GOLF Magazine

Florida: Golfer's Paradise and Much More

For golfers, there’s nowhere on earth quite like Florida. The Sunshine State boasts more golf courses than any other state in the U.S. In fact, there are more golf holes per capita in Collier County and more golf courses in Palm Beach County than in any other county in the nation. Maybe that’s why golf greats like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Mark O'Meara, David Duval, Greg Norman and many others call the Sunshine State home.

In addition to many smart pro golfers, Florida is also home to all four Tour headquarters, as well as that of the PGA. Pros and fans alike also like the convenience of many tournaments (more than any other state), with five PGA Tour events, seven Senior PGA Tour tournaments, three on the LPGA Tour, and another three with the Nike Tour.

These tournaments and other great rounds of golf take place on layouts from the likes of Ross, Fazio, Dye, Nicklaus, and many more. In fact, Florida has more GOLF Magazine Medal winners than any other state. Florida charms you with its long-time favorites, yet it is always serving up something new and grand on and off the links.

Florida golf vacation options are endless. To start your search for great golf in the eight varied regions of the state, call Visit Florida at 888/7FLA USA or visit their website at www.gm.flausa.com. In addition, golfers can also call 877/PLAY FLA to receive a free ‘Florida Golf Vacation Planning Guide.’

For golfers heading to Florida by car, one of the Official Florida Welcome Centers is an ideal resource. Here, duffers can get detailed information and toast their arrival with complimentary fresh Florida orange or grapefruit juice. Welcome Centers are located on I-10 near Pensacola, US 231 near Campbellton, I-75 near Jennings, and I-95 near Yulee.

However you launch your links journey, here is a sample of what awaits you in the eight great regions of Florida.

The Northeast--History, Scenery, and Serenity

Few places combine turn-of-the-century ambiance with modern amenities like Northeast Florida. Amelia Island, Florida’s first beach resort, lures vacationers with its relaxed pace, resorts, and the island’s charming Victorian town of Fernandina Beach. To the south, there is plenty to do in the shadows of modern Jacksonville’s soaring skyline--great shopping, museums, art, culture, and beaches are all nearby. Just a bit further south, history defines St. Augustine, the nation’s oldest city.

Golfers flock to World Golf Village, just north of St. Augustine, where the game of golf is showcased with the World Golf Hall of Fame, a world-class resort hotel, vacation ownership through Vistana, lots of golf, and much more. Nearby, Ponte Vedra Beach is a thriving as a golf destination, with a wide variety of courses and accommodations options.

Central East--Speed, Nature, and Space

The Central East section of Florida is the world’s ‘birthplace of speed.’ Drivers set automobile records on Ormond Beach in the 1900s and, today, driving is still permitted--but more slowly--along these hard-packed sands.

At the John F. Kennedy Space Center, IMAX theater presentations, tours, and more bring space travel to life, as does the Astronaut Hall of Fame. Whether you want speed, nature, space, or just some great golf, the Central East region accommodates.

Central--Attractions, Excitement, and Natural Wonders

Any golfer’s family can enjoy Walt Disney World, while golf addicts enjoy the resort’s (and area’s) numerous layouts. Time-tested favorites for other daytime excursions include Silver Springs near Ocala, Cypress Gardens in Winter Haven, Bok Tower in Lake Wales, and the Zora Hurston National Museum of Fine Arts in Eatonville, while Church Street Station gives downtown Orlando plenty of nightlife.

Other options include the Kissimmee-St. Cloud area, which recalls its unique roots during rodeo time, as well as plenty of natural attractions in nearby Lake County and Seminole County. Of course, there are many public layouts to be found here as well.

Southeast--The Gold Coast

Palatial homes and luxurious golf resorts in and around Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Miami inspired the name ‘Gold Coast.’ Shopping ‘gold’ is found on Palm Beach’s Worth Avenue, rivaling the boutiques of Paris, Milan, or Rodeo Drive. Boca Raton, also very chic, is a popular resort destination (there are, however, also many moderately priced golf resorts and attractions).

Fort Lauderdale, the ‘Venice of America,’ has great beaches, shops, and museums. Golfers will love Lauderdale’s many layouts, while golf widows and widowers will love shopping at famed Sawgrass Mills.

Visitors enter another dazzling world in Miami and Miami Beach. South Beach boasts its art deco hotels, restaurants, fashion boutiques, and museums, while Key Biscayne and other parts of metro Miami offer miles of beaches and great golf. To the south, Florida Keys visitors can go island hopping along the Overseas Highway all the way to Key West.

Southwest--A Natural Beauty

Centuries-old artifacts prove that this area has long been a haven for the good life. Sanibel and Captiva Islands, near Fort Myers, are world-famous for collecting seashells, while natural beauty is also the main attraction at the 5,000-acre J.N. ‘Ding’ Darling Wildlife Refuge.

To the south, visiting golfers and their families can savor Naples and its glamorous resorts, fashion boutiques, and gourmet restaurants. Just a bit further south, Marco Island has beachfront resorts, watersports, fine restaurants, a great golf nearby.

Golf is booming in this part of the state. New resort courses, as well as some fine layouts around real estate, have made Southwest Florida one of the hottest places to play golf year-round.

Central West--A Little of Everything

Visitors to this part of Florida can have a little bit of everything on and off its great golf courses. A wide variety of resorts and golf courses combine with cities and towns to make this region a top tourist destination.

Tampa’s Ybor City is the place to feast on Spanish paella and Cuban specialties, while nearby Busch Gardens continues to dray happy visitors of all ages. The nearby city of St. Petersburg’s waterfront features numerous highly-rated museums, galleries, and trendy restaurants. There’s seemingly a golf course (or golf-oriented resort) around every bend of road or water in this region.

North Central--Natural History

Towering pines, ancient oaks, and rolling hills place a unique signature on this section of the Sunshine State. The addition of several interesting layouts make this undiscovered part of Florida an interesting possibility for golfers looking for something different.

Gainesville’s many offerings include the Florida Museum of Natural History--one of the top ten in the nation. Antique lovers head to the nearby towns of Micanopy, High Springs, Quincy, and Havana, as well the quiet old-time fishing village of Steinhatchee. Tallahassee, the state’s capital, is steeped in history, including the DeSoto Site, where the first Christmas in the New World was celebrated in 1539.

Northwest--Southern Hospitality Meets the Beach

Southern hospitality and extraordinary beaches are common threads for the popular resort communities of Northwest Florida. Along with Southwest Florida, this part of the Sunshine State is also experiencing a golf boom.

Award-winning beaches include Grayton, Fort Walton, Panama City, Navarre, and Destin, which is also known ‘the world’s luckiest fishing village.’ The town of Seaside replicates an old-fashioned beachfront village, with lodging, restaurants, shops, and galleries. The city of Pensacola is also a popular destination for golfers and their families.

With eight great regions, it’s easy to see why, for golfers, the state has everything needed for a perfect links vacation. Whether it’s the trip of a lifetime on and off the links or an outing with a bunch of golf buddies, the Sunshine State is definitely in the forecast this year. To get started, be sure to call Visit Florida at 888/7FLA USA or visit their website at www.gm.flausa.com for even more great golf vacation tips.

DORAL GOLF RESORT AND SPA

Fall and winter golf vacationers in search of South Florida's great climate, world-class golf facilities, and pampering spa services will find the Doral Golf Resort and Spa to be the ideal golf vacation destination. One of the nation's premier self-contained resorts, Doral is known as the Kingdom of Golf(tm) for its unparalleled golf offerings. The resort is one of the few in the world to provide 90 holes of golf on five championship courses. The Doral is also the only resort to hold three professional tournaments - Franklin Templeton Shootout, The Office Depot, an LPGA event and the Genuity Doral Championship.

The famed Blue Monster course, home to the Genuity Doral Championship, has seen the game's greatest players attempt to navigate its daunting bunkers and challenging greens. From Palmer to Nicklaus to Woods, the Blue Monster is a place where legends come alive. Other championship courses include Jerry Pate's Silver Course, the Red Course, and the Gold Course. The new Greg Norman 'Great White' course opened to rave reviews earlier this year and is the only desert-style course in the Southeastern United States, and the new site for the Franklin Templeton Shootout. The resort also features the highly regarded Jim McLean Golf School and a new "Synergy Golf Conditioning" class to improve physical fitness on and off the course. Additional recreational facilities include the renowned Arthur Ashe Tennis Center, which features 11 tennis courts, both hard and clay, as well as state-of-the-art technology used for group and individual instruction.

Doral has also established itself as a family destination, with the opening of the Blue Lagoon water recreation area. This aquatic playground features four pools, a 125-foot waterslide, and poolside spa services. The Great White Falls, origin of the Blue Lagoon's water flow, pumps more than one million gallons of water daily through the lagoon. Camp Doral, conveniently located within the area, offers completely supervised interactive recreational programming for Doral's younger guests. Special family vacation packages are very popular.

For those who would prefer to just sit back and be pampered, the award-winning Spa at Doral offers trademark regimens of beauty, fitness, and integrated wellness in a setting of European luxury. The 148,000-square-foot facility features 48 luxury suites, an elegant fine-dining restaurant, and indoor and outdoor swimming pools. A wide variety of spa packages are available, as well as a new recipe book for guests to enjoy a balanced diet once they return home.

Along with the Spa's luxury suites, other accommodation options include 693 newly renovated guestrooms in three- and four-story lodges close to the main clubhouse and the Club Lodge at Doral's Executive Level Club Lodge services and amenities. A wide variety of restaurants make each meal almost as memorable as the golf. The resort is also long known for providing award-winning services and planning assistance to groups, including new interactive theme parties and over 100,000 sq. feet of meeting space.

Located just seven miles west of Miami International Airport, Doral Golf Resort and Spa is owned and operated by KSL Recreation Corporation, one of America's leading owner-operators of resorts and recreational facilities. Quite simply, the 693-room Doral is one of the most prestigious golf, spa, and meeting destinations in the nation.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.doralresort.com, or call (800) 71-DORAL.

GRAND CYPRESS RESORT

Part of Grand Cypress Resort, the 146-room Villas of Grand Cypress are spacious and luxurious, providing guests with a variety of accommodations options, from Club Suites to one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom Villas. Guests are pampered with amenities like 24-hour room service, in-room spa services, morning paper delivery, and twice-daily housekeeping. All rooms have a scenic view of either the waterways or fairways of the Jack Nicklaus-designed North Course.

Golf at the resort is also world-class. With 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus-signature design golf, Grand Cypress Resort offers golfers of all skill levels one of the finest and most diverse menus of golf to be found anywhere. Honored by a Gold Medal from GOLF Magazine as one of the finest resorts in the country, Grand Cypress boasts two distinct courses set against some of the most scenic background in Florida.

The Grand Cypress Course, comprising the North, South, and East nines, offers a variety of physical and mental stimuli, providing a test of accuracy, rather than strength and distance. The North and South nines, the original Grand Cypress layout built in 1984, feature terraced fairways, generous landing areas, mounds, and platform greens with yawning bunkers. The East nine, added in 1986, is more generous, with less bunkering, particularly in front of the greens, which allows more run-up shots.

The New Course at Grand Cypress, which opened in 1988, adds another dimension of play, with steeper and more challenging bunkers and slopes. Set in the midst of an open meadow, the New Course was inspired by the Old Course at St. Andrews. Visions of the St. Andrews course appear throughout the New Course, including pot bunkers as deep as 12 feet, seven large double greens, a snaking burn (creek) running through three holes, stone walls along the 15th and 17th holes, and even a stone bridge. Very little water comes into play and few trees are located within the interior of the course, allowing ample room to drive the ball.

“The Grand Cypress Course is two to three shots more difficult than the New Course,” says Joe Angelino, head professional. “Over the 45 holes, you virtually hit every shot in the bag and play in all kinds of conditions.” In addition to the great courses, the Grand Cypress Academy of Golf offers a wide array of instruction options (including a unique Mail-In Video Lesson for past students).

The Clubhouse features and award-winning pro shop, as well as two dining options, both with magnificent views of the North and South Courses. It’s a great way to end a day at Grand Cypress Golf Club. Of course, ending the day with a night (or more) at 1,500-acre Grand Cypress Resort is even better.

The Villas of Grand Cypress offer golf vacation accommodations at their finest. These luxurious units offer secluded convenience, world-class amenities, and a variety of accommodations options, all within walking distance of 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus-designed golf and unparalleled recreation.

The Mediterranean-style complex offers a choice of luxury accommodations, including club suites and one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom villas. The club suites, which average 650 square feet, are popular with vacationers and meeting groups alike. They include a spacious bedroom, a separate sitting area, a large luxury bath, and a patio or veranda overlooking the fairways or waterways of the golf course.

If even more space is desired, guests may choose one- and two-bedroom villas, featuring up to 1,700 square feet and including an oversized living room and dining room, as well as a fully-equipped kitchen. Three- and four-bedroom configurations provide up to 3,100 square feet of space and a variety of floor plans is offered.

The Villas of Grand Cypress golf packages are simply some of the best duffers deals in Florida golf vacations. For those who also like to watch great golf, the resort is hosting the JCPenney Afterschool Open, a full-field LPGA event, January 12-14.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.grandcypress.com, or call (800) 835-7377.

MISSION INN

Imagine a place far from the crowds, nestled among green rolling hills and framed by picturesque strands of tall pines and oak and cypress trees. Imagine the charm of a country inn, styled with a unique Spanish flavor, complete with red tile roofs, open courtyards, wrought-iron gates, and bubbling fountains.

Further imagine this secluded place is also an award-winning golf (and tennis) resort, featuring two challenging championship courses boasting the highest elevation changes in Florida, as well as eight tennis courts, complete conference facilities, and an endless list of amenities like varied dining, a full-service marina, a heated pool and spa, exercise room, a fitness trail, shopping, and much more.

Imagine all of this and you will have Mission Inn Golf and Tennis Resort, a extraordinary Spanish-style resort located just 35 minutes northwest of Orlando in the picturesque hamlet of Howey-in-the-Hills.

Originally developed by William Howey, the first golf course was built in 1926 in the adjacent hillsides by Charles E. Clarke of Troon, Scotland. Nick Beucher and his wife Margaret bought the golf course in 1964 and the resort has been owned and operated by the Beucher family since. After converting to a Spanish-colonial golf resort with overnight accommodations in 1969, a restaurant and convention center were added in 1972, 40 more guest rooms were built in 1976, and a Grand Ballroom and banquet and meeting rooms were completed in 1979. Today, the resort boasts 132 deluxe hotel rooms, 38 club suites, six one-bedroom suites, 13 two-bedroom villas, and more than 30,000 square feet of meeting space.

The original golf course, El Campeon (The Champion), is the third-oldest resort course in Florida. You can’t really say you know Florida golf until you’ve played this classic Sunshine State layout.

In 1992, the Beucher family commissioned former PGA Tour star Gary Koch to build a second 18-hole championship course. The result was Las Colinas (The Hills). Although not yet as steeped in tradition as the original course, Las Colinas has gathered its share of awards during its relatively brief lifetime. Also in 1992, Mission Inn opened a new clubhouse that features a popular pro shop and Nicker’s, a casual restaurant and lounge with great views of the golf course and property.

In 1993, Mission Inn built the largest outdoor experiential training course in the Southeast U.S. This innovative corporate training program has been used by many top Fortune 500 companies. Known for its unique outdoor venues, Mission Inn added its 3,000-square-foot screened lakeside pavilion in 1994. Late-1996 marked the completion of the large Legends Banquet Room, featuring panoramic views of the first fairway on Las Colinas.

Today, new two- and three-bedroom fairway villas are being built along El Campeon’s fifth hole, providing a Mission Inn lifestyle every day of the year. In addition, more than two million dollars of additional expansion and renovation is underway, including classic stone bridges right on the golf courses.

Mission Inn offers several golf packages (ask about the Classic and Getaway plans, as well as the new wLegends package). Guests of the resort may choose from a variety of accommodations, including deluxe hotel rooms, club suites, two-bedroom villas and more.

For further information, visit their website at www.missioninnresort.com, complete the Reader Service Page, or call (800) 874-9053.

OCEAN HAMMOCK GOLF CLUB

Florida’s first true oceanfront golf course in more than 70 years made its highly anticipated debut in December, with the designer, Jack Nicklaus hitting the inaugural drive off the first tee.

Located along Florida’s northeast coastline between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, Ocean Hammock Golf Club, with six holes edging the Atlantic, promises to be something special.

The designer of some 200 courses worldwide--including the highly acclaimed Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio--Nicklaus made sure his stamp was all over the par-72, 7,201-yard layout at Ocean Hammock. Strategy and scenery intersect at nearly every turn of the course, with great care taken by the designer to ensure Ocean Hammock’s terrain works in harmony with its surroundings.

“The relationship between a golf course and its environment is one that goes hand in hand,” says Nicklaus, who has been honored by environmental groups for his work on courses nationwide. “Ocean Hammock is very much a part of its coastal setting and the surrounding environment helps determine the overall character of the course.”

Fittingly, Ocean Hammock’s closing holes serve as the lasting impression. Nicklaus has dubbbed the courses final four holes as ‘The Bear Claw,’ and the golf legend says they should rank among some of the games more memorable finishing foursomes.

From the 450-yard, par-4 15th (probably thee toughest hole on the course) to the breathtaking 466-yard, par-4, final hole (which runs parallel to the beach and surf), ‘The Bear Claw will make players fortunate to get through without a significant scrape or two (althought the views will always be enjoyable).

The classic Nicklaus design trademarks are all in place to make Ocean Hammock a strategic delight: multiple options off the tee; beautiful, but challenging, par 4s to close each nine; a beguiling mix of reachable and virtually unreachable par 5s; and a variety of holes that dogleg left and right, flow uphill and downhill, and play to greens large and small.

Chuck Kandt, the head golf pro, predicts that Ocean Hammock will ascend to the heights of some of the country’s most highly regarded courses. “Ocean Hammock will provide a golfing experience like no other on the east coast,” says Kandt. “We have a goal to draw big-name tournaments here and I’m confident it will happen.” The USGA wasted little time in acknowledging Ocean Hammock, naming the course to host regional qualifying rounds in May for the 2001 U.S. Open.

Greens fees for Palm Coast Golf Resort guests are around $100, while rates for public play vary from $125 to $175.

For more information visit their website at www.palmcoastresort.com, complete the Reader Service Page, or call (904) 447-4653.

PGA NATIONAL RESORT & SPA

Everyone can play and stay like a champion at PGA National Resort & Spa, a GOLF Magazine Silver Medal resort and one of the nation’s premier sports, wellness, and leisure destinations. Home of the PGA of America and site of the PGA Seniors' Championship, this Palm Beach County resort definitely champions the cause of visiting winter golfers.

Located within the 2,340-acre PGA National community in Palm Beach Gardens' the award-winning PGA National Resort & Spa boasts 339 oversized newly renovated guest rooms and 60 Club Cottages; five 18-hole tournament golf courses; the innovative Academy of Golf; a world-class spa; 19 tennis courts; a health and racquet club, with a personal training facility; a croquet complex; outdoor swimming pools; a 26-acre lake with private beach; eight restaurants and lounges, including Shula's Steak House, ranked as one of the Top Ten Steak Houses in America; and a 33,900-square-foot conference center.

As the headquarters for the PGA, the resort hosts the annual PGA Seniors Championship, as well as other major international and national tournaments. The Champion Course, which hosts the PGA Seniors Championship, opened in 1981 and was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 1990. The 15th, 16th, and 17th holes are called "The Bear Trap" and comprise one of the toughest finishes of any golf course in the world. The General Course, which opened in 1984, was designed by Arnold Palmer. The Estate Course, designed by Karl Litten, is the primary site for the Club Professional Winter Tournament program. The Squire Course, named for Gene Sarazen, is known as the resort's 'thinking golfer course,' providing a test of accuracy. The Haig Course, designed by Tom and George Fazio, was the first of PGA National Resort & Spa’s courses and features rosebushes at the 150 yard markers as a tribute to the course's namesake, Walter Hagen, who often advised people to stop and smell the roses.

The Academy of Golf at PGA National Resort & Spa features some of the country’s top instructors, teaching a unified approach based on the lastest findings in scientific research on the golf swing and learning. It has one of the lowest student-to-instructor ratios around, guaranteeing plenty of individual help. The latest in computer and video technology analyzes every component of the student’s game, from driving to putting. Students are then directed through a specially designed program to fit their individual needs.

The multi-million-dollar Spa at PGA National Resort offers a full range of health and beauty services, as well as a full-service salon. Whether you're looking for golf during the holidays or a golf holiday anytime this winter, PGA National Resort & Spa lets you stay and play like the pros.

For more information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.pga-resorts.com, or call (800) 633-9150.

SANDESTIN GOLF AND BEACH RESORT

Located in Northwest Florida on the Panhandle between Pensacola and Panama City (just eight miles from Destin), Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is a 2,400-acre full service resort with three distinct communities, 730 rental accommodations, four golf courses (the fourth, Raven Gold Club, opened in March), 15 tennis courts, four swimming pools, a 98-slip marina, two waterfront restaurants, a pub, more than 30 specialty shops, 33,000 square feet of flexible function space, and much more.

Golfers will be spoiled at this premier resort, with 73 holes of highly rated golf and the new Golf Learning and Performance Center. Burnt Pine Golf Club was designed by Rees Jones and offers panoramic views of Choctawhatchee Bay. Baytowne Golf Club is a Tom Jackson design, with three holes playing into Beachside by way of Babe’s Tunnel underneath U.S. Highway 98 and offering elevated views of the Gulf of Mexico. Links Golf Course, also designed by Tom Jackson, plays along bass-filled lagoons, with large greens contoured to present protected pin placements.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Jr., the Raven Golf Club promises to be one of the finest golf courses of the next century. Weaving its way through wetlands, marshes, and thick stands of pine trees, it will feature, according to Jones, “a run of some of the best par threes, fours, and fives in the Southeast.” Raven Golf Club makes Sandestin the only resort in the world to have courses designed by both of the Jones brothers.

Resort Central at Sandestin is the reception and check-in area for Sandestin’s 565 one- to four-bedroom villas, townhomes, and condominiums, as well as 175 bay- and resort-view Inn at Sandestin hotel rooms and suites.  The three communities--Beachside, Dockside, and Linkside--each have their own ambiance and special activities.

Guests receive a Park Pass at check-in that also entitles them to unlimited use of Sandestin’s health club, children’s on-property fishing license, bicycles, tram, boogie boards, canoes, kayaks, and a host of resort programs and activities at no extra charge. In addition guests can enjoy a as a complimentary hour of tennis court time daily on any of 15 natural grass, hydrogrid clay, or hard surfaces. Sandestin’s signature restaurant, Elephant Walk, derives its name from the 1954 Elizabeth Taylor film of the same name.

For further information, complete the Reader Service Page, visit their website at www.sandestin.com, or call (800) 277-0800.