How to Play the Best Golf in Florida
More golf than any other US state, an easy flight from much of the world, and winter sun when the rest of the game is frozen. Here is how to play the best of Florida, the marquee rounds, how to get on each, what they cost in 2026, and where to base yourself to reach them.
Photograph: TPC Sawgrass, via Google
Where Florida's golf is, and how it works
Florida is the most accessible great golf trip in the world. The best of it clusters into a handful of hubs, and the good news for the visiting golfer is that almost all of it is open to play, daily fee and resort courses rather than the private clubs that lock up so much of the American game. The state's headline course, TPC Sawgrass, is a public, pay to play venue; its best pure golf resort, Streamsong, sells stay and play to anyone; and Orlando, Naples and Palm Beach are wall to wall with resort golf you can book by the round.
The practical method is simple. Pick one base for its courses and its airport, play the marquee round or two within reach, and fill the rest of the trip with the strong supporting cast nearby. A hire car is essential, because the hubs are spread across a big state, but the drives between courses within a hub are short. Below are the rounds worth building a Florida trip around, with how to get on each.
The Florida rounds worth playing
TPC Sawgrass, Players Stadium
The bucket list round, with the most famous short hole in golf, the island green par 3 seventeenth. The Players Stadium course is a public, pay to play venue, and staying at the Sawgrass Marriott gives the friendliest access; play the Dye Valley course alongside. It is one of the most expensive rounds in the country, so book well ahead and treat it as the centerpiece of a northeast Florida trip.
Streamsong Resort
The standout pure golf resort in the state, built on reclaimed phosphate land of sandy, dune like terrain near Bowling Green. The Red by Coore and Crenshaw and the Blue by Tom Doak lead, with the Hanse designed Black a firm, fast joy in winter. Book a stay and play package, take a caddie, and walk all three over two or three days. It is the closest thing in Florida to a Bandon style golf pilgrimage.
PGA National, The Champion
A full resort with several courses led by the Champion and its famous Bear Trap finish, the water lined fifteenth to seventeenth that decides the PGA Tour's annual Palm Beach event. Open to resort guests and visitors, it makes a polished southeast Florida base with spa, dining and easy airport access, and a clutch of other strong courses on site for the rest of the trip.
Bay Hill, Grand Cypress and Reunion
Orlando has the deepest bench of resort golf and the easiest family base. Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill, host of the PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational, anchors it, with the multi course Reunion and Grand Cypress nearby. Most courses are open to resort guests or by daily fee, and the theme parks, dining and a major airport keep non golfers happy, which makes Orlando the natural choice for a mixed group.
The Gulf coast and the southeast
For golf paired with sun and sophistication, Naples on the Gulf coast offers Tiburon at the Ritz-Carlton and a cluster of upscale resort courses, while the Miami area pairs the famous Blue Monster at Doral with the energy of South Beach. Both are resort and daily fee golf you can book by the round, ideal for couples and groups who want more than just the course at the end of the day.
Indicative green fees and access
| Round | Indicative 2026 fee | How to get on |
|---|---|---|
| TPC Sawgrass, Players Stadium | Around 550 to 750 dollars | Daily fee, public; best access via the Sawgrass Marriott; cart and forecaddie included |
| Streamsong Red, Blue or Black | Around 250 to 450 dollars | Resort stay and play; walking with caddies; book a package |
| PGA National Champion | Around 200 to 400 dollars | Resort guests and visitors; book through the resort |
| Orlando resort courses | Around 120 to 300 dollars | Resort guests and daily fee; varies widely by course |
| Doral Blue Monster | Around 250 to 450 dollars | Resort championship; book through the resort |
Indicative green fees verified June 2026 from resort and course listings; TPC Sawgrass quoted a 2026 rack rate of around 750 dollars in peak season and around 550 dollars in summer including cart and forecaddie. Florida fees swing hugely with the season and can fall to a fraction of these in the summer off season. Always confirm current rates directly before booking. Compare live tee times.
When to go and how to base yourself
Play Florida in the cool, dry season from November to April for warm sunny days and courses in fine order, accepting that this is the busiest and priciest window, especially around the holidays and spring break. Summer is hot, humid and prone to afternoon thunderstorms, which pushes tee times to early morning but cuts green fees sharply, a real value play for those who can take the heat. Base in one hub, Ponte Vedra Beach for Sawgrass, central Florida for Streamsong and Orlando, Palm Beach or Naples for the south, and hire a car for the longer hops. The Players week in March is a fine time to combine morning golf with watching the best in the world.
Plan your Florida golf trip
We hold the marquee tee times, match the base to your group and budget, and arrange the lodging, the hire car and the supporting rounds so the trip runs smoothly. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Florida golf questions
Can anyone play TPC Sawgrass?
Yes. The Players Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass is a daily fee, publicly accessible course, and staying at the Sawgrass Marriott gives the easiest and best value access. It is one of the most expensive rounds in the country, with a 2026 rack rate of around 750 dollars in peak season and around 550 dollars in summer, including cart and forecaddie. Always confirm current rates directly before booking.
Where is the best golf in Florida?
It depends on the trip. Streamsong in central Florida is the standout pure golf resort with three acclaimed courses, Ponte Vedra Beach has TPC Sawgrass, Palm Beach Gardens has PGA National, and Orlando offers the widest spread of resort courses. Most visitors base in one hub and add a day trip or two.
How much is golf in Florida in 2026?
It is a wide range. Marquee rounds such as TPC Sawgrass or the Streamsong courses can run several hundred dollars in peak winter, while excellent resort and daily fee courses sit well below that and many fall to a fraction in summer. These are indicative figures, always confirm directly before booking.
When is the best time to play golf in Florida?
The cool, dry season from November to April is the peak, with warm sunny days and courses in fine order, and it is also the busiest and dearest window. Summer is hot and humid with afternoon storms, which pushes play to early morning but cuts green fees sharply.
Related
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Indicative green fees and access verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.