The Best Places to Watch the PGA Tour at Bay Hill Club and Lodge

The PGA Tour continues the Florida Swing this week with the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club and Lodge. Defending champion Bryson DeChambeau will miss the event due to injury, but a strong field is set to take on the course.

Rory McIlroy is looking for a victory at the tournament, and his chances are looking good at the moment. He won the tournament last year, and he also finished T10 in 2020.

The Course

The golf course at Bay Hill is widely regarded as one of America’s best courses. This is especially true when you consider that it has a rich history and a reputation for attracting some of the game’s top players. Despite its longtime association with the PGA Tour, there are plenty of reasons to visit this iconic course outside of tournament week too.

The 270-acre Bay Hill Club & Lodge lies between the community of Bay Hill and the Butler Chain of Lakes. It includes 27 holes of championship golf, originally designed by Dick Wilson and later re-designed by Arnold Palmer.

A major event on the PGA Tour took place here in 1979, when the Florida Citrus Open moved from Rio Pinar Country Club to Bay Hill. Since then, the tournament has been known as the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard and it is widely considered to be one of the premier-event jewels on the circuit.

Although you won’t find the famous King himself at Bay Hill, you can still see the spirit of his legacy reflected in every aspect of this resort. From the incredibly cozy on-site Lodge to the friendly and congenial arrangement of practice facilities, this is a truly special golf destination that is not to be missed.

Besides being home to the prestigious Arnold Palmer Invitational, this Orlando resort has also been a favorite of Tiger Woods. He won an incredible eight times at Bay Hill and it remains a must-visit for any fan of the game.

What’s more, the resort has a 69-room Lodge and six guest cottages that allow members and guests to enjoy all the amenities of the club. These include a spa, golf academy, tennis and other activities.

I’ve visited this course a few times now and the experience is always a delight. It’s a great mix of challenging yet playable layouts that will challenge even the most experienced player.

The fourth hole is a very different take on the typical pancake-flat Florida golf that many tourists might expect when they hear “Florida Golf.” This dogleg left requires a fairway carry over water, with bunkers along the right and left sides of the green preventing short bailouts.

The Clubhouse

The clubhouse at Bay Hill is a pristine, opulent place to stay while you play the course. It’s a comfortable, understated and charming retreat that makes you feel like a member rather than just a golfer. It’s a wonderful place to spend a weekend or a week, whether you’re coming for business or just for fun.

As one of the most iconic venues in golf, it’s no wonder that people have a lot of expectations for this place. After all, it was the home course of Arnold Palmer, it hosts an annual PGA TOUR stop and it’s been the backdrop for no less than eight wins from Tiger Woods!

However, despite all of this, there’s a big difference between watching a tournament on television and playing the course in normal conditions. That’s because the grandstands that surround Bay Hill aren’t always visible during broadcasts, making it look very different than it does when you’re actually playing it.

Another thing to consider is that even without the stout defenses of fast greens, thick rough and wind, Bay Hill still has a lot of challenges. That’s because the course is very penal off the tee, and the layout is long and straight.

In addition, the course has lots of water in play, which can be challenging for even the best players to deal with. That said, there are some great holes here that offer an exciting risk/reward opportunity on your second shot.

Those holes include #16 (a hole that has served as the backdrop for many of Woods’ biggest finishes on the PGA Tour), #3 and #4. While these holes don’t have the same kind of challenge as other par 5s on the course, they can be a fun test for anyone to take on.

The course is also a great place for anyone who wants to practice their short game. Immediately off the lodge is a large putting green that features a mandatory big green Rolex clock, as well as a huge practice bunker area that’s perfect for chipping and pitching. Having these options will help you improve your short game and make your rounds at Bay Hill even more enjoyable!

The Bar

The bar at bay hill is a good place to grab a drink and chat with friends while enjoying some of the best food in town. The bar is located in a modern, glass-enclosed building with plenty of seating. The bar features a variety of drink offerings including a number of cocktails and a few well-crafted wines. It also boasts a menu of light bites and entrees. The most impressive thing about the bar is that it has a high-tech touch screen display that lets you order drinks and food. The bar is a great place to watch your favorite team while sipping on a cocktail, clink some glasses, or play your own game of darts. It’s the best way to watch the game without getting your face painted or sitting out in the sun.

The Restaurants

Whether you’re looking for a delicious dinner or just want to get away for a relaxing break, Bay Hill Club & Lodge is the perfect place for you. The resort has a 27-hole championship golf course and a variety of facilities. The club offers luxury accommodation, a Junior Olympic pool and six tennis courts. In addition, the Grill and Classic rooms offer a casual but elegant atmosphere for dining.

The Bay Hill restaurants are owned and operated by Libby Hill Restaurants, which was founded by Arnold Palmer in 1990. The company has had a number of restaurants open and close over the years, but last year it separated its restaurant operations from the golf club. Now that it’s done with the golf business, Libby Hill will focus more on its other restaurants. It has four in Greensboro, one in Mount Airy and one in Reidsville, according to Conrad. Mary Lacklen, formerly with Bert’s Seafood, has been brought on as a director of culinary operations.