Northeast Florida, known as the First Coast for its historical significance, may be the state’s best-kept secret. Home to the nation’s oldest city, St. Augustine, this region according to Visit Florida (www.visitflorida.com) boasts “a fascinating blend of natural wonders, pristine beaches and laid-back lifestyles.” And if you’re planning a golf vacation, Florida’s First Coast is home to over 75 miles of world-class, memorable and diverse coastal golf courses and resorts.
Ameila Island
Your first stop just across the Florida State line is beautiful Ameila Island. Only 13 miles long and four miles wide, it is the northernmost of the barrier islands on Florida’s Northeast Coast. Ameila Island has five golf courses and is known for its luxury resorts, championship golf and sandy white beaches.
Oak Marsh Golf Course is a Pete Dye-designed golf course that is one of three 18-hole courses at Amelia Island Plantation. Rated 4.6 stars on Golf Advisor, The Oak Marsh course meanders alongside the Atlantic Ocean providing sweeping views and an ever-changing sea breeze. Appropriately named after its terrain of scenic salt marshes and moss-draped heritage oaks, the golf course has a stunning landscape that is ideal for a challenging round. Dye protected the natural beauty of the island by carefully maintaining the tidal marshes, oceanfront dunes, grassland, and savannahs. The layout features tight fairways and small, bulk-headed greens, a classic Dye element. There are a variety of bunkers strategically placed throughout and water comes into play on fourteen holes.
Long Point at Amelia Island Club features a unique landscape that provides golfers with the opportunity to play through salt marshes, centuries-old oaks and pines, and oceanfront dunes. This award-winning Tom Fazio design is known for its natural waste bunkers, tight fairways and
large, elevated, Tif-Eagle greens. The rolling fairways wind through three spectacular and distinctive settings: the magnificent marshes, the thick oak and pine forest and the scenic oceanfront dunes.
Long Point’s distinctive back-to-back #15 and #16 par 3s that face the Atlantic will test your ability depending on the weather. Although it is a demanding test, players are rewarded with scenic views of the Ocean and the Amelia River.
The Amelia River Golf Club consists of 18 challenging holes where ball control and accuracy are key to a great round. The par 72 layout that opened in 2000, gives golfers a natural low country feel as the course winds through native water oaks, palmettos and southern pines. Amelia River Club is one of the most fun and enjoyable courses in Northeast Florida and always in pristine condition. Enjoy all of the convenience and value of a community golf club without the feel and customer service of a private club. This course is rated consistently as one of the best golf club values on the island.
Winding along the Atlantic Ocean, the Golf Club of Amelia Island at Summer Beach showcases the natural beauty of the Island. The golf course features a varied terrain that provides spectacular views throughout. Towering palms, pines, and oaks blanket the landscape and blustery ocean breezes sweep through the course, providing plenty of natural challenges. The front nine holes of the golf course make their way through heavily forested parkland covered in shimmering lakes while the oceanfront back nine features scenic salt marshes and wide fairways. The 6,696-yard course used to be long enough and strong enough to host a major event, the 1998 Liberty Mutual Insurance Legends of Golf. The only way to access this private club is through a stay-and-play at the Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island, but worth the splurge if you are so inclined.
If you’re on a tighter budget, Fernandina Beach Golf Club is one of the most popular municipal golf facilities in the area due to its proximity to Jacksonville and the beach. This 27-hole facility offers three distinct fun and interesting nines providing three unique 18-hole combinations. Each course measures well over 3000 yards from the championship tees and presents a one-of-a-kind diverse golfing experience.
Most notably for golfers, Florida’s First Coast includes Ponte Vedra Beach which is the home of the PGA Tour headquarters and the Players Championship – the so-called fifth major and site of the infamous 17th island green.
In 2019, the Players was moved back to March in a decision between the PGA Tour and the PGA of America to change up the professional golf calendar. This involved moving the PGA Championship back to May for the first time in 70 years and also to accommodate golf’s return to the Olympics in 2016.
The best players in the world come together at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, one of the most iconic, “must-see” golf courses in the world. The “Stadium Course” is renowned for its unmatched on-site fan and spectator experience. Both seeing the tournament and playing the golf course (albeit a bit pricey at $495+ in high season) should be on every golfer’s bucket list.
Not to be overlooked is the TPC’s sister course, the Dye’s Valley Course. Designed by Bobby Weed and Pete Dye this course was originally designed for the Champions Tour. The 6,838 yard par 72 course was the second to be built at TPC Sawgrass and was finished in 1987. The Dye’s Valley Course is a challenge for any skill level with its undulations on the fairways, sweeping greens and water that comes into play upon every hole. Though the Valley Course is a bit milder than the Stadium Course, you will find yourself needing to make accurate shots while you fight the consistent winds from the Atlantic Ocean which is one mile away.
There are many other courses worthy of a round or two while in Ponte Vedra. The Ponte Vedra Inn and Club offers 36 holes – The Ocean Course and Lagoon Course – each featuring a distinct seaside links atmosphere. Meandering lagoons, undulating fairways, elevated Bermuda greens protected by steep-faced bunkers and a prevailing sea breeze create a challenging but compelling course that will require all 14 clubs to conquer it.
The Plantations at Ponte Vedra, designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay, is a majestic par 72, signature championship golf course. The course presents a mix of demanding par fives and three signature par threes along with a variety of doglegs left and right and an island green at the 15th hole. Five sets of tee placements that range from 5,058 to 6,940 yards provide golfers of every level the opportunity to challenge themselves and enjoy their round at the same time. Visually this course will keep you on your toes as there are 58 bunkers to navigate and water that comes into play on 16 out of the 18 holes.
World Golf Village
An easy one hour drive south from Ponte Vedra is historic St. Augustine, home of the World Golf Village. The cornerstone of the World Golf Village is the World Golf Hall of Fame which replaced the original PGA of America facility located in Pinehurst, North Carolina, in May 1998. The Hall of Fame has a permanent display of biographical information for every individual inducted. There are also sections devoted to the history of golf, heritage, organizations, course design, equipment, attire and trends. Many of the displays are interactive and give the visitor a “hands on” experience. Additionally, there is the opportunity to tee it up at the Challenge Hole, an island green mimicking the signature 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass.
The World Golf Village features two championship golf courses: the King & Bear and the Slammer & Squire. Both courses consistently receive 4.5 stars rating (out of 5) by Golf Digest. Both courses have hosted professional tournaments including the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf and Shell’s Wonderful World of Golf.
The King & Bear is the only golf course in the world that has been co-designed by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. This course offers a mixture of two different design styles that come together to form one masterpiece. The front nine is an open, links-style layout that gives a nod to the heritage of the historic city of St. Augustine, Florida. The back nine is more traditional Florida golf fringed with loblolly pines, 200-year-old oak trees, indigenous coquina rock, and numerous water features. With 7,279 yards, it’s a “driver’s” course, which should come as no surprise, as both Palmer and Nicklaus wielded awesome power games in their primes.
Tee off from under the landmark tower of the World Golf Hall of Fame on the first tee of the Slammer & Squire. This 6,939-yard course was designed by architect Bobby Weed along with Hall of Fame Members, Sam Snead (the “Slammer”) and Gene Sarazen (the “Squire”). All three men shared a desire to build a course that rewards good shot making while preserving the area’s natural beauty. What developed is a well-groomed course that showcases the pristine unspoiled wooded areas, wetlands and natural beauty of the region. The layout is wide open with several contoured greens. A few water hazards come into play, but the picturesque views of the Hall of Fame will definitely overshadow any challenges you may face.
Conveniently located just off I-95 and ten minutes from the World Golf Village, Cimarrone Golf Club is a semi-private club built in 1988. The golf course is a David Poselthwait championship design that meanders through the pine forests and thick marshlands of North Florida. The 6,900-yard layout plays along a mildly rolling terrain with significant fairway and green side mounds and plentiful water hazards. Rated 4 stars out of five by Golf Digest Places to Play, the course was chosen as one of the Top 100 Golf Courses in Florida.
Since opening in 1999, The Golf Club at South Hampton, a Mark McCumber masterpiece, has been a favorite of Florida golfers. With 16 large lakes, over 60 contoured bunkers, and towering pine and oak trees, this par 72 course provides the right balance of risk and reward for all skill levels. Emphasizing golf with a sense of family and community, South Hampton provides six tee boxes giving everyone the opportunity to enjoy their round of golf. Yardage ranges from 6,935 yards for low handicappers, down to 2,862 yards from the family tees.
St. Johns Golf and Country Club is another great layout located between St. Augustine and Jacksonville, Florida. The 18-hole Clyde Johnston-designed course is the community’s centerpiece with just the right amount of challenge for novice and avid golfers alike. A great place to hone your skills, St. Johns is known for its consistent quality of service and conditions, being nationally ranked for customer satisfaction and loyalty by the National Golf Foundation, and host to the PGA TOUR Qualifying School in 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2014.
Palm Coast
Palm Coast, towards the southern tip of the First Coast, is one of the fastest growing “small towns” in Florida. The population has nearly tripled since 2000 and is considered a bedroom community for St. Augustine, 25 miles to the north, and Daytona Beach, 30 miles (to the south).
If you’re snowbirds looking for a low-key, private ocean front golf community, Hammock Dunes Club may be your ideal spot. Hammock Dunes Club’s private golf membership offers two outstanding championship Audubon-certified golf courses: the oceanfront Links Course and the pristine, natural Creek Course.
Oceanfront Links Golf Course was designed by Tom Fazio and has three holes on the Atlantic Ocean and twelve holes with water in play. There are few more stunning oceanfront golf course views than from the green at #18 where you finish overlooking the Atlantic or on the 7th tee box, where you can see shrimp boats fishing offshore and ospreys flying overhead with fish in their talons. Its tees range from 5021 yards from the Red tees to 6904 yards from the Gold tees. The par3 2nd hole will challenge the best of golfers playing 247 yards from the tips. The course is ranked #9 in the state which speaks for itself and combines gorgeous scenery with superb playability.
The Creek course is a magnificent Rees Jones design. The Creek was designed to be a true, private golfing experience, in concert with the terrain and wildlife that surrounds it. The native oaks and palms and undisturbed conservation area are featured along with abundant wildlife. No homes will ever be built and there are, intentionally, minimal on-course services at the Creek to keep the layout and the amenities true to the original vision for the course. The Creek was designed to be pure golf and offers one of the most exceptional, private golf experiences in Florida.
Right next door, the Hammock Beach Resort is located on a stunning stretch of unspoiled beach along the Atlantic Coast within minutes of Hammock Dunes Club. The multi-bedroom luxury condo resort was recognized by Golf Digest in 2018 as “Best Golf Resort in Florida” and offers two award-winning golf courses for the ultimate getaway.
The Ocean Course is truly one of those courses that will take your breath away. The Jack Nicklaus designed Ocean Course has six holes routed directly along the Atlantic Ocean and has a stout four-hole finish appropriately nicknamed the “Bear Claw” that pays homage to the Golden Bear himself.
Devastated by Hurricane Matthew in 2016 that flooded the course’s lake and pond system with grass-killing saltwater, the Ocean Course was completely renovated and reopened in late 2017. The course was completely re-grassed wall-to-wall with “Platinum Paspalum” which can handle eight times the salt water infusion than Bermuda grasses popular for golf courses in Florida and ensuring the course’s long term environmental toughness and sustainability.
By contrast, the Conservatory course, named after the British-styled glass domed clubhouse, was meticulously designed by eight-time PGA Tour Major champion Tom Watson with nods to British links-style golf. Known for his passion and tenacity both on and off the course, Watson only designs one or two courses each year, ensuring each project reflects his requirements of an outstanding course – beauty, variety and challenge. Golf Advisor ranked the Conservatory #12 – 2019 Top Courses in Florida.
Recognized by Links Magazine as one of the top 100 courses in North America, Grand Haven Golf Club is known as one of the Palm Coast’s most dramatic and enjoyable golf courses. Golfers of all skill levels enjoy the lush landscaping and winding fairways that make Grand Haven a terrific experience. The private Jack Nicklaus signature designed course features a variety of challenging holes with outstanding views of the Intracoastal Waterway. Golfers of all skill levels enjoy the lush landscaping and generous winding fairways that make Grand Haven a golf course that’s fun and enjoyable test of golf worth playing many times over.
Rounding out these stand-out championship courses, Palm Coast has a number of highly recommended and affordable daily fee courses such as Cypress Knoll Golf & Country Club, Pine Lakes Golf club and Palm Harbor Golf Club.
Looking for a unique golf getaway this winter? Florida’s First Coast will not disappoint your golf appetite! For more information or to plan your golf vacation to Florida’s First coast visit www.florida-golf.org.
