Golf in Florida
The Sunshine State is the winter golf capital of America. TPC Sawgrass and its island green, the three modern masterpieces at Streamsong, PGA National and the Bear Trap, the regions that matter, the season and how to plan it.
Photograph: TPC Sawgrass via Google.
Why golf in Florida
No state in America offers more golf, or more golf in winter, than Florida. There are well over a thousand courses spread from the Panhandle to the Keys, and the roster of championship venues is extraordinary: TPC Sawgrass, home of the Players Championship and the most famous island green in the game, the three modern classics at Streamsong, PGA National and its fearsome Bear Trap, Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill, the Innisbrook Copperhead and Trump National Doral's Blue Monster. The conditioning is immaculate, the practice facilities are vast, and the service is pure American resort standard.
What makes Florida the easy golf trip is the warmth and the access. While the north of America and most of Europe freeze, Florida plays warm and dry from November through April, and it is a short hop from the eastern seaboard and a direct long haul from the UK and Europe. Add the beaches, the theme parks around Orlando, the dining and the family hotels, and the state works as well for a serious buddies trip as for a family that wants golf and a holiday in one. The variety, from invitation only clubs to superb public daily fee tracks, is unmatched.
The regions
Ponte Vedra and Jacksonville
The northeast coast, home to TPC Sawgrass and the Players Championship at Ponte Vedra Beach, with the Atlantic beaches and the historic streets of St Augustine close by.
Orlando
The golf rich centre of the state, with Bay Hill, Grand Cypress and Reunion among more than a hundred courses, plus the theme parks for the family. See our full Orlando guide.
Streamsong and Central Florida
An hour south of Orlando, the remote Streamsong Resort rises from old phosphate land with three top thirty courses, the purest destination golf in the state.
Tampa and the Gulf coast
Innisbrook's Copperhead hosts the Valspar Championship at Palm Harbor, with the white sand beaches of Clearwater and Sarasota and easy value golf all along the coast.
Palm Beach and the southeast
PGA National and the Bear Trap anchor Palm Beach Gardens, with the Blue Monster at Trump National Doral down in Miami and a wealth of private and resort golf between.
Naples and the southwest
Upscale resort and club golf around Naples and Fort Myers, quieter and warmer in the depths of winter, a polished base for a relaxed trip.
The courses that matter
TPC Sawgrass, Players Stadium
The home of the Players Championship and the most famous finishing stretch in golf, climaxing at the par 3 17th island green. Pete Dye's bold, fearsome stadium design is open to the public at a premium, the bucket list round of any Florida trip.
Streamsong Resort
The only resort on earth with courses by Coore and Crenshaw (Red), Tom Doak (Blue) and Gil Hanse (Black, 2017), all rolling through dramatic dunes left by phosphate mining. Three top thirty American courses and a short course on one remote estate.
PGA National, Champion
Originally a Tom and George Fazio design, later reworked by Jack Nicklaus, whose Bear Trap at the 15th, 16th and 17th is one of the most demanding water finishes in resort golf. Host of the PGA Tour's Cognizant Classic each winter.
Innisbrook, Copperhead
A rolling, tree lined course unlike the Florida flat, host of the PGA Tour's Valspar Championship and its closing Snake Pit. One of the strongest resort tests on the Gulf coast and a welcome change of texture for a trip.
Designers, layouts and host history verified June 2026. Yardages are approximate from championship tees. Course profiles are added across the site as the directory grows. Always confirm access and fees directly before booking.
When to go
| Season | Conditions | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| November to April | Warm, dry and comfortable, the peak season | Prime golf, book ahead around the holidays and spring |
| March | Spring weather, the Players and the Valspar | A great time to watch the Tour and play, busy and dear |
| May to October | Hot, humid, near daily afternoon storms | Morning golf and the lowest rates, plan early tee times |
Courses stay green and playable all year, but the summer brings near daily afternoon thunderstorms, so an early tee time is wise from May to October. The winter peak coincides with the northern cold and the holidays, when rates and crowds are highest.
Indicative costs
| Item | Indicative 2026 | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Marquee green fee | Around US$300 to US$600 | TPC Sawgrass and Streamsong at the top, peak in winter |
| Resort and daily fee | Around US$80 to US$250 | PGA National, Innisbrook and many quality public courses |
| A week, all in | Around US$3,000 to US$6,000 per person | Several rounds, resort or villa, transfers, excluding flights |
Indicative third party figures for the 2026 season, shown to set expectations only. Florida offers exceptional golf value and variety, with steep summer and resort guest discounts. We are a guide, not an operator, and never quote our own pricing. Always confirm directly before booking.
Getting there and around
Florida is served by a dense network of airports. Orlando International and Miami International are among the busiest in the country, with Tampa, Fort Lauderdale and Jacksonville adding more, and direct long haul flights arrive from the UK and Europe. The state is built for driving, so a hire car is the norm for a golf trip: the courses are spread across coasts and corridors, and the highways make moving between regions straightforward. Many resorts run shuttles to their own courses, and Streamsong is a destination in itself once you arrive.
Where to stay
Match the base to the trip. A buddies group chasing the best modern golf often bases at Streamsong, where three top courses and a clean modern lodge sit on one estate. A trip built around the Players stays at the Sawgrass Marriott or the TPC clubhouse hotel at Ponte Vedra, while a family blending golf and the parks leans toward Orlando. Palm Beach and Naples suit a more relaxed luxury stay. Book the winter and spring beds early, and let one planner line up the tee times, the resort and the car.
Plan your Florida golf trip
Tell us the courses you want and roughly when. One concierge lines up the tee times, the resort and the car and costs the whole trip to the head, with no obligation.
Florida golf questions
When is the best time to play golf in Florida?
The prime season runs November to April, warm and dry while the north freezes, and busiest and priciest from the winter holidays through spring. May to October is hot, humid and prone to near daily afternoon thunderstorms, so early tee times and the lowest rates go together. Courses stay green all year.
What are the best golf courses in Florida?
TPC Sawgrass and its Pete Dye Players Stadium course with the island green 17th, the three courses at Streamsong by Coore and Crenshaw, Doak and Hanse, the Champion course at PGA National and its Bear Trap, Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill and the Innisbrook Copperhead are among the best. Florida has more high quality public and resort golf than almost any state.
How much does golf in Florida cost in 2026?
As an indicative guide for 2026, a green fee at the marquee courses runs roughly 150 to 600 US dollars, highest at TPC Sawgrass and the top resort courses in the winter peak, and lower at the many quality public courses, especially in summer and for resort guests. Florida offers exceptional value and variety. Confirm directly before booking.
Can you play TPC Sawgrass as a visitor?
Yes. The Players Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass is open to the public, with the highest rates in the winter peak and discounts for guests of the on site resort. It is one of the most sought after public tee times in America, so book well ahead and confirm directly before travelling.
Related
The Tee Sheet
Florida resort golf openings, winter season tips and the booking windows worth moving on first. Every other week.
Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course designers, layouts and host history verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.