How to Play Golf in Florida

The setup

Florida is one of the few places on earth where serious golf is genuinely available to anyone. The same state that hosts The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass and shelters Seminole Golf Club — possibly the most exclusive course in the country — also has a deep bench of public daily-fee tracks that are genuinely excellent. The spread is wide. Knowing which tier you're dealing with before you arrive saves time and frustration.

Three access types

Public / daily-fee. Show up, pay the rate, play. This covers the majority of Florida courses, including resort tracks at Streamsong, PGA National, Innisbrook, and World Golf Village. GolfNow lists tee times for most of them. Book 7–14 days out for peak season (December–April); same-week if you're in the summer heat.

Semi-private. A private club that sells public or twilight tee times, often through its own website. Examples: Bay Hill Club & Lodge (during most of the year), several Tiburón courses in Naples. These offer a private-club feel at public-access price points — worth seeking out.

Private / invitation-only. Seminole Golf Club, Alotian (Arkansas, but the Florida equivalent in exclusivity), The Bear's Club in Jupiter, Medalist Golf Club. You need a member to bring you. No exceptions. If a site says "Contact for pricing" without a booking engine, assume private.

How to book public tee times

1. GolfNow — the standard aggregator. Covers 95% of Florida public courses. Use the "Hot Deals" filter for same-week discounts, especially afternoons in summer.
2. Direct booking — resort websites often have better pricing than aggregators and sometimes hold back tee times. Try the course's own site before GolfNow.
3. Hotel packages — if you're staying at a resort property (Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort Naples, PGA National Resort, Innisbrook), packages bundle lodging and rounds. These lock in rates and guarantee tee times, which matters at peak season.

What to pay

Pricing varies enormously. A baseline:

• Summer twilight at a daily-fee course — $40–70 walking
• Mid-tier public course, winter morning — $90–140
• Resort course, peak season — $150–250 per round
• Ultra-premium (Streamsong Black, TPC Sawgrass Players Course) — $300–500

Never book a "members-only" price you found online without verifying it's actually available to you. These are sometimes displayed in error on aggregator sites.

Caddies

Florida is a cart state by default. Walking is allowed at some courses but not all; call ahead. Caddie programs are rare outside the top resorts and private clubs. Streamsong offers caddies. Innisbrook has limited caddie availability. Most courses assume you're riding.

Dress code

Collared shirt and tailored shorts or slacks at virtually every serious course. Denim is prohibited most places. Golf shoes required at resort and private tracks. Always check the specific course's policy — some are more relaxed than others.

When to play

December through April is Florida's prime golf season. Temperatures are 65–80°F, humidity is low, and the courses are in top condition. This is also peak pricing and tightest availability.

May through November is the wet season. Afternoon thunderstorms arrive like clockwork from roughly 2–5pm. Play morning rounds, watch radar, and build an hour of flex into your schedule. Rates drop 30–50% and courses are much less crowded.