Omni ChampionsGate International Course Review

Is It Worth It?

My full experience playing the International Course at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate, from pulling Into the property to finishing the day with wings at the clubhouse.

I've played plenty of golf courses around Central Florida, but every one In a while you play somewhere that feels different from the moment you arrive.

That was my experience at the International Course at Omni Resort at ChampionsGate.

On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, I played the International Course with my wife, Gissel, and my friend Semaj, who works at the Omni Resort. We had a 9:40am tee time, and this was my first time playing at ChampionsGate. Which Is why I want to write a Omni ChampionsGate International Course review.

I'm around a 14 handicap, so I wasn't coming here expecting to shoot under par. I wanted to enjoy the course, see how It compared to other Central Florida golf courses I've played, and hopefully put together a decent round.

I ended up shooting a 105.

There were some really good shots.

There were some really bad shots.

There may have also been three topped 3-woods In a row.

But by the time I got back Into my car, there was one thing I knew for sure:

I wanted to play this course again.

First Impression: This Doesn't Feel Like Your Normal Golf Course

My experience really started before I ever stepped out of the car.

Driving Into the Omni property, the landscaping Immediately caught my attention. Everything looked clean and well maintained, and you could tell they care about the appearance of the resort.

Finding the golf club was extremely easy.

As you make your way down the long entrance, you can see part of the golf course on the left side. That was my first look at what I was about to play.

My first thought?

Those fairwars looked like a carpet.

That first Impression ended up being pretty accurate.

They Take Care of You Before You Even Park

When we pulled up In front of the clubhouse, an employee Immediately came over, grabbed our golf clubs, loaded them onto our cart and took the cart around to the back of the clubhouse.

He exaplained where I needed to go to check and gave us two choices for parking.

I could park my own caror use their complimentary valet service.

I decided to park myseld because I was still wearing flip-flps and needed to change Into my golf shoes.

The parking was easy and close enough that It wasn't a big deal.

What stood our was the service.

The employee helping us wwas friendly, professional and made us feel welcome from the beginning.

And we hadn't even checked In yet.

The Clubhouse Makes a Strong First Impression

Once Inside, the clubhouse and pro shop had a very elegant feel.

There was plenty of golf merchandise to choose from, the staff was friendly, and checking In was simple.

But the first thing that really caught my attention was the large circlular bar overlooking the golf course.

Spoiler alert: I was right.

We didnt have time to eat before the round because we arrived abount 30 minutes before our tee time, so after checking In we headed towards the practice area.

Unlimited Range Balls Before the Round

One thing I really liked was the practice set up.

Our morning round Included range balls, so I was able to hit the range before heading to the first tee.

The range had alignment sticks available, plenty of golf balls, clear distance markers and a cooler filled with water bottles.

And the grass?

Just like the couse.

It was In excellent condition.

My only regret was not getting there earlier.

If I play here again, I'm probably arriving at least an hour before the tee time so I can hit more balls and take my time warming up.

Even the Golf Carts Were Nice

The carts were extremely clean and very quiet.

they had GPS screens, a cooler and plenty of sang and see for repairing divots.

We also had complimentary water available, which because we Important later because Florida eventually reminded us that we were playing golf under the Florida sun.

The whole set up made It feel like the round had already started before we even reached the first tee.

Then I Got to The First Tee...

When we arrived at the first tee, the course ranger greeted us.

I wish I remembered his name because he was awesome.

He was welcoming, talked to us about the course and gave us some advice before we started.

Then I looked down the first home.

Wow!

The teeing area and the fairway were so green and well maintained that I joked that I wanted to lay down on the grass.

This Is a link-style golf course, so visually It's different from many of the typical courses around Central Florida.

Theres plenty of room off the tee, a lot of bunkers and enough trouble to make you think about your shots.

For me, though, the course didn't feel unfair.

That's Important.

A difficult golf course can still be fun when good shots are rewarded.

How Difficult Is the International Course?

I played the white tees, which measure 6,239 yards. The course Is a par 72 from those tees.

If I had to rate the difficulty based on my experience, I'd give It about a:

1.5 out of 10.

It's challenging, but It's not Impossible.

The biggest thing I learned Is that you need to manage the golf course.

That's where I made some mistakes.

If you're a scratch golfer or low handicapper, I think you'll have a great time because there are plenty of opportunities to challenge yourself.

If you're a high handicap player, I still think you can enjoy It.

The fairways give you room, and while there are hazards and plenty of bunkers, I never felt like the course was trying to punish every slightly bad shot.

You can play smart and work your way around It.

Unfortunately, It took me a few holes to figure that out.

Let's Talk About These Fairways and Greens

This might be my biggest compliment of the entire review.

These were probably the best fairways I've personally played on In Central Florida.

They were that good.

The tee boxes were also some of the best I've seen around Central Florida.

Then there were the greens.

Smooth.

Fast.

Extremely well maintained.

You needed to respect the speed, but that's what I want when I'm playing a course like this.

The bunkers were also well maintained, with plenty of rakes available.

The rough could get pretty high In certain areas, but there's an easy solution to that problem:

Don't hit It there.

I should probably take my own advice.

The Hole That Destroyed Me

Every golfer knows there's usually one hole you remember for all the wrong reasons.

Mine came early.

the first par 5 has bunkers everywhere. I don't know If there are actually 10 bunkers on that hole, but when you're struggling It sure feels like there are.

I started with a horrible drive.

Maybe 100 yards.

Not exactly how you want to attack a par 5.

Then I pulled out my 3-wood.

Top.

Tried It again.

Top.

Surely I'm not doing that three times In a row, right?

Wrong.

Top.

Three straight topped 3-woods.

I ended up making a 10 on the hole.

TEN.

At that point, the International Course and I Were not exactly getting along.

I Finally Started Playing Smarter

Eventually I realized something.

The driver wasn't helping me.

So around holes, 7 and 8, I made a change.

I started using my 5-Iron off the tee.

That's when my round started becoming much more manageable.

On hole 7, I hit my 5-Iron off the tee and put myself just short of the water hazard.

From there, I had approximately 136 yards.

I pulled out my pitching wedge.

I was supposed to hit about a half swing.

For whatever reason, my brain apparently decided that wasn't happening.

I took a full swing and sent It over the green.

Thankfully, I recovered and managed to save bogey.

For me, that was actually one of my favorite moments because the hole could have easily gone completely sideways.

Instead, I managed the mistake and got out with a bogey.

Hole 8 Was My Favorite Hole

Hole 8 was probably my favorite hole of the entire round.

There was some water and some elevation on the left side.

Again, I decided to leave the driver alone and hit my 5-Iron.

My shot went left.

For a second, I thought I might be In trouble.

Then I got one of those golf bounces we all deserve every once In a while.

The ball hit the hill and kicked right back Into the fairway.

Thank you, golf gods.

From there, I played the hole well and walked away with a par.

After the way the round started, making par using nothing but smart Iron play felt pretty good.

It also confirmed something I should have realized earlier.

I didn't need to overpower this course.

I needed to play smarter.

Pace of Play Was Excellent

This Is a big one for me.

We finished out round In approximately 4 hours and 20 minutes.

We weren't constantly waiting for the group ahead of us.

The group behind us wasn't waiting on us.

Everyone just played.

For a popular resort golf course, that's a huge win.

A beautiful fold course can quickly become frustrating when you're standing around for five hours.

That wasn't our experience.

The pace was right where I wanted It.

Food and Drinks On The Course

We saw the beverage cart around three times during our round.

At one point we ordered a Caesar Salad Wrap that came with a bag of potato chips and a Coke Zero.

The was was actually really good.

It tasted fresh and had plenty of flavor.

The prices were also reasonable compared with what I've seen at other golf courses.

Throughout the round, the staff continued checking on us.

Around hole 15, the ranger stopped by again and made sure we were doing well, enjoying ourselves and had enough water.

Those little things add to the experience.

Florida Started Winning Around Hole 15

By holes 15 through 18, I'll admit It.

We were tired.

The Florida sun and heat were kicking our butts.

But I was still enjoying the course.

then we got to 18.

Hole 18 Is a par 5 and somehow gave me a little extra energy to finish the round.

I think that's one of the signs of a good golf course.

Even when you're tired after four houes In the sun, you still want to hit that next shot.

Final Score: 105.

Definitely not one of my best round.

But I don't blame the golf course.

A lot of that score came from poor course management on my part and not knowing what to expect since I had never played there before.

Once I stopped trying to use the driver everywhere and started playing smarter with my Irons, things Improved.

If I played It again tomorrow, I think I'd approach several homes completely differently.

And I definitely wouldn't hit that 3-wood three straight times after topping It.

At least I hope I wouldn't.

Golf does strange things to us.

Back to That Circular Bar

Remember that circular bar I noticed when I first walked Into the clubhouse?

After 18 holes, It was finally time.

We went back Inside and ordered garlic parmesan wings and sweet potato fries.

The wings?

8.5 out of 10.

The sweet potato fries came with a sweet honey-style sauce.

10 out of 19.

Those things were GOOD.

We also asked for a Coke Zero after we had already paid, and our server told us not to worry about It and gave It to us.

It's the small things, but It was another example of the service we received throughout the day.

From the person who took our clubs when we arrived, to the pro shop, the ranger, the beverage cart, and restaurant staff, everyone treated us well.

Is the Omni ChamptionsGate International Course Worth the Price?

Full disclosure: we didn't pay for our round.

My friend Semaj, works at the Omni and was able to us out there using an employee benefit.

But we checked the regular pricing around the time we played, and the round was approximately $160.

Would I personally consider paying that after playing the course?

Yes.

Not because $160 Is cheap.

It Isn't.

But you're paying for more than 18 holes.

For our morning experience, we had access to practice balls, an excellent range, GPS-equipped golf carts, water, a cooling towel, great course conditions and staff who took care of us throughout the day.

Complimentary valet parking was also available.

And then there's the golf course Itself.

The fairways were some of the best I've played In Central Florida.

The greens were fast and smooth.

The tee boxes were excellent.

Everything felt well maintained.

When you're charging premium golf prices, tha's what I expect.

What You Should Know Before Playing the International Course

If you're thinking about booking a round here, these are a few things I'd keep In mind:

Come early.

Don't do what I did and arrive only 30 minutes before your tee time. Give yourself time to use the practice facility and enjoy the experience.

Play the correct tees.

I played the white tees at 6,239 yards, and that was plenty of golf for me.

Course management matters

You don't need a driver In every hole. It took me secen holes to accept that, but once I started playing for position, my round became much better.

Bring sunscreen and prepare for the Florida heat.

Even with water available, those final holes can get tiring.

Take advantage of what's Included with your round.

Part of what makes this place worth considering Is the full experience surrounding the golf.

One thing I would Improve Is the bathroom access later In the round. We noticed restrooms earlier on the course, but finding one during the later holes wasn't easy.

That was probably my only real complaint.

Who Should Play the International Course?

I'd recommend this course to Central Florida golfers, tourists visiting Orlando, coupldes who enjoy playing golf together, and golfers looking for a higher-end round.

Lower handicap golfers can challenge themselves.

Average and higher handicap golfers can still enjoy It because there's room to play, as long as you're smart about where you're hitting the ball.

And If you're visiting Orlando specifically for Golf, this Is a course I'd put on the list.

Would I Play It Again?

Absolutely.

I'd like to play In the International Course again now that I know what to expect.

I'd arrive earlier.

I'd spend more time on the range.

I'd manage the course better.

I'd probably keep that driver In the bag a little more often.

And I definitely want to try the National Course next so I can compare the two.

Would I play here more often?

Of course.

Especially If Semaj keep getting me out there for free.

LOL

My Final Thoughts

If one of my friends asked me to describe the Omni ChampionsGate International Course, I'd put It like this:

It's everything I'm looking for In a round of golf. Great fairways, amazing and smooth greens, a challenging but enjoyable layout, and staff that make the entire experience feel special.

For me, It wasn't just about playing 18 holes.

It was pulling Into a beautiful property, having someone take care of my clubs, warming up on a great range, playing on one of the best conditioned courses I've personally experienced around Central Florida, getting humbled by a par 5, figuring my game along the way, finishing 18 In a good pace and then sitting down for wings and sweet potato fries overlooking the course.

That's a pretty good golf day.

And It's one I want to do again.

Golf Is Part of the Central Florida Lifestyle

One of the thigns I enjoy about living In Central Florida Is having so many golf courses like this within driving distance.

For people thinking about moving to areas like Davenport, ChampionsGate, Kissimmee or the greater Orlando area, golf Is one of the many lifestyle benefits people sometimes don't think about until they're here.

You can have communities, restaurants, resorts, entertaiment and gold all within minutes of home.

As a local Realtor, and someone who actually lives, works and plays around Central Florida, I enjoy sharing more than just houses. I want people to see what It's actually like to live here.

And If that Includes testing a few more golf courses around Central Florida for research purposes...

I'm willing to make the sacrifice.