
Ponce de Leon Course
Ponce de Leon Golf Course

About this course
Ponce de Leon Golf Course is one of nine regulation courses at Hot Springs Village, a large residential and resort community in the Ouachita Mountains of central Arkansas. Designed by Tom Clark and opened in the mid-1970s during the village's development phase, the course was part of an ambitious plan to create a golf-centered retirement and vacation destination. Clark, who designed several courses in the region during this era, worked with the area's natural topography to create a layout that reflects the wooded, rolling terrain characteristic of the Ouachitas. The course plays through dense pine and hardwood forests, with elevation changes that are moderate but noticeable throughout the round. Water features come into play on several holes, typical of Hot Springs Village courses where natural springs and streams are common. The routing takes advantage of the hillside setting, offering occasional views over the surrounding forest canopy. Like other courses in the village, Ponce de Leon serves a membership base that includes both full-time residents and seasonal visitors, with a relaxed atmosphere suited to the community's recreational focus. Hot Springs Village's collection of courses, including Ponce de Leon, has made the area a notable golf destination in Arkansas, particularly for retirees and those seeking affordable access to multiple layouts. The village's golf facilities operate under a property-owner membership model, with courses available to residents and their guests as part of the community's amenities.
Quick facts
- Location
- Hot Springs Village, AR, USA
- Access
- Public
- Year built
- 1991
- Designer
- Tom Clark
- Holes
- 18
- Par
- 72
- Length
- 6,946 yards
- Difficulty
- 75.4/130
Getting there
The journey to Ponce de Leon Golf Course begins at Little Rock National Airport (LIT), situated roughly ninety minutes northwest of Hot Springs Village, a drive that carries you through the gentle rise of the Ouachita foothills and into one of Arkansas's most distinctive planned communities. The final approach winds through the village's tree-lined boulevards and past its signature lakes, a landscape designed with deliberate tranquility - a marked departure from the interstate corridor that precedes it. Ponce de Leon itself sits nestled within this 26,000-acre resort enclave, accessible via a private entrance that signals arrival at a course as thoughtfully sequestered as it is architecturally refined.

FAQ
Common questions about Ponce de Leon
Ratings, design, and course details pulled from Course Vaults.
Ponce de Leon was designed by Tom Clark.
Yes. Ponce de Leon is listed as welcoming public or guest play on Course Vaults.
Par at Ponce de Leon is 72.
Ponce de Leon plays 6,946 yards from the back tees on Course Vaults.
The slope rating at Ponce de Leon is 130.
Ponce de Leon is a 18-hole course.



