A COUPLE OF TRAVELERS FLORIDA
St. Petersburg
Riding rescued horses in the ocean at C Ponies in nearby Bradenton
The Southern Swing Florida Golf and Beach Hopping
BY ALICE & DANNY SCOTT
I
T’S THAT TIME OF YEAR when many travelers are ready to trade snow boots and
shovels for flipflops and golf clubs. Luckily, 1350 miles of Florida coastline are dotted with golf resorts that excel in delivering warm winter fun for everyone. Beach hopping and golf are a marriage made in heaven. Sandy beaches, pristine golf courses and blissful sunsets spark romantic moments for couples in the sunshine state. Here are a few choice spots:
First Coast is first up if you are driving southbound to Florida, beginning with Amelia Island off the northern tip of the eastern seaboard. Play on the Oak Marsh Course at Omni Amelia Island Resort or stay at Ritz Carlton Spa-Amelia Island and play The Golf Club of Amelia Island next door. Enjoy their beach fire pit with s’ mores, fine cigars and libation alongside crashing ocean waves. Tour historic downtown and book a boat cruise at the marina for a glimpse of wild horses on a distant shore. Romantic Moment: Concluding a couple’s massage at the Ritz Carlton Spa with a champagne toast.
St. Augustine is the oldest city in America
First Coast
Ritz Carlton Spa-Amelia Island
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with historic sites aplenty including a 17th century Spanish fortress and the World Golf Hall of Fame with its Slammer and Squire course. Stay at the nearby Ponte Vedra Inn and Club right on the beach with a golf course across the street and TPC Sawgrass just ten minutes away. Designed by Pete
