The Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill

The King's course

Arnold Palmer first played Bay Hill in 1965, bought into the club in 1970, and eventually acquired it outright. He lived on the property until his death in 2016. The Arnold Palmer Invitational — held annually in March — is the Tour's tribute to the man who did more than anyone to make professional golf a mainstream American sport.

The tournament has been played at Bay Hill since 1979. Palmer personally greeted the winner at the 18th green every year until he died. That tradition, and the red cardigan he wore, are now part of the event's iconography.

The course

Bay Hill Club & Lodge sits on the Butler Chain of Lakes in southwest Orlando. The course was originally designed by Dick Wilson in 1961 and substantially redesigned by Palmer himself over decades of ownership. It plays 7,466 yards at par 72 for the tournament.

The closing stretch is the signature: the par-5 16th offers a genuine eagle chance, the par-3 17th plays over water to a shallow green, and the par-4 18th — water down the entire right side, a green that repels approach shots — is one of the hardest closing holes on the Tour schedule. Tournaments are routinely decided, and lost, on the 18th.

Attending

When: Early-to-mid March, annually. The API typically falls one week before The Players.

Tickets: Available through the tournament's official site. Orlando's tourism infrastructure means accommodation is plentiful, though prices rise during tournament week.

Where to stay: Bay Hill Club & Lodge itself is on-site, but the lodge closes to non-participants during tournament week. Dr. Phillips, Windermere, and the broader southwest Orlando area put you within 15 minutes. International Drive is 20 minutes.

Getting there: Orlando International (MCO) is 25 minutes. Shuttle service runs from designated lots.

Charitable focus: The Arnold Palmer Invitational is a major fundraiser for the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies, both in Orlando. Palmer's philanthropic legacy in Central Florida is substantial — the tournament has raised tens of millions for these institutions.

Playing Bay Hill

Bay Hill Club & Lodge accepts resort guests for most of the year. Staying at the lodge is the reliable path to a tee time — the club prioritizes lodge guests, and non-guest public access is limited and inconsistent.

The lodge is a genuine golf lodge in the classic sense: modest rooms, excellent service, and an atmosphere built entirely around the game. Palmer's office is preserved on the property.

The course closes to public play during tournament week and for approximately two weeks of preparation.

Best time to play: October through May. Orlando summer heat and afternoon storms make June–September morning-only golf.

The Palmer legacy in Orlando

Arnold Palmer's influence on Orlando extends well past golf. The Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children (opened 1989) and the Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies (opened 2006, named for his late wife) are among Central Florida's most significant medical institutions. The API remains the primary annual fundraising vehicle for both.