Sunny weather practically year-round makes Central Florida a golfer's haven, and there are about 150 golf courses and 17 golf academies within a 45-minute drive of Orlando International Airport. Most of Florida is extremely flat, but many of the courses listed here have man-made hills that make them more challenging. Many resort hotels let nonguests use their golf facilities. Some country clubs are affiliated with particular hotels, and their guests can play at preferred rates. If you're staying near a course you'd like to use, call and inquire. Because hotels have become so attuned to the popularity of golf, many that don't have golf courses nearby might still have golf privileges or discounts at courses around town. Check with your hotel about what it offers before you set out on your own.

In general, even public courses have dress codes—most courses would just as soon see you stark naked as wearing a tank top, for instance—so call to find out the specifics at each, and be sure to reserve tee times in advance. The yardages quoted are those from the blue tees. Greens fees usually vary by season, but the highest and lowest figures are provided, and virtually all include mandatory cart rental, except for the few 9-hole walking courses.

Golfpac (483 Montgomery Pl., Altamonte Springs, 32714. 407/260-2288 or 800/327-0878. www.golfpactravel.com) packages golf vacations and prearranges tee times at more than 78 courses around Orlando. Rates vary based on hotel and course, and at least 60 to 90 days' advance notice is recommended to set up a vacation.

Walt Disney World

Golf

Where else would you find a sand trap shaped like the head of a well-known mouse? Disney has 99 holes of golf on five championship courses—all on the PGA Tour route—plus a 9-hole walking course. Eagle Pines and Osprey Ridge are the newcomers, flanking the Bonnet Creek Golf Club just east of Fort Wilderness. WDW's original courses, the Palm and the Magnolia, flank the Shades of Green Resort to the west and the Lake Buena Vista course near Downtown Disney's Marketplace. All courses have a driving range, pro shop, locker room, snack bar-restaurant, and PGA-staffed teaching and training program. Disney provides a perk to any guest at a WDW hotel who checks in specifically to play golf: free cab fare for you and your clubs between the hotel and the course you play. Ask at the front desk when you check into the hotel or call407/939-7529.

Greens Fees

There are lots of variables here, with prices ranging from $20 for a youngster 17 or under to play 9 holes at Oak Trail walking course, to an adult nonhotel guest paying $174 to play 18 holes at one of Disney's newer courses in peak season. Disney guests get a price break, with rates ranging from $94 for a Disney hotel guest playing Monday through Thursday at the Lake Buena Vista course to $174 for a day visitor playing the Osprey Ridge course. All have a twilight discount rate, $38-$80 for the 18-hole courses, which goes into effect at 2 PM from January 16 to February 28 and at 3 PM from March 11 to October 26. The 9-hole, par-36 Oak Trail course is best for those on a budget, with a year-round rate of $20 for golfers 17 and under and $39 golfers 18 and older, and can be played for a twilight rate of $15 for adults and $10 for youngsters under 17 after 3 PM between May 14 and September 27. Rates at all courses except Oak Trail include an electric golf cart. No electric carts are allowed at Oak Trail, and a pull cart for your bag is $6. If you've got the stamina and desire to play the same course twice in the same day, you can do so for half price the second time around, but you can't reserve that option in advance, and this "Re-Play Option," as Disney calls it, is subject to availability. Golf shoes rent for $10 a pair, and range balls cost $7 a bucket. Rental clubs cost $55 for adults and nothing for juniors (17 and under). Tee times must be cancelled at least 48 hours in advance to avoid being charged. Note that golf rates change frequently, so double-check them.

Tee Times and Reservations

Tee times are available daily from 6:45 AM until dark. You can book them up to 90 days in advance if you're staying at a WDW-owned hotel, 30 days ahead if you're staying elsewhere from May through December, and four days in advance from January through April. For tee times and private lessons at any course, call Walt Disney World Golf & Recreation Reservations (407/939-7529).

Golf Instruction

One-on-one instruction from PGA-accredited professionals is available at any Disney course. Prices for private lessons vary: 45-minute lessons cost $75 for adults and $50 for youngsters 17 and under. Call the Walt Disney World Golf & Recreation Reservations to book a lesson.

Courses

Eagle Pines,one of the newer Walt Disney World courses, was designed by golf-course architect Pete Dye. The dish-shaped fairways and vast sand beds are lined with pines and punctuated by challenging bunkers. Golf Digest gave this course 4 stars. Bonnet Creek Golf Club. 18 holes, 6,772 yards, par 72, USGA rating 72.3.

The Lake Buena Vista course winds among Downtown Disney-area town houses and villas. Greens are narrow, and hitting straight is important because errant balls risk ending up in someone's bedroom. Be prepared for the famous island green on the 7th. Lake Buena Vista Dr. 18 holes, 6,819 yards, par 72, USGA rating 72.7.

The Magnolia,played by the pros in the Disney-Oldsmobile Golf Classic, is long but forgiving, with extra-wide fairways. More than 1,500 magnolia trees line the course. Shades of Green, 1950 W. Magnolia-Palm Dr. 18 holes, 7,190 yards, par 72, USGA rating 73.9.

Oak Trail is a 9-hole, par-36 walking course, designed to be fun for the entire family. It was designed by Ron Garl and is noted for its small, undulating greens. Shades of Green, 1950 W. Magnolia-Palm Dr. 9 holes, 2,913 yards, par 36.

Osprey Ridge,sculpted from some of the still-forested portions of the huge WDW acreage, was transformed into a relaxing tour in the hands of designer Tom Fazio. However, tees and greens as much as 20 feet above the fairways keep competitive players from getting too comfortable. The course was rated 4 stars by Golf Digest. Rental clubs require photo ID and a major credit card for refundable deposit of $500 per set. Bonnet Creek Golf Club, 3451 Golf View Dr. 18 holes, 7,101 yards, par 72, USGA rating 73.9.

The Palm,one of WDW's original courses, has been confounding the pros as part of the annual Disney-Oldsmobile Golf Classic for years. It's not as long as the Magnolia, or as wide, but it has 9 water holes and 94 bunkers. Shades of Green, 1950 W. Magnolia-Palm Dr. 18 holes, 6,957 yards, par 72, USGA rating 73.