Trip Planning
Florida Golf Trip Planning Guide
Regions, logistics, routing, and how to build a week-long golf itinerary.
Updated · August 11, 2026
Start with a region, not a course list
Florida is long. Miami to Jacksonville is 340 miles — further than Boston to New York. A trip that tries to cover both in one week ends up spending half its time driving. Pick a region (or two adjacent ones) and build from there.
The six natural golf regions:
- Palm Beach / Treasure Coast — Golf's historical heartland in Florida. PGA National, The Medalist, Seminole (private), Trump National Jupiter, The Bear's Club. Highest concentration of elite private clubs in the state.
- Miami / Fort Lauderdale — Urban golf landscape. Doral (Trump National Doral, Blue Monster), Crandon Park (public, Key Biscayne), Fisher Island Club (private). Better for combining golf with nightlife and city visits.
- Orlando / Central Florida — Most resort golf infrastructure in Florida. Bay Hill, Lake Nona Golf Club, Streamsong (1.5 hours south), ChampionsGate, Disney courses. Theme park corridor adds logistics to manage.
- Tampa Bay — Innisbrook (home of the Valspar), World Golf Hall of Fame (World Golf Village, St. Johns), Copperhead and Island courses. Underrated golf region.
- Naples / Southwest Florida — Tiburón (home of the QBE Shootout and CME Group Tour Championship), Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Grey Oaks (private). Winter-heavy destination with older-money clientele.
- Northeast Florida (Jacksonville / Ponte Vedra) — TPC Sawgrass and the Sawgrass Country Club corridor. PGA Tour headquarters is here. Amelia Island Plantation, LPGA International. Best non-Miami city for aviation access.
A week-long itinerary template
Fly into Jacksonville (JAX) → Ponte Vedra Beach corridor → fly out of Tampa
Day 1: Arrive Jacksonville. Check in to the Marriott at Sawgrass (on-site). Day 2: TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course — book 90+ days out. Day 3: TPC Sawgrass Valley Course or World Golf Village King & Bear. Day 4: Drive south to Orlando (2 hours). Bay Hill Club & Lodge check-in. Day 5: Bay Hill Club — request a lodge room to secure tee access. Day 6: Drive west to Tampa/Palm Harbor (1.5 hours). Innisbrook Copperhead Course. Day 7: Innisbrook Island Course or Streamsong Red (1 hour further south). Fly out of Tampa (TPA).
Gear logistics
Florida airports (MIA, MCO, TPA, JAX, FLL, RSW) all handle golf bags without drama. Southwest, Delta, and American charge $35–75 each way for a travel bag. If you're renting a car — which you are; Florida transit outside Miami is not viable — a midsize SUV or minivan handles a foursome's gear easily. Book through Hertz/National Gold for the fastest pickups at airports.
Shipping clubs via FedEx/UPS to your hotel is increasingly popular for longer trips. Cost is similar to airline fees and you don't wrangle gear through security.
Playing private courses
Florida has the highest concentration of elite private clubs in the country, and many are legitimately impossible without a member. A few paths in:
- Resort access — Bay Hill, Innisbrook, and Tiburón all have lodge/resort facilities. Staying there unlocks course access that isn't otherwise available.
- Reciprocal access — If you belong to a private club at home, call your club's membership director and ask about Florida reciprocals. Many elite northern clubs have formal reciprocal arrangements with Florida equivalents.
- Concierge services — Several golf concierge firms specialize in Florida private-club access for visitors. Results vary; price is high.
- The honest answer — Seminole, The Medalist, Alotian affiliates, and similar clubs are genuinely invitation-only. No workaround exists. Enjoy the public courses, which in Florida are genuinely excellent.
Budget framework (per person, one week)
| Category | Budget | Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | $300–500 | $600–1,200 |
| Car rental (7 days) | $350–500 | $500–800 |
| Hotel (7 nights) | $700–1,400 | $1,500–3,500 |
| Golf (6 rounds) | $600–1,200 | $1,500–3,000 |
| Food & drink | $400–700 | $800–1,500 |
| Total | $2,350–4,300 | $4,900–10,000 |
The premium column assumes resort properties with included access (Bay Hill Lodge, Innisbrook) and courses like TPC Sawgrass, Streamsong Black.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where is the best place in Florida for a golf trip?
- Ponte Vedra Beach (TPC Sawgrass corridor) for bucket-list golf; Palm Beach area for concentration of elite clubs; Orlando for resort infrastructure and flexibility; Innisbrook/Tampa Bay for value and Valspar-tier quality.
- How far in advance should I book tee times in Florida?
- For TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, 90 days out or more in peak season. For most resort courses in peak season (January–March), 2–3 weeks ahead. Summer bookings can often be made 3–5 days in advance.
- Can I ship golf clubs to Florida?
- Yes, and it is increasingly common. FedEx and UPS both handle golf bags well. Cost is roughly $75–125 each way door-to-door. Compare to airline fees and the hassle of baggage claim — shipping often wins on convenience.