Camp Creek
Tom Fazio shaped Camp Creek out of flat Panhandle pine in 2001 and conjured a rolling dune scape that feels nothing like Florida. A par 72 of about 7,120 yards inland of the Emerald Coast beaches, it is the championship companion to the WaterColor and Watersound communities of Scenic Highway 30A.
Photo: Camp Creek Golf Course via Google.
The verdict
Camp Creek opened in 2001 as a Tom Fazio design for the St. Joe Company, and Fazio used large scale earthmoving to build dunes, waste areas and elevation on a site that started dead flat. The result is one of the most surprising courses in the Southeast, a links inspired layout a few miles from the white sand of 30A rather than the usual Florida water and palms.
It plays as a stern par 72, with eighty plus bunkers, sweeping waste areas and large, contoured greens that demand a confident approach. The course has moved between fully private and resort access over the years and now serves the Watersound Club and its lodging, so access depends on how you are staying. For a 30A golf trip it is the marquee round.
Camp Creek at a glance
- Opened
- 2001
- Designer
- Tom Fazio
- Type
- Sand and waste
- Par
- 72
- Yardage
- About 7,120 yds
- Green fee
- Club and resort
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from the Watersound Club and leading course databases. Camp Creek was designed by Tom Fazio and opened in 2001, a par 72 of about 7,120 yards owned by the St. Joe Company. Access is tied to Watersound Club membership and resort stays and any visitor rate is indicative for 2026, so always confirm access and rates directly before booking.
The holes worth the trip
Fazio routing rolls through manufactured dunes and native scrub, the fairways fair off the tee but framed by waste bunkering that funnels the wayward shot into trouble. The wind off the Gulf is a real factor a few miles inland, and the course rewards the player who keeps the ball flighted and finds the correct level on the greens.
The par 3s are strong and varied, several played over waste areas to greens perched above the sand, and the par 5s tempt the long hitter while guarding the green with bunkering and contour. The closing holes turn back toward the clubhouse with water and waste in play, a finish that asks for precise distance control.
What makes Camp Creek memorable is how little it feels like its surroundings. The elevation and the dune lines give it the character of a sandbelt or links course set down in the Panhandle, and it is the round that anchors a Scenic 30A golf trip.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | Tied to Watersound Club membership and resort stays; not generally open to public play |
| Green fee | Indicative resort and member rates only; varies by season and stay (indicative, 2026) |
| Booking | Through Watersound Club lodging or membership; arrange tee times with the club |
| On the day | Carts standard; exposed to Gulf wind; warm weather conditioning |
| Getting there | Inland of Scenic Highway 30A, about 30 minutes from Panama City Beach airport |
| Best months | March to May and October to November for the most comfortable conditions |
Access arrangements verified June 2026; Camp Creek access is tied to the Watersound Club and policies change, so always confirm directly before planning a visit.
Where to stay nearby
Most visiting golfers stay along Scenic Highway 30A in the WaterColor, WaterSound and Seaside communities, all within a short drive of the course and on some of the finest beaches in Florida. A 30A base puts the golf, the sand and the dining within easy reach.
For a golf focused trip, pair Camp Creek with the wider courses of the Emerald Coast and Panhandle. It is an ideal region to combine championship golf with a beach holiday for the whole group.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts near Camp Creek.
Build an Emerald Coast golf trip
We arrange access and a Watersound stay where it is possible, pair Camp Creek with the best of the 30A coast and book the lodging around the golf. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Camp Creek questions
Who designed Camp Creek and when did it open?
Camp Creek was designed by Tom Fazio for the St. Joe Company and opened in 2001 near Panama City Beach, Florida.
What is the par and length of Camp Creek?
Camp Creek is a par 72 of about 7,120 yards, a Tom Fazio design built across manufactured dunes and waste areas.
Can visitors play Camp Creek?
Access to Camp Creek is tied to Watersound Club membership and resort stays rather than open public play, so confirm access through the club before travelling.
What makes Camp Creek unusual for Florida?
Fazio used large scale earthmoving to build dunes and elevation, giving Camp Creek a links inspired character very different from the typical flat Florida layout.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
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.