Panther Lake at Orange County National Golf Club

Panther Lake at Orange County National Golf Club opened in 1997 as the second of two championship courses at this daily-fee facility in Winter Garden, just west of Orlando. Phil Ritson and Dave Harman designed the layout with input from Japanese professional Isao Aoki, who won 51 tournaments on the Japan Golf Tour and five PGA Tour events during his career. The course was built on relatively flat central Florida terrain and routed through wetlands, pine forests, and around several lakes that define strategic options throughout the round.

The design emphasizes width off the tee and presents multiple angles of approach to large, contoured greens. Water comes into play on roughly half the holes, though the hazards are typically visible and straightforward rather than hidden. Bunkers are generous in size and placed to challenge both tee shots and approaches. The par-72 layout stretches over 7,300 yards from the tips, with five sets of tees accommodating a range of skill levels.

Orange County National operates as a public facility focused on golf rather than residential development, with both Panther Lake and its companion Crooked Cat course drawing visitors and local players year-round. The property includes extensive practice areas and hosts various amateur tournaments and corporate outings. The courses benefit from Florida's mild climate, remaining open and in play throughout the year, though summer afternoons often bring brief thunderstorms typical of the region.