Most everyone has heard about great Florida golf resorts like Streamsong, TPC Sawgrass and PGA Village, but there are a whole lot of terrific public courses that are not part of a resort property.

If you’re looking for great Florida golf without breaking the bank account at a high-end resort, take a look at the Top 40 courses below, and start planning a get-away–keeping in mind that there are plenty of nice hotels and restaurants to choose from throughout Florida (and the GolfDay Course Page includes a link to Google map and directions for every course).

While each of the Top 40 has a GolfDay Rating above 90, Florida offers 136 independent public courses with a rating of 85 or higher (premium) and 238 with a rating of 80 or more (well above average).

Ron Garl leads the list for premier public course design in Florida with original design or updates at 7 of the top 40 public courses, including The Club at Eaglebrooke in Lakeland (No. 22) and University Park in Sarasota (No. 32).

Joe Lee is at the top as well with design at 4 of the leading public courses in Florida, including Deer Island Country Club in Taveres (No. 8) and Abacoa in Jupiter (No. 9).

The Florida Top 40 public also includes design by eminent architects such as Donald Ross (New Smyrna Golf Club/No. 29), Jack Nicklaus (Old Corkscrew/No. 2),  Robert Trent Jones, Sr. (Fox Hollow/No. 13), Tom Fazio (Champions Club at Summerfield/No. 33), Rees Jones (LPGA International/No. 15) and Robert Trent Jones II. (Celebration Golf Club/No. 10).

The GolfDay rating is based on a variety of criteria, including the stature of the architect(s) who did the original design(s), updates that have been done on the course(s), USGA Course and Slope Ratings, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews.

Click Top 40 Florida Public Courses for a map view of locations (click a flag for course name and details).

If you are dead set on a resort vacation, take to look at the GolfDay Florida Top 25 Resorts.

And if you are want to browse for courses in a specific area, visit the GolfDay Search Page.

1. Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club/Haines City

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Steve Smyers
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.0/140
  • Practice Facilities: Two-Tiered Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker, Grass Wedge Range and TrackMan Technology.
  • Course Description
  • Toptracer
  • GolfDay Rating: 95.8
  • Location

2. Old Corkscrew Golf Club/Estero

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.6/151
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Golf Academy
  • GolfDay Rating: 95.6
  • Location

3. TPC Treviso Bay/Naples

• • Holes: 18 (Public Play May 1 through October 31)
  • Course Architects: Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest/Hal Sutton
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 77.3/153
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Grass Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker, Indoor Golf Simulator with TrackMan Technology.
  • Course Description
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 95.6
  • Location

4. Regatta Bay Golf & Country Club/Destin

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Robert Walker
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.2/147
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers, Golf Academy and Indoor Golf with TrackMan Technology.
  • Photos
  • Golf Academy
  • GolfDay Rating: 95.5
  • Location

5. Kelly Plantation Golf Club/Destin

• Holes: 18
• Course Architects: Gene Bates/Fred Couples
• USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.6/137
• Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Target Greens, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers. Range Balls included with Greens Fee.
• Course Description
• Photos
• GolfDay Rating: 95.0
• Location

6. North Palm Beach Country Club/North Pam Beach
7. Village of North Palm Beach

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Mark McCumber/Jack Nicklaus
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.2/135
  • Practice Facilities: Lighted Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course History
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.8
  • Location

7. Juliette Falls Golf Course/Dunnellon

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: John Sanford
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.3/143
  • Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.6
  • Location

8. Deer Island Country Club/Taveres

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architect: Joe Lee
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.0/144
  • Practice Facilities:
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.1
  • Location

9. Abacoa Golf Club/Jupiter

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Joe Lee
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.0/142
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets Greens, Expansive Putting Greens with Trackman Technology.
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.0
  • Location

10. Celebration Golf Club/Celebration

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architect: Robert Trent Jones, Jr.
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.2/144
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Golf Academy
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.0
  • Location

11. Windswept Dunes Golf Club/Freeport

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Doug O’Rourke
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 76.6/134
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 94.0
  • Location

12. Royal St. Cloud Golf Links/St. Cloud

• • Holes: 27 (3 Nine Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Lewis Powell
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Red:       37.2/132
  • White:   37.5/133
  • Blue:     37.6/136
  • Practice Facilities: Lighted Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.7
  • Location

•  

13. Fox Hollow Golf Club/Trinity

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Robert Trent Jones, Sr./Roger Rulewich
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 75.1/139
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Photos/Layout
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.6
  • Location

14. Emerald Bay Golf Club/Destin

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Bob Cupp
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.9/143
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Accommodations
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.4
  • Location

15. LPGA International/Daytona Beach
16. Fore Golf Partners

• • Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Rees Jones/Arthur Hills
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Jones:  74.3/141
  • Hills:   75.4/150
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Jones Course
  • Hills Course
  • GolfDay Rating: 93.1
  • Location

16. Southwood Golf Club/Tallahassee
17. St. Joe Company

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Gene Bates/Fred Couples
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.7/135
  • Practice Facilities: Lighted Grass Driving Range with Toptracer Technology, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.9
  • Location

17. Waterlefe Golf & River Club/Bradenton

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Ted McAnlis
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.9/146
  • Practice Facilities: Driving Range and Putting Green.
  • Photos/Layout
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.9
  • Location

18. Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club/Dade City

• • Holes: 36 (2 Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Kurt Sandness/Tom Lehman
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • North:  74.7/139
  • South:  74.0/141
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Expansive Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.7
  • Location

19. St. Johns Golf Club/Elkton
20. St. Johns County

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Clyde Johnston/Robert Walker
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.4/135
  • Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Operation 36 Program.
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.6
  • Location

20. Duran Golf Club/Viera

• • Holes: 27 (Eighteen Hole Regulation Course and Nine Hole Lighted Par 3)
  • Course Architects: Lewis Powell
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.8/130
  • Practice Facilities: Lighted Grass Driving Range with Targets and Trackman Technology, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.6
  • Location

21. Heron Creek Golf & Country Club/North Port

• • Holes: 27 (3 Nine Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Arthur Hills/Steve Forrest
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Creek: 36.3/144
  • Marsh: 36.2/142
  • Oaks:   36.2/141
  • Practice Facilities Expansive including Grass Driving Range with Targets, Grass Wedge Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Photos
  • Golf Academy
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.5
  • Location

22. The Club at Eaglebrooke/Lakeland
23. Indigo Sports

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Ron Garl
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.7/138
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens and Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.5
  • Location

23. The Club at Emerald Hills/Hollywood

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Robert von Hagge/Bruce Devlin/Charles Ankrom/Jack Nicklaus
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 78.6/148
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.5
  • Location

24. Black Bear Golf Club/Eustis

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: B. Dye
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.1/140
  • Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Scorecard/Video Tour
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.5
  • Location

25. Riverwood Golf Club/Port Charlotte

• • Holes: 18  
  • Course Architects: Gege Bates
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.8/139
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Video Tour
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.4
  • Location

26. Boca Raton Golf & Racquet Club/Boca Raton
27. City of Boca Raton

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Joe Lee/Kipp Schulties
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.5/148
  • Practice Facilities: Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens.
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.2
  • Location

27. Stonebrook Golf Course/Pace

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Charles Daniels
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.2/135
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker and CF Golf Academy (TrackMan and Operation 36 Program).
  • Photos
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.3
  • Location

28. The Eagles Golf Club/Odessa

• • Holes: 36 (Two Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Ron Garl/Gary Koch
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Lakes: 75.4/138
  • Forest: 72.7/134         
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range and Putting Greens (2).
  • Course Description-Lakes
  • Course Description-Forest
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.1
  • Location

29. New Smyrna Golf Club/New Smyrna
30. City of New Smyrna

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Donald Ross/Bobby Weed
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 71.4/127
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.0
  • Location

30. Eagle Creek Golf Club/Orlando

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Ron Garl/Howard Swan
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.1/132
  • Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range, Putting Green and Practice Hole with Bunker.
  • Photos
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.8
  • Location

31. Skyview at Terra Vista/Hernando
32. Villages of Citrus Hills

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Terrill LaGree
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.6/133
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
  • Course Description
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.3
  • Location

32. University Park Country Club/Sarasota

• • Holes: 27 (Three Nine Hole Courses)
  • Course Architects: Ron Garl
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • First Nine:       37.2/139
  • Second Nine:  36.8/137
  • Third Nine:     37.8/136
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Golf Academy
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.3
  • Location

33. Champions Club at Summerfield/Stuart

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Tom Fazio
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.5/130
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range and Putting Green.
  • Photos
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 92.6
  • Location

34. Forest Lake Golf Club/Apopka

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Lloyd Clifton/Ken Ezell/George Clifton
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.9/138
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description/Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.0
  • Location

35. Sun ‘n Lake Golf Club/Sebring

• • Holes: 36 (Two Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Don Dyer/Charles Ankrom/Ron Garl
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Deer Run:        74.1/132
  • Turtle Run:     71.6/126
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Descriptions
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 91.0
  • Location

36. Woodmont Country Club/Tamarac

• • Holes: 27 (Eighteen Hole Cypress and Nine Hole Pines)
  • Course Architects: Robert von Hagge/Bruce Devlin/Joe Jemsek
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Cypress: 73.6/138
  • Pines:    34.7/127
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • GolfDay Rating: 90.9
  • Location

37. Palm Beach National/Lake Worth

• • Holes: 18
  • Course Architects: Porter Gibson/Joe Lee
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.1/133
  • Practice Facilities: Expansive Lighted Driving Range with Targets and Toptracer Technology, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
  • Course Description
  • Toptracer Range
  • GolfDay Rating: 90.9
  • Location

38. Sandridge Golf Club/Vero Beach
39. Indian River County

• • Holes: 36 (Two Eighteen Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Ron Garl
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Dunes: 74.1/141
  • Lakes: 70.9/134
  • Practice Facilities: Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens.
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • GolfDay Rating: 90.7
  • Location

39. Sailfish Sands Golf Course/Stuart
40. Martin County

• • Holes: 27 (Eighteen Hole and Nine Hole Regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: William Langford/Ernest Smith/Ron Garl/John Sanford/David Ferris
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Eighteen Hole: 74.1/130
  • Nine Hole:         35.7/122
  • Practice Facilities: Expansive Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Operation 36 Program.
  • Course Description
  • Junior Golf
  • Toptracer Range
  • GolfDay Rating: 90.6
  • Location 

40. Highlands Ridge Golf Club/Avon Park

• • Holes: 36 (Two Eighteen Hole regulation Courses)
  • Course Architects: Clyde Johnston/Robert Walker
  • USGA Course/Slope Rating:
  • Highlands Ridge:        74.8/140
  • The Preserve:              69.9 /131
  • Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Chipping and Putting Greens with Bunkers.
  • Course Description-Highlands Ridge
  • Course Description-The Preserve
  • Photos
  • GolfDay Rating: 90.4
  • Location

• Top 40 Public Courses-Florida 2023/2024
• Top 40 Public Courses-Florida 2023/2024