Destin, Fl. Trip

Going to be there for week starting 7/18/14. I'm booked on Raven twice, Burnt Pine, Baytowne twice, Links, and Kelly Plantation. Am I missing any must play courses? What are some good places to eat at in the area? Any other must do things while here? Thanks for any help.

Camp Creek
McGuire's
Louis Louis
Red Bar

Thanks for the tips. Will definitely go to McGuire's and Louis Louis. Will also check on tee time at Camp Creek.

I really enjoyed the raven more than Kelly plantation they say Indian bayou is very nice too.

Skip Baytowne and go Camp Creek and Sharkstooth.

Raven is a great course loved playing that when I worked there. Baytowne was a fun track to me, links was my least favorite out of the 4. Links has a long par 5 that runs "north" along the bay, loved that hole except when playing it as a tropical storm was rolling in. I've never had trouble reaching a par 5 in two but just couldn't do it that day. I don't know if you can get out on the course but I golfed "sharks tooth" in Panama City a number of times as that was an enjoyable course.

Mcguires has some good food. Head down on 30-A and you'll find some nice restaurants that aren't anywhere near as busy

regatta bay was one of my favorite courses when I lived there. If you can get on the Eagle or Falcon course which is part of Eglin AFB you will not be sorry either.

[quote name='Bubb' timestamp='1405214844' post='9689191']
Camp Creek
McGuire's
Louis Louis
Red Bar
[/quote]
Pompano Joe's is a good seaside seafood joint.
If you are in the mood for Italian go to Fat Clamenza's, you would never stop if you didn't know about it, tiny strip mall joint, great food.

Seafood and Italian places sound good, thanks.

Good place to eat is Old Bay Steamers. It was the wife's favorite spot and 1 of my favorites also. other places that are a little cheaper: Stewbys Seafood Shanty, lennys sub shop, and one I can't think of the name, but they had the bests salad ever. It had fried shrimp, chicken fried chicken, bacon, and couple other things on it, not the most healthy but so tasty at the time. It was on the main road heading out to blue water bay resort area, something like po boys or what not.

Old Bay Steamers and Stewby's added to list of places to eat. Regatta Bay looks good also. Thanks.

Unless things have changed again Camp Creek and Shark's Tooth are private, except for guests of Watercolor or Watersound. I could be wrong, but that is the last I heard.

Windswept Dunes near Freeport is nice. Really enjoyed it.

Yes Camp Creek and Shark's Tooth are now private

Come up to Central Florida a lot of Great Courses and a lot of places to eat Great food....Hit up the Golf Hall of Fame in St. Augustine.....Let me know, Mike. " Go Play "

[quote name='relliott1961' timestamp='1405210267' post='9688801']
Going to be there for week starting 7/18/14. I'm booked on Raven twice, Burnt Pine, Baytowne twice, Links, and Kelly Plantation. Am I missing any must play courses? What are some good places to eat at in the area? Any other must do things while here? Thanks for any help.
[/quote]

Suggest skipping the Links and going to either Regatta Bay or Indian Bayou. Windswept Dunes is another lesser known option that you'd likely enjoy. Compared to the other courses on your list, the Links will likely be a big disappointment.

Camp Creek and Shark's Tooth are excellent, but as others have said are now private.

Suggest Dewey Destin's for seafood. For Italian, Christiano's in Santa Rosa Beach and La Famiglia near the Destin harbor are both excellent.

Camp Creek & Sharkstooth are private but it isn't like Pine Valley/Augusta [i]Private. [/i]If you are a member of a Club then your head Pro can probably get you on or just bite the bullet and move the family vacation to Watercolor/WaterSound/The Pearl and you can play all you want.

Plenty of excellent golf in Destin.

Has anyone heard how the redesign of Emerald Bay is progressing???

Last I heard, Emerald Bay was still on schedule to re-open sometime before Labor Day

Isn't the Nicklaus Baypoint course pretty nice?

[quote name='Holy Moses' timestamp='1405352511' post='9697319']
Isn't the Nicklaus Baypoint course pretty nice?
[/quote]

Back in the day it was pretty good. But I haven't played there since the 90s. Lagoon Legends? Tough track.

[quote name='bcflyguy1' timestamp='1405350677' post='9697069']
Last I heard, Emerald Bay was still on schedule to re-open sometime before Labor Day
[/quote]

I'm glad they've decided to invest the money to fix the Bay back up. I've had a lot of good games at that place over the years. I'll tell you this.....there used to be a group of guys out there that would play for anything. I've rarely seen money games get so out of control so quickly as they have at Emerald Bay.

Looked up Dewey's and La Famiglia. They look to be solid choices. Thanks.

I want to thank everybody for their help. I haven't been down here in thirty five years. Graduated from High School and left the next morning with a group of buddies for a week in Fort Walton and Panama City Beach. Golf was the last thing on our minds. Did charter a boat and go deep sea fishing and went to a dog track, I believe the name was Ebro are something like that. We had great time. Wife has been trying to get me to go here for years.

Played Sharks Tooth and Camp Creek about a month ago. Both were in great shape. Best part was playing in under 3 hours at Sharks Tooth and under 4 at Camp Creek. Teed off early both days.

Thinking about retiring in a few years and Destin is on the list of options. Visited once and loved the area. Interested in Private Golf Community and looking for great course with excellent conditions.

Any suggestions?

[quote name='golfheaven69' timestamp='1405468723' post='9708269']
Thinking about retiring in a few years and Destin is on the list of options. Visited once and loved the area. Interested in Private Golf Community and looking for great course with excellent conditions.

Any suggestions?
[/quote]

Closest thing to a truly private golf community in this area is Shark's Tooth and the associated gated real estate developments there. There is also Rocky Bayou Country Club in Niceville which is private and well conditioned, but the surrounding neighborhoods are not gated.

[quote name='bcflyguy1' timestamp='1405474641' post='9708915']
[quote name='golfheaven69' timestamp='1405468723' post='9708269']
Thinking about retiring in a few years and Destin is on the list of options. Visited once and loved the area. Interested in Private Golf Community and looking for great course with excellent conditions.

Any suggestions?
[/quote]

Closest thing to a truly private golf community in this area is Shark's Tooth and the associated gated real estate developments there. There is also Rocky Bayou Country Club in Niceville which is private and well conditioned, but the surrounding neighborhoods are not gated.
[/quote]

Doesn't have to be gated. Just a community with really good course. What do you consider the top 3-4 private courses?

[quote name='golfheaven69' timestamp='1405468723' post='9708269']
Thinking about retiring in a few years and Destin is on the list of options. Visited once and loved the area. Interested in Private Golf Community and looking for great course with excellent conditions.

Any suggestions?
[/quote]
I'd opt for Camp Creek over Shark's Tooth. Better course and slightly nicer area, although they're only a few miles apart. They may have a reciprocity arrangement between them, though.

Regatta Bay is up there with the Raven, Kelly Plantation, etc. If you're looking for a value, Indian Bayou is nice. My favorite restaurant is the Ocean Club.

[quote name='Bubb' timestamp='1405476060' post='9709151']
[quote name='golfheaven69' timestamp='1405468723' post='9708269']
Thinking about retiring in a few years and Destin is on the list of options. Visited once and loved the area. Interested in Private Golf Community and looking for great course with excellent conditions.

Any suggestions?
[/quote]
I'd opt for Camp Creek over Shark's Tooth. Better course and slightly nicer area, although they're only a few miles apart. They may have a reciprocity arrangement between them, though.
[/quote]

Both courses are under the same ownership group. Essentially, it is now a 36 hole club.

[quote name='golfheaven69' timestamp='1405475196' post='9709037']
[quote name='bcflyguy1' timestamp='1405474641' post='9708915']
[quote name='golfheaven69' timestamp='1405468723' post='9708269']
Thinking about retiring in a few years and Destin is on the list of options. Visited once and loved the area. Interested in Private Golf Community and looking for great course with excellent conditions.

Any suggestions?
[/quote]

Closest thing to a truly private golf community in this area is Shark's Tooth and the associated gated real estate developments there. There is also Rocky Bayou Country Club in Niceville which is private and well conditioned, but the surrounding neighborhoods are not gated.
[/quote]

Doesn't have to be gated. Just a community with really good course. What do you consider the top 3-4 private courses?
[/quote]

In the Escambia/Santa Rosa/Okaloosa/Walton county areas, there are only 4 courses that fit the definition of private. IMO, they would be ranked in this order:

1. Camp Creek/Shark's Tooth
2. Rocky Bayou CC
3. Pensacola CC

Rocky and P'cola are both very good, but the gap between first and second is pretty huge.