Guide to the Top 7 Golf Courses and Resorts in Florida
by Joseph W. Gregg
Florida is definitely one of the major golf hubs in the United States. In fact, the PGA of America has its headquarters in the state in Palm Beach Gardens. The PGA Tour is also headquartered at Ponte Vedra Beach, and the LPGA is headquartered in Daytona Beach. Florida boasts around 1,300 golf courses, which makes the sport an important game in the state. Here are the seven top golf courses in Florida.
PGA National Resort & Spa
PGA National Resort & Spa is located in Palm Beach Gardens. It is easily accessible from major airports and features five championship 19-hole golf courses. Its most famous is “The Champion” that once hosted the Ryder Cup, the Senior PGA Championship for 19 consecutive times and the PGA Championship once. At present, it is best known for hosting the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic from 2007 up to the present.
PGA National Resort & Spa boasts five courses, including The Champion, The Fazio, The Squire, The Palmer and The Estate. Aside from the five courses, it also features 339 hotel rooms, a 34,000-square-foot conference wing, nine restaurants and lounges, a 33,000-square-foot health and racquet club, along with a 40,000-square-foot spa. At present, the resort is owned and managed by Brookfield Asset Management. The PGA National Resort & Spa is surely family-friendly and is indeed one of the best-maintained and managed facilities in Florida.
Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa
One of the best golf resorts in Florida is the Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa in Ponte Vedra Beach. Management claims that this is a perfect venue wherein the marriage of sea, sun, sand and golf come together. It features moss-draped oaks, warm sunshine, balmy breezes and fragrant magnolias. Moreover, it is an interplay of pools, golf courses and wildlife. This resort is truly a paradise in Florida.
Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa is just a 15-minute drive from the city of Jacksonville and a 75-minute drive from Orlando. It features a picturesque venue for golf and is one of the most famous golf destinations in the U.S. The 17th island green of the TPC Sawgrass has been tagged as an infamous hole that scares even the pros.
Trump National Doral
Formerly called Doral Golf Resort and Spa, Trump National Doral is a World Golf Championship venue in Miami. It is famous for its fantastic Blue Monster golf course. The Blue Monster consists of championship golf courses located at Doral Golf Resort, along with the well known Jim Mclean Signature Golf Course that opened in 2010.
Trump National Doral Miami consists of 72-hole golf courses and has played host to the PGA Tour and Doral Open from 1962 up to 2006. It also hosted the WGC-Cadillac Championship from 2007 to 2016 and offers 700 hotel rooms and other great facilities and amenities.
LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort
LaPlaya Beach & Golf Resort in Naples belongs to the top seven list because of its excellent golf course with different high-end amenities that include a marvelous Gulf Coast Beach stretch, along with a well-sculpted landscape.
Once you step outside of your oceanfront guestroom under cloudless skies, you will be awed by the beautiful view of turquoise waters and white sandy beach. This is surely one of the finest beach and golf resorts in Florida for honing your golfing skills.
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes is an enchanting destination that boasts opulent and upscale ambiance and amenities. It features a 584-room Ritz-Carlton, along with 1,000 deluxe rooms at JW Marriott. This hotel also features an 18-hole golf course designed by Greg Norman.
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes is an Italian-inspired Florida resort that offers 40,000-square feet of spa, along with 11 onsite restaurants. It is just 8.9 miles away from Walt Disney World Resort. Other features include a two-mile bike trail around the resort, tennis courts, kayaks, three outdoor pools and a Ritz Kids Club.
Hammock Beach Resort
The Hammock Beach Resort in Palm Coast is nestled along a stretch of pristine beach. This resort is designed for gatherings and getaways with villas and suites each with an area that ranges from 700 to 2,350 square feet. This resort is also perfect for good beginner golf clubs activities.
Hammock Beach Resort features exceptional amenities with recently updated facilities and suites. A 36-hole golf course designed by Nicklaus and Watson, along with a spa, tennis courts, a multi-level water park and marine activities are just some of the things you’ll experience.
World Golf Village
World Golf Village in St. Augustine is a 4-star resort that is several minutes away from World Golf Village and World Golf Hall of Fame. It features the St. John’s Golf and Country Club and King and Bear Golf Course, along with an outdoor pool along with a spa tub. This resort has two restaurants, a coffee shop and a poolside bar/lounge.
World Golf Village is a wonderful venue that comes with 86,000 square feet of conference space and meeting rooms and a free self-parking area. It also features great amenities and facilities.
Photo credit: Sawgrass by Maedi from Flickr Creative Commons.
As a golf enthusiast, Joseph W. Gregg has spent more than 10 years studying golf as a game. His expert advice and instructions have been well read by many golf enthusiasts. You can read his pieces of advice by visiting Golf Completes.
