Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Lodge

Upon entering the grounds of the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Lodge, guests are greeted by the sight of the golf course’s green lawns, one long building that houses most of the lodge’s amenities, and a few other buildings connected by stone paths. The decor of the hotel reflects a cozy '70s-style stone lodge, a sight more often seen in cold northern areas. The lobby is a mixture of stone walls, wooden furniture, and vintage carpets. The rest of the hotel is decorated with wood paneling, plush retro-style chairs and couches, and elegant pieces like antique lamps and patterned carpets.

Additionally, many of the walls are covered with golf-inspired art, trophy cases, and photographs of Arnold Palmer, a world-wide successful golf professional. Arnold Palmer took over the lodge in 1975, and soon after in 1979 it began hosting a tournament on the PGA Tour, the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Guests are mostly golf enthusiasts, older couples, and business travelers looking for a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. The resort is also open to members of the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Club. Guests can expect additional visitors beyond those staying at the lodge such as golfers or the Bay Hill Barracudas swim team which practices year round in the lodge’s junior Olympic-sized pool. 

The Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Lodge is a secluded resort surrounded by 270 acres of golf courses, the gated neighborhood of Bay Hill Community, and the Butler Chain of Lakes. Pop star Justin Timberlake once owned a house in the Bay Hill Community. The lodge’s Bay Hill Marina is located on Lake Tibet, from which guests can experience the wildlife of the lakes or go on fishing excursions. Entertainment or restaurants are not easily accessible by foot from the hotel. However, this seems to be common for most resorts in the Orlando area. The closest off-site restaurants are about a five- to 10-minute drive away. Similarly, Disney World is about 11 minutes away by car, Universal is a 12-minute drive, and Sea World is 15 minutes away. The Orlando International Airport is about 23 minutes from the resort by car.  

There are 70 Lodge and Suite Rooms and six Guest Cottages. All rooms have a brown and cream color scheme and golf decorative pieces, such as photographs of Arnold Palmer. The '70s-inspired vintage chairs in the rooms appear dated and worn compared to the beds and other furniture. The bathrooms are large and include double sinks, shower/tub combos, and Arnold Palmer bath products. The Suites offer more space as well as the added bonus of a separate parlor room. Both room types have flat-screen TVs, DVD players, plush robes, hairdryers, and free Wi-Fi, but no mini-fridges, microwaves, or tea/coffee facilities, though there are free morning coffee/tea stations in the hallways. All rooms have furnished patios and those facing the golf course offer lovely views.

Lastly, the six Guest Cottages are two-bedroom, two-bath cottages with all the features of an actual house, such as a full-size kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, stove, and oven, a dining room table, and a living room. There are three beds in the Guest Cottages, one king-size bed and two full-size beds. The cottages also have patios with either lake or golf course views. Unlike the Lodge and Suite Rooms, the Guest Cottages are about a two-block walk from the lodge, giving guests more privacy during their stay. 

By far the best feature of the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Lodge are the two golf courses which cover 270 acres and 27 holes. The Bay Hill Championship Course is used by pro golfers every March on the PGA Tour during the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Unfortunately, this course isn’t open year-round due to maintenance, however, the nine-hole Charger Course is always open. The Halfway House stocked with snacks and drinks as well as a well-stocked Pro Shop with equipment, apparel, and keepsakes for purchase are nice bonuses of the course. 

The resort offers many other amenities beyond the golf course like a marina, a spa, and a salon. Guests can access the Bay Hill Marina to fish, alone or on a private guided fishing excursion, or enjoy the lake area. The salon offers haircuts, styling, manicure, pedicures, and a scalp massage, while the spa provides body and skin treatments, massages, men and women’s steam rooms, dry saunas, and a whirlpool. As for exercising, guests can do laps in the pool, use the two tennis courts, or work out in the large fitness center. The fitness equipment is a little dated for a resort of this caliber and the center closes fairly early in mid-evening. Guests can hire on-site personal trainers or professional tennis instructors. Compared to other resorts in the area, the pool deck is quite basic in style with lounge chairs and some tables and umbrellas. 

Lastly, the Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Lodge has three restaurants and a fireside bar, and also offers room service. The Terrace Cafe and the Bay Window have a lofty, relaxed dining atmosphere and provide light, casual menus. The Terrace Cafe has outdoor, indoor, and poolside dining. The Grill is the most elegant of the dining options with a classy northern lodge ambience. The prices reflect the upscale nature of the hotel and there is an automatic tip included on each dining bill. The Member’s Lounge is a large full-service bar set up like a private gentleman’s parlor, with a TV, seating area by a fireplace, and plush couches and chairs, though the furniture could be updated as it appears worn and dated.