12 Best Golf Courses in Florida
Florida is a popular choice among golfers from the United States and around the world, and for good reason. It is the flattest state, making for ideal terrain; it has over 1,500 miles of coastline, providing a scenic backdrop for teeing off; it has consistently warm weather, making for year-round playing; and, finally, Florida has the most golf courses out of any state in the country. With over 1,100 courses to choose from, Florida is very much a golfer-friendly state, offering something for golfers of every skill level.
TPC Sawgrass
Located on the beautiful Ponte Vedra Beach, TPC Sawgrass is between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, less than an hour drive from Jacksonville International Airport. The Players Stadium Course features an iconic 17th hole, which is known as one of the most famous and recognizable holes in golf.
There are two different price ranges available based on the time of year: Players Stadium is priced at $750 per person from September to May and $550 per person from June to August. These prices include the green fee, cart fee, forecaddie for the group, and a bag of practice balls. Military discount rates are offered year-round on the condition that a military identification card is presented. A credit card is required to hold each reservation.
TPC Sawgrass partners with the Sawgrass Marriott Resort and Spa, which offers rooms, suites, and private villas. There is a complimentary shuttle service to Cabana Beach Club, an oceanfront venue with direct access to Ponte Vedra Beach.
Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge is located in Orlando, and its courses are available exclusively to club members and guests staying at the lodge. While membership fees are not made public, members can enjoy many inclusions such as: use of the golf courses, tennis courts, fitness centre, and swimming pool while staying at the accommodation the lodge offers, such as a private room, suite, or cottage.
The resort features the Championship Course, on which professional golfers at the PGA Tour Arnold Palmer Invitational play. Whether you are a newcomer or an experienced golfer, Bay Hill has something for everybody. Visit the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy professionals to learn the basics or work on developing a particular skill.
The Trump National Doral
The Trump National Doral, located in Miami, is home to four championship courses, including the iconic Blue Monster, which has hosted PGA tour events for over 55 consecutive years. Playing on the Blue Monster means walking in the footsteps of PGA professionals such as Tiger Woods and Dustin Johnson. Any of the four courses available at Trump National Doral is accessible to everyone, including daily-fee guests, resort guests, and club members.
Trump National Doral offers four types of membership: full golf, junior golf, corporate, and social membership. Being a Trump Doral member means enjoying member reciprocity benefits, including exclusive membership access to all 18 Trump golf properties, from Trump National Golf Club in Los Angeles, California, to Trump Turnberry in Scotland. The Trump Pro Shop is the largest golf shop at any resort worldwide, offering 7,000 square feet of golfing equipment and apparel.
Streamsong Resort
Streamsong Resort is situated in 7,000 acres of flora and fauna in Central Florida, a 90-minute drive from both Orlando and Tampa. It is home to three unique, one-of-a-kind golf courses, Streamsong Red, Streamsong Blue, and Streamsong Black. Streamsong is the only resort in the world where players can experience three courses designed by renowned golf architects: Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (Streamsong Red), Tom Doak (Streamsong Blue), and Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner (Streamsong Black).
Streamsong courses are available to members of the public and guests of the resort. The resort offers guest rooms and suites, and while there is not an official Streamsong Membership, private groups may book one of the clubhouses, which provides an elevated, personalized experience including 12 deluxe guestrooms at each clubhouse, a private butler service, and transportation to and from local airports. The resort is open year-round, with weekly maintenance taking place on alternating courses.
The Breakers Palm Beach
The Ocean Course at The Breakers Palm Beach is Florida’s oldest golf course, which features 56 sand and grass-faced bunkers, six lakes, cart paths throughout, 6,500 square feet of putting green, and 18,000 square feet of practice green. The Breakers is located on Palm Beach, only 6 miles from Palm Beach International Airport.
Golf Membership at The Breakers offers access to 36 holes of golf between the Ocean Course and the championship Rees Jones Course. Being a private resort, green fees are not available to the public and are instead available to club members and resort guests only. The Breakers offers a broad range of accommodation from rooms, private suites, and the exclusive Flagler Club, 21 rooms and suites within The Breakers, and is restricted to two floors. Flager Club guests are privy to personalized service, complimentary chauffeuring, a private lounge and rooftop terrace, and unique food and drink options available throughout the day.
PGA National Course
The PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens hosts some of golf's most celebrated events, such as the Ryder Cup, PGA Championship, Senior PGA Championship, and the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic, all of which are played on The Champion course. At 7,045 yards long, the course has a challenging reputation due to South Florida winds and hidden pockets of water throughout.
The PGA National Resorts boasts a luxury lifestyle that goes along with its flexible membership options: Golf Membership, Sports Membership, and Resort Social Membership. The closest airport is Palm Beach International Airport. They offer a variety of accommodations from resort and pool view rooms, five different suites, twenty-one different private suites within walking distance of resort amenities, and vacation rentals through the PGA National Vacation Rental Program, which allows guests access to both golf and resort facilities.
Bear's Club
Bear’s Club in Jupiter is home to an 18-hole championship course that is covered in cypress, oak, and pine trees. The course was designed by club founder, Jack Nicklaus, one of only six male golfers to have won all four major tournaments: the U.S. Open, British Open, Masters Tournament, and PGA Championship. Nicklaus designed the course with the vision of offering a world-class experience to golfers of all levels while offering more experienced players a challenge.
Bear’s Club is private and only accessible to members and guests of members. The Tuscan-style clubhouse sits lakeside, offering dining and four suites available to members and their guests. There are three member-owned private cottages on site; however, only one is available for stays.
Floridian National Golf Club
The Floridian Course is known for both its scenic views of the St. Lucie River and its formidable challenges, like hidden bunkers and strong winds catching players off guard. This course calls the Floridian National Golf Club home, which is located in Palm City and is easily accessible by Palm Beach International and Ft Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, with transportation arrangements possible through the member concierge, one of many perks offered as part of club membership. The Floridian is a unique club because it is also accessible by water, with a marina featuring 68 berths capable of accommodating boats up to 150 feet in length.
Floridian offers accommodation in the form of private cottages, each with three to six bedrooms, modern amenities such as flat-screen televisions and wireless internet, and 24-hour security. The Floridian is membership-based and boasts its luxurious privileges, including a swimming pool, fitness Facility, and full-service salon and spa.
Celebration Golf Club
Natural pine forests and Florida wetlands surround the Celebration Golf Championship Course. It is accessible by Orlando International Airport and is located in close proximity to other famous Orlando attractions such as Disney World Resort, Universal Studios, and Sea World.
The course was designed by father and son golf architects, Robert Trent Jones Senior and Robert Trent Jones Junior. They believed “every hole should be a hard par and an easy bogey.” Due to its natural surroundings, the course features challenging greens and strategic hazards; the course demands accurate shots and consistent putting. Membership is offered through the Florida Elite Card, available only to Florida residents. Alternatively, public tee-times can be reserved online for a daily fee.
The Park
The Park is a public golf course located in West Palm Beach, only two miles south of Palm Beach International Airport. It was designed by Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, and Dirk Ziff. The first nine play-throughs feature very little elevation change; however, the latter nine are considerably more intense due to multiple hidden bunkers and uphill putting.
Being a public course, The Park does not offer membership and instead offers green fees that can be booked online. However, Florida residents and West Palm Beach residents have access to discounted green fees with a valid ID. The Park offers on-site dining and drinking options: The House is a sit-in restaurant, and The Cabana is an alfresco bar serving drinks and light snacks.
Shingle Creek
Shingle Creek gets its name from the northernmost waters of the Florida Everglades, where the golf course is immersed. The course is situated adjacent to wetlands that pose a natural hazard for golfers, forcing them to plan their next move creatively and put with precision. Being part of a resort, the course is open to the public with tee-times varying on time of day and day of the week. Shingle Creek offers Loyalty Club membership for Orlando residents only, including benefits such as a free round of golf when joining and discounts across food and beverage, private lessons, and merchandise from the shop.
Shingle Creek shares its grounds with the Rosen Hotel and Resort. The property has 1,501 rooms and suites available, restaurants and bars, and a spa that offers everything you need without leaving the property. The resort also offers a stay-and-play package that allows guests to enjoy a deluxe room and two free rounds of golf.
Key West Golf Club
The Key West Golf course, located in Key West, is a one-of-a-kind golf course, being the only Caribbean golf course in the United States. Rees Jones designed it and sprawls over 200 acres of Florida Keys foliage incorporated into the course like the infamous “Mangrove Hole,” played entirely over a field of intertwined mangroves.
The course is open year-round to club members and the public. Tee times vary depending on the time of year, time of day, and whether you are a junior golfer. Membership fees vary between singles and couples. There is no accommodation on site; however, Key West Golf Club has a handful of partner hotels in close proximity to the course, such as Blue Flamingo Resort and The Conch House.
Whether you are new to golf and want to explore public courses with daily fees or a seasoned player ready to make golf a lifestyle by joining a club and enjoying the amenities and benefits that come along with that, Florida is a state abundant in golf courses with something to offer players at every level.
