Kristina Wyatt

Top 10 Golf Courses in Florida Florida has some of the best, most beautiful and challenging golf courses in the nation, including ones like Streamsong Resort located in Streamsong, Mill Cove Golf Club in Jacksonville, and Mangrove Bay Golf Course in Saint Petersburg. Here is a look at the top 10 golf courses in the sunny state of Florida. 1. Pembroke Lakes Golf & Racquet Club (Pembroke Pines, Florida) This gorgeous 18-hole golf course located in Pembroke Pines features a slope rating of 126, lush Bermuda grass for effortless swinging and pars, plus over 6,500 yards of challenging golf with a par of 72. It was renovated and reopened in December of 2007, boasting new features and improvements, including: Brand new Paspalum Supreme grass; new EZ-Go golf carts (equipped with a GPS system); new drainage system; beautiful new lakes on holes two, thirteen and sixteen; five sets of tees; and even a new, enlarged practice area that features a chipping green and a practice bunker. Additional amenities of Pembroke Lakes include a restaurant and lounge (called “Club 19”), nine tennis courts, catering and banquet facilities, a swimming pool, and five clay tennis courts. 2. Streamsong Resort/Golf/Spa (Streamsong, Florida) Located in gorgeous Streamsong, Florida, the Streamsong Resort, Golf & Spa offers many luxury amenities, such as amazing vistas of lakes, massive sand dunes, and pristine fairways and greens, plus they offer golf packages, a full-service spa, accommodations (including four-star suites and resort rooms), three restaurants (Fifty-Nine, P2O5, and Sottoterra), and of course a breathtaking 18-hole golf course. This course was designed by acclaimed golf architects Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw (of the firm Coore & Crenshaw), and Tim Doak of Renaissance Golf Design. This links-style golf course is one of Florida’s best and draws thousands of golfers every year. 3. Calusa Pines Golf Club (Naples, Florida) Named one of the “Top Ten Best New Private Clubs” by Golf Digest magazine, Calusa Pines Golf Club offers its members truly breathtaking scenery (thanks to gorgeous ridges, pristine greens and sweeping fairways), as well as native plants, a strong caddie program, no set tee times, and a relaxed atmosphere to promote a better golfing experience. Calusa Pines was designed by renowned architects Dr. Michael J. Hurdzan, ASGCA and Dana Fry, ASGCA. 4. Bay Hill Club & Lodge (Orlando, Florida) Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, located in Orlando, is a stunning, 27-hole golf course set on over 270 gorgeous acres of pristine fairways, greens, lakes, and sand dunes. This gorgeous course is showcased every spring during the PGA Tour and the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard golf event. Features of Bay Hill include a relaxing spa, lodging accommodations, tennis courts, a salon, a full-service fitness center, a junior Olympic-size swimming pool, and three dining areas: The Bay Window, the Terrace Café, and the Members Lounge. 5. Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club (Palm Harbor, Florida) Home to four award-winning golf courses and PGA tour events (including the PGA Tour Valspar Championship presented by BB&T), the Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club is one of Florida’s premier golf courses and resorts. Innisbrook features amenities like special golfing events, specials and tournaments, resort dining (including Packard’s Steakhouse, Market Salamander Grille, Market Salamander, Turneberry Pub, The Grill at Loch Ness, and the Osprey Sports Bar that overlooks the gorgeous golf greens), and even a fitness center, spa facilities, meeting and event accommodations, and wedding packages. 6. Magnolia Plantation Golf Club (Lake Mary, Florida) Designed by architect David Harman, Magnolia Plantation Golf Club features spectacular views and lots of wildlife (deer, fox, bear, blue herons, and hawks, just to name a few that golfers can spy while on the greens), well-groomed, tree-lined fairways, plus extremely challenging tifeagle and dogleg greens. Ravines that line each hole and pretty outcroppings of trees make this scenic course a challenge for both beginners and golf pros alike. 7. The Club at Eaglebrooke (Lakeland, Florida) Opened in 1996 and designed by noted architect Ron Garl, the Club at Eaglebrooke is one of Florida’s elite golf courses. It features 18 holes, and breathtaking scenery, including ancient oaks, well-manicured lawns, and lush fairways. Eaglebrooke also boasts scenic lakes, multi-level greens, six sets of trees, and stunning sunsets in the evening. Golf Digest has even named the Club at Eaglebrooke as one of the “Best Places to Play” for nine consecutive years. The Club is currently semi-private and located just 45 minutes from Disney and Tampa. 8. Diamondback Golf Club (Haines City, Florida) This award-winning 18-hole golf course located in Haines City boasts over 240 acres of beautiful virgin Florida forest and is a Par 72 championship course. It was designed by noted architect Joe Lee, and is a beautifully scenic area to play golf, with tree-lined fairways, preserved wetlands, and lush, rolling greens. Diamondback’s 19th Hole restaurant is open from 7am until 3p daily, and offers a varied menu as well as a fully stocked, full-service bar. 9. World Woods Golf Club (Brooksville, Florida) The Pine Barrens Golf Course at World Woods Golf Club is an 18-hole course designed by Thomas Fazio, ASGCA and first opened in 1993. World Woods has been ranked by any top golfing magazines, including awards for the following: Golf Week’s 2013 “Best Courses You Can Play in Florida”; Golf Digest- “America’s 100 Greatest Public Access Golf Courses”; and Golf Digest- “Best in the State of Florida” (public access facility). This club features Scott Wyckoff (a PGA member) as the Head Golf Professional at World Wood Golf Club, and he oversees all daily operations and merchandise sales. 10. The Links at Madison Green (Royal Palm Beach, Florida) Also known as Madison Green Golf Club, the Links at Madison Green in Royal Palm Beach is home to the 2013 and 2014 Honda Classic Qualifier, as well as being rated by Zagat as one of the “Top Golf Courses in South Florida”. It was also rated “4.5 stars out of 5” by Golf Digest. The Links feature wedding packages, several different tee times, a restaurant (MarBar Grille), tournaments, and even corporate catering facilities.