Florida has in total 1481 golf courses, more than any other state and the sport is very popular in this part of the United States, which might not be very surprising, since golf legend Jack Nicklaus was born in Florida.
Naples, Fort Myers, Orlando, Boca Raton and Jacksonville
Most courses you can find in the cities like Naples, Fort Myers, Orlando, Boca Raton and Jacksonville and some of them are ranked among the best golf courses in the world. Many of the golf courses in Florida are open to the public, obviously you still need to pay a green fee. You can find various terrains and courses for every level of golf and any kind of budget.
The Sunshine State is also visited by many foreign golfers who like to combine good, sunny weather with playing golf during their vacations. Florida is also a favorite destination for a lot of families; besides the great golf courses, this state also offers hundreds of spas, fun theme parks and beautiful beaches.
Since Florida has so many great golf courses, it is difficult to rank them, but please find below a selection of the best golf courses in Florida:
Seminole
Seminole is considered to be the best golf course in the Sunshine State. At the Seminole golf course (course rating 73.6) you will find championship conditions and excellent services. The par-72 course is 6,940 yards long and was built in 1962 and redesigned in 2004. The Seminole golf course is challenging, with small greens and various sand dunes. To play at Seminole you need a membership or be friends with a member.
TPC at Sawgrass (Stadium Tour)
TPC at Sawgrass golf course was built in 1980 and is an award winning public par-72 golf course and home to The Players Championship and PGA Course headquarters. The length of Sawgrass is 7,215 yards and has a course rating of 76.8
The most famous hole at Sawgrass is the 17th hole, where the green is resembles an island, but is in fact a peninsula.
Mill Cove Golf Course
The Mill Cove golf course in Jacksonville opened in 1990 and measures 6,671 yards. This public par-71 course has a course rating of 71.7 and is a challenge to beginners as well as more advanced players.
The course is very well maintained, has a country club atmosphere, wetlands and marsh areas.
Champion at PGA National Resort & Spa
The Champion course at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens was originally built by Tom Fazio in 1981, but redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 1990. This 7,048 yard golf course has a course rating is 75.3 and the 72-par Champion at PGA National Resort & Spa has wide fairways, but also interesting challenges like The Bear Trap, known as among the most demanding 3-hole stretches on the PGA TOUR.
