Camp Creek Golf Club
Tom Fazio gave the Florida Panhandle a links inspired surprise at Camp Creek, a wind swept, dune like layout near the 30A beaches and Panama City Beach. A par 72 of about 7,159 yards, it is the golf heart of the Watersound Club and one of the best courses on the Emerald Coast.
Photo: Camp Creek Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Camp Creek is the kind of Florida course that surprises golfers who think they know Florida golf. Tom Fazio shaped a links inspired layout of windswept mounding, deep bunkers and open sightlines just inland from the 30A beaches near Panama City Beach, a dune like character that has more in common with the sandhills than with a typical resort parkland. It is the golf centerpiece of the Watersound Club, the private community side of the St Joe beachfront empire on the Emerald Coast.
For the traveling golfer it is the standout round of a 30A or Panhandle beach trip, a serious test set against one of the prettiest stretches of Gulf coastline in the country. At about 7,159 yards and par 72, exposed to the Gulf wind, it plays tougher than a calm day suggests, and the conditioning is first class. Access leans toward club members and Watersound guests, so it pays to plan the round into a stay.
Camp Creek Golf Club at a glance
- Opened
- 2001
- Designer
- Tom Fazio
- Type
- Links inspired, club
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- To about 7,159 yds
- Green fee
- From about 95 dollars
Designer, par and yardage verified June 2026 from Watersound Club, GolfPass and course databases. Camp Creek is a Tom Fazio design that opened in 2001, a par 72 playing to about 7,159 yards with a course rating near 73.1 and a slope of about 136. Indicative green fees run roughly 95 to 150 dollars in the 2026 season depending on season and access, with member and Watersound guest priority, and change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
The defining feature of Camp Creek is the shaping. Fazio pushed up dune like mounding and framed the holes with large, deep bunkers and native rough, giving the round a links character that is rare in Florida and rarer still this close to the Gulf. The wind is the constant variable: on a breezy day the open exposure turns a benign looking hole into a genuine examination of ball flight and trajectory.
The greens are large and contoured, and Fazio gives you room off the tee in exchange for demanding, well thought approaches. There is water in play on a handful of holes, but the real defense is the wind and the bunkering rather than forced carries. The closing stretch gives the round a strong finish and a reason to play it again into a different breeze.
It is a course that rewards the shotmaker and the patient, and one most visitors leave wanting to replay. Among Emerald Coast golf it sits firmly at the top, and it anchors a beach golf trip beautifully.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Private club course at the Watersound Club; play is generally tied to membership or staying at an affiliated St Joe or Watersound property |
| Green fee | Roughly 95 to 150 dollars in the 2026 season depending on access; member and guest priority |
| Booking | Book through the Watersound Club or an affiliated resort stay; confirm guest access when you reserve lodging |
| On the day | Carts standard; collared shirts and soft spikes; full practice facility and clubhouse on site |
| Getting there | Near Panama City Beach and the 30A beaches in the Florida Panhandle, off Highway 98 |
| Best months | Fall through spring are prime on the Emerald Coast; summer is hot, humid and busy with beach traffic |
Access and fees verified June 2026; rates swing by season and packages change, so always confirm the current green fee and availability directly before booking. To book a round through a partner, use our trip desk to check tee time availability.
Where to stay nearby
The natural base is a Watersound or St Joe affiliated property along 30A and Panama City Beach, which is the route to securing access to the club for visiting golfers. The 30A beach towns of Rosemary Beach, Seaside and WaterColor offer some of the most desirable rentals on the Gulf coast within a short drive.
For a Florida golf trip built around Tom Fazio design, pair Camp Creek with the dramatic quarry holes of Black Diamond Ranch, or the redeveloped Fazio land at Cabot Citrus Farms.
Looking for a base near Panama City Beach? See our recommended hotels and resorts.
Build an Emerald Coast golf trip
We arrange access and tee times at Camp Creek, book a 30A or Watersound stay around them and pair the golf with the best of the Panhandle. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Camp Creek Golf Club questions
Who designed Camp Creek Golf Club and when did it open?
Camp Creek was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 2001 near Panama City Beach, Florida, as the golf centerpiece of the Watersound Club.
What is the par and length of Camp Creek?
Camp Creek is a par 72 that plays to about 7,159 yards from the back tees, with a course rating near 73.1 and a slope of about 136.
Is Camp Creek public or private?
Camp Creek is a private club course at the Watersound Club. Access is generally tied to membership or to staying at an affiliated St Joe or Watersound property, so plan the round into a stay.
How much does it cost to play Camp Creek?
Indicative green fees run roughly 95 to 150 dollars in the 2026 season depending on season and access, with member and guest priority. Rates change by season and day, so always confirm directly before booking.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026; indicative green fees verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.