Dr. Phillips and Bay Hill: Sand Lake Road, the lakes and the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Dr. Phillips isn't a city. It's an unincorporated community in southwest Orange County, named, the county says, for Dr. Philip Phillips, a citrus pioneer who sold most of his land to Minute Maid in the 1950s. With no town government, Orange County issues the building permits, and the Bay Hill Club's address reads Orlando.

Restaurant Row and the lakes

Restaurant Row runs along Sand Lake Road, with more than two dozen restaurants close to International Drive, the Orange County Convention Center and the theme parks. Big Sand Lake covers 1,021 acres, and Orange County keeps a 43-acre park on its shore. On Turkey Lake, the City of Orlando's Bill Frederick Park covers 183 acres, with camping, disc golf, a fishing pier, trails and boat rentals.

Bay Hill

Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge hosts the PGA TOUR's Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, which ran March 5 to 8 in 2026. If you're listing or moving nearby, check the tournament week before you set dates. For homes around the course, ask what the club offers and whether membership is separate from the home.

Getting around

Measured from Via Dellagio Way on Restaurant Row, it's about 3.6 miles to Universal Orlando's CityWalk by Turkey Lake Road, 6.5 miles to the Orange County Convention Center, 7 miles to Disney Springs, 12 miles to Lake Eola in downtown Orlando by I-4, and 18 miles to Orlando International Airport by SR 528. From the Bay Hill Club, CityWalk is about 5 miles and Disney Springs about 8. We used OpenStreetMap for these, so test the drive at the hour you'd make it.

Before you tour

  • Lake taxes. The Orange County Water Atlas marks Big Sand Lake and Lake Tibet as MSTU/MSBU lakes. Those are lake-management taxing units, collected on property tax bills, so read the bill for any lakefront home.
  • Permit history. In unincorporated Orange County, permits run through the county's Fast Track system, and its property and permit search is public. Look up the roof, pool and any additions before the inspection.
  • Flood. Check the address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center. You can request a flood zone determination from Orange County through the same Fast Track portal, and Florida requires sellers to give a flood disclosure at or before the contract.
  • Associations and clubs. Florida requires an association's disclosure summary before you sign. Ask for any golf-course or club rules tied to the lot as well.

Selling in Dr. Phillips or Bay Hill

Start with a written price opinion from a local agent within one business day, not an automated estimate. If you're selling from another state, we run it with video walkthroughs, local prep you can see in photos, and a closing you can sign remotely. Request your price opinion.

Buying in Dr. Phillips and Bay Hill

See homes for sale around Dr. Phillips and Bay Hill, or start a buyer consultation and tell us what you're looking for. We'll cover the written buyer agreement before your first tour, in person or by live video.

Ackley Platinum Group is a team at Coldwell Banker Realty, with our office on Park Avenue in Winter Park, and the Ackley family has been in Central Florida real estate since 1984. This page is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice. Rules and maps change, so check the current source for any property.