The best Florida golf vacations are built around four areas: the sand-country pair of Streamsong and Cabot Citrus Farms in central Florida, TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Orlando’s resort courses and Innisbrook near Tampa. Go between November and April, when Orlando and Tampa average 71°F in January, and book February and March early.
Florida has more golf courses than any other state, which makes it sound easy. It isn’t, quite. A surprising share of the best golf is behind private gates, particularly in the south, and the courses visitors can play are spread across a peninsula that takes eight hours to drive from end to end. Pick the wrong base and you’ll spend more time on I-4 than on the first tee.
What Florida does better than anywhere else in the country is winter golf on the East Coast’s doorstep. Nonstop flights reach Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville from nearly every major US city, and the state’s winter is its dry season. The last decade has also changed what “Florida golf” means. For years it meant flat resort courses around water hazards, and a lot of it still does. But Streamsong and Cabot Citrus Farms have brought big, sandy, walkable golf to the middle of the state, and they’re now as good a reason to fly to Florida as the island green at Sawgrass.
This guide maps the state region by region, with the months, airports, published 2026 prices and access rules for each. It’s also the hub for our Florida guides, so each section points to a deeper page. Prices were checked in September 2026 against operators’ own rate pages where they publish them.
At a glance
- Best trip for serious golfers: Streamsong plus Cabot Citrus Farms, about two hours apart, from November to April.
- Best single bucket-list round: TPC Sawgrass, from $775 between September and May, including cart and forecaddie.
- Best for families: Orlando, with resort golf a short drive from the theme parks.
- Warmest: South Florida. Miami averages 76°F in January.
- Peak season: January to March. Many courses cut rates 10–20% after Easter.
- The access trap: of 126 courses within 20 miles of Naples, 108 are fully private.
Florida golf regions compared
Florida works best when you pick one region, or two neighboring ones, and stay put. The table sets out the main golf regions for visitors.
| Region | Headline golf for visitors | Airport | Best months | Published 2026 marker | Access notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine and Amelia Island | TPC Sawgrass, World Golf Village, Amelia Island resorts | Jacksonville (JAX) | Late Feb–May, Oct–Nov | Sawgrass Stadium from $775 (Sep–May) | Sawgrass books 14 days out without lodging |
| Orlando | Bay Hill, Grand Cypress, Orange County National, Disney | Orlando (MCO) | Nov–Apr | Varies by resort | Bay Hill is members and lodge guests only |
| Tampa Bay | Innisbrook’s Copperhead and three more courses | Tampa (TPA) | Nov–Apr | Packages from one round per night | Sold mostly as stay-and-play |
| Central Florida sand country | Streamsong (Red, Blue, Black, The Chain, Bone Valley), Cabot Citrus Farms | Tampa (TPA) or Orlando (MCO) | Nov–Apr | Cabot Citrus Farms $185–$350 by season | Resort golf; caddies required at Cabot Dec–Mar for early times |
| Naples and Fort Myers | Tiburón and a handful of public-access courses | Southwest Florida (RSW) | Dec–Apr | Varies | More than 85% of courses near Naples are private |
| Palm Beach and Miami | PGA National, Trump National Doral | Palm Beach (PBI), Miami (MIA), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) | Dec–Apr | Varies | Heavily private; resort guests have the best access |
| The Panhandle | Sandestin, Camp Creek | Northwest Florida Beaches (ECP) | Mar–May, Sep–Nov | Varies | A spring and fall destination, cooler in winter |
Average January temperatures from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals: Miami 76°F, Orlando and Tampa 71°F, Jacksonville 66°F. The Panhandle runs cooler than Jacksonville in midwinter.
Two practical things to take from the table. First, the north-south difference is bigger than people expect. Jacksonville’s average January high of 66°F is ten degrees cooler than Miami’s, and a cold front can push Ponte Vedra into the 40s°F in the morning. Second, Tampa and Orlando airports serve three regions each. From either one you can reach the sand country, the Gulf coast and the theme parks in about 90 minutes, which makes them the best bases for a first Florida trip.
Where is the best place in Florida for a golf vacation?
For golf alone, central Florida’s sand country is the best place in the state: Streamsong’s three 18s and Cabot Citrus Farms sit about two hours apart, and both are at their best from November to April. For one famous round, go to TPC Sawgrass. For a family trip, Orlando. For warmth above all, Naples or Palm Beach.
The answer depends on what your group values, so here’s how we’d match them:
| If your group wants… | Go to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The best golf in Florida | Streamsong and Cabot Citrus Farms | Big sandy sites, three star-designer courses at Streamsong and two new 18s at Cabot |
| One bucket-list round | TPC Sawgrass | The island-green 17th, open to the public |
| Golf plus theme parks | Orlando | Resort golf 20–30 minutes from the parks |
| A classic resort with 72 holes | Innisbrook, Tampa Bay | Four courses, including a PGA Tour venue |
| Warmth and a beach | Naples or Palm Beach | The warmest winters in the state, if you plan for private-club access |
| A spring or fall beach trip | The Panhandle | Emerald Coast beaches and quieter shoulder seasons |
If you’re comparing Florida with Arizona or California for a winter trip, our winter golf destinations guide puts them side by side with real temperatures, and our ranking of the best golf destinations in the US shows where Florida fits nationally.
Ponte Vedra, St. Augustine and Amelia Island
Northeast Florida is the state’s most historic golf corner and home to its most famous hole. It’s also its coolest winter region, which is why its best months are late February through May and October through November, rather than midwinter.
TPC Sawgrass
The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, Pete Dye’s 1980 design and home of THE PLAYERS, is the one course in Florida most visiting golfers want to play. Its official FAQ gives the rules clearly. The Stadium Course starts at $775 from September to May and $550 from June to August, including a cart, a forecaddie for the group and practice balls. Dye’s Valley, the resort’s second course, costs $350 and $250 in the same seasons. Book up to 12 months ahead with lodging through TPC Vacations, or only 14 days ahead without it.
The course closes for blackout dates, and they’re the first thing to check. In 2026 the Stadium Course is closed from October 19 to November 8. In 2027 it’s closed from February 15 to March 16 around THE PLAYERS (March 9–14, 2027) and again from May 31 to June 28. The summer rate is the bargain, if you can stand the heat: you get the same island green for $225 less.
Our guide to the TPC Sawgrass green fee covers booking tricks, the forecaddie tip and when the rate changes.
World Golf Village and Amelia Island
Half an hour south in St. Augustine, World Golf Village has two courses: the King & Bear, the only course designed jointly by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, and the Slammer & Squire. The World Golf Hall of Fame, which anchored the village for 25 years, moved to Pinehurst in 2024, so the village is now a resort and golf stop rather than a museum visit.
Forty-five minutes north of Jacksonville, Amelia Island is the quieter, more old-Florida option, with resort golf at the Omni Amelia Island Resort (Oak Marsh by Pete Dye and Long Point by Tom Fazio) and at the Ritz-Carlton. It’s a strong choice for couples who want a beach town with good restaurants. See our Jacksonville and Amelia Island golf guide.
- Our verdict: the best region for a Sawgrass-centered trip in spring or fall. In January, go further south.
Orlando
Orlando is Florida’s biggest golf market, and the best Florida destination for families, since the resort courses are 20 to 30 minutes from the theme parks. Orlando averages 71°F in January, with lows of 52°F.
Bay Hill Club and Lodge is Arnold Palmer’s club and home of the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Play is limited to members and guests of the lodge, so staying there is the way in. Its 16th, a par 5 with water in front of the green, is one of the best-known finishing stretches on the PGA Tour.
The rest of Orlando’s visitor golf is a long list of resort and public courses. Grand Cypress, now part of Evermore Orlando Resort, has two Jack Nicklaus courses, the Links and the Cypress, open to the public. Orange County National has two public 18s, Panther Lake and Crooked Cat, and one of the best practice facilities in the state. Disney runs Magnolia, Palm and Lake Buena Vista, plus a nine-hole course for kids. Resort golf at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes (a Greg Norman design) and ChampionsGate rounds out the list.
- Best months: November to April.
- Our verdict: the easiest Florida golf trip to organize, and the best choice when not everyone is a golfer. The golf is more convenient than memorable, with Bay Hill the exception. Our Orlando golf vacation guide ranks the public courses.
Tampa Bay and Innisbrook
Innisbrook Golf Resort in Palm Harbor, about half an hour north of Tampa’s airport, is Florida’s classic 72-hole golf resort. It has four courses: Copperhead, Island, North and South. Copperhead hosts the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship and finishes with the three-hole stretch nicknamed the Snake Pit.
Innisbrook sells its golf mostly through stay-and-play packages. As of September 2026, its Classic Golf Package included a round of golf for each night of the stay, a daily breakfast buffet, a merchandise credit and unlimited practice-facility access. The Platinum package includes 36 holes a day across the four courses. The resort’s offers page doesn’t publish prices, which vary by date, and lists discounts of up to 25% for Florida and Georgia residents.
Tampa itself adds a good set of public courses and is the gateway to Streamsong and Cabot Citrus Farms, both about an hour to 90 minutes away. That makes it the best base for a Florida trip that combines a classic resort with the new sand-country golf. See our Tampa golf trip guide.
- Our verdict: the best traditional resort trip in Florida, especially for a group that wants 36 holes a day without driving anywhere.
Streamsong and Cabot Citrus Farms: Florida’s sand country
If you’re flying to Florida for the golf, this is the reason. Both resorts sit on sandy ground that doesn’t look like the Florida of postcards: big dunes, native grasses and firm, fast turf.
Streamsong, in reclaimed phosphate-mining land in Polk County, has three 18-hole courses by three star designers: Red by Coore & Crenshaw, Blue by Tom Doak and Black by Gil Hanse. It also has The Chain, a short course that’s the most fun hour of golf in the state. A fifth course, David McLay Kidd’s Bone Valley, opens for preview play on October 30, 2026, with its grand opening on January 26, 2027, which makes this winter the first chance to play it.
Cabot Citrus Farms, near Brooksville north of Tampa, took over the old World Woods property and rebuilt it into two 18s, Karoo and Roost, plus The Squeeze (a 10-hole par-38 course) and The Wedge (an 11-hole par-3 course with no carts). It publishes its 2026 resort-guest rates for Karoo and Roost: $330 from January 1 to April 19, $275–$305 from April 20 to May 31, $185 from June 1 to October 1, $350 from October 2 to December 13, and $295 from December 14 to 31. Day guests pay $20–$65 more. Caddies are mandatory from December 1 to March 31 for early tee times and anyone using a cart. Reports say Karoo and Roost will be walking only from December 14, 2026 to February 28, 2027; confirm that when you book.
The two resorts are about two hours apart by car, so a week can include both. Our guides to Streamsong and Cabot Citrus Farms cover lodging and booking, and Streamsong vs Cabot Citrus Farms explains how to choose between them, or how to do both.
- Our verdict: the best golf trip in Florida, and one of the best winter golf trips in the country.
Naples, Fort Myers and the Gulf Coast
Southwest Florida has the warmest reliable winters on the Gulf coast and more golf courses per resident than almost anywhere in America. The problem for visitors is that most of them are private. According to GolfPass, 108 of the 126 courses within 20 miles of Naples, more than 85%, are fully private.
The main public-access option is Tiburón, the Ritz-Carlton’s 36-hole Greg Norman facility, which hosts the Grant Thornton Invitational each December. Beyond that, visitors do best by staying at a resort with golf privileges or a rental in a community whose course takes renters. It’s worth asking before you book, not after.
- Best months: December to April.
- Getting there: Southwest Florida International (RSW) in Fort Myers, about 40 minutes from Naples.
- Our verdict: a great winter base for couples and families who want warmth, beaches and a few good rounds, not for a group chasing variety. Our Naples public golf courses guide lists every course a visitor can book.
Palm Beach and Miami
Florida’s southeast coast has warm winters, great restaurants and some of the most famous private clubs in the country, which is exactly why it’s tricky for visitors. Palm Beach County in particular is dominated by private golf.
The key resort for visitors is PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens. Its Champion course, a Jack Nicklaus redesign, hosts the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic and is best known for the Bear Trap, the three-hole stretch from the 15th to the 17th with water on every shot. Staying at the resort is the reliable way onto the Champion. Further south, Trump National Doral in Miami is home to the Blue Monster, which hosted PGA Tour events for more than 50 years.
- Best months: December to April.
- Getting there: Palm Beach (PBI), Fort Lauderdale (FLL) or Miami (MIA).
- Our verdict: a warm-weather couples’ trip with a couple of big-name rounds, not a golf-first destination. See our Palm Beach golf trip guide for the public-access list.
The Panhandle
Northwest Florida, the Emerald Coast between Pensacola and Panama City Beach, feels more like the Gulf coast of Alabama than like Miami. Its golf season is different too. Winters are noticeably cooler than central Florida, and summers are peak beach season, so spring and fall are the golf months.
The best-known golf is at Sandestin, a big resort with several courses, and at Camp Creek, a Tom Fazio design at WaterSound. The appeal is a combined beach and golf trip in April, May, September or October, with sugar-white sand and fewer crowds than the peninsula in spring break.
A practical note: most of the Emerald Coast, from Pensacola east through Destin, WaterSound and Panama City Beach, runs on Central time, an hour behind Orlando and Miami. Tee-time confirmations are in local time, which has caught out more than one group driving over from Jacksonville. The Panhandle’s other quiet advantage is that its winter is its low season. While the peninsula is charging peak rates in February, its courses are uncrowded and cheaper, which suits a group that doesn’t mind a cooler day and a sweater on the first tee.
- Getting there: Northwest Florida Beaches International (ECP) near Panama City Beach, or Pensacola.
- Our verdict: a good spring or fall beach trip with golf, and an easy drive for groups from Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. Not a winter destination.
What is the best month for a golf trip to Florida?
March is the classic best month for Florida golf: warm, dry and green, but also the most expensive. For value, go in December or late April, when the weather is still good and many courses cut fees 10–20% after Easter. Overall, November to April is the Florida golf season. June to August is hot, wet and cheapest.
Here’s how the year breaks down:
| Month | Weather | Prices and crowds | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| November | Warm and dry; statewide highs in the 70s–80s°F | Prices climbing; still good value | TPC Sawgrass closed Oct 19–Nov 8, 2026 |
| December | Mild; Orlando and Tampa in the low 70s°F | Good value before the holidays | Holiday weeks busy |
| January | Orlando and Tampa average 71°F; Miami 76°F; Jacksonville 66°F | Peak pricing begins mid-month | Cold fronts can bring 40s°F mornings in the north |
| February | Warm and dry | Peak | Book months ahead for groups |
| March | Warm, dry, green | Peak, with spring-break crowds | PGA Tour’s Florida swing; Sawgrass blacked out until March 16, 2027 |
| April | Warm; humidity rising | Prices fall after Easter, often 10–20% | The best-value month of the season |
| May | Hot and humid | Low season begins | Afternoon storms start late in the month |
| June–August | Hot, humid, afternoon thunderstorms | Lowest prices of the year | Sawgrass $550; Cabot Citrus Farms $185; play at dawn |
| September–October | Hot early, easing in October | Good value | Hurricane season runs through November |
Statewide highs of about 65–82°F from November to April, peak pricing from January to March and the post-Easter discount come from GolfPass and Golf Club Rentals Florida seasonal guides. January averages are NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
The one thing the table can’t capture is the cold front. Several times a winter, a front crosses north and central Florida and gives you a day or two of wind and 50s°F highs. It’s a good argument for going further south in January, and for not scheduling your one marquee round on the only day it can happen. Our best time to golf in Florida guide goes week by week.
How much does a Florida golf vacation cost?
Budget roughly $700–$1,500 per golfer before flights for a value trip using Orlando or Tampa public and resort courses, and $1,800–$3,500 or more for a premium trip built around Streamsong, Cabot Citrus Farms or TPC Sawgrass. Published 2026 green fees run from $185 in summer at Cabot Citrus Farms to $775 at Sawgrass.
Those tiers are JEL Golf Travel’s 2026 figures for value regional and premium domestic resort trips, and they match what the published Florida rates imply. The biggest variable is the season. The same round at Cabot Citrus Farms costs $185 in July and $350 in November. At TPC Sawgrass it’s $550 in summer and from $775 the rest of the year.
Here’s what the published 2026 rates look like for Florida’s headline golf:
| Course | Peak rate | Off-peak rate | What’s included |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPC Sawgrass, Stadium Course | From $775 (Sep–May) | From $550 (Jun–Aug) | Cart, forecaddie for the group, practice balls |
| TPC Sawgrass, Dye’s Valley | $350 | $250 | Same seasons as the Stadium Course |
| Cabot Citrus Farms, Karoo and Roost | $350 (Oct 2–Dec 13); $330 (Jan 1–Apr 19) | $185 (Jun 1–Oct 1) | Resort-guest rates; day guests pay $20–$65 more |
| Innisbrook | Stay-and-play packages | Resident discounts up to 25% | A round per night on the Classic package |
On top of green fees, add the usual line items: lodging, flights, a rental car, food and drink, and caddie fees and tips at the walking courses. A forecaddie at Sawgrass is included in the fee, but the tip isn’t; $20–$40 per player is the norm. Our golf trip cost guide has the full line-item budget, and the best golf resorts in the US ranking compares Florida’s resorts with the rest of the country.
Can anyone play TPC Sawgrass?
Yes. TPC Sawgrass’s Stadium Course is open to the public: book up to 14 days ahead without lodging, or up to 12 months ahead with a stay through TPC Vacations. It starts at $775 from September to May, including a cart, forecaddie and practice balls, and closes for tournament blackouts around THE PLAYERS.
Access is the most important thing to understand about Florida golf, because the state’s best-known courses sit under several different rules:
| Course or area | Who can play | How to book | The catch |
|---|---|---|---|
| TPC Sawgrass, Stadium Course | Anyone | 14 days out without lodging; up to 12 months with | Blackout dates around THE PLAYERS and in summer and fall |
| Bay Hill | Members and lodge guests | Stay at the lodge | No outside tee times |
| Grand Cypress (Evermore) | Public | Direct | |
| Cabot Citrus Farms | Resort guests and day guests | Direct; guests get the lower rate | Caddies mandatory Dec–Mar for early times and cart users |
| Innisbrook | Primarily resort guests | Stay-and-play packages | Pricing varies by date; not published |
| Naples | Mostly private | Tiburón and a few public courses; ask your rental about privileges | 108 of 126 courses within 20 miles are private |
| PGA National, Champion course | Resort guests have the best access | Stay at the resort |
Our best public golf courses in Florida guide lists the courses anyone can book, region by region.
Tournament weeks and blackout dates
Florida hosts the PGA Tour’s early-spring swing, and tournament weeks change prices and access across the state. The biggest is THE PLAYERS at TPC Sawgrass (March 9–14, 2027), which blacks out the Stadium Course from February 15 to March 16. The Florida swing also includes the Cognizant Classic at PGA National, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill and the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook’s Copperhead course, usually between late February and March. Check the PGA Tour schedule for exact 2027 dates before you fix a week.
Tournament weeks are a double-edged thing. If you want to watch, they’re the highlight of the Florida winter, and our golf tournament travel hub and PLAYERS Championship tickets guide explain how to plan around them. If you only want to play, avoid them: the host course closes, nearby hotels fill and rates rise.
Where to stay and how to get around
Florida’s distances and its access rules make these two decisions more important than in most golf destinations. Where you sleep can decide which courses you can book, and a base in the wrong city can add three hours of driving to every golf day.
Where to stay
There are three ways to do it, and each suits a different group:
- On site at a golf resort. Streamsong, Cabot Citrus Farms, Innisbrook, PGA National and Bay Hill all have their own lodging. Staying on site is often the only way onto the best course (Bay Hill, PGA National’s Champion) or the way to book furthest ahead (TPC Sawgrass’s 12-month window applies only with lodging). You also skip the morning drive, which matters when the first tee time is 7:30 a.m. The cost is price, particularly from January to March.
- A hotel with stay-and-play packages. Orlando and Tampa have dozens of hotels that bundle rooms with rounds at nearby public and resort courses. This is the cheapest way to play a lot of golf in Florida, and the best fit for groups who aren’t fixed on one famous course. Our stay-and-play golf packages guide explains how to judge one.
- A rental house. For eight or more golfers, a house usually wins on cost and on fun. Orlando’s vacation-home market around Kissimmee and ChampionsGate is enormous. In Naples, a rental can be the key to golf access, but only if the community’s course accepts renters, so ask before you book.
Whichever you choose, book early for peak season. For a group trip in February or March, four to six months ahead is sensible, and Presidents’ Day and spring-break weeks go first.
Getting there and getting around
Florida’s big airports each serve a different golf region, and choosing the right one saves hours. Here are the drives that matter, in normal traffic:
| From | To | Approximate drive |
|---|---|---|
| Tampa (TPA) | Cabot Citrus Farms | About 1 hour |
| Tampa (TPA) or Orlando (MCO) | Streamsong | About 90 minutes |
| Cabot Citrus Farms | Streamsong | About 2 hours |
| Orlando (MCO) | Tampa | About 90 minutes on I-4 |
| Jacksonville (JAX) | TPC Sawgrass | About 30–40 minutes |
| Streamsong | Ponte Vedra | About 3 hours |
| Southwest Florida (RSW) | Naples | About 40 minutes |
A few practical notes. I-4 between Tampa and Orlando is one of the busiest highways in the country, so allow extra time at rush hour. Florida has a lot of toll roads, and rental companies charge for their toll programs, so check the terms or bring your own transponder. And four golfers with four travel bags need a minivan or large SUV, which rental desks run out of first in February.
Getting the clubs there is the usual choice. On most US airlines a golf bag is a standard checked bag at $45 for the first and $55 for the second, each way. Shipping runs about $60–$230 each way depending on distance and speed, and Florida is a short ground shipment from most of the Southeast. Our guide to flying with golf clubs runs the numbers.
Florida golf by group type
Florida’s range of trips is its biggest strength. The same state works for a buddies trip, a family vacation and a couple’s winter escape, as long as you pick the right corner of it.
- Buddies trips. The sand-country loop through Cabot Citrus Farms and Streamsong is the best golf, with short courses for the afternoons and the evenings. For nightlife, base in Tampa or Orlando instead, and add a rental house. Our buddies golf trip playbook covers games and formats.
- Families. Orlando is the obvious base, with resort golf a short drive from the theme parks and Disney’s nine-hole course for kids. The short courses at Streamsong (The Chain) and Cabot Citrus Farms (The Wedge) are just as good for juniors and beginners. See our family golf vacations guide.
- Couples. Amelia Island, Naples and Palm Beach combine good golf with beaches, restaurants and spas. Naples in particular suits a couple who wants two or three good rounds rather than seven. Our golf vacations for couples guide has more.
- Long winter stays. Many snowbirds rent for a month or more in Naples, Fort Myers, Palm Beach or around Orlando. Monthly rentals in golf communities can include course access, but read the terms carefully.
- Improving your game. Florida has more golf schools and academies than any other state. Our golf schools in Florida guide compares them.
A five-day Florida golf itinerary: the sand-country loop
This is the trip we’d recommend to a group of serious golfers on their first Florida golf vacation. It flies into and out of Tampa, uses two resorts and plays seven courses in five days.
- Day 1: Fly to Tampa and drive north to Cabot Citrus Farms, about an hour. Warm up on The Wedge, the 11-hole par-3 course, before dinner.
- Day 2: Karoo in the morning, The Squeeze in the afternoon. The Squeeze’s 10 holes are the perfect second round for tired legs.
- Day 3: Roost in the morning, then drive to Streamsong, about two hours southeast. Check in and play The Chain at sunset.
- Day 4: Streamsong Red in the morning and Blue in the afternoon, or take the afternoon off and play Black tomorrow.
- Day 5: Streamsong Black (or Bone Valley from January 2027), then back to Tampa or Orlando for an evening flight, about 90 minutes either way.
If one of the group insists on TPC Sawgrass, it’s about three hours from Streamsong to Ponte Vedra. It makes more sense as a separate trip, or as the finale of a longer week, flying home from Jacksonville.
Every guide in our Florida golf series
This page is the hub for our Florida golf guides. New guides go live every few days, and each title below becomes a link on the day it publishes.
The sand country
- Streamsong golf resort: Red, Blue, Black, The Chain and Bone Valley
- Cabot Citrus Farms: Karoo, Roost, The Squeeze and The Wedge
- Streamsong vs Cabot Citrus Farms, and how to do both
Florida by region
- Orlando golf vacation: Bay Hill, Grand Cypress and the public courses
- Tampa golf trip
- Naples public golf courses
- Palm Beach golf trip
- Jacksonville and Amelia Island golf
Planning Florida golf
- The TPC Sawgrass green fee, booking windows and blackout dates
- The best public golf courses in Florida
- The best time to golf in Florida, month by month
Related guides
- Winter golf destinations · Best golf resorts in the US · Golf tournament travel · Golf resorts in Florida
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best golf in Florida?
Central Florida’s sand country, where Streamsong’s three 18s (by Coore & Crenshaw, Tom Doak and Gil Hanse) and Cabot Citrus Farms’ Karoo and Roost sit about two hours apart. TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra is the most famous single course, and Innisbrook’s Copperhead is the best-known resort course near Tampa.
What is the best time of year to golf in Florida?
November to April. March has the best weather and the highest prices. December and late April are the best value, with many courses cutting fees 10–20% after Easter. Summer is the cheapest but brings heat, humidity and afternoon thunderstorms.
How much does it cost to play TPC Sawgrass?
The Stadium Course starts at $775 from September to May and $550 from June to August, including a cart, a forecaddie for the group and practice balls. Book 14 days ahead without lodging, or up to 12 months with a stay through TPC Vacations.
Can you play Bay Hill without being a member?
Only by staying at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge. Play is limited to members and lodge guests, so there are no public tee times. Grand Cypress, Orange County National and Disney’s courses are the public alternatives in Orlando.
Is Florida or Arizona better for winter golf?
Arizona is drier and sunnier, with more great courses in one place around Scottsdale. Florida is warmer at night, easier to reach from the East Coast, and now has the Streamsong and Cabot Citrus Farms pair. For a family trip, Florida wins; for a buddies trip, it’s close.
How far apart are Streamsong and Cabot Citrus Farms?
About two hours by car. Cabot Citrus Farms is near Brooksville, about an hour north of Tampa; Streamsong is in Polk County, about 90 minutes from both Tampa and Orlando. Many groups play both in one week, flying in and out of Tampa.
Are Florida golf courses open in summer?
Yes, and summer is when prices are lowest: Cabot Citrus Farms drops to $185 and TPC Sawgrass to $550. Play early, since afternoon thunderstorms are almost daily from June to September, and hurricane season runs from June through November.
Where can you golf in Naples as a visitor?
Tiburón, the Ritz-Carlton’s 36-hole Greg Norman facility, is the main public-access option, plus a handful of public courses. More than 85% of the courses around Naples are private, so if you’re renting, ask whether the community’s course accepts renters.
Do I need a car for a Florida golf trip?
Yes, almost always. Florida’s golf regions are spread out: Streamsong is about 90 minutes from Tampa and Orlando, and Cabot Citrus Farms about an hour north of Tampa. Rent a minivan or large SUV for four golfers with travel bags, and check your rental company’s toll program before you drive.
What is the best golf resort in Florida?
For the golf alone, Streamsong, with three 18s by Coore & Crenshaw, Tom Doak and Gil Hanse, and Bone Valley from January 2027. For a classic resort, Innisbrook, with four courses including the Valspar Championship’s Copperhead. For a tournament venue you can stay at, TPC Sawgrass, Bay Hill or PGA National.
When is hurricane season in Florida, and does it affect golf trips?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, with its peak from mid-August through October. That overlaps Florida’s golf low season, so the risk to a winter trip is small. For a summer or fall trip, buy travel insurance when you pay the first deposit and check each resort’s weather policy.
Florida golf vacations reward a bit of planning more than most. Choose one region, match the month to the region, and check the access rules before you fall in love with a course you can’t book. For most groups, that means Streamsong and Cabot Citrus Farms in the winter, with Sawgrass as the round you plan a separate trip around.
If you’re choosing between Florida and Arizona for a winter trip, the desert is drier and sunnier, with more than 200 courses around Scottsdale, but colder at night: Phoenix averages 68°F in January with lows of 44°F, against 71°F and 52°F in Orlando. Our Scottsdale golf trip guide covers the Arizona side of that decision.
Sources
Official pages and climate data, checked September 11, 2026 unless noted.
- TPC Sawgrass FAQ (green fees, booking windows, blackout dates): tpc.com
- Cabot Citrus Farms, 2026 golf rates: cabot.com
- Innisbrook Golf Resort, offers and packages: innisbrookgolfresort.com
- Evermore Orlando Resort, Grand Cypress golf: evermoreresort.com
- KemperSports, Bone Valley at Streamsong announcement (March 2026): kempersports.com
- PGA Tour, 2027 schedule announcement (August 26, 2026): pgatour.com
- NOAA 1991–2020 January normals by city, via Current Results: currentresults.com
- Also consulted: GolfPass on Naples public golf and Orlando value seasons; Golf Club Rentals Florida seasonal guide; JEL Golf Travel 2026 trip-cost tiers; Bay Hill access as summarized by Premier Golf; World Golf Village and Camp Creek resort pages.
Image credits
| Image | Credit and license |
|---|---|
| Innisbrook Golf Resort, Palm Harbor (featured) | Photo by Chad Davis, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| World Golf Village entrance, St. Augustine | Photo by Michael Rivera, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| Bay Hill, 16th hole | Photo by Matthewjh44, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| TPC Sawgrass 17th hole, aerial | Photo: unknown author, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| Streamsong Black, 5th hole | Photo by Baybay1901, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons. |
| Tiburón golf ball, Naples | Photo by Dan Perry from Atlanta, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. |