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Tim McDonald | VISIT FLORIDA Golf Insider
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Florida Featured 18

Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club - Copperhead Course
Good finishing holes should have drama and increasing difficulty, and the Copperhead course's 16th has both. From a hilltop tee, the narrow fairway is protected by water to the right and trees to the left. Finding the ribbon of fairway is just the first problem: One must then thread a long-iron through a narrow gap in the trees to find a two-tier green. Par is a great score on this hole.
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1

Doral Golf Courses - TPC Blue Monster Course

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The once-fearsome TPC Blue Monster at Doral course has been tweaked in recent years to return it to architect Dick Wilson's original design. For more than 45 years, PGA TOUR players have been challenged by this course's strategic bunkers, long fairways and a deep Bermuda rough, as well as water hazards. The 18th hole boasts a signature fountain.
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Miami

2

Key West Golf Club

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Key West Golf Club is the only Caribbean style golf course in the United States. Designed by golf legend Rees Jones, this 18 hole, par 70 championship course is suited to players of all abilities. The course winds through lush Keys landscaping and includes a full service facility offering rental clubs, driving range, PGA Professional instruction, a fully stocked Pro Shop and dining for 150 people.
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Key West

3

Belleview Biltmore Resort & Spa

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This jewel of a course, designed by Donald Ross, is a centerpiece of the historic old resort. This hole, long, narrow and tightly guarded by trees and ponds, sets the tone. And the typically tiny crowned green will repel all but the most accurate approach shots.
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Clearwater

4

PGA Golf Club

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The PGA Village, owned and operated by the PGA of America, boasts two courses designed by Tom Fazio, the Ryder and the Wanamaker, and the Dye Course designed by Pete Dye. That's 54 holes of championship golf from two of golf's legendary architects.
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Port St. Lucie

5

Saint Andrews Club- The Olde Course

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The beautiful 18th hole on the Greg Norman-designed Gold course has water on the left and a deep-faced fairway bunker on the right. A drive down the center of the fairway leaves a second shot slightly over water to a green surrounded by greenside bunkers. With the Tiburon Clubhouse, Fitness & Health Club and The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples as the backdrop, this finishing hole provides a memorable view.
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Delray Beach

6

Amelia Island Plantation - Ocean Links Course

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While many of the holes on this Bobby Weed-designed Ocean Links course look like typical Low Country golf, skirting wild marshes and stately live oaks, this hole and three others border the broad Atlantic beachfront. Open to the breezes, club selection on this hole is always tricky.
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Amelia Island

7

Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge

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The Championship course's sixth hole is always a highlight during the PGA Tour's annual stop on Arnie's home course. The long, narrow fairway wraps around a lake from tee to green. Players have to decide how much water to cut off - twice.
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Orlando

8

Grand Cypress Golf Club - East Course

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Jack Nicklaus designed the New course, an homage to Scotland's famed Old Course at St. Andrews, and while it's tough to recreate North Sea conditions in balmy central Florida, the course's layout is a pretty faithful rendition. Double greens, gorse mounds, stone bridges and pot bunkers are among the course's challenging and beautiful features.
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Orlando

9

Hammock Beach Resort - Conservatory Course

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With two championship golf courses, designed by Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus, and a third designed by Fred Couples on the way, Ginn Hammock has no shortage of scenic and challenging holes. Considered a signature hole of The Conservatory, the par-three eighth boasts an island green.
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Palm Coast

10

Bay Point Resort Golf Club - Nicklaus Course

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Lagoon Legend is hyped as one of the toughest courses in Florida, and this hole is indicative. Not overly long, the tee shot must carry a watery wetlands, avoid both sand and water, leaving a shortish approach to green tightly guarded by more water. Bring a straight game or stay home!
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Panama City Beach

11

ChampionsGate Golf Club

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Australian star Greg Norman laid out the International course in open, windswept, treeless terrain, and this long par-five, with water lurking down the left, and scrubby waste areas just off the fairway, can play into the teeth of the prevailing wind.
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ChampionsGate

12

Slammer & Squire, King & Bear at World Golf Village

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The King and Bear Course, co-design by Nicklaus (Bear) and Arnold Palmer (King), is a most enjoyable ride through the piney woods and wetlands. On this hole, a good drive over a pond sets up a challenging approach to a small green bordered by more water.
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St. Augustine

13

Fairmont Turnberry Isle - Soffer Course

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A spectacular 64-foot waterfall provides an unforgettable finish on the Soffer Course's signature 18th hole island green. Indigenous flora and tropical trees surround each hole, serving as a natural privacy barrier so every foursome feels like they're the only players on the course.
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Aventura

14

Burnt Pine Golf Club

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At Burnt Pines Golf Club, the 14th is just one of 18 great holes designed by Rees Jones on Chocktawatchee Bay. This is a hit-and-hope shot across the wetlands marshes with the bay and its breeze in the background. The shot must carry at least 200 yards to avoid disappearing in the marsh.
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Destin

15

TPC Tampa Bay

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The closing stretch of holes at this Bobby Weed/Chi Chi Rodriguez course is among the toughest in the state and annually challenges the Champions Tour players. The tee shot must avoid the lagoon and a large bunker down the left, find a rare flat spot in the rumpled fairway and then the approach is to a narrow green with that lagoon lurking and a stand of cypress behind.
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Lutz

16

Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club - Copperhead Course

http://cdn.visitflorida.com/images/golf/Hole16_Innisbrook.jpg

Good finishing holes should have drama and increasing difficulty, and the Copperhead course's 16th has both. From a hilltop tee, the narrow fairway is protected by water to the right and trees to the left. Finding the ribbon of fairway is just the first problem: One must then thread a long-iron through a narrow gap in the trees to find a two-tier green. Par is a great score on this hole.
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Innisbrook

17

TPC Sawgrass

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Arguably the most famous golf hole in the world, Pete Dye's infamous island green at THE PLAYERS Stadium course gives even seasoned golf pros shivering fits at the annual PLAYERS Championship. Check the wind, pick the right club and try to make a smooth swing.
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Ponte Vedra Beach

18

PGA National Resort & Spa - The Haig

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In a state filled with great closing holes, this one on The Champion course reigns supreme. Rather than using brute strength, one must carefully plan the attack. With 13 bunkers, lake from tee to green, and an S-shaped fairway - not to mention a usual breeze - it takes three carefully crafted shots to reach the green, which is tiered and tricky.
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Palm Beach Gardens

PGA INSIDER ADVICE

To Play Better Golf, Enjoy the Game More!

As a PGA Teaching Professional, I see golfers at our golf schools put a lot of emphasis on swing purity. Let's make no mistake, there...

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Golf Travel Deals

100% off Canceled Reservation Should the Beaches Close Due to Oil

Clean 'Tween Oil Spill Policy

ends October 28, 2010

To ensure visitors can plan and reserve vacations at ‘Tween Waters Inn without financial concern,... More...

50% off Sunday - Thursday Night Reservations!

BACK TO SCHOOL SPECIAL

from August 1, 2010 to September 2, 2010

Before the kids go back to school, get back to the beach with our 50%... More...

Packages starting at $265 per night

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ends December 31, 2010

Includes: - Room accommodations in a deluxe room - 1 King... More...

Up to 10% off per week

Vacation Special

from July 31, 2010 to August 28, 2010

10% off per week stay and (1) "Free" $50.00 "gas card"! Read what our guests... More...