What area of Florida for 2 week couples golf trip

[drsoos]

My husband and I have a credit with Southwest Airlines we have to use by November 11. We are looking to book a 2 week golf trip (Oct 28 - Nov 11). I am suggesting Florida as we usually don't go to Florida, we like Arizona. I thought it was a good opportunity to give Florida a try, not Orlando area!!   Where would you suggest as as a good golf destination, not sure where to start. We normally do airbnb for accommodations and would like to play almost daily. Looking for personal opinions, insider info.  and experiences. Thanks in advance. 

[Warrior42111]

What are you looking for outside of the golf? Of course all the metro areas are in option besides Orlando as you mentioned. But there are some suburban areas with a decent number of courses public / semi private in good shape that might be an option. 

[drsoos]

Hi, honestly not much other than golf. We would stay somewhere with a pool. Don't necessary need the ocean close by put might be nice. I was looking to go somewhere we have not been that has good golf Naples, Ft Meyers, Palm beach, Tampa??? We could probably even do the panhandle at that time of year. Not sure if that helps lol....just researching. thanks so much. 🙂

[omoub001]

It really depends on what you're looking to do outside of your golf. Orlando might be the most well rounded experience for golf in Florida for a 2 week vacation as there is just about everything to do within a 30 mile radius. That said, Naples does have good golf but it is a quiet city with good dining. Tampa is not the best in terms of the golf outside of private/resort courses. To be quite honest, your best bet outside of Orlando will likely be the Naples/Ft. Myers area or checking out the First Coast in the St. Augustine area. 

[sabram]

If Orlando is a no go, I'd suggest, the Jacksonville/St Augustine/Pontevedra area. There is a 90 mile stretch along the Atlantic Coast from Amelia Island to Hammock Beach that will provide more than enough good golf choices as well as other entrtainment for a two week trip

[golfortennis]

Port St Lucie could be an option.  Assume you will have a rental car?

[drsoos]

Thanks for the information for areas to look at. Yes we would have a rental car. 🙂

[golfortennis]

1 hour ago, drsoos said:

Thanks for the information for areas to look at. Yes we would have a rental car. 🙂

 

Renting a condo/house or staying in a hotel?  We stay at the Hilton Garden Inn PGA Village.  There are condos, etc. very nearby, so for this post's sake assume that was your lodging. 

 

From a PSL perspective, you have several options for golf.  

 

PGA Village-They are the best public courses in the area, but price and availability could be hangups.(ie., they arebetter courses, but are they $70 better than the others?  That can be the gap sometimes.)  

St Lucie Trail-Just down the street.  Was formerly the members course before PGA Golf Club changed their strategy.  Sold off.  Decent course, easy location, but wouldn't call it a destination.

Within 25 miles you have the following:

Fox Club

Florida Club

Hammock Creek

Martin Downs

Meadowood(believe there is some public access if it isn't public already). 

 

That is just the ones I can think off the top of my head.  Depending on what you are looking to spend, there are some lower end courses I haven't listed.  I've always been of the attitude that I didn't travel 1,500 miles to play a dog track, but opinions and budgets vary.  There are many options though, and depending where you are coming from you may be happy just playing golf at all.  

 

A little further north Vero Beach has options, a little further south is Jupiter and then Palm Beach.  You'll pay more for golf the further south you go, although some courses might be considered worth it.  

 

Stuart is a cute little place with a nice waterfront if you did want to have a bit of a different vibe.  

 

The one thing I would ask the locals on here, is the time frame given prime overseeding time?  That could be a factor.

[drsoos]

Thanks, great info. We usually book through airbnb. I have celiac and we prefer to cook our own meals. We don't need top of the line golf but would like decent courses for sure. I will check out the areas. appreciate it. 🙏

[GolfNuts4]

I live in Naples, most courses here are either private or resort courses (associated with a hotel/resort). You may be able to get a place that has a membership that can be transferred to you for a small fee and have access to a few courses. Naples is beautiful with great beaches as well. Good luck!

[Bubb]

I would recommend the panhandle but not because it has superior golf compared to other regions. We’ve been all over Florida and there is more plentiful golf outside of the panhandle but, all things considered, the panhandle is far and away our favorite.

 

You’ll be able to stay closer to the ocean, there is less traffic, great beaches, easily accessible fresh seafood to cook for yourself, great restaurants, great opportunity to ride bikes and get to numerous restaurants and bars so you don’t have to worry about drinking and driving, and fairly affordable golf.

 

There are plenty of options but I’d recommend the Santa Rosa Beach area to stay and windswept dunes as a course you’ll want to play more than once. I think you’d really like the area. If you choose to stay in Destin, there will be traffic. Panama City Beach is nice but more commercialized with more high rises. Santa Rosa Beach doesn’t have high rises or chain restaurants. Why go to Florida if you can’t enjoy the ocean?

[fsutanker]

Amelia Island. 
Very close to Jacksonville Airport. Good golf in Amelia, especially if you are staying at one of the resorts. Not too long of a drive to other good golf courses in Jacksonville or South Georgia. 

[lousyjets]

Amelia Is/Fernandina Beach area has nice golf courses. Public and available in Golfnow.

[markheardjr]

I also recommend Port St Lucie /  Stuart area.  Highly recommend Florida club, Fox club is fun.  Pop Stroke is a fun evening activity. I know you want to cook your own meals but its worth a trip to Tiger's restaurant in Jupiter "The Woods." Also look into local gluten free shops and bakeries, we have several here in Melbourne and we're smaller than that area. Go see the Jupiter lighthouse on your way.

 

Jacksonville is ok, they only have 5-6 solid public courses that aren't crazy expensive. That area gets TONS of rain Sep/Oct too though. But you could run up to a few courses up the Georgia coast or down to Daytona. St. Augustine is a good tourist spot for an afternoon stroll. They have a lighthouse too.

[me05501]

I'd probably establish a home base in/around Sarasota to access courses from the Tampa area all the way down toward Naples. Sarasota is a very nice city compared to many/most in Florida. 

[golfortennis]

So what has been decided?  Or nothing yet?