Florida is one of the great year-round golf destinations in America, and much of its best golf is open to the public. Below are several standout public-access courses, followed by practical advice for playing in the Florida heat and humidity.
Streamsong Resort (Bowling Green)
Built on a reclaimed phosphate mine in central Florida, Streamsong is unlike anything else in the state: rugged, sandy, and dramatically contoured. The resort has three courses — the Red (Coore & Crenshaw), the Blue (Tom Doak), and the Black (Gil Hanse). All three are public, walkable, and routinely ranked among the best modern courses in the country. If you make one Florida golf trip, this is the destination to build it around.
The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass (Ponte Vedra Beach)
Home of THE PLAYERS Championship, the Players Stadium Course is famous for its island-green 17th. It is a Pete Dye design that demands precision, and yes — it is open to the public, with tee times available to resort guests and outside players (at a premium price). Playing the same 17th you have watched on television is a genuine bucket-list experience.
Innisbrook — Copperhead Course (Palm Harbor)
The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort hosts a PGA Tour event each spring and stands out from the typical flat Florida layout: it has genuine elevation change, tree-lined corridors, and a closing stretch known as the “Snake Pit.” It is a resort course open to guests and the public, and a favorite among players who want a stern, classic test.
Cabot Citrus Farms — Pine Barrens (Brooksville)
Longtime Florida golfers will know this site as World Woods, whose Pine Barrens course drew comparisons to Pine Valley for decades. After a major renovation it reopened as Cabot Citrus Farms, with the rolling, sandy terrain and big waste areas that made the original so admired. It remains public-access and is one of the most interesting inland sites in the state.
Jacksonville and Duval County Munis
You do not have to spend resort money to enjoy Florida golf. The Jacksonville area and surrounding Duval County have a strong roster of affordable public and municipal courses that stay playable all winter, making them a great base for a budget-friendly golf trip when northern courses are buried in snow.
Playing in the Florida Heat
Florida’s climate is the reason you can play in January — and the challenge you face from late spring through summer. A few tips:
- Tee off early. Summer afternoons bring intense heat and near-daily thunderstorms; a sunrise tee time avoids both.
- Hydrate before and during. The humidity makes dehydration sneak up on you. Drink water on every hole, not just when you feel thirsty.
- Respect lightning. Florida is the lightning capital of the country. When you hear the horn or see a storm building, get off the course — no round is worth it.
- Sun protection. Hat, sunglasses, and reflective-strength sunscreen are essential, even on overcast days.
Plan around the weather and Florida rewards you with some of the most varied and accessible public golf in the country — from world-ranked dunes to a friendly winter muni.