Florida Golf - the best 18 courses!

In a state filled with great golf, these are “don’t-miss” courses
By James Y. Bartlett, Member of the Golf Writers Association of America

In the Miss America pageant, the judges have to choose one winner from a field of 50 beauties. In baseball, 28 teams play all year long, but only one wins the World Series. In golf, especially in the Sunshine State, you can find a good golf course within a few miles of anywhere.

But choosing the best? That’s tough. Instead, we've selected 18 – a good, round golf number – that ought not to be missed. All of them are either resort or daily-fee courses, so anyone can play them all. It’s up to you to choose your favourite.

Ocean Hammock Golf Course

Orlando/Kissimmee Area
With lots of great courses in Central Florida, a few stand out. The Championship course at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge (888-422-9445, www.bayhill.com) is Arnold Palmer’s winter home and host of his annual PGA Tour tournament: its long, tough and always in top condition.

Two of the best daily-fee courses in the area are the ChampionsGate (407-787-GOLF, www.championsgategolf.com), where Greg Norman’s International course is a fine, open design through rolling terrain; and the two courses at Orange County National (888-Par-3672, www.ocngolf.com). Both have extraordinary practice and teaching facilities.

Panama City Beach Area
A great course for masochists is found at the Lagoons Legend course at the Marriott Bay Point Resort in Panama City Beach (850-235-6950, www.baypointgolf.com). With a slope rating of 152, it’s one of the toughest in the country. Long forced carries, water everywhere and tricky winds off the Gulf combine for a multi-lost-ball round.

Seaside/Beaches of South Walton Area
The Rees Jones-designed Burnt Pines course within the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort near Destin (800-622-1038 , www.sandestin.com) is a classic resort golf experience. Beautiful views of Chockahatchee Bay from many fairways add to the pleasure of a round here.

Crystal River Area
The golf facilities at World Woods (352-796-5500, www.worldwoods.com) in Brooksville are unduplicated anywhere in the country. Tom Fazio’s Pine Barrens course is magnificent, with fairways running through a sere landscape of piney scrub and sandy waste. The adjoining Rolling Oaks is also very good.

St. Petersburg/Clearwater Area
The Westin Innisbrook resort (877-752-1480, www.westin-innisbrook.com)
in Palm Harbor features five courses including the Copperhead course: a long, tough layout which has hosted PGA Tour events.

Tampa Area
A relative newcomer to the scene, the Tournament Players Club of Tampa Bay (866-752-9872, www.tpc.com), in Lutz, now hosts an annual Champions Tour event. The tricky greens can be infuriating and present the best defense to a good score on a solid, enjoyable golf course.

Naples Area
The 36 holes at Tiburon (239-594-2040, www.wcigolf.com), designed by Greg Norman, are not to be missed. Wide open fairways, but tricky approaches define the game here.

The semi-private Naples Grande (239-659-3700, www.naplesgrande.com) –accessible through some Naples resorts – is a great Rees Jones layout with surprising holes around almost every turn.

Jack Nicklaus (Bear) and Arnold Palmer (King) engineer ther 12th hole
World Golf Hall of Fame

St. Augustine Area
The Stadium course at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass (800-457-4653, www.tpc.com) should be in a museum: it’s the finest example of the target golf design anywhere. Never mind the famous island-green 17th… the other 17 holes on this course are a fascinating experience in both mind and ball control.

Flagler Beach/Palm Coast Area
The Ocean Hammock course (800-654-6538, www.oceanhammock.com) is the first new golf course in decades to feature holes along the oceanfront. Designer Jack Nicklaus did a great job mixing long and short holes through the piney woods and lagoons. The seaside finish ain’t bad, either.

Fort Pierce/Vero Beach Area
The multi-course PGA Village (800-800-4653, www.pgavillage.com) in Port St. Lucie (two Fazio, one Dye course) offers hole after hole of lush fairways, hidden pins, lurking lagoons and fast greens.

Palm Beach Area
Tom Fazio’s Emerald Dunes (888-650-4653, www.emeralddunes.com) in West Palm Beach, just off the Florida Turnpike, is one of the best daily-fee golf facilities in the country. Water is in play virtually from first shot to last.

At the PGA National Resort & Spa (800-633-9150, www.pga-resorts.com) in Palm Beach Gardens, the golf menu includes the Champion, host of the 1983 Ryder Cup Matches and 1987 PGA Championship.

Miami Area
Play where the pros play at the Doral Golf Resort & Spa (800-713-6725 , www.doralgolf.com) in Miami. The famous Blue Monster course always offers a double-handful of challenging shots, especially on the last.

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