Best golf courses in Florida.

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, opened in 1980 as the first course Pete Dye built specifically for spectators. Deane Beman, then the PGA Tour commissioner, wanted a permanent home for the Tour's championship with room for crowds, and Dye shaped mounding around the holes to create natural viewing areas. That idea became the model for stadium golf everywhere. The par-3 17th is the best-known hole in American golf: a short shot to an island green surrounded by water, with a small pot bunker on the right and no bailout. The 18th that follows plays along water down the entire left side. Neither hole is long, and both have decided tournaments. The course was reworked by Dye in 2006 and renovated again in 2017, when the greens were rebuilt and drainage improved. It hosts the Players Championship each year, and the general public can book tee times outside tournament weeks.

Brooksville, FL

Karoo at Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville, Florida, is a Kyle Franz design that opened in January 2024. It is a full rework of the former Pine Barrens course at World Woods, built on a sandy, ancient ridge with real elevation change, which is rare for Florida golf. Franz kept the sand as the defining feature. Wide fairways run between rugged, ragged edged sand areas, and the greens have bold contour with plenty of short grass around them, so recovery is often a running shot rather than a lob. Multiple tee positions on many holes change the angles of play from round to round, not just the yardage. The course plays to about 7,560 yards from the back tees and is walkable. It sits alongside Roost, the resort's other 18 hole course, plus two shorter courses, all part of Cabot's redevelopment of the former World Woods property. It is open to the public as part of the resort.

Bowling Green, FL

The Red Course at Streamsong Resort in Bowling Green, Florida, was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The land was a spent phosphate mine, left behind as enormous sand piles and water-filled pits, and the golf was built directly on that terrain. Red is the more compact and abrupt of the two original courses, with greens set into dune faces and on high shelves, and several short approach shots to targets that fall away on multiple sides. The par-3 16th plays across sand to a green pressed against a lake, and it shares a double-green complex with the Blue Course's corresponding hole. There is no housing, no cart paths in the usual sense and no other course in sight for most of the round. Streamsong is a walking resort with caddies, though carts are available in the afternoon. Red sits alongside Blue by Tom Doak and Black by Gil Hanse. Pub 59 is inside the shared Red and Blue clubhouse, overlooking the putting green and Bye Hole. Pub fare, 16 draft beers and a wall of sports screens make it Streamsong's most direct casual stop after a round on Red.

Bowling Green, FL

The Black Course at Streamsong Resort in central Florida is a Gil Hanse design, built with Jim Wagner, that opened in 2017 as the resort's third 18. Like the Red and Blue courses, it sits on land reclaimed from phosphate mining, but the site Hanse used is broader and less abrupt than its sister courses. Black is the biggest of the three in scale, playing to 7,320 yards at par 73. The greens are enormous, including a punchbowl on the ninth and dual greens on the thirteenth, the fairways are extremely wide, and the routing includes long open stretches with few trees. An infinity green on the par-3 17th is one of the course's signature features. The course is walkable with caddies, and carts are permitted later in the day. It has its own clubhouse separate from the resort's original building, and like the Red and Blue courses it is open to resort guests and the public rather than restricted to members.

Orlando, FL

Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge is a private club in Orlando, Florida. Dick Wilson designed the original course in 1961, using elevation changes and Florida terrain to build a course meant for strategic, aerial approach shots. Arnold Palmer bought the club in 1975 and reworked it over the following decades into a tougher championship test, and it was his winter home course for the rest of his life. The course has hosted the PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational since 1979 and has produced wins from many of the game's top players, including Tiger Woods. The par-4 18th, a demanding closing hole with water down the left side, is one of the best-known finishing holes on tour. Bay Hill is a private club owned by the Palmer family. Golf is available to members and to guests staying at the on-site Lodge; it is not open for outside daily-fee play.

Bowling Green, FL

Streamsong Blue is an 18-hole, par-72 Tom Doak design at Streamsong Resort in Bowling Green, built on the site of a former phosphate mine. Doak and Bill Coore jointly routed the resort's first 36 holes across the reclaimed land, and Blue takes the towering sand dunes, deep water ponds and elevation change that is unusual for the region. Native grasses frame large, irregular bunkers spilling off elevated dune features, giving the course a rugged, discovered-rather-than-built feel. The par-3 seventh, played across water to a dune-set green, is its most talked-about hole. Blue measures roughly 7,200 yards from the back tees. Pub 59 is inside the shared Red and Blue clubhouse, overlooking the putting green and Bye Hole. Pub fare, 16 draft beers and a wall of sports screens make it Streamsong's most direct casual stop after a round on Blue.

West Palm Beach, FL

Gil Hanse masterpiece: best new public course in Florida.

Miami, FL

Dick Wilson designed the Blue Monster, which opened in 1962 as the centerpiece of what was then Doral Country Club in Miami, Florida. The flat South Florida site let Wilson build a course defined by water, with lakes and canals working their way into nearly every hole and greens raised above the fairways for drainage. Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner led a full renovation completed in 2014, reshaping several holes, adding new lakes at the par-3 15th and the drivable par-4 16th, and leaving the long-standing 18th hole largely untouched. The 18th still finishes along water and remains the course's signature test. The Blue Monster hosted a PGA Tour event every year from 1962 through 2016, including the Doral Open and later World Golf Championship events. It later hosted LIV Golf events. The course is part of the Trump National Doral resort and is open to resort guests and club members, with four courses sharing the property.

Brooksville, FL

The Roost is an 18-hole, par-72 course at Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville, built as a collaboration between Kyle Franz, Mike Nuzzo and Rod Whitman, with Ran Morrissett as design consultant. It opened in 2024 and plays over varied ground next to Karoo, moving from sandy scrub into rolling meadows dotted with dogwoods and native wildflowers and past a 40-foot-deep sinkhole. At roughly 7,200 yards it is the calmer, more restrained of the pair, with low-profile green settings that sit into the land rather than perch above it. The multi-architect collaboration behind it is unusual in modern course design and shapes the variety from hole to hole.

Naples, FL

The Gold Course at Tiburon in Naples, Florida, is a Greg Norman design that opened in 1998 at what is now the Ritz-Carlton golf resort. Norman built it without conventional rough, using coquina shell waste areas along the fairways instead. That choice defines play. A missed tee shot usually leaves a lie on crushed shell rather than in thick grass, so recovery is available but control is not, and the greens are firm with subtle rather than severe contour. It plays as a par 72. The course hosts the LPGA's CME Group Tour Championship and has hosted the mixed-team event played at the resort each December. It is open to resort guests and members.

Port St. Lucie, FL

The Dye Course at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, designed by Pete Dye and opened in 2000, is a links-style layout that emphasizes the native Florida surroundings. Spanning over 7,200 yards from the Medal tees, the course is routed through the 100-acre 'Big Mamu' Wetlands, providing a sanctuary for local wildlife such as deer and bobcats. Its design features hallmark Dye elements, including vast coquina waste bunkers, pine straw roughs, and creative grass-based bunkering. The layout draws inspiration from traditional British Isles courses, offering a unique contrast to typical Florida parkland designs. As part of the PGA of America’s flagship property, the course is Audubon International Signature certified and maintained to championship standards. It challenges golfers with varying wind conditions and strategic angles, particularly on the par-4 18th hole. The facility is accessible to the public and serves as a primary training ground for PGA Professionals worldwide, offering a robust practice complex and clubhouse amenities.

North Palm Beach, FL

The North Palm Beach Country Club is a municipally owned facility in Florida, featuring a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course that underwent a significant redesign in 2006 and a subsequent upgrade in 2019. Originally a 1926 Seth Raynor design, the course is situated on a unique natural sand dune, providing elevation changes rarely found in South Florida. The layout is characterized by generous fairways, undulated well-bunkered greens, and strategic water hazards. A defining feature is the 'Bear's Lair,' a challenging finishing stretch spanning holes 14 through 18. The facility is one of only two municipal courses in the United States designed by Nicklaus and is recognized as a notable stop on the Florida Historic Golf Trail. The property also includes a modern 37,000-square-foot clubhouse, ten lighted tennis courts, and a 50-meter lap pool, all open to the general public year-round.

Aventura, FL

The Soffer Course opened in 1971 as a Robert Trent Jones design and was later reworked by Ray Floyd Design. It is the longer, more challenging of the two courses at Turnberry Isle Country Club, the golf facility of the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort in Aventura, Florida. The par-70 layout plays 7,047 yards and brings water hazards and narrow fairways into play on nearly every hole, with white sand bunkers set against ficus, banyan and olive trees. Once a fully private club, the Soffer Course today operates on a semi-private basis, open to resort guests and hotel visitors in addition to club members. The clubhouse also serves the shorter, more open Miller Course at the same property.

Orlando, FL

The Cypress Course at Grand Cypress Golf is a premier parkland layout that re-emerged in 2021 as part of the Evermore Orlando Resort redevelopment. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the course was constructed on the land formerly occupied by the North, South, and East nine-hole courses at the original Grand Cypress Golf Club. The redesign modernized the layout into a singular 18-hole championship experience, featuring wide Celebration Bermuda fairways and TifEagle Bermuda greens. Shimmering water hazards are a central theme, coming into play on 13 of the 18 holes, including a redesigned version of the signature island-green par-3 on the 3rd hole. The course is characterized by bright white bunkers and dramatic sightlines framed by towering cypress and pine trees. It is open to resort guests and daily fee golfers, maintaining its reputation as one of Orlando's most meticulously conditioned and aesthetically striking golf destinations.

Sanibel, FL

The Dunes Golf & Tennis Club is a semi-private 18-hole championship course located on Sanibel Island, Florida. Designed by 10-time PGA Tour winner Mark McCumber and established in 1973, the course is nestled within a lush wildlife preserve sanctioned by the Audubon Cooperative Society. The layout is a tropical links-style course that measures 5,606 yards from the back tees, prioritizing accuracy over distance due to the abundance of water hazards on nearly every hole. After suffering significant damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022, the course underwent extensive restoration, including the installation of new Paspalum fairways, and fully reopened in late 2023. The facility features a unique aqua driving range and a clubhouse offering island-style dining. While the course is currently undergoing a scheduled resurfacing project in late 2025 to maintain its high standards, it remains a premier destination for both public players and members, offering a distinct island golfing experience characterized by frequent wildlife sightings and scenic vistas.

Port St. Lucie, FL

The Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club, designed by Tom Fazio and established in 1996, is widely regarded as one of Florida’s most beautiful championship layouts. Named after Rodman Wanamaker, the founder of the PGA of America, the course features a classic Florida parkland design set against a backdrop of wetlands, palm trees, and palmettos. From the Medal tees, the course measures 7,079 yards with a par of 72 and a challenging slope rating of 145. The layout emphasizes accuracy off the tee, with many fairways bordered by water hazards and strategically placed bunkers. In 2021, the course underwent renovations to improve playability and shot value around the greens. As part of a 54-hole destination owned by the PGA of America, the Wanamaker is a frequent host for professional-level championships and is open to resort guests and the public. The facility includes a full clubhouse, the Taplow Pub, and access to a 35-acre learning center.

Winter Garden, FL

Panther Lake is an 18-hole, par-72 course at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden, Florida, a 900-acre golf facility west of Orlando designed by Phil Ritson, Dave Harman and Isao Aoki. The routing crosses rolling meadows and native pines with elevation changes of up to 60 feet, with wetlands and lakes worked into several holes. From the back tees it plays 7,269 yards with a course rating of 75.2 and a slope of 141. Holes are separated by natural land rather than housing. Panther Lake shares the site with the Crooked Cat course.

Palm Harbor, FL

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor, Florida, opened in 1972. Lawrence Packard designed this championship layout. It features tree-lined fairways, undulating terrain, and strategic bunkering, including Packard's double-dogleg par 5s. The course has hosted the Valspar Championship, a PGA Tour event, since 2000. The finishing stretch, holes 16, 17, and 18, is known as 'The Snake Pit.' The 14th hole is a 590-yard par 5.

Haines City, FL

Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club is located in Haines City, Florida, in the citrus-grove country of central Florida. The site had roughly 100 feet of elevation change but originally lacked trees, streams or other natural features, so the course's contours were built rather than found. The course was designed by Steve Smyers and opened in 1993. Smyers used large bunkers, swales and boldly shaped fairways and greens to create definition and strategy, drawing comparisons to Alister MacKenzie's bunkering style at Royal Melbourne. Southern Dunes operates as a semi-private daily-fee club open to outside play in addition to members, with five sets of tees serving a range of skill levels. It has hosted USGA Amateur Public Links qualifying events.

Bowling Green, FL

The Chain at Streamsong is a 19-hole short course at Streamsong Resort in Bowling Green, Florida, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw and opened in 2024. The course has no fixed tees or par; players choose their starting point at each hole. Holes range from about 50 to nearly 300 yards, arranged in six- and 19-hole loops through oaks, sand and lakes, with a 2.5-acre putting green called The Bucket. The 11th hole plays over water to a punchbowl green. The course is built for match play and casual rounds rather than traditional stroke play.

Winter Garden, FL

Crooked Cat is an 18-hole, par-72 public course at Orange County National Golf Center and Lodge in Winter Garden, Florida, designed by Phil Ritson, Dave Harman, and Isao Aoki. It measures 7,388 yards from the championship tees, with a course rating of 75.9 and a slope of 140. The links-style layout features wide, mostly tree-free fairways, large contoured greens, native heather, and rolling mounding, offering a different look from its sister course, Panther Lake.

Port Saint Lucie, FL

PGA Golf Club, commonly referred to as PGA Village, is located in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and serves as a golf complex owned by the PGA of America, built beginning in 1992 on land acquired from the Callaway Land and Cattle Company. Tom Fazio's design team, including Jan Beljan, Tom Marzolf and Steve Masiak, laid out the North and South courses, which opened in 1996; a third course by Pete Dye was added later. The North and South Courses provide two contrasting Fazio-style tests, while the practice facilities include the 35-acre PGA Learning Center. The complex operates as a public golf facility with daily-fee play, situated inland roughly 20 minutes from the Atlantic coast, and is affiliated with an adjoining residential community.

Palm Coast, FL

The Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Golf Resort in Palm Coast, Florida, is a Jack Nicklaus design that opened in 2000. Six of its 18 holes play directly along the Atlantic Ocean, and the routing also crosses wetlands and lakes exposed to ocean breezes. The par-72 course closes with a four-hole stretch nicknamed "the Bear Claw." After storm damage from Hurricane Matthew, the course went through a 13-month restoration completed in 2017 that replaced its turf with salt-tolerant Platinum Paspalum. It sits alongside the Conservatory Course within the same resort.

Naples, FL

Hammock Bay Golf & Country Club is an 18-hole championship facility located in Naples, Florida, specifically situated on the edge of the Ten Thousand Islands and McIvane Bay. Designed by the architectural team of Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy, the course originally opened in 1974 as Marco Shores and underwent a significant redesign in 2004. The layout is characterized by its rolling terrain, undulating contours, and a total length of 6,985 yards from the championship tees. The course features PlatinumTE paspalum turfgrass, which is salt-tolerant and provides a high-quality playing surface year-round. As an Audubon Gold Certified Signature Sanctuary, Hammock Bay is recognized for its commitment to environmental sustainability and its integration of native wildlife habitats. The facility is currently managed by Marriott Golf and is accessible exclusively to club members and guests staying at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort. Amenities include a full-service clubhouse, a world-class pro shop, and dining facilities overlooking the golf course.