Florida golf is predictable. Usually, you get a flat piece of reclaimed swamp, some palm trees, a few pricey condos, and a lot of water hazards. It’s fine. But it’s not exactly "soul-stirring." That’s why the Mission Inn golf course—specifically the legendary El Campeón—feels like such a glitch in the matrix.
You’re in Howey-in-the-Hills. It sounds fake. It sounds like a place where a 1920s citrus baron would build a summer estate, and honestly, that’s basically what happened. When you pull up to the resort, you aren't greeted by the glass and steel of modern Orlando. It’s old-school Spanish Colonial. It’s quiet.
Most people coming to Central Florida head straight for the big-name tracks at Disney or the resorts closer to the airport. They’re missing out. There is something fundamentally different about a course built in 1917 compared to something bulldozed last year.
The Weird, Hilly Reality of El Campeón
Let’s get the elephant out of the room: Florida isn't supposed to have 85-foot elevation changes. It’s just not. But El Campeón (The Champion) is a freak of nature. George O’Neil, the architect who laid this out back in the early 20th century, clearly didn't get the memo that Florida is flat.
You’ll be standing on a tee box looking down at a fairway that plunges toward a green tucked behind a massive oak tree draped in Spanish moss. It feels more like North Carolina or even a classic Northeast parkland course than the Sunshine State.
The fourth hole is where things usually start to fall apart for people. It’s a par five. Long. It’s got this double dogleg that forces you to actually think about where you're landing the ball instead of just swinging for the fences. If you try to be a hero here, the course will humiliate you. I’ve seen guys with 5-handicaps walk off that green with a nine. It’s brutal but fair.
Then you have the 17th. It’s often cited as one of the toughest holes in the state. You’ve got a massive elevation drop, water everywhere, and a green that seems smaller than a postage stamp when you're standing on the tee.
🔗 Read more: Woman on a Plane: What the Viral Trends and Real Travel Stats Actually Tell Us
Why the Las Colinas Course Matters Too
Everyone talks about El Campeón. It’s the "trophy" course. But the Mission Inn golf course experience actually includes a second act: Las Colinas.
It was built much later, in 1992, by Gary Koch. It’s an entirely different vibe. While El Campeón is tight, wooded, and vertical, Las Colinas is "The Hills." It’s wider. It’s more open. You can actually breathe a little bit.
Don't mistake "open" for "easy," though. The greens on Las Colinas are often much more undulating than its older brother. You can hit a perfect drive and a decent approach only to realize you’re on the wrong tier of a green that moves like a roller coaster.
- El Campeón: Target golf, narrow fairways, historic feel.
- Las Colinas: Links-style influence, wide vistas, tricky putting surfaces.
The History Is Actually Real
A lot of Florida resorts try to "manufacture" history. They put up some black-and-white photos of guys in knickers and call it a day. Mission Inn doesn't have to fake it.
The Beucher family has owned and operated this place since the 1960s. That’s unheard of in an era of corporate REITs and massive hotel conglomerates. When you walk into the clubhouse, it feels like a family business because it is one.
The original clubhouse for the "Floridian Country Club" (the original name) was a hub for the social elite in the Roaring Twenties. Think about that. While the rest of the country was dealing with Prohibition, people were coming down to this specific patch of dirt in Lake County to play golf and drink "orange juice" that was definitely not just orange juice.
💡 You might also like: Where to Actually See a Space Shuttle: Your Air and Space Museum Reality Check
What Most People Get Wrong About Playing Here
If you’re planning a trip, don't just look at the yardage.
A lot of golfers see 7,000 yards on the scorecard and think, "I can handle that." On a flat course, sure. At the Mission Inn golf course, 7,000 yards plays like 7,400. The uphill shots are deceptive. The wind comes off Lake Harris and swirls through the tall pines.
Also, the greens are fast. Like, "don't-breathe-on-the-ball" fast.
The maintenance crew at Mission Inn takes a lot of pride in their turf. They use TifEagle Bermuda on the greens, which allows them to get the speeds up without killing the grass. If you’re used to slow, shaggy muni greens, your first three-putt will happen on the first hole. I guarantee it.
Getting Out of the "Orlando Bubble"
Mission Inn is about 35 to 45 minutes northwest of downtown Orlando.
For some people, that’s a dealbreaker. They want to be able to walk to a Chili’s or a high-end steakhouse in a shopping mall. You won't find that here. Howey-in-the-Hills is tiny.
📖 Related: Hotel Gigi San Diego: Why This New Gaslamp Spot Is Actually Different
But that’s the point.
When the sun goes down at Mission Inn, it is dark. It is quiet. You can hear the crickets. You can actually see the stars. It’s a retreat in the truest sense of the word. If you’re coming here, stay on-site. The resort has this "Nicantone" vibe—a mix of Spanish and Floridian architecture that feels incredibly cozy.
The Practicalities: How to Not Hate Your Round
If you want to actually enjoy your time on the Mission Inn golf course, you need a strategy. This isn't a "grip it and rip it" kind of place.
- Leave the driver in the bag on several holes at El Campeón. The fairways are lined with ancient oaks that have "ball-eating" branches. A 200-yard shot in the fairway is infinitely better than a 280-yard shot in the woods.
- Watch the grain. Since it’s Florida, the grain of the grass on the greens matters. Look at the cup. If one side looks ragged, that’s the direction the grass is growing. Your putt will pull that way.
- Hydrate. Lake County is beautiful, but the humidity trapped in those rolling hills can be brutal in July.
- Play both courses. Don't just do El Campeón and leave. Las Colinas offers a visual variety that makes the weekend feel complete.
Is It Worth the Drive?
Honestly, yes.
There are hundreds of golf courses in Florida. Most of them are forgettable. You play them, you have a beer, and you forget the layout by the time you hit the interstate. You won't forget Mission Inn. You’ll remember the way the 17th looked from the tee. You’ll remember the weirdly steep climb up the 7th fairway.
It’s a piece of Florida history that somehow survived the 1990s construction boom and the 2000s real estate crash. It’s still here. It’s still hilly. It’s still one of the best tests of golf in the Southeast.
Your Next Steps for a Mission Inn Trip:
- Book the "Golf Advantage" package. It usually includes breakfast and unlimited golf. If you're going to make the drive, you might as well play 36 holes a day.
- Check the aeration schedule. Like any high-end course, they punch the greens twice a year. Call the pro shop directly to make sure you aren't booking the week after they've turned the greens into Swiss cheese.
- Visit the nearby town of Mount Dora. If you have a non-golfer with you, or you just need a break from the resort, Mount Dora is a ten-minute drive and has some of the best antique shopping and local dining in the state. Try The Goblin Market for dinner.
- Pack extra balls. Specifically for El Campeón. The water hazards are strategically placed to catch "almost good" shots.