Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort

The East Course at Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort in Haines City was designed by Ed Seay and Arnold Palmer and opened in the 1970s as part of this central Florida resort complex. The course sits in the rolling terrain of the Lake Wales Ridge, an unusual geological feature for Florida that provides more elevation change than the state's typical flatland layouts. This topography allowed Seay and Palmer to incorporate hillside lies and elevated greens uncommon in Florida golf. The routing takes advantage of the natural contours and mature pine and oak trees that frame many holes. Water features appear throughout the layout, typical of Florida resort courses from this era, and the design emphasizes strategic shot placement rather than overwhelming length. The greens tend toward moderate size with subtle undulations that reward accurate approach play. Grenelefe operates as a resort community with multiple courses, and the East has historically served as one of the property's featured layouts alongside the West and South courses. The resort setting in Haines City places it between Orlando and Tampa, making it accessible to both tourist and local play. The course reflects the design sensibilities of the Palmer-Seay partnership during their active period of Florida course development, balancing playability for resort guests with enough challenge to maintain interest for regular players.