Things to do in Florida, Emerald Coast

If you spend all of your Florida vacation time golfing Central and South Florida, you’ll be missing out on some of the best courses in the state. The rolling dunescapes, varied elevations and stunning scenery of THE Beach inspire architects to create world-class layouts. Course designers read like a who’s who of golf greats—Palmer, Jones, Fazio, Pate, Jackson, Nicklaus, Player. Dozens of courses in the hundred-mile stretch from Perdido Key at the Alabama-Florida state line through Panama City Beach put every club in your bag to the test. Golf Digest and Golf magazine describe many northwest courses as some of the “best in the U.S.” Northwest Florida’s innumerable bayous, creeks, freshwater rivers, wetlands areas, bays and beachfront come into play at nearly every course.

The Pensacola Bay area is home to world-renowned golf legends Bubba Watson, Heath Slocum and Boo Weeky, all of whom arel active on the PGA Tour. It comes as no surprise then, that you'll find an abundance of top-notch courses here. Lost Key Golf Club in Perdido Key was the first in the world to be certified as an Audubon International Silver Signature Sanctuary. Scenic Hills Country Club in Pensacola was designed by former U.S. Open Champion Jerry Pate and is the only course in Florida to host a U.S. Open event.

The Moors in Milton is home each March to the Emerald Coast Classic, a Senior PGA Tour Event. With its panoramic views of the Santa Rosa Sound, Tiger Point Golf and Country Club in Gulf Breeze was a stop on the 1998 PGA Tour.

The beautiful Kelly Plantation Golf Club in Destin is one of the newest additions to the Emerald Coast and is perfectly situated on the Choctawhatchee Bay. Emerald Bay and Shalimar Pointe Golf Club was named one of the "50 Most Distinctive Development Courses in the Southeast" by Golfweek. It also takes the honor of having "Two of the hardest holes on the Emerald Coast," which it received from Links Magazine.

Burnt Pine Golf Club in Sandestin was recognized as the "Crown Jewel of Florida Golf" by Golf Digest and is a true treasure in the world of golf. Golf Garden, also in Sandestin, is an executive nine-hole course that is perfect for family fun, or golfers who are short on time.

The Nicklaus Course at Bay Point in Panama City beach is the only Nicklaus-designed course in Northwest Florida. Hombre Golf Club in Panama City Beach is a host of PGA Tour Qualifying schools and has a reputation for intimidation.

We take our golf just as seriously as fishing and water sports here at THE Beach. With such a vast array of courses, there is something for golfers of every skill level.

THE Beach Resources