7 minute read
FLORIDA
St. Petersburg
Riding rescued horses in the ocean at C Ponies in nearby Bradenton FLORIDA
The Southern Swing
Florida Golf and Beach Hopping
BY ALICE & DANNY SCOTT
IT’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
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 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
St. Augustine
TPC Sawgrass
Dye, it is host to The Players Championship and famous for the 17th island green. Romantic Moment: Embracing on the Swilcan Bridge replica at the World Golf Hall of Fame and recalling or dreaming of your first St. Andrews experience.
In Palm Coast at Hammock Beach, tall palms line the dramatic drive for a palatial welcome. Secluded in nature on the Atlantic Ocean, it claims two of the top courses in Florida. The Conservatory, a traditional links course by Tom Watson appeals to players who appreciate a challenge while Jack Nicklaus’s Ocean Course meanders along typical Floridian flora and waterways until the striking close of seaside holes, aptly named the Bear Claw. Turtles hatch and star fish sparkle between rocks on the exclusive beach. Romantic Moment: Sunrise on your balcony with a cup of coffee overlooking the resort and ocean beyond.
Daytona Beach has rows of hotels on the surf, all connected by a brick walkway. Drive your car for miles right on the flat
beach or zoom over to the International Speedway and watch the professional racers. Choose from 28 courses in the area including two at the LPGA International headquarters –The Hills Course where sand hill cranes strut their stuff and the Jones Course designed by Rees in 1994. Seafood at Joe’s Crab Shack on the pier is freshly caught and parties rock on the roof. Romantic Moment: Watching a Space X launch across the sky from the end of the pier as ocean waves lap below.
Palm Beach
Hammock Beach Daytona Beach
Joe’s Crab Shack
Miami
Trump National Doral FLORIDA
Miami delivers winter golf as it should be from high end to solid municipals within 30 minutes of downtown. Miami Beach Golf Club, Normandy Shores and Pembroke Lakes are excellent choices for championship golf as you embrace the warm temps and steady breezes amidst picturesque, swaying palms. Shoot for the moon at Trump National Doral where 5 star is the only accommodation option and four fun courses include the famous PGA tour stop, Blue Monster, and the more affordable Silver Fox. Romantic Moment: Basking in the glow of a fading sunset while sipping tonics on a beach veranda.
Naples on the gulf coast is laced with soft, sugar white sand. La Playa Beach and Golf Resort has been named #1 most romantic Naples Resorts. Naples Grande Beach Resort boasts 72 holes to play while Ritz Carlton Golf Resort’s Tiburon is managed by Troon. Their Mediterranean clubhouse is as impressive as the history of PGA and LPGA tour events played on 36 Greg Norman holes. The facility is on the top 20 list for Florida. Ritz Carlton Beach Hotel, four miles away is transforming itself to top the luxury lifestyle list. Romantic Moment: Simultaneous birdies on a par 3. Marco Island is one of the best shelling spots in the world and a bridge away from Naples to the south. Stay at JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort to play their two private courses, back on the mainland – The Rookery and Hammock Bay. Couples come from around the world to wed at Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort & Spa. Stay anywhere on the island for access to more Naples’ public courses, including the two at Lely - Mustang designed by Lee Trevino and Flamingo Island by Robert Trent Jones Sr.
Romantic Moment: Gathering seashells before the light of dawn.
Naples
Tiboron Golf Rersort Marco Island
JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort
St. Petersburg
The Vinoy
St. Petersburg brings travelers north along the gulf coast where the historic landmark, Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club has been beautifully restored to modern convenience in keeping with its time. Guests are shuttled to the private Vinoy Golf Club. The exotic clubhouse with onion dome atop a 80-foot minaret is guarded by two sphinxes, setting the stage for the par 71 course which is a certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary designed by Ron Garl with over 900 palms from around the world. Trade Winds Island Grand Resort at St. Pete’s Beach is award winning for its crystal white sand. The concierge arranges tee times at partnering public courses. Romantic Moment: Riding rescued horses in the ocean at C Ponies in nearby Bradenton.
Palm Beach Gardens is an elite area and home to the Honda Classic at PGA National Resort and Spa. Five championship courses and the new Staples par 3 are a delight to play every day. While the grand spa is undergoing a massive renovation, nearby beaches offer long strands for strolling, kayaking, and fishing. Shuttles transport from the resort. Sign up for unique airboat rides or Eco tours. Romantic moment: Sharing the 50-foot sprays of saltwater as the Atlantic breaks against the shoreline at Blowing Rocks Preserve..
Palm Beach
PGA National Resort
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