Best Florida golf courses to enjoy throughout the year
By NCG
Over the years, Florida has become a bigger name when it comes to various sports, and surprisingly, golf is one of them. While betting on sports is still a little up in the air right now it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy playing sports like a round or two of golf. In fact, this is very much encouraged. For Florida has a wealth of golf courses.
Going from a few courses dotted around the state to a fully-fledged golfing state, there are now hundreds of courses to choose from. So, whether you want a quiet course with friends, to play a few rounds with a friendly side bet, or to hit the straights on a high-powered course, there’s a course for you in Florida.
TPC Sawgrass
When it comes to a public-access golf course in the state, then this is the number one. It’s also popular for being the Players Championship course and is always on TV when that event is on. It was designed by the legendary Pete Dye, and is included in his top five courses. The reason it’s so good, and not flat and monotonous like many courses in Florida, is the variety. As expected from Dye, this course mixes distance with target golf.
Using Dye’s ‘grenade attack architecture’ you’re going to find strange and unexpected bumps and hollows around each green. The 17th hole is an impressive island green so there’s no bailout here, and you have to deal with the potentially windy conditions of the Atlantic coast.
It’s also part of the PGA Tour and is a constant source of complexity for even pro players since its grand opening back in 1980. Some holes have even been upgraded specifically for the tour, with Steve Wenzloff behind some of that remodelling, including making the 12th hole into a drivable par 4.
Streamsong
Very popular for good reason, Streamsong has multiple world-class courses to take on. In fact, if we were doing this by individual course, then this would take up a number of the top spots. However, looking at the club as a whole, three courses are available — red, black, and blue. Each of them has its benefits and caters to slightly different players. That being said, it’s totally worth it to play all three.
These three courses actually highlight three different styles and golfing philosophies from three different top golfing design firms in the USA — Tom Doak for Blue, Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner for Black, and Coore and Crenshaw for Red.
Based in a beautiful resort, Streamsong is one of only a few venues in the entirety of the States to offer so many high-ranked courses. Unbelievably, the resort is looking to further improve too, and is building a new short course as well, which is only going to bring in even more fun and excitement for players to enjoy.
Bay Hill Club and Lodge
Popular and familiar at the same time, this public course is part of the PGA Tour so many fans will already recognize it. Each year, the Arnold Palmer Invitational is held here. There’s even a statue of the man himself to be found at the first and tenth tees. The course itself is hilly, unusual in Florida, and also utilizes sinkhole ponds to dramatic effect.
World Woods (Pine Barrens)
Back in 1994, this won the Best New Resort Course of the Year. The course was popular because the layout is made from sand-based pines and has sand and vegetation around each hole. Huge dunes at each hole can be risky, but also rewarding.
Trump National Doral Miami
This resort is the home of four courses in the entire complex. If we’re picking one course, though, it’s the Blue Monster, which was home to a PGA Tour event from 1962 to 2016. This was designed by Dick Wildon. It is actually the template used for many other more modern courses in the state. It’s packed with lakes, very deep bunkers, and elevated greenpads. It has had some updates in recent years, notably some extra slopes and ridges, but the 18th hole is still pretty much the same as it’s ever been.
