Kara Franker
Did you know that Florida has more golf courses than any other state?
“Florida golf is fantastic not only because it's year-round, but also because there are courses with incredible water views, from oceans to lakes to woods and hills,” said John Schwarb, a golf enthusiast and sports communications professional. “Florida golf can be whatever you want it to be.”
Tennis is another one of Florida’s top sports.
“In a nutshell, Florida has amazing weather year round and there are more tennis facilities and programs here than in any other place,” said Todd Rubinstein, founder of Sunshine State Tennis and a former #1 USTA Florida ranked singles, doubles and mixed doubles player. “Florida is the center for tennis in the world.”
Whether you’re a novice or a pro, these top golf and tennis resorts offer the perfect place to practice your game.
NORTH FLORIDA
Marriott Sawgrass Golf Resort & Spa
Located in Ponte Vedra Beach near Jacksonville, Marriott Sawgrass Golf Resort & Spa is home to one of the most challenging holes on the PGA Tour—the notorious Hole 17 of The Stadium Course. Every year the resort hosts The Players Championship, one of the prestigious golf tournaments on the tour.
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and The Lodge & Club
Both the historic Ponte Vedra Inn & Club and The Lodge & Club offer a mix of Old World charm and luxury, plus access to two classic restored golf courses: the Ocean Course and Lagoon Course. Designed in 1928 by famed British architect Herbert Bertram Strong, the par-72, Ocean Course was originally built with 100 mules. Cradled between green fairways and the Atlantic Ocean, the resort also features 15 Har-Tru tennis courts.
Omni Amelia Island Resort
Operated by Cliff Drysdale, the tennis program at Omni Amelia Island Resort features 23 Har-Tru clay courts shaded by towering oak trees. Located on beautiful Amelia Island, the resort is also home to three championship golf courses, including the Oak Marsh course designed by Pete Dye.
Located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, the golf courses at Hammock Beach were designed by two legends of the game—Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson.
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Hammock Beach, A Salamander Golf & Spa Resort
Located between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach, the golf courses at Hammock Beach were designed by two legends of the game—Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. The Ocean Course features six holes on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, which is more holes on the ocean than any course in Florida.
TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort by Wyndham
Located near Destin in Miramar Beach, TOPS’L Beach & Racquet Resort by Wyndham features 12 Rubico clay tennis courts—10 of which are lighted for night play. All guests of the resort and vacation rentals receive free access to the courts and pro shop.
CENTRAL FLORIDA
Saddlebrook Resort & Spa
At Saddlebrook Resort & Spa in Tampa, The Hopman Tennis Program is home to 45 courts including all four Grand Slam surfaces. There’s also a variety of adult tennis clinics and junior camps. Designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer, both of the resort’s golf courses incorporate rolling fairways and well-maintained greens.
Innisbrook, A Salamander Golf & Spa Resort
Located north of Tampa in Palm Harbor, Innisbrook hosts the annual PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship in March. Architect Lawrence Packard designed the resort’s four championship courses including the top-rated Copperhead course. There are also 11 Har-True tennis court, seven of which are lighted for night play.
Reunion, a Salamander Golf & Spa Resort
Unlike any other resort in the world, at Reunion in Orlando, you’ll find three signature golf courses designed by the game’s biggest powerhouses: Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson. On the Watson Course, youngsters can also play FootGolf, a unique blend of soccer and golf.
Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Home to the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a popular PGA Tour stop in Orlando every March, the Bay Hill Club & Lodge is where the king of golf himself likes to spend the winter. Learn the fundamentals of golf according to Arnold Palmer’s philosophy of the game at the golf academy. There are also four Har Tru and two DecoTurf tennis courts to practice your serve in between rounds of golf at The Champion, Challenger and Charger links.
Grande Lakes Orlando
Home to both The Ritz-Carlton and JW Marriott, Grande Lakes Orlando is located on Shingle Creek, the headwaters to the Florida Everglades. In designing the 18-hole golf course, two-time British Open Champion Greg Norman put special emphasis on preserving the area's well-balanced ecosystem.
The Resort at Longboat Key Club
Situated on an idyllic island across the bay from Sarasota, The Resort at Longboat Key Club features 20 Har-Tru tennis courts and a 500-seat stadium for tournaments. Test your skills on the tree-lined Harbourside Golf Course that runs along picturesque Sarasota Bay.
Featuring five legendary golf courses, PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens hosts the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic every year in February.
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SOUTH FLORIDA
PGA National Resort & Spa
Featuring five legendary golf courses, PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens hosts the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic every year in February. The Jack Nicklaus-redesigned Champion Course is home to that famous three-hole stretch called the Bear Trap that gobbles up tour players every year and is thought of as the toughest spot on the PGA Tour.
The Boca Raton
Check out the 18 Hydro-Grid and 12 Har-Tru tennis courts at The Boca Raton, a study in luxury. The Boca Tennis Academy is a premier destination for players of all types and abilities, including access to a tennis concierge. The resort’s par-71 golf course includes a signature water-feature designed by Hugh Hughes.
Trump National Doral Miami
Trump National Doral is home to four uniquely designed courses in Miami, including the iconic Blue Monster Course. Showcasing an edge when it comes to technology, the resort has a state-of-the-art LED practice facility, True Spec Golf club fitting lab and Golf BioDynamics Three-Dimensional Swing Analysis at the Jim McLean Golf School.
The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, Miami
Located just off the coast of Miami, the Cliff Drysdale Tennis Center at The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne features 10 soft clay Hydrocourts and one hard court, plus a variety of clinics and lessons for tennis enthusiasts. There’s also a full-time tennis concierge who can set guests up with everything they need before they even arrive to the resort. Perfect your golf game at Key Biscayne's championship 18-hole golf course at Crandon Golf.
Check out more great places to stay in Florida.
