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 at a high-end resort, take a look at the Top 40 Public 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 GolfDay course pages include a link to Google maps with directions to every course).
While each of the Top 40 has a GolfDay Rating above 90, Florida offers 122 independent public courses with a rating of 85 or higher (premium) and 235 with a rating of 80 or above (very good).
Jack Nicklaus leads the list for premier public course design in Florida with original design or updates at 5 of the top 40 public courses, including Old Corkscrew (#2) and Webb’s Reserve (#18), his latest design in Punta Gorda.
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).
Gene Bates and Fred Couples teamed up to deliver 3 original designs in the Top 40, including Kelly Plantation (#5), Southwood (#16) and Riverwood (#27).
Arthur Hills (#3 TPC Treviso Bay) and Ron Garl (#24 The Club at Eaglebrooke) also added 3 original designs to the Top 40.
The best of Florida public golf also includes design by eminent architects such as Donald Ross (New Smyrna Golf Club/No. 22), 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).
Click Top 40 Florida Public Courses for a map view of locations (click a flag for course name and details).
Any time you are looking for great public golf, or planning a vacation, the GolfDay Search Engine makes it easy to find the best courses and a better bang for your buck.
- Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club/Haines City
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- 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
- Old Corkscrew Golf Club/Estero
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- 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
- TPC Treviso Bay/Naples
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- 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
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- 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.
- Course Description
- Photos
- Golf Academy
- GolfDay Rating: 95.5
- Location
- 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
- North Palm Beach Country Club/North Pam Beach
- Village of North Palm Beach
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- 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
- Juliette Falls Golf Course/Dunnellon
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- 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
- Deer Island Country Club/Taveres
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- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Joe Lee
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.0/144
- Practice Facilities:
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 94.1
- Location
- Abacoa Golf Club/Jupiter
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- 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
- Celebration Golf Club/Celebration
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- 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
- Windswept Dunes Golf Club/Freeport
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- 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
- Royal St. Cloud Golf Links/St. Cloud
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- 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
- Fox Hollow Golf Club/Trinity
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- 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
- Seminole Legacy Golf Club/Tallahassee
Florida State University
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- Holes: 30 (18-Hole Regulation Course and 12-Hole Par 3)
- Course Architects: William Amick/Robert Walker/Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 77.3/143
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range with Targets, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker.
- Course Description
- Men’s Golf
- Women’s Golf
- GolfDay Rating: 93.5
- Location
- LPGA International/Daytona Beach
- Fore Golf Partners
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- 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
- Southwood Golf Club/Tallahassee
- 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
- Waterlefe Golf & River Club/Bradenton
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- 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
- Webb’s Reserve/Punta Gorda
Babcock Ranch
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- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Jack Nicklaus
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.4/137
- Practice Facilities: Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunker (Opening January 2025)
- Course Description
- GolfDay Rating: 92.8
- Location
19. Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club/Dade City
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- 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
20. St. Johns Golf Club/Elkton
- St. Johns County
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- 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
21. Duran Golf Club/Viera
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- 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
22. New Smyrna Golf Club/New Smyrna
- City of New Smyrna
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- 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: 92.6
- Location
- Heron Creek Golf & Country Club/North Port
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- 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
24. The Club at Eaglebrooke/Lakeland
- Indigo Sports
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- 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
25. The Club at Emerald Hills/Hollywood
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- 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
26. Black Bear Golf Club/Eustis
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- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: P. 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
27. Riverwood Golf Club/Port Charlotte
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- Holes: 18
- Course Architects: Gege Bates/Fred Couples
- 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
28. Boca Raton Golf & Racquet Club/Boca Raton
- 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: 92.3
- Location
29. Stonebrook Golf Course/Pace
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- 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
30. Eagle Creek Golf Club/Orlando
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- 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
- Villages of Citrus Hills
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- 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
-
- 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: 91.2
- Location
- Pinecrest Golf Club/Avon Park
Citrus Golf Trail
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- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Donald Ross
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 72.0/123
- Practice Facilities: Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
- Course Description
- Citrus Golf Trail
- GolfDay Rating: 91.2
- Location
- 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
- 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: 91.0
- Location
- Palm Beach National/Lake Worth
-
- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Porter Gibson/Joe Lee
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 73.1/13
- 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
- St. John’s Golf & Country Club/St. Augustine
Indigo Sports
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- Holes: 18
- Course Architect: Clyde Johnston
- USGA Course/Slope Rating: 74.6/134
- Practice Facilities: Double Sided Grass Driving Range, Putting and Chipping Greens with Bunkers.
- Course Description
- Golf Academy
- GolfDay Rating: 90.9
- Location
- 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
39. Sandridge Golf Club/Vero Beach
- 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
40. Sailfish Sands Golf Course/Stuart
- 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
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, current local and national rankings by Golf Digest and Golfweek, the quality and diversity of practice facilities, general course conditioning and current reviews. The resort rating also includes a factor for the variety of courses located at the property as well as the quality of accommodations and level of service.