While Florida’s tourism industry stemmed from its breathtaking beaches and world-
renowned theme parks, it has established itself as a first-class golf destination.
Although there are top golf courses to be found throughout the state, the areas of
Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Miami are making the largest impact on the
state’s golf industry.

Tampa Bay Area

The Tampa Bay Area is the fastest growing golf region in the state although it has
not quite established itself among the “greats” yet. The area is gaining notoriety
with first-class resorts, upscale daily fee courses, and a number of public access
facilities for any level or price range. If you are looking for a course with an old
time Florida feel, spend a day on the Copperhead Course at Westin Innisbrook. It
has been labeled one of the top golf resorts in the country due to its full character
and challenging features. The course is lush and green with plenty of risk and
reward opportunities. The Copperhead Course is open only to resort guests,
members, and friends of members with greens fees of $160 for guests.

A new arrival to the Tampa Golf scene can be found just a short drive north of the
city. World Woods Golf Club was recently developed with two courses, a nine-hole
short course, and a state of the art practice center. The Pine Barrens and Rolling
Oaks courses provide two different golf experiences. Pine Barrens is uniquely
challenging, making for an enjoyable round while Rolling Oaks is full of relaxing
dips and peaceful climbs through Florida farmland. Both courses are worth a visit to
this new golf club and with 700 hotel rooms within a 20-minute drive, you can
make a vacation of it.

Orlando Area

Although, historically, Walt Disney World and other theme park attractions have
overshadowed the Orlando golf scene, the area is full of top-rated courses and
first-rate golf resorts. There are between 100 and 150 courses in the area and
Orlando is host to two PGA tour events. In an article about Orlando golf, one cannot
overlook the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. One of the most prestigious semi-private
clubs in the country, it has been a part of the PGA tour since 1979. The club has
three nine-hole courses, the Challenger, the Champion, and the Charger. Bay Hill
makes an effort to provide top of the line service by enhancing the smallest details.
For example, each foursome at the club gets a forecaddie with no extra charge to
haul clubs, rake sand traps, and provide tips on difficult shots. You must be a guest
or resort member to play these courses with greens fees of $175 per round during
peak season.

The North-South course at Grand Cypress Villas, designed by Jack Nicklaus, is one
of the most well groomed courses in Florida. This combined with man-made rolling
fairways and turtleback greens makes for very enjoyable play. The course has been
labeled as roomy but challenging and is a must visit for any golfer in the Orlando
Area. Greens fees run from $115 to $180, well worth a day away from The Mouse.

Jacksonville Area

Jacksonville, one of the best-kept secrets on the East Coast, has a great waterfront
setting and is a well-established golfing destination. The city and its surrounding
areas are home to 68 courses, the PGA and Senior PGA tour headquarters, and the
World Golf Village, just a few minutes down I-95. The courses in Jacksonville
require accuracy but are known to provide plenty of variety. The world famous TPC
at Sawgrass was built in 1981 and is the annual host of the Tournament Players
Championship. The two courses, the Stadium and Valley, are maintained to
remarkably high standards but are two very different golfing experiences. The
Stadium Course, home to the infamous 17th island green, the most photographed
hole in golf, is known for fast greens and tight fairways. This course can fool any
level of golfer into a feeling of false security with hidden bunkers and tricky water
hazards. The younger sibling, the Valley Course, is more technically extreme but is
often overlooked. The larger greens and fairways make for a more lighthearted
golfing experience. To play, one must be a guest at the Marriot at Sawgrass or a
member. Greens fees range from $140 to $305 for the Stadium Course and $110
to $170 for the Valley Course.

The World Golf Village is home to two courses, both with two distinct nines, one
open and one wooded. The King & The Bear, designed by Arnold Palmer and Jack
Nicklaus, has recently joined the Slammer & The Squire to offer great courses all
designed by the best in the business. The Slammer & The Squire course has plenty
of lakes with rolling fairways while the newer course focuses more on aesthetics
without compromising the quality of play. Players with great short game execution
will enjoy The Slammer & The Squire while The King & The Bear requires accuracy
with distance and placement. These fine courses coupled with the World Golf Hall
of Fame and all the attractions that accompany it are a great way to enhance your
Jacksonville golf experience. Greens fees are $99 to $179 for the older course and
$125 to $200 for The King and The Bear.

Miami Area

It is easy to add golf to any luxurious Miami vacation. With world-class resorts,
infamous South Beach, and a host of semi-private courses in its back yard, Miami
has become a top golf vacation destination. PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens
offers golfers five tournament caliber courses all ranked by Zagat for “America’s Top
Courses.” There is a course for every kind of player at PGA National whether you are
a seasoned pro or someone just getting into the game. The Haig, The General, The
Champ, The Squire, and The Estate are unique and offer something a little different.
The Haig, the first course developed was intended to and does offer quality golf for
all players. Qualities such as having no crossing water hazards evens the playing
field regardless of skill. The newest course is The General, modeled after Scottish
courses. Players will see these roots in its rising and falling fairways and common
greens. The most renowned of the five is The Champ, offering the finest playing
surface available anywhere in the world. For information regarding tee times and
golf packages, visit the PGA National website.

Perhaps the most revered of South Florida golf resorts is the Doral Golf Resort and
Spa. The Doral is home to 5 courses, nine pro shops, and a top-rated spa. The
Blue Monster, The Great White, The Red, The Silver, and The Gold are world-
renowned for fantastic golf and with water on over 60 of the 90 holes, they are also
known for their challenge. The Great White, designed by Greg Norman, and The
Blue Monster, one of the most recognizable courses in the country, are the top two
courses at Doral. The Great White, framed by palm trees and white sand, is difficult
to play and favors those who play position golf. The Blue Monster is known for
huge water hazards, unforgiving rough, and an 18th hole that is one of the toughest
finishes on the PGA Tour. The Greens Fees range from $100 to $225 depending on
the course and season.

A Florida golf vacation can be enjoyed regardless of what destination you choose.
From Jacksonville to Miami and Tampa to Orlando there are countless top rated golf
resorts, clubs, and courses for you to choose from. These destinations, coupled
with fantastic vacation rental homes make the Sunshine State a great place to stay
and play.

Caroline Brame writes travel articles for various travel websites. For more information
on Florida travel, as well as, other vacation destinations, visit
http://www.RentalsExpress.com

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Planning a golf vacation is always fun; however, far too often all that anticipated fun could turn out to be a big hassle if you do not know what to plan in advance and how to plan the aspects of your upcoming vacation.

One of the first aspects of your golf vacation that should be planned is the amount you plan to spend. Like any other type of vacation, a golf resort vacation can become very pricey very quickly. Therefore, it is important to take the time to find out in advance how much your vacation will cost. The good news is there are numerous ways to save on your trip. Look for discounted play and stay packages offered by many courses and hotels that can provide a price break on your room in addition to green fees. Just make sure that you know in advance if there are any special stipulations attached to these packages such as minimum number of nights, etc.

Another important aspect to planning a great golf trip is to consider the other people with whom you will be traveling. For example, if you’re going to be playing with a group of mixed skill level players, make sure you take this into consideration when planning where you will stay and play.

If you’re planning to travel with family members or even friends who do not golf, be sure to check out other local activities to ensure there are things for them to do while you’re golfing, otherwise your trip may end up being miserable for everyone involved. One of the great things about golf is that regardless of where you happen to be staying, whether it is the beach, the mountains or a metropolitan area, there is usually at least one if not more great golf courses around.

Regardless of where you opt to stay, take the time to do some research ahead of time. Check out which courses are available and whether those courses are appropriate for your skill level. This can help you to not only get an idea of the cost of your upcoming trip but also other aspects as well including activities available for non-golfers in your group and what you can expect from the local area.

Make sure you pack your golf equipment carefully. While soft golf travel bags are obviously less expensive, it is really best to opt for a hard side bag to ensure your equipment is protected from all of the many possibilities of travel. Be sure to clean out your golf bag and rid it of anything left over from other outings. Pack some new balls, sunscreen, tees, additional spikes, markers and repair tools in case you run into a problem. The extra expense you will pay for a hard side bag versus a soft bag will be more than made up by ensuring your clubs won’t be broken or rendered useless during travel. Remember that you will need to check your clubs as baggage at the airport, if you are flying.

Joe Kenny is a fan of many sports but soccer is the main love of his life, he writes for the UK football forum site, FootballTalk.org. Join the soccer forum for free today and have your say!

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