Famous nine-hole Florida course temporarily closed after greens killed

Winter Park Golf Course – better known as the Winter Park 9 and known by locals as the WP9 – suffered a major blow in April when a maintenance worker inadvertently applied weed killer to the greens with disastrous results. The small city near Orlando has committed to restoring the popular nine-hole course to its glory, and architects Riley Johns and Keith Rhebb are rebuilding the greens and adding a bunker renovation as well.  

Johns and Rhebb completed a $1.2 million renovation to the 2,480-yard course 10 years ago, providing the city a municipal gem that has been a profit-driver ever since and that serves as an inspiration for any municipal project. Its small pop-up greens feature incredible slopes that are perfect for many of the holes’ diminutive sizes. The course dates back to 1917 when it was part of a larger golf complex, and it’s part of the Florida Historic Golf Trail.

After an unfortunate chemical incident which rendered all the greens at WP9 unalive, @KeithRhebb and I find ourselves back on site for the remodel’s 10 year anniversary - almost to the day. Rest assured, the new greens will be better than ever, with a full bunker reno to boot. pic.twitter.com/sXauxAE1DQ— Riley Johns (@RileyJohnsGolf) May 7, 2026

The expected cost of the greens and bunker renovation is $70,000. The course closed April 27 and will reopen May 18 with temporary greens. The course is expected to fully reopen in mid-July. This Central Florida-based writer’s favorite tournament of the year — the 18-hole Winter Park Amateur Golf Championship with nine holes played on each of two-days — was rescheduled from May until the fall. 

View this post on Instagram