Providence Golf Club

Davenport, Florida | 18 holes | Parkland | Par: 72 | 6929 yards

Designed by Mike Dasher, Providence Golf Club in Davenport has been winning rave reviews since it opened in 2008. That year, Golf Week included Providence in its list of the top 50 new golf courses in America. "The variety of style and tree canopy throughout the course creates an ever-changing pallet that will provide for memorable holes as well as strategic golf," Dasher wrote.

Named by Golf Week Magazine as one of the country's top 50 new golf courses in 2008, Davenport's Providence Golf Club is a course that players of all abilities will want to play again and again. This 18-hole Mike Dasher design will test your game as it winds through land featuring ancient hardwoods, fresh water creeks and wetlands. It is common to encounter deer, otters or wild turkey during a round of golf at Davenport. Dasher himself has written, "I would characterize Providence as a hybrid course, part prairie style (otherwise referred to as heathland), part old Florida, and part parkland." The club boasts a top-flight practice area and the instruction staff have more than 45 years of experience and have received numerous awards and recognition. Providence Golf Club is located within 20 minutes of the most popular Orlando-area attractions.

Par, yardages and course ratings

Tee Par Yardage Rating Slope
Black 72 6929 73.3 131
Blue 72 6370 70.1 119
White 72 6023 67.8 117
Red (W) 72 5029 69.1 114
White (W) 72 6023 73.3 129

Articles:

At a glance

  • Holes: 18
  • Designed by: Mike Dasher
  • Type: Semi-Private
  • Style: Parkland
  • Built in: 2007
  • Golf Season:
  • Visitor Policy: Open
  • Tee times welcomed: Search tee times

Practice facilities

  • Driving range: Yes
  • Putting green: Yes

Tuition

  • Teaching pro: Yes
  • Golf school / golf academy: Yes

Services

  • Pro: Yes
  • Rental clubs: Yes
  • Rental carts: Yes
  • Pull carts:

Prices


1518 Clubhouse Blvd
Davenport, FL 33837
P: (863) 424-7916


Reader Ratings / Reviews

  • 4.5 stars out of 5
    by The Golfin' Guy
    on February 13th, 2024 07:39
    Years ago, when I lived in Lakeland, FL, my golf buddies and I would venture away from our home track and play some of the courses in the Orlando area. One of our favorite courses was Providence Golf Club in Davenport, FL.

    Granted, it has been several years since I last played the golf course. As I recall, after you turned off the highway and passed through the security gate, it was a long, somewhat desolate drive to the clubhouse. There wasn’t much there. Now, Providence is a bustling, thriving community with about 2000 homes with plans for many more.

    The centerpiece of the community is the 18-hole Mike Dasher-designed championship golf course which opened for play in 2007. Mike Dasher grew up in nearby Winter Park, FL, and has designed several other courses in the Orlando area. In 2018, club General Manager Tim Greco did the redesign and construction of all 21 green complexes, working directly with Morris Brown and his new Champion G12 Ultra Dwarf Bermuda turf. To resurface the greens. They also designed the practice areas including the short game area and short and long fairway bunker area. Providence’s greens are now recognized as some of the best greens in the Orlando area and the entire practice facility is second to none.

    Providence Golf Club is a daily fee public club that is way ahead of its local competition and offers the best prepaid discount program in the area, making golf more affordable than other comparable clubs in the area. They provide all who visit with a country club-like atmosphere. The golf course has four sets of tees with yardages ranging from 7,011 yards for low handicappers to 5,029 yards for ladies, juniors, and senior golfers. I found that the White Tees (6,023/68.7/122) provided a fair challenge and still let me leave with a little dignity!

    The Club is best described as part parkland, heathland, prairie, and Old Florida. As you make your way around, you’ll get the idea. Native grasses and waste bunkers create a wide-open feel on several holes while others, like the par-3 17th, are framed by strands of large deciduous trees. Then there are the many water hazards, palm trees, and heavily wooded wetlands that remind you that you’re in the Sunshine State. The most prevalent hazard out here is the water, which comes into play in one form or another on at least 13 holes. The greens are well bunkered.

    As you make your way around the course, you’re sure to see a lot of Florida wildlife including blue herons, egrets, cranes, wild turkeys, hawks, and alligators. You may even see the occasional otter frolicking in one of the ponds.

    Providence has several memorable holes, but my favorites were Numbers 6, 7, 12, 14, and 18. With a large waste bunker making up much of the boundary on the right side – the side that most golfers find from the tee – Number 6 is handicapped as the course’s toughest. It plays 376 yards from the White Tees. A tee shot down the right center of the fairway should receive a friendly kick back into the middle and leave you the best angle into the green. A good drive will leave a long to mid-iron approach shot into the green which features many subtle breaks and undulations. A large bunker guards the front right side of the green and if you miss your shot to the left you’re not likely to see that ball again!

    After playing the toughest hole on the course, you might think things would get easy, but that’s not the case. Number 7 is a dogleg right around water and plays 380 yards from the White tees, slightly longer than the previous hole. It’s the second toughest hole on the front side and presents a true risk/reward opportunity. Longball hitters may be able to take it over the water, although that doesn’t mean you’re in the clear. A good drive for the rest of us that finds the fairway will leave a mid-iron approach shot into a green protected with sand front left and water and a large oak tree on the right. Par is a great score here!

    The 12th hole is a picturesque par three that plays 150 yards from the White Tees. It requires a forced carry over water into a green that is surrounded by water on the left side and a large bunker on the right. From the bunker, a pin placement on the left side can be difficult, with the water looming directly behind the flag. Aim for the middle of the green off the tee and at least give yourself a chance at birdie.

    The 14th hole ranks as the toughest hole on the inward nine. It’s a par 4 that measures 415 yards from the White Tees. If you’ve had good control of your driver up to this point, you may want to play your tee shot over the trees and bunkers, straight at the green. Miss it left and you’re likely to find the water. No matter how well you hit your tee shot, you’ll still be looking at a long iron or hybrid into the green. There are bunkers on the right side that sit about 50 and 75 yards in front of the putting surface. If possible, take your par and run!

    Providence’s finishing hole is a 323-yard par 4. It’s a dogleg right with a bunker at the turn on the left side and a lake that makes up the right side from the dogleg up to the green. While longball hitters may like to have a go at the green, the rest of us might be wise to hit something less than a driver off the tee and leave a manageable pitch shot into the green. The fairway slopes towards the water and there is a large swale on the right side of the green.

    Inside Providence’s beautiful 8,000 sq. ft. clubhouse, you’ll find a well-appointed golf shop, restaurant, banquet facilities, and patio dining. Many community residents and non-golfers stop by the clubhouse for a meal at Providence Golf Club’s Grill. The grill is open for breakfast, lunch, and early dinner. Everything is cooked to order and the menu includes pancakes, egg sandwiches, and French toast. The Club’s version of The Grand Slam breakfast will keep your stomach satisfied for the entire round! The lunch/dinner menu offers traditional clubhouse food – wings, burgers, and sandwiches. The dinner menu steps things up a notch with Chicken Marsala, Blackened or Grilled Salmon, and Chicken Parmigiana. Whatever your choice, you won’t be disappointed!

    General Manager Tim Greco and his staff must be doing something right. With 41 courses within a 15-mile radius of the property, they manage to keep a very active tee sheet and stay busy. Greco claims, “It must be luck,” and adds “We are an independent public golf course, and the majority of residents don’t play golf. Ninety-four percent of our rounds come from outside the community.” It’s also a favorite choice for golf packagers who book trips to the Orlando area.

    Some of the golfers I spoke with said that they keep coming back because of the friendly staff, while others mentioned the playability of the course. Every day new golfers play the course and enjoy the country club atmosphere of this hidden gem located 15 minutes from Orlando’s theme parks and 45 minutes from Tampa. The proof is in the pudding as they say. Book a round of golf at Providence Golf Club and experience for yourself all that this public golf facility has to offer.
  • 4 stars out of 5
    by David Theoret
    on January 12th, 2020 11:20
    I recently had the opportunity to play a round of Golf at Providence Golf Club in Davenport Florida. It had been about 8 years since my previous visit and the thing I remembered most was that, other than the golf course, there wasn’t a whole lot out there. My how things have changed; the community has grown up! Providence is easily accessible to area golfers; they are centrally located: just minutes from I-4 and all of the Orlando area attractions as well as both the Tampa and Orlando airports.

    Providence Golf Club recently underwent a major renovated in 2018, including 21 redesigned and regrassed Champion G12 ultra dwarf putting surfaces. These greens are getting fantastic reviews. They’ve also updated the practice area and have installed a new tee as well as a short game area designed to help golfers of all skill levels improver their game.

    Providence’s layout takes the elements of an Old Florida course, and fuses them with those of a heathland course and a parkland course. In other words, it’s a little bit of everything: wetlands, native grasses, manicured fairways and big trees! As you make your way around the layout, you’re bound to see an abundance of Florida wildlife including alligators, otters, cranes, egrets, great blue heron, wild turkey, hawks and snakes.

    From the back tees, Providence will give even the most accomplished golfer a good test at 7,016 yards with a 73.3 course rating and a 131 slope. Most golfers will play either the Blue Tees (6,370/70.1/119) or White Tees (6,023/117/67.8). Ladies will enjoy Providence Golf Club from the Red Tees (5,029/69.1/114). Pick the set of tees that best match your game and your sure to enjoy this course.

    Anyone who’s played golf in the area knows that there are about 30 courses within a 25 mile radius where they can tee it up at. A course in the area can achieve a competitive advantage by offering something a little different. That’s exactly what General Manager Tim Greco and the staff at Providence GC have done by creating a premier practice facility. In addition to the full-length driving range where you can hit every club in your bag. There’s a new comprehensive short game area, practice bunkers and a large practice green.

    Providence has already done all of the over-seeding they plan on doing for the 2019 – 2020 season. The tee boxes were over-seeded in October and are already in pristine condition. Overall, the course is in immaculate shape thanks to the meticulous groundskeeping crew who can be seen working tirelessly all day long. The greens are incredible – quick and true: I’d put them up against any in the area. It’s no wonder that Providence is consistently recognized as one of the region's premier golf courses.

    Providence Golf Club is chock full of memorable holes, but there is a trio on each side that really stands out. The back-to-back-to-back par 4s that make up the stretch of holes from Number 5 – 7 features the hardest hole on the course sandwiched between two risk/reward holes. Number 5 is the shortest par 4 on the course at only 281 yards (Blue Tees). Water comes into play about 230 yards off the tee, so you may want to hit something less than driver. Going for the green requires a carry of about 250 over the water or a long, soft draw around it. This hole is especially fun when you put your chip shot in tight and your playing partner chunks his/her shot into the water. Pars aren’t likely to win any skins on this hole!

    The 6th hole is where Providence Golf Club starts to show its grit; things have been pretty placid and straightforward up to this point. Number 6 plays 394 yards (Blue Tees) and, if you catch the right side of the fairway off the tee, you’re likely to get a favorable bounce back into the middle. A good drive will leave a mid-iron approach shot into an angular green protected on the left by wetlands and a large bunker right. All of the subtle undulations in the green can easily have you shaking your head as you’re walking off,. There’s a good reason this hole is handicapped #1!

    The thrill continues on Number 7, which plays 400 yards from the Blue Tees and is all about risk/reward. The risk is how much of the lake you decide to carry, the reward is a much shorter iron into the green. Something else to consider is the fact that the fairway isn’t all that wide; hit it through the fairway and you’ll find some gnarly rough that makes par that much tougher. Success off the tee will still leave a precarious approach shot with water guarding the right side of the green and sand front left. The green can be long and narrow depending on the angle you come in from. Take a par and run!

    The back nine also has its own run of three fun and challenging holes. At a mere 483 yards, Number 13 is the shortest par 5 on the course. By cutting the corner of the dogleg and flying over the fairway bunker, longball hitters will be able to go for the green in two. The water that fronts the green on the left will factor in and catch anything short. Low numbers are possible on this hole, but so are big numbers!

    If I were naming holes, Number 14 would be called “Game Changer.” On any given day, this 433 yard par 4 can change the outcome of a match whether it’s a friendly skins games with your buddies or the club championship. Your tee shot here will be the most demanding shot of the day and how well you hit it will determine your chance of getting on the green in regulation. Finding the fairway is a necessity. Anytime you can write down a par on your scorecard for Number 14, it’s a good day!

    The par 5, 15th hole is the longest on the course and easily the most beautiful. A good score here will be well-earned and starts with a tee shot to a very wide and inviting fairway that screams grip it and rip it! Your second shot requires more accuracy as the fairway gets very narrow in the landing area with water infringing on the left and some very large trees on the right. Two well-executed shots thus far will leave a mid to short-iron into one of the most treacherous greens on the course. Word of advice: Keep the ball below the hole!

    If you’ve got a short game and some guts, you can score well out here; conversely, it can be a disaster! Several holes offer risk reward opportunities that allow you to significantly shorten the hole; that’s where a good short game comes in.

    After your round – or even before – stop by The Grille Room for your favorite post-round libation or catching the big game on one of 5 TVs. The dining menu is impressive and the food is absolutely delicious. I highly recommend the hot wings, crisp chicken wing served with just the right amount of heat and accompanied by blue cheese and celery. The Buffalo Chicken Salad is as good to look at as it is to eat and the Providence Signature Burger will not leave you hungry. Providence is a fabulous location to host your next event whether it’s a banquet golf outing or wedding. Their prices are tremendously affordable, the facilities are impressive and the food is outstanding. Two for one dinner is served on Wednesday and Friday features BINGO and typically a packed house.
  • 2 stars out of 5
    by Brian
    on April 04th, 2016 06:26
    Played it 2016-03-27. Fairways in terrible shape. You get what you pay for..
  • 4 stars out of 5
    by mark
    on May 04th, 2015 05:49
    Played here in April 2015, very disappointed with the greens, don't know what happened to them but apparently they are recovering. Having said that, the course layout is superb, but don't go hooking or slicing, too many expensive villas to damage!

    It is quite tight and has quite a bit of water which keeps you thinking, whilst at the same time you can always see an alternative shot......which I would suggest you take!

    I also played Ridgewood lakes and Royal St Clouds, this was undoubtedly the best of the three as layouts go, but the worst for greens.

    I would like to think that their greens come back soon, that would make it a fantastic course.

  • 5 stars out of 5
    by tom green
    on December 01st, 2013 07:22
    For value and outstanding course conditions it is an absolute play when in the area. Providence has great food too we loved this place and will be back.
  • 3.5 stars out of 5
    by robert calder
    on March 31st, 2013 14:04
    Played on the 3/20/13,12 guys from scotland,nice track, back 9 plays better nice friendly staff worth the visit.
  • 3.5 stars out of 5
    by C. Griesbach
    on February 27th, 2012 14:25
    Played this course the last day of our trip (2/14/12) and it was the perfect end to the trip. Very nice course and staff. It will be on our list for next year.
  • 5 stars out of 5
    by Sarah Barbee
    on September 23rd, 2011 09:41
    Played this course for the first time and found it to be in great condition. Pricing was very affordable especially for this beautiful facility.
    We throughly enjoyed our round of golf and lunch. We will definitely return to play this course next year.
  • 5 stars out of 5
    by Tom Gordon
    on September 23rd, 2011 09:21
    Course was great and for the price by far the best value of the 15 courses I have played the last two years. Its a definate play again for us.
  • 4 stars out of 5
    by bob priestley
    on August 17th, 2010 10:57
    this is a great newish course well managed .
    not a bad test of golf, competative prices good
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