The marquee courses
Florida's most famous course is TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach near Jacksonville, home of the Players Championship and the island-green 17th hole, one of the most nerve-testing par 3s in golf. It is a bucket-list round, and the Stadium Course takes public tee times at a premium price. Around Orlando, the resort courses run deep and are the easiest to build into a family trip.
Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate off I-4 southwest of the city has 45 holes designed by Greg Norman plus the David Leadbetter Golf Academy, making it a strong base for a golf-focused stay. It is an easy drive from the theme parks if the family splits time, covered in our theme parks guide.
Resort golf around Orlando
Orlando is the state's golf-resort hub. Rosen Shingle Creek on Universal Boulevard has an 18-hole course laid along Shingle Creek at the headwaters of the Everglades, with a full convention-hotel base. The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes and its sister JW Marriott share the Grande Lakes property and a Greg Norman course, pairing high-end rooms with a spa and easy park access. Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress near Lake Buena Vista rounds out the cluster with a Jack Nicklaus-designed layout.
These resorts bundle stay-and-play packages that often beat paying green fees separately, especially in the summer off-season. Book directly through the resort for the best rates.
| Course / Resort | Area | Holes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPC Sawgrass | Ponte Vedra | 36 | Bucket-list round |
| Omni ChampionsGate | Orlando | 45 | Golf-focused stay |
| Rosen Shingle Creek | Orlando | 18 | Convention + golf |
| Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes | Orlando | 18 | Luxury stay-and-play |
| The Breakers | Palm Beach | 36 | Historic beach resort |
Coastal golf: Palm Beach and the Gulf
On the Atlantic side, The Breakers Palm Beach on South County Road is a historic oceanfront resort with two courses, including the Ocean Course, the oldest 18 in Florida. Palm Beach County packs in more courses per square mile than almost anywhere in the country, so it is a natural golf base near Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
On the Gulf side, the Naples and Marco Island area is dense with resort golf, and the Emerald Coast around Destin adds courses to a beach trip. Golf pairs well with a beach day, and our best beaches in Florida guide covers the nearby sand. A round also fits easily into a wider driving trip like a Florida Keys road trip on the way south.
When to play, costs, and weather
The dry season, November through April, is peak golf season with warm, dry days and the highest green fees, often $150 to $400 at the marquee resorts. Summer, May through October, is hot and humid with near-daily afternoon thunderstorms, but it is when rates drop the most, sometimes by half, and morning tee times let you finish before the storms build around 2 to 4 pm.
Book early tee times year round to beat the heat and the lightning, hydrate hard in summer, and watch the sky. When lightning is within range, courses clear players off fast, so build a little schedule slack in the wet season. Compare resort and public courses statewide in the golf courses directory.
Booking tee times and building a golf trip
Book resort courses through the hotel to unlock stay-and-play rates, and reserve marquee public rounds like TPC Sawgrass weeks ahead in peak winter season. Twilight tee times, usually after 2 or 3 pm, cut the green fee substantially and let you play in the cooler part of the day, though in summer you race the afternoon storms. Ask about cart, range balls, and caddie fees up front, since they add to the posted rate.
Orlando is the most efficient base, reachable through Orlando International (MCO), with dozens of courses within 30 minutes and easy pairing with a theme-park or springs day. For a coastal golf trip, fly into Palm Beach (PBI) for The Breakers and the dense Palm Beach County courses, or into Southwest Florida (RSW) for Naples and Marco Island. A round fits easily alongside the beaches covered in our best beaches in Florida guide. Bring plenty of water and sunscreen no matter the season, since even winter afternoons run warm, and pack a light rain layer in summer for the passing storms. Most Florida courses enforce a soft-spike and collared-shirt dress code, so check before you play.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most famous golf course in Florida?
TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, home of the Players Championship and the island-green 17th hole. The Stadium Course takes public tee times at a premium, and it is a bucket-list round for most golfers.
When is the best time to golf in Florida?
November through April brings the best weather with warm, dry days, but also the highest green fees. Summer is hot with afternoon storms, but rates drop sharply and early morning tee times let you finish before the weather turns.
How much does golf cost in Florida?
Marquee resort courses run about $150 to $400 in peak winter season. Rates drop significantly in the summer off-season, sometimes by half, and stay-and-play packages at Orlando resorts often beat paying green fees separately.
Where is the best golf resort in Florida?
Orlando is the resort hub, with Omni ChampionsGate, Rosen Shingle Creek, and the Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott at Grande Lakes. The Breakers in Palm Beach is the top historic oceanfront option, and Naples leads Gulf-coast resort golf.
What is a good family golf resort near the theme parks?
Orlando World Center Marriott off World Center Drive has an 18-hole course a few minutes from the Disney gates, so a family can split golf days and park days from one base. Book the stay-and-play package through the resort for the best rate, and grab an early tee time to beat the afternoon heat and summer storms.
