ORLANDO, Fla. (Feb. 17, 2019) – Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is proud to announce it has been selected as one of the Top 50 Golf Clubs of America 2019-2020 by the Platinum Clubs of America.
Often compared to Michelin-starred restaurants, Platinum Club recognition is the most respected award in the private club industry with only the top four percent of private clubs receiving platinum status, including such prestigious clubs as Augusta National Golf Club (Augusta, GA), Baltusrol Golf Club (Springfield, NJ), Oakmont Golf Club (Oakmont, PA), and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club (Southhampton, NY) to name a few.
“We are both delighted and honored to have been selected by our peers to the Top 50 Golf Clubs of America List for 2019-2020,” said Don Emery, President/GM of the Bay Hill Club & Lodge. “For more than 50 years, Bay Hill has been making history for being an exceptional golf destination. We take great pride in the experience we offer our members and guests, and look forward to sharing our tradition of service and hospitality with travelers from around the globe.”
“We are very excited to have just completed the creation of a new two-acre Short Game Practice Facility and renovated driving range, and the response from members and guests has been overwhelmingly positive,” Emery continued. “We are continually striving to improve, yet remain dedicated to honoring the traditions and core values that have set us apart.”
Initiated in 1997, the Platinum Clubs of America vote takes place every other year and is conducted through a nationwide vote of 4400 Club Managers and Presidents or Owners of the finest Private Clubs in the nation. There are seven criteria for a Club to be considered for selection as a Platinum Clubs of America ranking:
- Universal Recognition
- Excellence in Amenities and Facilities
- Caliber of Staff and Professional Service Levels
- Quality of Membership
- Governance & Prudent Fiscal Management
- Adapting to Changing Times
- Overall Experience
The history of Bay Hill and this charismatic golf club is steeped in tradition. Built in 1961, guests appreciate the scenic views and traditional setting across 270 acres along the shores of the beautiful Butler Chain of Lakes. The property later became a favorite of legendary golfer Arnold Palmer after he competed in an exhibition match with Jack Nicklaus and Don Cherry on the then unknown course in 1965. On that day Palmer fell in love with Bay Hill and began the quest to make it his own. By 1970, that dream was a reality and Bay Hill was the winter home of Mr. Palmer until his passing in September 2016.
In 1979, Mr. Palmer successfully created a tournament that became an official PGA TOUR stop, attracting some of the strongest fields of the season, now called the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard.
Just like the personality of Arnold Palmer himself, Bay Hill is very charming and welcoming, and for those that love the traditions of the game, it is the perfect Bucket List venue.
Located just minutes from downtown Orlando and area attractions, Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is the site of the annual Arnold Palmer Invitational where the PGA TOUR competes each March. The 70-room property features 27-holes of golf, a two-acre Short Game Practice Facility, the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy, tennis on four Har-tru and two DecoTurf courts, a full-service spa and salon, fitness center, a heated Jr. Olympic-size pool, three dining locations, three lounges, and 9,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space.
For reservations or membership information, call (888) 422-9445 or (407) 876-2429.
