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, the Champions Tour, the PGA of America, the World Golf Hall of Fame, and is home to more professional golfers than any other state. And Florida offers golfing weather 12 months of the year, so whether you visit in November, February or July, you can enjoy Florida’s world-famous golf courses, beaches and attractions.

Port of Santa Lucia

On the central coast of the Atlantic Ocean, Port St. Lucie boasts 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 golf schools of the PGA of America, recognized as one of the best golf schools in the US The PGA Golf Club offers 54 holes of championship golf from Tom Fazio and Pete Dye. The Dye Course, designed by Pete Dye, emphasizes Dye’s native environment and uninhibited creative design. The Ryder Course, designed by Tom Fazio, was named in honor of Samuel Ryder, the founder of the Ryder Cup. The course offers a wide variety of holes, with a distinctive Carolina twist. 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. 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 in a sprawling 240-acre wildlife preserve.

If you’re headed to Port St. Lucie to play golf, stay at the Sheraton PGA Resort, next door to PGA Village, or at the Vistanas Beach Club on Hutchinson Island, near the Eagle Marsh Golf Club.

Naples

Naples-Marco Island generally ranks first or second in national surveys of golf holes per capita. With over 40 golf courses, there are plenty of options. Named one of America’s Top 100 Resort Courses in 2005 by Golfweek magazine, the Gold 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, the only waterfront destination in downtown Naples, the Bellasera Hotel Naples, located at the gateway to the heart of Olde Naples, or The Park Shore Resort, tucked away in a neighborhood quiet in Naples.

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 rename the Florida Gulf Coast: Florida’s” Golf Coast”. Eastwood Golf Course is ranked as one of the Top 50 Municipal Courses in the country by Golf Digest. Paradise Golf Academy at Stoneybrook Golf Club, one of the largest golf schools in Southwest Florida, emphasizes the latest teaching techniques, such as video swing analysis and traditional golf lessons from certified golf instructors. PGA. Coral Oaks Golf Course has been a local favorite for nearly 20 years, and not just because of the cheap prices on greens. 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 DiamondHead Beach Resort, directly on Ft. Myers Beach, 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. Belleview Biltmore Golf Club in Clearwater has been a favorite with American golfers since 1925. Designed by famed golf architect Donald Ross, the golf course has a reputation for challenging design that harmonizes with its surrounding environment. The Belleview Biltmore Golf Academy offers complete swing fundamentals, short game techniques, and course management strategies.

TPC Tampa Bay in Lutz (just north of Tampa) is an annual stop on the Champions Tour. 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 in Golf Digest’s Places to Play. The course is routed around natural wetlands, cypress trees, and numerous ponds and lagoons, which are home to an abundance of wildlife, making TPC Tampa Bay one of only two courses in the Tampa Bay area designated as a Cooperative Sanctuary of Audubon. The Mangrove Bay Golf Course in St. 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 from 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 resort for families.

orlando

Orlando is home to some of the golf industry’s biggest events, including the PGA Merchandise Show and 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 in 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 Rosen Shingle Creek Orlando. Enjoy golf at nearby Caribe Royale Suites, Lake Buena Vista Resort Village & Spa, or Buena Vista Suites. Choose from 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 at the Florida Mall.