These Florida Courses Should Be on Every Golfer's Bucket List
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If you've caught yourself daydreaming about hitting the perfect golf swing while palm trees sway gently in the background and a breeze rolls in from the ocean, it's time to book a vacation. Though there are noteworthy golf courses scattered around the country, there's no denying that Florida is home to some of the best in the world. We've rounded up the best golf courses in Florida where you can book a tee time.
From breathtakingly beautiful oceanfront courses to notoriously challenging ones designed by PGA legends, like Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, the Sunshine State has something for everyone. Follow in the footsteps of champions at TPC Sawgrass or take in elevated views from Streamsong's three courses.
Heads up: While most of these courses are generally open to the public with a fee, some do require you to be a guest of the associated hotel or resort or a member of the golf club. But trust us, these courses are worth it—and they're not just for golfers. Nature lovers will enjoy them, too, since many of the courses are also certified wildlife sanctuaries.
Whether you're planning a golf-centric vacation or just want to spend a few hours on a beautiful course before heading to another theme park, pack your clubs and your luckiest pair of golf pants or shorts—it's tee time.
The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass
Play like a pro at this famed course that was constructed specifically to host The Players Championship. Located in Ponte Vedra Beach, this is known as one of the most difficult golf courses in the world. Golf aficionados will no doubt relish the chance to take on the 17th hole, known as the "Island Green"—a famously challenging par 3 that's completely surrounded by water.
Dye's Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass
Can't get a tee time at the Stadium Course? TPC Sawgrass is also home to Dye's Valley Course, a slightly more approachable and less expensive—but still challenging—course full of surprising undulations, sweeping greens, and water features at every hole.
Streamsong
Streamsong Resort in Bowling Green is home to three top-rated golf courses: Streamsong Red, Streamsong Blue, and Streamsong Black. All three courses have towering dunes and unique hills that are completely unlike the terrain you'll find at most Florida golf courses. The sweeping elevation changes and abundant lakes make for an engaging and challenging round of golf, no matter which course you're on.
Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort
This Palm Harbor course is home to the Snake Pit: a famously difficult final three-hole stretch, marked by a unique statue of a giant snake. It's this series of holes—with narrow greens, uphill approaches, and water running alongside the 16th hole—that has made or defeated champions at the PGA Valspar Championship here each year.
TPC Tampa Bay
This scenic course winds through local wetlands, cypress trees, natural ponds and more. TPC Tampa is home not only to world-class holes, but also to charming wildlife, including deer, fox, armadillos, eagles, and more. For those who want to get some extra practice, the course also has a putting green, driving range, and short game facility.
The Champion at PGA National Resort
The PGA Resort has six courses worth playing (you must be a resort guest), but if you've only got a day, spend it on The Champion course. It's one of the toughest courses PGA Tour players will face, thanks to The Bear Trap: a series of three challenging holes that designer and golfer Jack Nicklaus said is "about guts."
The Palmer at PGA National Resort
Named for legend Arnold Palmer, this course is more forgiving than The Champion. It's an approachable course for golfers of all skill levels, but it still offers plenty of chances to get creative with your shot amid truly striking views.
Gold Course at Tiburón Golf Club
Designed by golf champion Greg Norman, this Naples course features an ideal blend of wide, forgiving fairways, and challenging routes that wind through acres of pine and imposing bunkers. You'll have to book a room at the Ritz-Carlton to play this and the property's Black Course, but that just means you'll get to enjoy fine dining and spa treatments after you're done playing.
The Links Course at Grand Cypress Golf Club
This Jack Nicklaus-designed course in Orlando was inspired by the world-renowned Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland. Here, you'll find steep bunkers, plenty of undulation, and deep pot bunkers to keep you on your toes for all 18 holes.
Flamingo Island Course at Lely Resort
The Flamingo Island Course—one of two public courses at the resort—features white sand bunkers, sculpted fairways surrounded by water, and multiple teeing stations. The varied design of this course ensures a challenging, but not frustrating, experience for golfers of all levels.
Normandy Shores Golf Club
This scenic course in Miami Beach offers views of Biscayne Bay as golfers make their way through the rolling fairways and well-protected greens. It's an approachable course for golfers of all skill levels, and the picturesque views make for a pleasant day—no matter how the game goes.
Crandon Golf at Key Biscayne
Surrounded on all sides by water and lush tropical foliage, a day on this course makes for a memorable experience, as golfers weave through the challenging sand traps and saltwater lakes that dot the landscape.
King & Bear at World Golf Village
This is the only course in the world co-designed by two of the biggest names in golf: Arnold Palmer (aka "The King") and Jack Nicklaus (aka "The Golden Bear"). It brings together their distinctive design styles, and the result is a course that has both traditional links-style holes and Florida golf holes. The course is filled with indigenous oak trees, numerous water features, and opportunities for long, powerful drives. Avid golfers, add this one to your bucket list ASAP.
Slammer & Squire at World Golf Village
The other course at World Golf Village is Slammer & Squire, a 6,939-yard course designed with the area's natural beauty in mind. On this course, you'll find plenty of unspoiled wooded areas, deep white sand bunkers, and subtle undulations that keep things interesting.
El Campeón at Mission Inn Resort and Club
One of Florida's oldest golf courses, El Campeón has dramatic elevation changes that are unusual to find in central Florida and make for a delightfully challenging round. The course also features a few fun island greens and strategic tree placements to keep golfers on their toes.
Celebration Golf Club
This cheerfully-named golf course in Orlando was designed by a father-son team, Robert Trent Jones Senior and Junior. Here, you'll find 18 distinctive holes winding through the area's natural wetlands and native trees.
Rees Jones Course at LPGA International
This Daytona Beach course, formerly known as the Champions Course, is a favorite among LPGA tour players. It has gorgeous lakes, undulating greens and a design that's approachable—but also allows daring players to experiment with inventive shots.
Palmer Course at Reunion Resort & Golf Club
You'll have to be a resort guest to get on this Arnold Palmer-designed course—but rest assured, it's worth it. The course has sweeping elevation changes up to 50 feet, wide fairways, and plenty of both natural and man-made water hazards to contend with.
Raven Golf Club at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
This undulating course is ideal for varied play, as some holes require powerful drives, while others are more about strategy. Golfers on this course will get to also enjoy beautiful scenery that includes marshes, pine trees, and plenty of water.
Magnolia Course at Walt Disney World Golf
Should you find yourself on a Disney vacation in Orlando, make time for the Magnolia Course. Named for the stately magnolia trees that dot it, this course boasts wide fairways and newly re-contoured greens that make for enjoyable play.
Juliette Falls Golf Club
This golf course located in Dunnellon gets plenty of rave reviews from players who appreciate the meticulously maintained course and friendly staff. Course designer John S. Sanford Jr. created a course that makes the most of the sandy soil and mature vegetation in the area—and offers plenty for golfers of all skill levels.
Waldorf Astoria Golf Club
With such gorgeous scenery at this Orlando course—featuring towering cypress trees and a design that thoughtfully incorporates the natural wetlands—you might find yourself struggling to focus on the game. If you can't stay away, there's also an on-site practice range and putting green.
The Ocean Course at Ponte Vedra Inn and Club
Here, Club members and resort guests can expect to enjoy sweeping views and newly designed green complexes. (This historic course has undergone several renovations, the most recent of which happened in 2022.) Heads up: You'll want to be thoughtful about your club selection when you play here, given those strong breezes rolling in from the ocean.
Lagoon Course at Ponte Vedra Inn and Club
Also located at Ponte Vedra is the Lagoon Course, a lush course surrounded by plenty of lakes and lagoons. It's a relatively short course—also reserved for Club members and resort guests—that rewards thoughtful approaches and strategic drives.
Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course
This golf course is what you think of when you think of golfing in Florida: You get ocean views from every hole, swaying palm trees, and well-manicured greens. While great for beginners, experienced golfers will also find plenty to love here.
The Park West Palm
This municipal course, which was recently revamped to much acclaim, offers plenty of undulating greens and memorable holes. The unique looping design of the course is worth noting, as is the fact that the course strives to bring more young people into golf through its youth programming and junior caddie program.
The Boca Raton Golf Club
This luxe 18-hole course is breathtakingly beautiful. Golfers will enjoy plenty of elevation changes, water features, and possibly wildlife sightings, as the course is also an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. If you aren't a member, you'll have to stay at the hotel to get on this course—but we doubt you'll regret it.
Mangrove Bay Golf Course
This par 72, championship golf course is ideal for golfers looking for a smooth experience. Players of every skill level will find this 180-acre course challenging in some spots, but still approachable overall. And the well-maintained greens and friendly staff are just the cherry on top.
Dunedin Golf Club
Golfers looking for an exciting challenge should book a tee time here: Long fairways, elevation changes, and a few tough par 3s will keep you on your toes and make for a thrilling afternoon.
The Vinoy Renaissance Resort & Golf Club
A stay at this St. Petersburg resort will give you access to this gorgeous course, redesigned by Ron Garl, who believed that a course should "sit softly on the land." You'll find challenging holes here, thanks to the numerous water features and ever-present wind—but even beginners will find this course friendly, thanks to the generous fairways.
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