The Best Courses You Can Play in Florida

It’s nearly impossible to determine the best golf course in Florida. With over 1,100 courses and a 12-month golf season, the Sunshine State is a true golf mecca among residents and visitors. We’ll leave it to you to determine your favorite, but we’re confident that these are the best golf courses in Florida that are open for public play. 

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more complete golf resort in the world than Streamsong Resort. Located in central Florida, about an hour southwest of Tampa, Streamsong packs a punch with its three championship courses. Many notable outlets have proclaimed Streamsong has the best collection of courses, and we won’t argue. Each course is highlighted by towering sand dunes and unexpected terrain that provides each track with its own unique personality. 

The Blue course is a Tom Doak-designed masterpiece that seamlessly incorporates elevation change and challenge. From the tips it plays 7,276 yards with a 74 rating and 134 slope (par-72).

The Red course was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. This layout requires a bit more strategy and less “grip and rip.” There are several holes where you need to take into account angles and position. The Red course tops out at 7,110 yards with a 74.1 rating and 137 slope (par-72).

The Black course opened in 2018 with much anticipation. This Gil Hanse design has the best views of the three courses and was designed to mimic the Sand Belt Region in Australia. It plays to 7,320 yards with a 74.7 rating and 135 slope (par-73).

If you’re a guest of Streamsong Resort you have the opportunity to play year-round, and open public play is permitted from May-September. Peak resort guest play, no matter which course, is around $300 with less expensive fees in the spring and summer. Public play in the summer months runs $200 to $230.

The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is arguably the most famous hole in all of golf. Golf fans from across the globe watch the Players Championship in March to see how many golf balls end up in the water at the famed island green, which wreaks havoc on the best players in the game. You can tackle TPC Sawgrass yourself, as one of the most visited public courses in Florida awaits your turn to test two Pete Dye’s designs.

The Stadium Course is the world-renowned layout on property that even the most casual golf fans recognize. Aside from the 17th hole, the Stadium Course boasts an incredibly difficult 6,670-yard layout with a 73.9 rating and 148 slope. These tees are just in front of the Players Championship tees. The Stadium Course runs $600 per player from September-May and $450 per player in the summer months.

Dye’s Valley Course might get overlooked, but this layout hosts regular Korn Ferry Tour events and is also a tremendous test for any amateur. It tops out at 6,847 yards with a 74 rating and 134 slope (par-72). The Dye’s Valley Course costs $275 per player from September-May and $175 in the summer.

For 46 years, the PGA Tour had an annual stop at the Blue Monster course at Doral and the course is still known as an incredible test of every club in your bag. In 2012, the Trump Organization purchased the resort and it has been known since as Trump National Doral Miami. Located just seven miles northwest of the Miami airport, the resort is among the most luxurious spots in Florida. There are four courses on the resort’s property.

The Blue Monster is the most famous and is a beast of a design from Gil Hanse. It tops out at 7,510 yards with a 77.4 rating and 146 slope (par-72). This unforgettable round costs $350 per player and $295 if you can get in for twilight.

The Golden Palm might be overshadowed by the Blue Monster, but it’s every bit of a championship track. It plays 6,807 yards with a 74.2 rating and 139 slope (par-71). The course fee is $195 and $155 for twilight.

The Red Tiger course was given its name by the late Jackie Gleason and is playable for all levels. The course has undergone some dramatic construction in recent years. It now plays 6,395 yards with a 71.8 rating and 136 slope (par-72). Pricing for the Red Tiger is also $195 with $155 for twilight.

The Silver Fox has water on 17 of its 18 holes and is a fun, yet demanding challenge of golf. It measures 7,009 yards with a 74.9 rating and 148 slope (par-72). At $188 per player or $150 for twilight, Silver Fox is an absolute steal.

The Bay Hill website puts it best. “There's something about Bay Hill that makes a golfer's heart beat faster.” The home of the late legend, Arnold Palmer, Bay Hill is not only a tremendous test of golf but it’s also a tribute to The King. Just 12 miles southwest of downtown, Bay Hill is one of the best golf courses in Orlando. It isn’t open to any public player, but if you stay on property you get the luxury of walking the same fairways as the great. Since 1979, the PGA Tour has had an annual stop at Bay Hill, the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Much like Mr. Palmer himself, the Challenger/Champion course is very unassuming and doesn’t need a ton of flash to show its teeth. The terrain is somewhat gentle but rolls into areas that put you in plenty of trouble with blocked shots to greens. It plays 7,409 yards from the tips with a 76.4 rating and 138 slope (par-72). The cost to play is $200-$250 depending on the season, which is added to your stay on property. If there’s nobody behind you on the 18th green, feel free to try rolling one of Tiger Woods' famous putts from 2008 or 2009.

If you like a healthy dose of scenery to go along with your golf, Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa gives you some of the best views in the state of Florida. A beautiful drive on I-95 coast brings you to Palm Coast, which is only about 30 miles north of Daytona Beach. This resort is one of the best stay-and-play destinations you can find, with the play aspect being the part we enjoy the most. There are two courses on this Atlantic Ocean property and we highly recommend playing both.

The Ocean Course was designed by Jack Nicklaus and brings in plenty of ocean and wetland hazards to test your game. It plays 7,176 yards with a 75.1 rating and 141 slope (par-72). The final four holes are an incredible test known as “The Bear Claw.”

The Conservatory Course is a Tom Watson design that has hints of British links golf along with waterfalls and immaculate details. This course tops out at 7,740 yards with a 77.5 rating and 144 slope (par-72).

If you want to play either championship course you’ll need to stay on property at Hammock Beach Resort. Greens fees are around $200 throughout the year.

Yet another course where you can walk where the pros have, Innisbrook Golf Resort is a staple in Florida’s golf scene and host of the Valspar Championship each March. The resort is located just 12 miles north of Clearwater and is another collection of courses that is only accessible if you stay on property or if you’re a member.

Innisbrook is highlighted by its famous Copperhead Course which challenges PGA Tour players. The course features pine tree-lined fairways with forced carry water hazards that test any amateur player. This Larry Packard design measures 7,209 yards with a 75.9 rating and 142 slope (par-71) as the pros play it. 

The North Course is known as “Baby Copperhead” and poses much of the same challenge but without the length of the Copperhead. It plays 6,325 yards with a 69.9 rating and 127 slope (par-70).

The South Course has a little more links-style golf and plays 6,620 yards with a 71.2 rating and 125 slope (par-71). 

The Island Course was the first course at Innisbrook and holds up as a gritty challenge of true Florida golf. It plays 7,194 yards from the tips with a 75.1 rating and 144 slope.

If you’re staying on property, the North, South, and Island courses cost around $150 to $200 per player depending on the time of year. The Copperhead course runs $250 to $300.

PGA National Resort carries the PGA name for good reason. You won’t find a more complete resort in Florida with potentially more golf options than you have days to stay. Each of the six courses on the West Palm Beach property should be considered must-play opportunities. With so many courses and varying costs throughout the season, we recommend contacting the resort to find out what the current rates are, but we have not seen them exceed $350 per player. You must be staying at the resort to access the golf courses.

The Champion Course hosts the annual Honda Classic and is one of the best courses in the U.S. The famous Bear Trap is part of this famous Jack Nicklaus design that measures 7,045 yards with a 75.4 rating and 144 slope (par-72).

The Palmer Course was designed by, you guessed it, Mr. Arnold Palmer. It plays 7,079 yards with a 74.7 rating and 142 slope (par-72).

The Fazio Course was designed by Tom Fazio and is a tribute to the legendary Walter Hagen. It plays 7,050 yards with a 74.4 rating and 138 slope (par-72).

The Estate Course is just off-property but well-worth the short shuttle ride. It plays 6,694 with a 72.6 rating and 138 slope (par-72).

The Match opened in 2021 and is a turfgrass course that’s built for fun and friendly competition. It pairs well with another 2021 opening on the property, The Staple. This nine-hole course has holes ranging from 60 to 130 yards and is an absolute blast to play. The Match and Staple are two non-traditional options to complete your PGA National experience.