Ocean Reef Club
Ocean Reef Club is a private gated community at the northern tip of Key Largo, with two golf courses set among palms, mangrove and tropical hardwood. The Dolphin and the Hammock, both Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge designs and both par 71, give members and their guests a relaxed, scenic round at the gateway to the Florida Keys.
Photo via Google, contributed by Ocean Reef Club.
The verdict
Ocean Reef Club is less a golf resort than a private world of its own, a large gated community at the top of Key Largo with its own marina, airstrip and two golf courses. The Dolphin and the Hammock were laid out by Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge, the first opening in the early 1960s, and they wind past coconut palms, tamarind and mangrove in a setting that feels purely tropical.
Our verdict: Ocean Reef is about place as much as golf. The two par 71 courses are enjoyable, walkable resort style layouts rather than championship tests, and the appeal is the Keys location, the privacy and the lifestyle around them. Because access runs through the membership, we treat it as a target round inside a South Florida and Keys itinerary. For the wider region, see our guide to golf in Florida.
Ocean Reef Club at a glance
- Opened
- 1961
- Designers
- Devlin and von Hagge
- Par
- 71 and 71
- Yardage
- Dolphin 6,376 yds
- Courses
- Dolphin and Hammock
- Access
- Private
Designer, opening year, par and yardage verified June 2026 from course records: two Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge courses, the Dolphin (par 71, about 6,376 yards) and the Hammock (par 71, about 6,090 yards), with the original course dating to the early 1960s. Ocean Reef is a private members community with no public access and no published green fee; any play is as the guest of a member, so confirm access arrangements directly before traveling.
The holes worth the trip
Both courses make the Keys setting the star. The Dolphin winds past tamarind, coconut palms and mahogany, while the Hammock runs partly through a wildlife sanctuary of mangrove and tropical hardwood, so wildlife and water views are constant companions. Neither is long by championship standards, which suits the relaxed, scenic golf the club is built for.
The challenge is more about placement and the breeze off the water than about raw distance. Tight tropical corridors, water on many holes and small, well kept greens reward an accurate iron game, and the warm trade winds add a gentle test on exposed holes. For most visitors the pleasure is in the surroundings as much as the score.
On a South Florida and Keys trip Ocean Reef pairs in spirit with the great private names of the mainland, the Donald Ross masterpiece at Seminole and the Naples gem of Calusa Pines, for a group exploring the state's most exclusive corners.
How to get on
| What to know | Detail |
|---|---|
| Access | A private members community; golf is for members and their accompanied guests, with no public tee times |
| Green fee | No published green fee; access runs through membership rather than a daily fee |
| Booking window | Arrange any visit ahead through a member; there is no public booking channel |
| Handicap and dress | Members club etiquette and a standard dress code apply; confirm with your host |
| Getting there | At the north tip of Key Largo, about an hour south of Miami International Airport |
| Best months | Late fall through spring are ideal in the Keys; summers are hot, humid and stormy |
Access details verified June 2026. Ocean Reef is a private members community with no public access or published fee, so there is no price to confirm; the point to settle in advance is the invitation. Always confirm access arrangements directly with your host before traveling.
Where to stay nearby
Ocean Reef Club has its own inn and accommodations within the gated community for members and their guests, which is the natural base for a stay tied to the club. The setting includes a marina, dining and the full lifestyle of the private resort.
Beyond the gates, Key Largo and the upper Keys offer a range of waterfront hotels and resorts within a short drive, and Miami is about an hour north, so a longer South Florida itinerary can combine the Keys with the mainland's great courses.
Looking for a base? See our recommended hotels and resorts around Key Largo.
Build a Florida golf trip
Ocean Reef is the private Keys retreat we love to fold into a South Florida trip, with the bookable mainland courses and the logistics handled. Tell us roughly when and who is traveling and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Ocean Reef Club questions
Who designed the courses at Ocean Reef Club?
Both the Dolphin and the Hammock courses at Ocean Reef are Bruce Devlin and Robert von Hagge designs, with the original course dating to the early 1960s.
What is the par and length at Ocean Reef Club?
The Dolphin plays as a par 71 of about 6,376 yards and the Hammock as a par 71 of about 6,090 yards, both relaxed, scenic Keys layouts.
Can the public play Ocean Reef Club?
No. Ocean Reef is a private gated members community; golf is for members and their accompanied guests, with no public tee times.
What makes Ocean Reef Club special?
It is a self contained private community at the top of Key Largo with its own marina, airstrip and two tropical golf courses, prized for its Keys setting and privacy.
Related
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Tee time windows, course access changes and the trips worth taking. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Designers, opening era, par and yardage verified June 2026; Ocean Reef is a private members community with no public access or published fee, so confirm any access arrangement directly with your host before traveling. Last reviewed June 2026.