Best Places for Golfing in Florida

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There’s no shortage of places to go golfing in Florida. And most are LGBTQ-friendly. With an abundance of sunshine and greenery, Florida has a lot to offer golfers. Check out the top destinations and clubs for novices and professionals alike, and polish off your putter.

South Florida Golfing

When most people think of golf in South Florida, they imagine lavish courses available only to millionaires. After all, the region is home to some of the most exclusive clubs. While public golfing isn’t available at every course, you have many great options.

This region is perfect for those who are avid golfers. Typically, the courses are challenging and lined with mangroves or other greenery. The warm climate makes the region ideal for winter golfing. Furthermore, the close-knit gay communities of South Beach and Wilton Manors make the area particularly popular with LGBTQ golfers.

Turnberry Isles (Soffer Course) in Aventura: This is a very challenging course with water hazards, bunkers, and more. It’s expensive, but quite an experience.

PGA National (Championship Course) in West Palm: One of the most challenging stops in the PGA, this course was designed by Jack Nicholas in 2014.

Miami Beach Golf Club: Originally opened in 1923, this club is a cornerstone of the community.

Southwest Florida Golfing

In the past, Southwest Florida wasn’t considered to be much of a destination for golfers. But that quickly changed as cities like Fort Myers and Naples expanded. Today, there are many new public golf courses of varying difficulties.

If there’s one thing to love about golfing in Southwest Florida, it’s the diversity of courses. You can find a course for every budget and every skill level. For a luxury experience, you can head to one of the more exclusive clubs. But you can also find courses that don’t cost much to play and don’t require advanced bookings.

Golfing at a resort destination in Southwest Florida will assure you that the experience will be both LGBTQ-friendly and picturesque.

JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort: Has two private championship courses.

Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Resort: Is a championship golf course.

Tampa Bay Golfing

In Tampa Bay, there are over ten golf courses. The climate is ideal for golfing in Florida, as it doesn’t get too cold in the winter, and the summers are warmer than the summers of South Florida. As far as the options go, you have several. Along with a few championship golf courses, the area also has a few affordable public courses. One of the options, Rocky Point, is only a few minutes from the airport.

Innisbrook: Home to annual PGA and LPGA tournaments

TPC Tampa Bay: Offers championship golf

World Woods: Two world-class championship courses

Space Coast Golfing

When it comes to affordable golfing in Florida, the Space Coast is the place to be. In fact, some people consider it the most affordable place to golf in the U.S. While on a course, you can see some fantastic wildlife like gopher tortoises, cranes, and scrub jays.

Duran Golf: A beautiful course in Viera, Duran Golf Club almost always has a nice breeze.

Golf Brevard: This is a non-profit organization that runs both the Habitat Golf Course in Malabar, FL and Spessard Holland Golf Course in Melbourne Beach, FL.

Northeast Florida Golfing

With more than 75 miles of golf courses and resorts, the Northeast coast of Florida has several amazing opportunities for golf lovers. Many of the courses are on or near the coast. After a day on the green, you can enjoy the unique craft breweries or the incredible seafood. In the summer, the weather is much more comfortable than it is in the state’s southern parts. You can comfortably golf any time of the year.

World Golf Village: This venue has two courses designed by the golf Hall of Famers.

Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa: As one of Jacksonville’s premier golf destinations, this course is worth a visit and very LGBTQ-friendly too!

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Panhandle Golfing

Over the past 30 years, the Panhandle has seen an explosion in growth. As condos and hotels popped up, so did golf courses. With more than 20 total golf courses, the Panhandle is the place to go for a golf trip.

Because the winters tend to be colder here, winter isn’t a popular time for golfing in Florida. However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t book a winter trip. The prices tend to be very low in the winter, and the weather isn’t too cold. At any time of year, you can enjoy the white sandy beaches.

Pensacola Country Club: The the oldest private country club in Florida

Scenic Hill Country Club: Semi-private golf and country club with championship-level golf course

Sandestin Golf & Beach Resort: Has four championship courses

Keys

The Keys isn’t well known for its golfing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t spend time on the fairway when you’re there. In Key West, there’s a championship-rated course that’s close to all the other highlights of the town. It’s a Caribbean-style club, which can’t be found anywhere else in the country.

Marathon also has a golf course worth visiting. And while Islamorada and Key Largo don’t have public courses, they’re each a drive away from one of the other courses in the Keys. Islamorada also has a course open to those who stay at their resort.

Key West Golf Club: The only Caribbean style course in the U.S

Key Colony Beach Golf & Tennis: Nine hole, par three course in Marathon

Central Florida

You can skip the trip to Disney and check out some of Central Florida’s great golf courses. There are more than 35 public courses catering to all levels of play. If you’re a beginner, you can really build on your game at one of the courses created by a top designer.

As you appreciate the course designs, you’ll probably also notice the unique landscape of central Florida. Natural elevation changes allow you to escape the flatness of the rest of the state, and an abundance of marshes and lakes make for some incredible scenery.

Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate: Two championship 18-hole golf courses

Streamsong Resort: Highest-rated golf collection in all of Florida and great golfing

Enjoy Golfing in Florida All Year Long

The next time you feel the urge to go golfing, plan a trip to one of the courses above. You can challenge yourself, check out a new area of Florida, and enjoy a day outside. With so many courses waiting for you, it’s time to start exploring.

***Disclaimer: There is a good chance that this post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, we may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you (for which we are extremely grateful).

Also, while we do our best to highlight LGBTQ-friendly destinations and businesses, info provided is based solely on personal experience and recommendations by community partners. We hope that nobody experiences discrimination or homophobia while visiting Florida, but we make no guarantees. Please inform us if you experience discrimination or homophobia while visiting any destination so we can make updates to our recommendations.