Top Five Golf Courses in Jacksonville

Head for Jacksonville's eastern edge to find this course that has become the favorite of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Queen's Harbour was designed by professional Mark McCumber and measures over 7,000 yards from the back tees, although it backs down to about 5,000 from the front tees, one of four there. The par-3 thirteenth hole provides you with an awesome view of the waterway and bridge that crosses it. Throughout the golf course, you'll enjoy some of the oldest oaks in that part of the country. The next hole is a challenging dogleg par-4 that you can either be conservative by staying in the middle of the fairway, or be venturesome by cutting the hole short with a shot over one of the huge oaks.

This is one of Jacksonville's newest golf courses, and it is considered by many players as its most difficult yet. Designed by Andy Dye, Panther Creek currently measures over 7,500 yards from the back tees which they intend to lengthen to 8,000 yards once a professional tour tournament is booked. But it also can play just 4,600 yards from the front of the six tees there. The first few hole include long carries from the tee, and greens that are difficult to navigate. These holes are easy compared to those that follow. Panther Creek may not be for the faint of heart, but it offers a true golf experience to any visitor.

This golf course is almost 7,000 yards long from the championship tees, but it is only about 5,500 yards from the front. A David Postlethwait design, Cimarrone boasts 17 lakes, therefore water comes into play on all 18 holes. "Golf Digest" gave it four stars and deemed it to be one of the 50 best courses in Florida. Besides offering exquisitely manicured greens and fairways, Cimarrone also has a fully equipped pro shop as well as clubhouse and restaurant.

It was typical of Arthur Hill to design a golf course that is not long by current standards, but one that puts a premium on accuracy. Windsor Parke has a lot of lakes that are evident mostly on the left as you tee off. The greens are well maintained and small, and most are guarded by sand traps and large trees. Zagat honors it with the comment "Jacksonville's best public play," and "Golf News" magazine places Windsor Parke Golf Club among the top 10 percent of all courses in the state.

Starting at $27, Bent Creek offers about the best tee-time value in Florida. What is more, it may be a "muni course" but it offers most of the features that you will find at private clubs. At just over 6,600 yards long, short by current standards, the course sports a fairly hilly terrain that not only is different from most courses in the area, it will plague any golfer who strays from his target. The course is in impeccable condition and it offers bent grass greens that are better than those of many private clubs in Jacksonville.