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There are a lot of golfers in Florida – both residents and visitors – who enjoy playing on over 1,300 courses throughout the state all year long. With only about 550 being private, roughly 800 courses are open for public play.
We’ve handpicked 10 fantastic 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 renowned spots like TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. You can tee off at the Players Stadium Course or Dye’s Valley (though the latter may cost a few hundred dollars). The region offers a mix of high-end resort-style courses as well as private and public options.
For resort guests, The Ocean Course and the Conservatory Course at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast are solid picks, while courses like Kelly Plantation Golf Club, Windsor Parke Golf Club, and The Amelia River Club are more easily accessible.
Kelly Plantation Golf Club
- Location: Destin
- Designer: Fred Couples and Gene Bates
- Green Fees: $99 to $189
- Total Distance: 7,099 yards
If you’re planning a golf trip to the Destin area in the Panhandle, don’t forget to put Kelly Plantation Golf Club on your list. Enjoy views of Choctawhatchee Bay, top-notch course conditions, and a great practice facility.
Windsor Parke Golf Club
- Location: Jacksonville
- Designer: Arthur Hills
- Green Fees: Approximately $27 to $39
- Total Distance: 6,765 yards
Windsor Parke is well-regarded for hosting USGA qualifying events, which signals excellent course conditions and green speeds. Golfers appreciate its balance between challenge and playability along with immaculate fairway and green maintenance.
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 combines links and parkland styles, enhanced by natural marsh areas and lakes. The par-3 17th hole features an island green, making the round a unique and memorable experience.
Central Florida
Central Florida’s golf scene shines with resorts like Streamsong Resort, featuring courses such as Streamsong Black (designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw) and Streamsong Blue (designed by Tom Doak), set amid native dunes and panoramic vistas.
Other popular destinations include Orange County National’s Panther Lake and Innisbrook’s Copperhead Course, a well-known resort that has hosted PGA Tour events. For a different pace, try PGA Village Dye Course, LPGA International Jones Course, or Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club.
PGA Village Dye Course
- Location: Port St. Lucie
- Designer: Pete Dye
- Green Fees: $29 to $59
- Total Distance: 7,279 yards
The Dye Course stands out with its links-style design, offering an affordable yet challenging test of skill—a creation of the legendary Pete Dye.
LPGA International Jones Course
- Location: Daytona Beach
- Designer: Rees Jones with Greg Muirhead
- Green Fees: $54 to $99
- Total Distance: 7,088 yards
Known as the home course for the LPGA Tour, the Jones Course provides a links-style challenge with deep bunkers and natural marsh areas. It caters to golfers of all levels.
Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club
- Location: Haines City
- Designer: Steve Smyers
- Green Fees: Rates vary from $60 to $149
- Total Distance: Over 7,200 yards
Ranked among the best in Central Florida, Southern Dunes is known for its dramatic elevation changes and exceptionally maintained fairways and fast greens. A must-play for anyone in the Orlando area.
Cabot Citrus Farms
- Location: Brooksville
- Designers: Kyle Franz and Mike Nuzzo
- Green Fees: Approximately $45 to $165
- Total Distance: Varies by course
Formerly known as World Woods, Cabot Citrus Farms now offers four diverse courses—from two 18-hole courses to a nine-hole and an 11-hole par-3 course—along with a top-notch practice facility featuring Trackman technology.
South Florida
South Florida is a golfer’s paradise, thanks to its excellent grass-growing climate that keeps courses in top condition year-round. Iconic courses like PGA National Resort in Palm Beach Gardens (designed by Jack Nicklaus) have hosted numerous PGA Tour events and challenge even the pros with features such as the infamous Bear Trap.
While many exclusive private clubs (such as Jupiter Hills, Calusa Pines, and Seminole) are off-limits, South Florida also offers excellent public options. Consider courses like 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
The Blue Monster at Trump National Doral is a bucket list course, known for its challenging bunkers and water hazards as well as its history of hosting PGA Tour and LIV events.
The Park – West Palm Beach
- Location: West Palm Beach
- Designer: Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, and Dirk Ziff
- Green Fees: Starting at $20 (with discounts for residents and juniors)
- Total Distance: 7,145 yards
New and gaining accolades, The Park is a player-friendly course featuring a Toptracer-enabled range and a lighted nine-hole par-3 course – a welcoming spot for all levels of golfers.
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
An underrated public course, Jacaranda’s East Course has hosted PGA and USGA events, and is praised for its broad fairways complemented by challenging approaches.
Palm Beach Par 3 Golf Course
- Location: Palm Beach
- Designer: Originally by Dick Wilson and Joe Lee; redesigned by Raymond Floyd (2009)
- Green Fees: $36 to $57
- Total Distance: Par-3 course – 2,572 yards
Palm Beach Par 3 demonstrates that par-3 courses can offer an exceptional and challenging experience. With nine holes on oceanfront and nine along the Intracoastal, its scenic views and unique challenges (like gusty winds) make it a must-try.
Final Thoughts
Florida is home to hundreds more public-access courses, but this curated list offers a mix of affordable and high-quality options for golfers at every level. Which of these courses have you played, and what other hidden gems should be on any Florida golfer’s radar?