The sunshine state is a favorite destination for many golf enthusiasts and professionals. It’s the home of more than 1700 public and private golf courses.
The beautiful nature of the state is incorporated into the world’s finest golf courses. No wonder why it’s one of the main places for the PGA Tour.
Here at Florida Golf Club, we’re ranking the best golf courses in the state. You’ll be amazed by how fascinating these golf courses are.
Let’s jump right in!
Top Golf Courses in Florida Golf Club
We created a list of the best nine Florida golf courses. This list is based primarily on the design and the challenge of the golf courses.
Let’s go on a tour of nine of the best-ranked golf courses in the state.
1. Seminole Golf Club
If you watched the TaylorMade Driving Relief skins match, then you’ve seen Seminole. This was the first time it was shown on TV.
The old golf course was only shown in occasional photographs. But that didn’t stop it from being one of the most popular golf courses among golf fans.
Seminole is located in Juno Beach, north of West Palm Beach. It’s one of the masterpieces of the legendary architect Donald Ross who designed more than 400 golf courses in the United States.
This masterpiece has always been in the top 20 of every list since the rankings began in 1966. And it’s one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the U.S.
The whole experience in Seminole is top-notch. You’ll enjoy the challenge of the sleek elevated greens. And of course, you’ll be fascinated by the locker rooms that inspired many other golf clubs.
Don’t forget to watch this architectural masterpiece in May for the 2021 Walker Cup. And maybe book a tee time on Ben Hogan’s favorite golf course to practice for the Masters.
2. Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass
TPC Sawgrass is located in Ponte Vedra Beach southeast of Jacksonville. It’s the home of two golf courses. Our favorite is the Stadium.
The intimidating 17th hole. The world’s most famous par 3. It’s found in the Stadium course. This course is mostly water and one of the most photographed golf courses in Florida.
Deane R. Beman, the former PGA TOUR Commissioner, decided to build a place to be the permanent host of the Players Championship. He partnered up with the amazing architect Pete Dye and created the Stadium.
In 1980, the Stadium course became the first golf course to be built with the fans in consideration as well as the players. Golf players and fans of all abilities and styles are welcomed in this resort.
The famous 17th hole will be your number one challenge. But we also think the 18th hole is a strong finishing one.
3. Streamsong Resort
From the moment you enter this resort to the moment you step out, everything relating to the outside world is shut off. Streamsong is known for its unique golf courses.
Streamsong land was before a phosphate mining site for Mosaic. After the company was done with its mission, it was asked to do a complete reclamation of the site.
To our advantage, Rich Mack, the CEO of the company, was a golf fanatic. He turned the land into one of the best golf courses in Florida and the whole world.
Streamsong is the only place in the world where you can experience playing on three of the top golf courses in the world. Red, Blue, and black courses. They were designed by the legendary golf architects Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw, Tom Doak, and Gil Hanse respectively.
The landscape of Streamsong might have seemed hard to be turned into golf courses. However, the four legends were able to take advantage of that. They were able to create a unique vibe that isn’t like in any other golf resort or club.
This might start an argument. But we think Streamsong Red is the best of the three golf courses. It’s insane and challenging with great bunkers and water holes. Even Tom Doak favors the par 4, 9th hole on Red from all the holes on the three golf courses.
Streamsong Blue course is one of Doak’s finest. Doak is the master of playability and it clearly shows in the design of this course. The course is fun and for players of all abilities.
But, this doesn’t exclude having some challenging holes. The signature 7th hole par 3, and the 13th par 4 are stand-out holes on the Blue course.
In 2017, Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner designed the third course on Streamsong, Black. This increased the number of holes to 54. They created a fun and strategic golf course.
Streamsong Black perfectly complements both Red and Blue. It provides a breathtaking view of the landscape. Streamsong got everything you’ve ever dreamed of in a golf resort or club.
4. Blue Monster at Trump National Doral
Trump National Doral Miami golf club is a 650-acre resort managed by the Trump organization. It’s the home of four championship golf courses. And it’s the host of the annual WGC-Cadillac Championship.
Their Blue course is their most famous out of the four golf courses. The course is long with plenty of tough bunkers. In 1962, it was given the name “Blue Monster” in honor of its challenging terrain.
Originally designed by Dick Wilson, Blue Monster has gone under several upgrades like many other golf courses. The most recent one is by the great Gil Hanse.
He was able to re-sculpt every hole on the course. Blue Monster is now longer and tougher than it ever was. Even if you claim you’re a pro, Blue Monster will have you doubt that.
Watch yourself sweating and stressing when it’s time for the 18th hole. One of the most challenging holes.
5. Bay Hill Club Lodge
This is a private club located in Bay Hill, Orlando. The club is the home of 27 holes of the Champion/Challenger and Charger golf courses. It’s also the winter house of the legend Arnold Palmer.
Palmer fell in love with the course after playing on its Champion/Challenger course in 1965. The original course architect is the legend, Dick Wilson. But, in 2009, Palmer decided to renovate the course with Arnold Palmer Design Company.
Bay Hill contains many lakes, trees, and a mix of shallow and elevated terrain. You have to be precise when playing on their course, Champion/Challenger.
The Charger is a pretty competitive course as well. It was designed by Robert Simmons.
We recommend playing on both golf courses. But if you have to choose, then the Champion/Challenger should be your choice.
6. Copperhead Course at Innisbrook
Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club contain four golf courses, but the Copperhead course stands out the most. It isn’t a typical Florida golf course.
Larry Packard designed this 18 hole course to be one of the most difficult golf courses on the PGA Tour in 2018. The lengthy course of more than 7,200 yards, is contoured by palm tree fairways and rolling terrain.
The Copperhead course is an annual host of the PGA Tour Valspar Championship. Its 16th par 4 hole is the hardest in the tournament calling it “The Moccasin”.
While you’re playing your favorite game there, you’ll be surrounded by the wildlife of Tampa from bald eagles to alligators.
7. Champion Course at PGA National Resort Spa
PGA National Resort is located in Palm Beach Gardens. It has four of the top golf courses in Florida. However, the Champion is their popular one.
The Champion is the home of the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic. It’s known for being one of the toughest golf courses, especially after Jack Nicklaus’s major redesign.
Many golf courses like to challenge you at the finish. But The Champion is the master here. The closing trio on this course is so tough that it’s called “The Bear Trap”.
There are more than 100 golf courses in Palm Beach county. And the champion is one of its standouts.
8. The King & Bear Course At World Golf Village
World Golf Village golf resort is located In the city of St. Augustine. It has two of the greatest golf courses in Florida. The King & Bear and the Slammer & Squire golf courses.
Its King & Bear course is the result of the collaboration of two legends, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. It combines the contrasting styles of both legends.
The championship golf course has a variety of beautiful fairways and bunkers. Also, it has water hazards from numerous lakes that come into play.
When you’re playing there, you’ll find coquina rocks throughout the whole course. It lines the lakes creating water hazards. It’s also found in several bunkers and on cart paths.
9. The Ocean Course At Ponte Vedra Inn & Club
This is another great golf course located in Ponte Vedra Beach. The ocean course is the first golf course built in Ponte Vedra Inn and Club.
This is one of the greatest Florida golf courses. This course was designed by the great Herbert Strong. He did a good job and the evidence is that the Ocean golf course was rated one of the four hardest golf courses in America in 1938.
Bobby Jones, the golf legend, commented that the Ocean is a course to challenge professionals.
The Ponte Vedra Beach area is blessed with some of the top Florida golf courses. And Ponte Vedra’s Ocean course is one of them.
The Wrap Up
Florida is blessed by some of the greatest golf courses in the country and the whole world. Now that you know its top courses, it’s time for you to book a tee time on one of them.
Which of the above courses will be your next game host?
