In Winter Park, where charm and civic vision intersect, two public golf courses—WP9 and WP18—are receiving a series of sophisticated upgrades that speak not only to a love of the game, but to the city’s deeper commitment to preserving lifestyle, legacy, and land.
The nine-hole Winter Park Golf Course (WP9), ranked among the nation’s top public nine-hole courses, has long been a local treasure. Generations have gathered here not simply to tee off, but to connect—neighbors walking the fairways, children learning to putt, and families celebrating milestones in the shadow of the historic clubhouse. Now, as demand reaches record highs with over 100 names on the WP9 membership waitlist, the city is reinvesting in the experience with elegant, meaningful improvements.
Recent enhancements include a new rain shelter on Hole 4 and expanded patio space for both socializing and overflow event use. The addition of the Thorguard® lightning prediction system—accessible in real-time via mobile devices—adds a layer of modern safety. Construction is underway on a new maintenance facility set for completion in Fall 2025. This new building will allow for more efficient course care while enabling a graceful transformation of the current facility into an indoor columbarium and memorial garden—further deepening WP9’s connection to the city’s heritage.
While recent winter rounds surged past 27,000—an all-time record—the city continues to prioritize course health. In March, a USGA agronomist was brought in to assess the greens, with measures now in place to restore conditions to premier standards. Behind the scenes, strategic updates like bunker liners are improving drainage and durability while reducing maintenance costs.
Across town, WP18—Winter Park Pines Golf Course—is emerging as a rejuvenated destination following its 2022 acquisition. Purchased with the express intent of preserving its 95 acres from development, the course has become both a recreational and environmental asset. Since the purchase, the city has fully renovated the clubhouse and pro shop, enhancing aesthetics while ensuring ADA compliance. A newly added beer garden and extended patio dining area offer stylish, relaxed gathering spaces, while the synthetic-turf driving range and upgraded GPS-enabled cart fleet bring contemporary efficiency to the player experience.
Course conditions have also seen a meticulous overhaul: canals have been dredged, new bridges constructed, and more than 200 pine trees introduced to the landscape. Aging irrigation systems have been replaced, new bunkers installed, and invasive plant species removed. The course now plays as a par-71, thanks to additional yardage and redesigned holes—officially rated by the USGA earlier this year.
Looking ahead, the city plans to introduce golf tracking technology to the WP18 driving range—offering both serious practice tools and interactive games in the style of Topgolf®. These innovations will extend usable hours, welcome newcomers to the sport, and add a new layer of engagement for all skill levels.
Winter Park’s investment in these golf courses transcends fairways and greens. It is, as Mayor Sheila DeCiccio affirms, “an investment in our quality of life.” With both courses self-sustaining through memberships, green fees, and food and beverage sales, their stewardship offers a sustainable model for public recreation.
Beyond sport, these spaces are cultivated parklands—spaces where history is honored, nature is nurtured, and the community flourishes. As Winter Park continues to grow, it is doing so with grace, vision, and a swing as refined as the courses it calls its own.