Florida is home to nearly 1500 golf courses, private and public. The warm weather year-round makes it an ideal spot for golfing and for golf vacations. Since the state is so big and offers points of access from the north and west, you can easily find a very accommodating course no matter how far you wish to travel the state. Just keep in mind that during the summer months the heat can become relentless, so try to get as early a tee time as possible and remain hydrated throughout your game.
TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course
Considered one the best courses in Florida, if not the very best, TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course is located in Ponte Vedra, near Jacksonville. The course oozes tradition rather than innovation, yet is often found to be difficult to the point of tossing clubs against a tree. Another draw is the clubhouse which is often said to be worth the visit by itself. The hallmark of this course is the seventeenth hole situated upon its own beautiful little island.
TPC Sawgrass Players Stadium Course
110 Championship Way
Ponte Vedra, FL
(904) 723-3235
Blue Monster at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa Maimi
If your idea of a great game of golf involves mastering water hazards, then this is the Florida course for you. Located at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa Miami, this course has tamed and been tamed by some of the biggest names in golf. A half century of PGA tournaments here gives an indication of the challenges of the course. The fairways are enormous and the playing the greens can sometimes feel like you are trying to play golf during an earthquake.
Doral Golf Resort & Spa Miami
4400 N.W. 87th Avenue
Miami, FL 33178
(305) 592-2000
Raven Course at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
The crystal clear waters of the best beaches in the Florida panhandle draw many tourists to Destin. Golfers know about this emerald in the rough from the amazing courses at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. The most beautiful course there, and one of the most incredibly designed courses in the entire panhandle, is the Raven. The Raven is a lush tribute to the scenery of the area as its long fairways curve around wetlands and thick pines. The challenge of the Raven is to come back and learn from your mistakes in order to fully appreciate the beauty of this Robert Trent Jones course.
Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort
9300 US Highway 98 W.
Destin, FL 32550
(850) 267-8155
Osprey Ridge at Walt Disney World Resort
No list of Florida's golf courses would be complete without visiting Walt Disney World Resort. Disney's properties feature five courses and Osprey Ridge is probably the best. If you can defeat the monumental bunkers and get a quick lie on the vast greens, then you may be able to walk away calling this a Mickey Mouse course. Just be aware that many have tried and failed. A highlight of the Disney courses is the addition of GPS technology in the carts which give you a much more accurate rendition of lies and distance to the green.
Osprey Ridge at Walt Disney World Resort
3451 Golf View Drive
Disney World
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
(407) 824-2270
About The Author
Timothy Sexton is an award-winning writer who has published over 4,000 articles, two novels, and hundreds of short stories. He was twice named among Who's Who of America's Teachers. One of his articles was chosen for inclusion in a law school packet at Vanderbilt Univ. and another was directly responsible for the arrest of a predatory home contractor who ripped off dozens.
