available activities include boating, fishing (bass, catfish, bluegill, speckled perch), kayaking, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, water skiing, jet skiing, and swimming. Catboat Escapes offers guided power boat tours through the tea-colored waters and cypress-lined canals. The chain connects Lake Louisa (3,573 acres), Lake Minnehaha, Lake Minneola, and eight other lakes for endless exploration.

Clermont attracts Olympic athletes for several unique reasons: (1) The National Training Center offers a 400-meter Eurotan track specifically designed for speed and an Olympic-sized pool built to absorb waves and improve times, (2) Florida's rolling hills provide elevation training opportunities unavailable anywhere else in the state, crucial for endurance athlete conditioning, (3) Year-round warm weather and favorable time zone for international athletes, (4) World-class coaching including Pure Athletics which has trained numerous Olympians, and (5) Proximity to Orlando amenities while maintaining a focused training environment. Athletes who trained at the NTC won 10 medals at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Current champions including Noah Lyles continue choosing Clermont for its unmatched combination of terrain, facilities, and climate.