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Rating Index Rating
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4.5
391 Reviews (391)
5 Stars
253
4 Stars
94
3 Stars
29
2 Stars
13
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.6
Value
4.2
Layout
4.7
Friendliness
4.8
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.4
94.3%
Recommend this course
365 out of 391 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.0
1 Reviews (1)
5 Stars
0
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
4.0
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.0
Amenities
5.0
StaffFriendliness
5.0
100.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 1 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
5 Reviews (5)
5 Stars
4
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
5.0
Value
4.8
Layout
4.8
Pace
4.6
Amenities
4.8
StaffFriendliness
5.0
100.0%
Recommend this course
5 out of 5 reviews
Read Reviews

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
Clubs Yes
GPS Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Caddies 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

Reviews

4.5
391 Reviews (391)

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 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 14
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 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great Course

The King & Bear is one of the top couses in the area.
Great conditions & staff.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
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
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens in rough shape!

Greens were the worst I have ever seen here. They were all painted in attempt to hide the major flaws. Maybe later in the spring it will be worth the money again.

Conditions Average
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

A very nice track.

It was my first time playing this course and I had a great time. The course was in great shape and had some challenging holes. I didn’t play very well on the front nine, but played even on the back. The staff was very nice and I would love to play King and Bear again..

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

Afternoon Tee Time

Our foresome tee off at 2:05 pm. There was no drink cart after 4:00 pm and the club house was completely closed by the time we finished.
If you want to enjoy food and a drink after playing, do not come to this course.
The golf course is great, but there is no amenities in the afternoons.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap Don't know
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Hot weather
Used cart

Great Course

Top notch place to golf. Friendly staff and course is in great condition.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 6
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good Track

Course was in great shape for this time of year, greens were rolling 10ish. Would have given 5 stars but pace or play I was almost unbearable. Should not take 5 hours to play golf in carts. On course rangers there are useless. Group in front of us was at least 2 holes behind.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Trouble with golfpass pricing vs course pricing.

Paid more at the golf course than golf pass said on receipt. They said they didn’t like dealing with golfpass. Problems with software or something. Took awhile to get checked in.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
3.0
First Time Playing

Nowhere near worth $200

Course was in pretty good shape, but not what you expect for $220. Layout has nothing memorable about it. The round took 5.5 hours. They have lots of marshalls on the course, but none that will do anything about pace of play. The restaurant is a joke in every way. You would think with the price of the course, they would have better staff and better food in their restaurant.

Conditions Good
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Poor
Amenities Poor
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
1.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Disappointing Experience at a great course

Course was very dry and hard. Was not able to take a divot with any shot. Sand traps were hard and greens were sanded. When I booked this round for 2 people we were not notified of any of this.

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 335
Handicap 0-4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Golf Advisor
First Time Playing
Perfect weather
Used cart

Arnie + Jack = solid resort golf

The attraction of playing a golf course designed by Arnold Palmer *and* Jack Nicklaus is obvious, and marketable. While I'm not sure it produced a golf course far and away better than either golf legend's crew could have built individually, it is definitely a pleasant resort golf experience.

Most importantly, King & Bear won't beat you up too badly as long as you play the proper tees. The fairways are pretty generous and the greens are on the larger side, though they are due for resurfacing, which should enlarge them and incorporate some helping contours that have fallen out of use in recent years. The fall-away first green sets a positive tone, and other highlights include the par-5 5th and 8th holes, as well as the short par-3 11th and tempting par-4 15th, a favorite of Palmer's.

Visitors to World Golf Village seldom leave without playing both the King & Bear and Slammer & Squire layouts. While I prefer the latter, I would not turn down another chance at the former.

Conditions Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Good but not great

Course was in great shape except for a few greens that were VERY sub par for this price point of course. The pace of play was very poor. We waited on every hole to tee off and yet there was no push by the ranger at all. A little financial reprieve for the local players would really be appreciated.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Love the layout, green condition leave a lot to be desired!

Most greens were pock marked with old ball marks and old hole locations which were not healed. Love the course and hate to demean it, but that was how I found it!

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Played On
Reviews 1
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Florida golf in February at its best!

Could not be happier with the layout, conditions, and friendliness of the staff. A true challenge with plenty of scoring opportunities. Will be back if I have the chance.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

The Kings of Golf

What an amazing place! First rate experience from the moment we rolled up to the bag drop to the end of the round. Great practice facility with range, elevated chipping green and large putting green. Starter was friendly and attentive keeping us posted before the round and escorting us to the first tee. Got to play with a couple members which was extremely helpful. Conditions were pristine. The layout and materials used around the course are beautiful. Great pro shop with a large selection of apparel. A must play in the Jax area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
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Golf Packages

World Golf Village Stay & Play Package

FROM $227 (USD)
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort and 2 rounds of golf at Slammer & Squire, and King & Bear at World Golf Village.

St. John’s River Stay & Play Package

FROM $187 (USD)
JACKSONVILLE, FL | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at Residence Inn by Marriott South Jacksonville/Bartram Park and 3 rounds of golf at Cimarrone Golf Club, The Golf Club of South Hampton, and St. John’s Golf & Country Club.

Sawgrass Marriott Stay & Play Package

FROM $487 (USD)
JACKSONVILLE, FL | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa and 2 rounds of golf at TPC Sawgrass - PLAYERS Stadium & Dye's Valley Courses.

Jacksonville Golf Around Package

FROM $147 (USD)
JACKSONVILLE, FL | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at the Doubletree Jacksonville Riverfront and 3 rounds of golf at Bent Creek Golf Club, Eagle Landing Golf Club, and Hidden Hills Golf Club.

Hammock Beach Stay & Play Golf Package

FROM $227 (USD)
PALM COAST, FL | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa and 2 rounds of golf at The Club at Hammock Beach (Troon Privé).
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