The SouthWood Golf Club, which opened only five years ago, has been selected for the third time in four years as the “Best Course” in the state capital by Tallahassee Magazine. It was also bestowed with honors from the 2007/2008 ZAGAT Survey as one of “America’s Top Golf Courses”, “Top 50 Courses for Women” by Golf For Women magazine, and named as an “Unsung” course by T+L Golf magazine. When folks voted for the best course in northwest Florida’s Tallahassee, the voting included all courses, both public and private. SouthWood (a semi-private, daily fee club) beat them all. What an honor!

Designed by the team of Tour player Fred Couples and architect Gene Bates, SouthWood has areas of rolling hills, open spaces, live oaks and plenty of challenges. SouthWood is tough enough to be the home course for the Florida State University men’s and women’s golf teams that compete in the strong NCAA. But, with five sets of tees, the course can play as hard or benign as you choose. From the back tees known as the “Boom Boom” tees after Fred Couples, it measures 7,172 yards, but from the shortest set, called the “Wee” tees, it is a friendly 2,696 yards – perfect for beginners of all ages.

With a large practice area, range, and GPS systems on all the golf carts (something that I always appreciate when I am traveling and playing a new, unfamiliar course) SouthWood gives you an enjoyable full day of golf.

Recently the “Cottages at SouthWood” opened up for golfers to enjoy a stay-and-play experience. Located only about a mile from the golf club, these picturesque guest cottages offer a single or double occupancy place to stay. With only five cottages, housing up to eight players, this is not a large, crowded spot. Featuring fireplaces and a little front porch complete with Southern-style rocking chairs, these cottages would make a great headquarters for a small group on a golfing vacation. They are also situated close enough to the FSU campus to be an excellent location to stay during the University’s popular sporting events.

SouthWood Golf Club is part of the Jacksonville-based St. Joe Company, one of Florida’s largest development companies and owners of many golf clubs across the state.