GolfPass Icon
Rating Index Rating
Tooltip Information Icon
4.5
392 Reviews (392)
5 Stars
254
4 Stars
94
3 Stars
29
2 Stars
13
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.5
Value
3.9
Layout
4.8
Friendliness
4.8
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.4
84.5%
Recommend this course
365 out of 392 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
2 Reviews (2)
5 Stars
1
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.5
Value
3.0
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.5
StaffFriendliness
5.0
50.0%
Recommend this course
1 out of 2 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.8
5 Reviews (5)
5 Stars
4
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
0
Conditions
4.8
Value
4.2
Layout
5.0
Pace
4.6
Amenities
4.8
StaffFriendliness
5.0
80.0%
Recommend this course
4 out of 5 reviews
Read Reviews

About

Holes 18
Type Resort
Par 72
Length 7279 yards
Slope 141
Rating 74.6

The King & Bear Course at World Golf Village is named for its designers, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. It is the first and only collaboration between the two legendary golfers. Combining the contrasting styles of the two designers created a challenging course that incorporates features from both traditional Scottish-links courses and new traditions in American golf. The course is known for the numerous lakes bordered by large coquina rock that come into play throughout. The front nine is dotted with loblolly pines while decades-old oak trees provide shade for the back nine. In addition to King & Bear, World Golf Village also offers another excellent 18-hole course, Slammer & Squire.

Book a Tee Time at
World Golf Village - King & Bear Golf Course
Powered by GolfNow.com

Course Details

Year Built 2000
Fairways 419 Bermuda Grass
Greens 419 Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round. Peak Season: Mid-February - May
Architect Arnold Palmer (2000) Jack Nicklaus (2000) Ed Seay (2000) MacCurrach Golf (2017) Nicklaus (2017) Bruce Borland Jim Lipe

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fee
Clubs Yes
GPS Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Caddies Yes
Golf School Academy Yes
Golf Simulator Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Indoor Practice Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Metal Spikes Allowed No

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Jacuzzi

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards

Available Sports

Tennis

Accolades

Reviews

4.5
392 Reviews (392)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 37
Brunch 19
Dinner 15
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 74
Bunkers 71
Undulating Greens 47
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 54
A Weekend Splurge 44
A Bucket list/Top 100 Pick 43
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 42
At a Resort 35
Near Local Attractions 35

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice Course Golfnow needs to provide better info

Course and staff were great. But got there and course was over seeded and my guest with a handicap flag could not even drive in rough. Made play very difficult and would not have gone had we known. Golfnow should provide that information at time of booking. Also, a junior tournament was happening which made pace of play 2:45 for 9 holes. Quit after 9 and took a rain check which they graciously allowed.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Fair
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 77
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Top 1000 Contributor
First Time Playing

One of the best courses in the JAX Area

The only reason, i didn`t rate 5 Stars: Since the course was overseeded, we could not drive to our balls. And there is construction work along some fairways. The course condition is top, the Greens are fast, close to perfect.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great layout

This is one of the course's that you have to play. I definitely recommend the surf
Board cart

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

save the money

Not worth the money! You would be better off going to one of the other local courses.

Conditions Good
Value Poor
Friendliness Fair
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Overvalued

Beautiful, albeit windy Fall day. Played as single, card/cart/tee box have no diagrams or yardage, although plenty of sprinklers with info in fairways. Generous fairways - more than you think from tee, just aim for/over poles in fairways - it helps if you can work ball both ways. Big greens - they had recently been punched/sanded, and were slow/bumpy. Water really doesn't come into play for good players, but may for shorter/crooked drivers. Due to recent heavy rainfall, fairways somewhat burnt/bare, got little roll with drives, ball picked up mud. Overall, a typical Fla course, but not worth the premium greens fee they charge. If you have choice, play Slammer & Squire - on WGV site, just as challenging, less $$.

Conditions Good
Value Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Midweek round

Had a great day of golf. This was the first time I walked through the clubhouse, wow it is beautiful. The course has been in great condition each time I have played and this time was no different. In spite of heavy rains here recently the course was well kept . the greens rolled true and the fairways were beautiful. It does play much longer with very little roll. I look forward to my next round out here with Jack and Arnie.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 18
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

King And Bear

Great golf course Very enjoyable. Was paired with a good golfer that had played the course below and that really helped. Course was in great shape. Very well manicured course and greens roll great. I would say this is a must if you are in the St. Augustine area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 8
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Best

Hands down best experience in north Florida pristine while other courses are swamps playable and challenging at the same time masterpiece

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Previously Played
Average weather
Used cart

WET!

I normally love the course, but right now the course is soaked. Cart path only and saturated. Mud and water flying everywhere when hitting from fairway. There also was a fivesom in front of us for a little that did not ask us to play through so we skipped a hole. Not my best outing there.

Conditions Average
Value Average
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 17
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

pin placement very tough

beautiful course challeging design.but some pins were less than 10 feet from water or sand trap. it played like sunday tourament.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Course Condition

The only reason for the good condition was due to the rain that the area has had, left for soft fairways in areas.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 5-9
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Play K and B...get free apple!

Awesome course...one of my favorites in the area. Pace of play was kind of slow but that may be expected with the difficulties of some of the holes. Booked thru GolfNow and got a excellent rate. Looking forward to returning and playing again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 7
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Overall very nice with a few let downs

I have not been there for about 1 1/2 years. Participated in a 4-person scramble for Folds of Honor. Outside staff very friendly and very helpful. Practice facilities are close to clubhouse and cart staging which is great when in a tournament when carts cannot be moved. Hot and humid morning and course adviser was out early with cold towels. Nice job! there were a few greens that needed some major attention on the collars where the turf is dead and bear dirt. staff needs to get sod patches so the grass can regrow.
Downfalls: no yardage books available for purchase at front desk. answer was that they are getting new ones made. Course has not changed so why out?
Water feature between the 16th green and 17th Tee box was not working and looks as if it has been forgotten. When course first opened, this feature that Jack and Arnold designed was beautiful and the water was circulated from the lower pond to the upper by a pump house. Now the feature is full of weeds, mildew and algae since the water does not move. Hope someone reads this and brings it back to life. Would be nice to hear the running water in a quiet corner of the course.
Bonus: Compressed air hose at shoe cleaning station outside clubhouse to blow out/off the dirt and grass from your shoes.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Average
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 38
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Fair weather
Used cart

Uh, wow!

This course is fun to play! Great layout, excellent conditioned course! Complimentary Washington red apples on the 1st & 10th tee are awesome! I can't wait to play this course again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Fair weather
Used cart

KIDDING ME ?

We were asked to let a group of members through when it was already backed up.Im all for golf etiquette but we were made to let members through then go sit and wait on next box with the @ssholes... was priceless...Not to mention they both shanked next .
drive into woods...again priceless..south hampton and st johns gacc are much better. they only cater to members when necessary..which is more than understandable!!!!Will not be back..make it a private course.let all the members pump all the money into it.so they can complain then shank it in the woods...

Conditions Good
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 4
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Great day at the King

We had a great round at the King & Bear Sunday. I thought the staff was extra friendly and very nice to us all day long. It was hot, hot, hot and they had towels and water for us on the course. The course by the way was in great condition, greens terrific and we enjoyed the day. It was a little busy so gave the pace of play 4 Stars instead of five, but all the players in front us moved it as fast as they could. It was just busy.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Good not great

Roughs were tall and balls were difficult to locate once they rolled into the rough. Course unremarkable in design, nothing special. Fairways were in good shape..

Conditions Average
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

King & Bear was awesome

Being new to the area, it was the first chance I had to play and I was not disappointed at all. I booked single, and requested to remain single, and they made it happen. Pace of play was a little slow, but I was single with a 3-some in front, so thats to be expected. Course was in excellent condition considering the huge amount of rain in the area lately. Staff was very friendly. I will definitely play again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

VERY FRIENDLY STAFF

This was the first time that I played this golf course. The golf course was in excellent shape and the staff at the golf course was really great. I give the golf course an overall excellent review. Would definitely play there again.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

play it again

The staff was excellent. The course layout was nice pretty open. Beside thr greens recently being aerated it was in great shape. The food was good beer was cold. Had a great deal for price. Will definitely play again.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Request A Vacation Quote From Florida's First Coast of Golf
Please provide your information below and a staff member at Florida's First Coast of Golf will be in contact to help you start planning your travel.
Nearby Courses
Saint Augustine, Florida
Semi-Private
3.8510882353
2008
St. Augustine, Florida
Public
4.4339470588
1346
Saint Johns, Florida
Semi-Private
5.0
2
Jacksonville, Florida
Semi-Private
3.6371470588
2551
Saint Augustine, Florida
Private
4.25
4
St. Augustine, Florida
Semi-Private
2.8202470588
1272
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Public
3.3190529412
83
Jacksonville, Florida
Semi-Private
3.6677176471
339
Green Cove Springs, Florida
Semi-Private
4.0123470588
1454
Elkton, Florida
Public
3.5478857143
889
Orange Park, Florida
Public
4.0272
610
Golf Packages

World Golf Village Stay & Play Package

FROM $227 (USD)
ST. AUGUSTINE, FL | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort and 2 rounds of golf at Slammer & Squire, and King & Bear at World Golf Village.

St. John’s River Stay & Play Package

FROM $187 (USD)
JACKSONVILLE, FL | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at Residence Inn by Marriott South Jacksonville/Bartram Park and 3 rounds of golf at Cimarrone Golf Club, The Golf Club of South Hampton, and St. John’s Golf & Country Club.

Sawgrass Marriott Stay & Play Package

FROM $487 (USD)
JACKSONVILLE, FL | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa and 2 rounds of golf at TPC Sawgrass - PLAYERS Stadium & Dye's Valley Courses.

Jacksonville Golf Around Package

FROM $147 (USD)
JACKSONVILLE, FL | Enjoy 3 nights’ accommodations at the Doubletree Jacksonville Riverfront and 3 rounds of golf at Bent Creek Golf Club, Eagle Landing Golf Club, and Hidden Hills Golf Club.

Hammock Beach Stay & Play Golf Package

FROM $227 (USD)
PALM COAST, FL | Enjoy 2 nights' accommodations at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa and 2 rounds of golf at The Club at Hammock Beach (Troon Privé).
Now Reading