Pack your clubs, call up some friends, and get ready for a fantastic weekend in Florida. If Minnesota is the “Land of A Thousand Lakes” Florida is surely the land of a thousand golf courses. There are dozens of top spots to play a round, but we’re highlighting today the cities that are worth an entire weekend on the links. Fore!

Originally Published: May 16, 2019

Best Golf Cities in Florida

Orlando

Challenge yourself on some of Florida’s most beautiful courses in busy, bright Orlando. Equipped with hazards aplenty and difficult greens, you’ll need to level up your game to take on Orlando’s top courses. Speaking of famous courses, one of the most prestigious can be found in the heart of Orlando, just 10 minutes from Universal Orlando Resort: Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge.

There are a couple more Palmer designs in the area, at Shingle Creek Golf Course and Orange Lake Resort (which abuts Walt Disney World). Just 10 minutes from Disney, Grand Cypress Golf Club boasts 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature golf. And that’s just the start. There are also tournaments throughout the year to check out.

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Panama City Beach 

Panama City Beach is a premier destination for great weather, popular beaches, fun nightlife and some awesome golf courses. PCB boasts more than five championship golf courses. The Bay Point Golf Club has a well-known Nicklaus Design golf course. This award-winning course has amazing scenic views of St. Andrews Bay. The Nicklaus Course has a championship layout that will test your skills and wow even the most experienced golfer.

Some other courses to be sure to check out that are fun for the whole family are the Legacy Golf Club and Signal Hill Golf Course. The Legacy Golf Club is centrally located and has wide fairways that are ideal for consistency. They also have the only lighted par 3 course in the area. Signal Hill is the oldest golf course in Panama City Beach. This course is both challenging and beautiful.

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Miami

Miami is a city of hot days, hotter nights, and plenty of award-winning golf courses. Try a total of 20+ award-winners and a stop on the PGA Tour’s World Golf Championships. Public courses include the Miami Beach Golf Club, right in the heart of the community, designed by Arthur Hills. This course is home to Jim McLean Golf Academy, offering lessons throughout the years. The club’s restaurant, overlooking the greens is a popular spot for lunch in a relaxing setting.

The Normandy Shores Golf Club is a sister club to the Miami Beach Golf Club. It’s distinct for its abundant water hazards and rolling fairways set against Biscayne Bay in North Beach. Set in a lovely residential neighborhood, Normandy Shores Golf Club’s restaurant The Grill is a popular dining spot for golfers and non-golfers alike.

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Naples

Gulf of Mexico golf doesn’t get better than what’s happening in Naples. Between the everglades wilderness and the sun-drenched seashores you’ll find world-class golf here. Naples is one of Florida’s most popular golf destinations, seeing thousands of golfers every year who are either there to play or watch one of the many state, national, and professional tournaments. There are more than 80 championship courses here, which allows Naples to have more golf holes per capita than any other place in the world!

If you like to play courses designed by the greats, you won’t be disappointed. Jack Nicklaus, Arthur Hills, Arnold Palmer and Robert Trent Jones each have a course in Naples. TPC Treviso Bay and Tiburón Golf Club are popular choices as well as the challenging Pelican’s Nest. Long hitters will enjoy the Lely Flamingo Course, which stretches to 7,171 yards from the back tees. It’s rumored that shortly after the course opened, a single-engine plane would often land on one of the fairways so that it’s pilot, Charles Lindbergh, could play a round.

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Destin

Golfer’s paradise? Absolutely. Visitors flock to this Northwest Florida destination for its lush, green fairways, championship-level play and warm weather all year long. Sandestin Golf Resort is a fan-favorite with impeccable greens and extremely player-friendly set up. There are actually four courses on site spanning from the beach to the bay. Amazing views from every angle!

The Kelly Plantation Golf Club has lots of character with plenty of challenging holes for your group. Aptly nicknamed the Jewel of the Emerald Coast, Kelly Plantation Golf Club’s greens are as visually stunning as they are challenging and impressive. The semi-private golf club features miles of waterfront, wide fairways and well-manicured greens, making it one of the best golf courses in Destin.

Get out your camera at the Regatta Bay Golf and Yacht Club on the Par 3 #8. Wow! Stunning vistas will drop your jaw. Land and sea meet on the grounds of the Regatta Bay Golf and Yacht Club, and its pristine, natural setting provides a peaceful escape for golfers all year long. It’s one of the best golf courses in Destin for all skill levels.

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Author

Hi, I'm Jen and I love to travel, go to the beach and write about all the places I have visited. I also have a bucket list of places I can't wait to try! I've visited Cape Cod every summer since I was a kid and now enjoy traveling to all great beach destinations, including Florida! I have worked in the travel industry for all of my career. I love sharing my experiences of different restaurants and places and helping travelers find the best fit for them!

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