Pensacola can be found at the extreme northwest section of the Florida panhandle. Once you leave Pensacola you find yourself crossing the Alabama border. Pensacola is known for its sugary white sandy beaches, but it is also home to several top-notch golf courses. The Pensacola Open used to be a stop on the PGA tour and you can still play on the two courses that once hosted that tournament. The heat and humidity can make summer golfing an exercise in heavy sweating, but from early fall through early spring the weather is perfect for hitting the links.
Perdido Bay Golf Club
The Perdido Bay Golf Club hosted the Pensacola Open before it was taken off the PGA stop. Perdido Bay Golf Club is located just a few miles from the Alabama border. The golf course is a bit marshy and surrounded by creeks and water hazards. The course is located in the middle of a country club subdivision so houses are very close to the playing area. This means the fairways tend to be long and straight. Oaks and pines line the sidelines and the Spanish moss hanging down gives the course an almost gothic feel in places. Reduced rates are available for resort guests and twilight play.
Perdido Bay Golf Club
1 Doug Ford Drive
Pensacola, Florida 32507
(850) 492-1223
perdidobaygolf.com
Marcus Pointe Golf Club
Marcus Pointe Golf Club is an equal opportunity course that allows those with varying degrees of golfing expertise to feel comfortable. This is a great course for those who hate water hazards, but those who aren't happy with lots of trees and sand may not be so excited. The rolling hills make playing here unpredictable. Don't expect any great views of the beach as this course is located well into town amidst a quiet upscale suburban neighborhood.
Marcus Pointe Golf Club
2500 Oak Pointe Drive
Pensacola, Florida 32505
(850) 484-9770
golfmarcuspointe.com
Creekside Golf Course
This is another suburban area golf course in Pensacola that can give you a really great score. Trees are sparse so if you don't always hit straight you can still be in good shape. The greens are average size and flat, creating many opportunities for good putters to sink a birdie. The only real problem for some might be the titular creek that meanders through the property and comes into play on most holes.
Creekside Golf Club
5555 Esperanto Drive
Pensacola, Florida 32526
(850) 944-7969
Scenic Hills Country Club
While the other golf courses listed here are all public, Scenic Hills is a semi-private golf club. There are not a lot of hills in Pensacola and when you play this course you may feel like they were all reserved for this location. Oddly, perhaps, this is the only course in Florida to ever host a U.S. Open event. It is very scenic and the plethora of tall trees keep it shady enough to play even during much of the summer. There are a limited number of bunkers and no water hazards at all.
Scenic Hills Country Club
8891 Burning Tree Road
Pensacola, Florida 32514
(850) 476-0611
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.
