Florida for Golfers: Golf in the Sunshine State 12 Months a Year
Florida claims more golf courses than any other destination in the world, with more than 900 courses that will test every player’s skill level. The state is home to the PGA Tour, Champions Tour, PGA of America, the World Golf Hall of Fame and is home to more professional golfers than any other state. And Florida offers a climate for golfing 12 months of the year, so whether you visit in November, February or July, you can enjoy the golf courses, as well as the world-famous beaches and attractions of Florida. .
Port St. Lucie
On the central coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Port St. Lucie is home to the famous PGA Village, with the PGA Golf Club, the PGA Learning Center, one of the largest and most advanced practice facilities in the world, and the PGA of America Golf Schools , recognized as one of the best golf schools in the US The PGA Golf Club offers 54 holes of championship golf by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. The Dye Course, designed by Pete Dye, emphasizes Dye’s native environment and uninhibited creative design. The Tom Fazio-designed Ryder Course was named after Samuel Ryder, the founder of the Ryder Cup. The course offers a wide variety of holes, with a distinctive Carolina flair. The Wanamaker Course, also designed by Tom Fazio, is considered one of the most beautiful courses in Florida.
Other notable courses in the area include the Champion’s Club at Summerfield in Stuart and the Eagle Marsh Golf Club at Jensen Beach. The Champion’s Club in Summerfield was named one of the Best New Public Courses in the Country by Golf Digest and Golf Magazine when it opened in 1994. The course was designed by Tom Fazio and was the first public golf course to receive Audubon Signature Sanctuary status. The Eagle Marsh Golf Club at Jensen Beach is a challenging Tom Fazio course set on a sprawling 240-acre wildlife preserve.
If you’re heading to Port St. Lucie to play golf, stay at the Sheraton PGA Resort, next to PGA Village, or Vistanas Beach Club on Hutchinson Island, near Eagle Marsh Golf Club.
Naples
Naples-Marco Island generally ranks first or second in national golf hole per capita surveys. With over 40 golf courses, there are many options. Named one of America’s Top 100 Resort Courses in 2005 by Golfweek Magazine, the Gold Golf Course at Tiburon Golf Club was designed by Greg Norman and features 18 holes of golf on a 74.7-rated course. The Raptor Bay 1 course at Raptor Bay Golf Club in Bonita Springs was designed by Raymond Floyd, and was named one of the Top 10 New Public Access Golf Courses in America in 2001 by Golf Magazine. The Pelican Preserve Golf Club offers 27 holes of championship golf on a course designed by renowned architect Chip Powell.
In Naples, stay at the Bayfront Inn 5th Avenue, downtown Naples’ only coastal destination, the Bellasera Hotel Naples, located at the gateway to the heart of Olde Naples, or The Park Shore Resort, tucked away in a quiet Naples neighborhood. .
Ft. Myers
The Ft. Myers region, which includes Estero, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, Sanibel Island, and Venice, has earned a reputation for having some of the most sought-after golf courses in the world, prompting some to change the name of Florida’s Gulf Coast: Florida’s “Golf Coast.” Eastwood Golf Course is ranked one of the Top 50 Municipal Courses in the Country by Golf Digest. One of the largest golf schools in Southwest Florida, Paradise Golf Academy at Stoneybrook Golf Club emphasizes state-of-the-art teaching techniques such as video swing analysis and traditional game lessons on the course with PGA certified instructors. The Coral Oaks Golf Course has been a local favorite for nearly 20 years and not just because of the discounts on green fees. Bay Beach Golf Club, also a local favorite, is an 18-hole course with Bermuda grass and a variety of water hazards.
In Ft. Myers, stay at the DiamondHead Beach Resort, directly on Ft. Myers Beach, the GullWing Beach Resort on Estero Island, Point Estero Beach Resort or Santa Maria Harbor Resort, located on Estero Bay.
Clearwater / St Pete / Tampa
The Tampa / St. The Pete / Clearwater area has challenging courses for all players. The Belleview Biltmore Golf Club in Clearwater has been a favorite of American golfers since 1925. Designed by world-renowned golf architect Donald Ross, the golf course has a reputation for having a challenging design that blends in with the surrounding environment. . The Belleview Biltmore Golf Academy offers full swing fundamentals, short game techniques, and course management strategies.
TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz (just north of Tampa) is an annual Champions Tour stop. Opened in 1991, designed by Bobby Weed, with the help of player consultant Chi Chi Rodriguez, TPC Tampa Bay has earned numerous accolades, including a 4 1/2 star rating on Golf Digest’s Places to Play. The course is routed around natural wetlands, cypress heads, and numerous ponds and lagoons, which are home to an abundance of wildlife, making TPC Tampa Bay one of only two designated courses in the Tampa Bay area. as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary. The Mangrove Bay Golf Course in Saint Petersburg is one of the most popular courses in the area. Bardmoor Country Club in Largo is a premier public course offering a private club experience. Former PGA Tour player and course architect Gary Koch gave the course a makeover in 2001.
In Clearwater, stay and play golf at Belleview Biltmore Resort, Golf Club, Spa & Beach Club (see CRSHotels.com special offer). Nearby, enjoy the Safety Harbor Resort and Spa or the Tahitian Resort Tarpon Springs. In the St. Pete Beach area, choose the Grand Plaza Hotel and Beach Resort and Conference Center, the Bilmar Beach Resort, the TradeWinds Sandpiper Hotel & Suites, or the TradeWinds Island Grand Resort, a classic family-friendly resort.
Orlando
Orlando is home to some of the biggest events in the golf industry, such as the PGA Merchandise Show and the Golf Industry Convention, as well as many national professional golf tournaments and championships. It is also a great place to play golf. There are golf courses for all styles, levels and budgets. Shingle Creek Golf Club in Orlando is an award-winning championship golf course. Mystic Dunes Golf Club at Celebration features an 18-hole course designed by Champions Tour pro and NBC golf analyst Gary Koch. One of the most popular courses on the PGA Tour, Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge is home to the Arnold Palmer Invitational Tournament. Disney World also offers several championship golf courses, including Eagle Pines, Lake Buena Vista, Magnolia, Osprey Ridge, and Palm.
In Orlando, stay and play at the Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando. Enjoy nearby golf at Caribe Royale Suites, Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa, or Buena Vista Suites. Choose the Sheraton Vistana Resort Villas, the Parc Corniche Suite Hotel, the Star Island Resort Orlando, the Sheraton Vistana Villages, or the Florida Hotel & Conference Center on the Florida Mall.
