10 Best Florida Golf Courses You Can Get On

There are a lot of golfers in Florida, both permanent residents and visitors, who enjoy playing the more than 1,300 courses throughout the state year-round. Only about 550 are private so that leaves about 800 open for public play.

We pulled together 10 great Florida golf courses that you can play without being a member. How many of these have you played? 

North Florida

North Florida is home to some famous spots like the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. You can get on the Players Stadium Course or Dye’s Valley but it will cost you a few hundred dollars. North Florida has a mix of high-end resort-style courses as well as private and public.

The Ocean Course and the Conservatory Course at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast are solid options for a resort guest. Kelly Plantation Golf Club, Windsor Parke Golf Club and The Amelia River Club are three that we came across and that you should be able to get on easily. 

Kelly Plantation Golf Club

Location: Destin Designer: Fred Couples and Gene Bates Green Fees: $99 to $189 Total Distance: 7,099 yards

If you are planning a golf trip to the Destin area in the Panhandle, don’t forget to put Kelly Plantation Golf Club on the list of things to do. If you can take a break from the beach, Kelly Plantation offers 18 holes that are a great test of golf. You’ll get views of Choctawhatchee Bay, great golf course conditions and a great practice area. 

Windsor Parke Golf Club

Location: Jacksonville Designer: Arthur Hills Greens Fees: Approximately $27 to $39 Total Distance: 6,765 yards

Any time a public golf course hosts USGA qualifying events, it’s worth playing. Typically, this means course conditions and green speeds are good. The Windsor Parke Golf Club in Jacksonville is known for being a mix of challenging and player-friendly golf. Best of all, golfers always compliment the condition of the fairways and greens. 

The Amelia River Club

Location: Fernandina Beach Designer: Tom Jackson Green Fees: Approximately $59 to $169 Total Distance: 6,823 yards

The Amelia River Club in Fernandina Beach combines links style and parkland style. One thing that really sets this course apart is the natural marsh area and lakes. The par-3 17th hole features an island green. The Amelia River Club is known for its TifEagle greens, strategically placed water hazards and friendly overall environment. 

Central Florida

Central Florida’s golf scene is headlined by Streamsong Resort. Streamsong Black, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, and Streamsong Blue by Tom Doak, offer challenging layouts amid native dunes and panoramic vistas. 

Not really what you expect from Central Florida Golf.

Another hot spot is Orange County National’s Panther Lake. Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course is one of the most popular resort courses in the area and has hosted PGA Tour events. If you’ve tried all these famous spots, give PGA Village Dye Course, LPGA International Jones Course and Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club a try. 

PGA Village Dye Course

Location: Port St. Lucie Designer: Pete Dye Green Fees: $29 to $59 Total Distance: 7,279 yards

The Dye Course at PGA Village is one of my favorite courses in all of Florida. It’s a links-style design and treats you fairly if you hit it straight. Pete Dye knew how to create an incredible test of golf. The Dye Course blends all the great things about Florida golf into one affordable and high-quality course. 

LPGA International Jones Course

Location: Daytona Beach Designer: Rees Jones with Greg Muirhead Green Fees: $54 to $99 Total Distance: 7,088 yards

If you are going to spend some time at PGA Village, why not head over to the LPGA 

International in Daytona? The LPGA International courses are considered the home courses for the LPGA Tour.

The Jones course is another links-style course with deep bunkers and natural marsh areas. Rees Jones designed it to appeal to golfers of all levels. It’s always in good condition and offers a great test of Florida golf. 

Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club

Location: Haines City Designer: Steve Smyers Green Fees: Rates vary $60 to $149 Total Distance: Over 7,200 yards

Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club is often ranked among the best in Central Florida. The course is known for its significant elevation changes and impressive conditions. In addition, the greens are fast and in great condition. You’ll have to play this one a few times before you feel comfortable with where to hit your approach shots. If you are in the Orlando area, this is a must-play. 

Cabot Citrus Farms

Location: Brooksville Designers: Kyle Franz, Mike Nuzzo Green Fees: Approximately $45 to $165 Total Distance: Varies across multiple courses

Previously known as World Woods, the revamped and revitalized Cabot Citrus Farms has four courses of varying lengths and number of holes with an exciting variety of experiences. This golf destination and community is still being built (grand opening this September) but the courses are open for play. The facility includes two reinvented 18-hole courses, a challenging nine-hole course and an 11-hole par-3 course. You’ll also find a state-of-the-art practice facility equipped with Trackman technology. Cabot Citrus Farms promises exceptional conditions in a beautiful environment. If it’s not already on your list, go ahead and add it. (If the word “Cabot” rings a bell, it’s because this is the first U.S. property of the people behind the renowned Cabot Links and Cabot Cliffs in Nova Scotia.)

South Florida

South Florida has some of the best golf courses because the conditions are so good all year long to grow grass. You’ve likely heard of PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens, which has hosted the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic (now the Cognizant Classic) for many years. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, the course features difficult three-hole stretches like the famous Bear Trap that the pros must contend with yearly.

South Florida has quite a few famous private courses like Jupiter Hills, Calusa Pines  and Seminole.Don’t even think about trying to get on! 

Four good spots for public golf include Doral, The Park, Palm Beach Par 3 and Jacaranda.

Trump National Doral Miami – Blue Monster Course

Location: Miami Designer: Dick Wilson with updates by Gil Hanse Green Fees: $150 to $500 Total Distance: 7,590 yards

Trump National Doral is known for its PGA Tour and LIV events. It’s kind of fun to play a course you have watched on television and you’ll get that with the Blue Monster. The course is tough, it’s long, and the bunkers and ponds seem to be everywhere. It’s a pricier option but one to put on the bucket list. 

The Park – West Palm Beach

Location: West Palm Beach Designer: Gil Hanse, JimWagner and Dirk Ziff Rates start at $20. Discounts for residents and juniors Total Distance: 7,145 yards

The Park is a new addition to the West Palm Beach area, gaining a lot of attention and accolades. Thankfully, The Park focuses on inclusivity and accessibility. It has programs to help welcome players of all ages and abilities and features great conditions and is a good test of golf. Give yourself some time to hang around The Park. It has a Toptracer-enabled range and a lighted nine-hole par-3 course. 

Jacaranda Golf Club – East Course

Location: Plantation Designer: Mark Mahannah (1970), renovated by Bobby Weed (2006) Green Fees: $40 to $90 Total Distance: 7,247 yards

Jacaranda is an underappreciated public golf course. The East Course has hosted PGA and USGA tournaments. It has large fairways but the greens and approaches will ensure you have your A game with you. Golfers like this one because the conditions are usually pretty consistent.

Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course

Location: Palm Beach Designer: Originally by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee, redesigned by Raymond Floyd in 2009 Green Fees: $36 to $57 Total Distance: Par-3 course, 2,572 yards

If you think par-3 golf courses are for beginners and kids, think again. Palm Beach Par 3 is one of the coolest par-3 golf courses in the country. Nine of the holes are on the ocean and nine are on the Intracoastal waterway. You have better views here than any other public courses in the area. The Palm Beach Par 3 helps you work on your game from 160 yards and in. Check the wind forecast before you head to the course. With gusts coming from the ocean, you’ll have to rethink your strategy. 

Final Thoughts

Well, there are only about 790 more public-access courses in Florida to mention! What we tried to do here is provide a good mix of places across the state that are mostly fairly priced and fun to play. What other public courses in Florida do you recommend?

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