The Best Golf Courses in Florida Where You Can Book a Tee Time
Whether you're playing for a good time or a serious challenge.
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
Where: Ponte Vedra Beach (22 miles from Jacksonville)
Play like a pro at this famed course that was constructed specifically to host The Players Championship—and 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
Where: Ponte Vedra Beach (22 miles from Jacksonville)
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
Where: Bowling Green (70 miles from Tampa)
Streamsong Resort 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
Where: Palm Harbor (24 miles from Tampa)
This 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
Where: Lutz (15 miles from Tampa)
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
Where: Palm Beach Gardens (13 miles from Palm Beach)
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
Where: Palm Beach Gardens (13 miles from Palm Beach)
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
Where: Naples
Designed by golf champion Greg Norman, this 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.
Grand Cypress Links Course at Evermore Orlando Resort
Where: Orlando
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
Where: Naples
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
Where: Miami Beach
This scenic course 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
Where: Key Biscayne (seven miles from Miami)
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
Where: St. Augustine
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
Where: St. Augustine
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
Where: Howey-in-the-Hills (37 miles from Orlando)
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
Where: Celebration (21 miles from Orlando)
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
Where: Daytona Beach
Formerly known as the Champions Course, this one's 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
Where: Kissimmee (22 miles from Orlando)
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
Where: Miramar Beach (14 miles from Seaside)
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
Where: Lake Buena Vista (24 miles from Orlando)
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.
Steve Gleason Says Parenting Is Constant Practice
How to Grow a Profitable Training Business
5 Strategies to Take Your Training Business Online
5 Awesome Adventures to Have in Phoenix Right Now
