10 Best Golf Courses Near Destin

One of Destin’s finest golf clubs, Emerald Bay is an 18-hole architectural beauty that delivers cinematic views over the cool Choctawhatchee waters. Boasting a championship-caliber layout by famed designer Bob Cupp, the course is resplendent with water features, bridges, and densely-surfaced greens showcasing TifEagle Ultra Dwarf Bermudagrass.

Open to the public, but offering an experience akin to an elite private club, Emerald Bay is elevated with a renovated grille that dishes up tasty American classics like deli sandwiches, Caesar salads, burgers, and chicken wings. There’s also a well-stocked golf shop, rentable guest house, and special events across the calendar year.

Part of a larger resort facility, Seascape Golf Club boasts contoured fairways and pine-lined greens set around sparkling fresh water and coastal dune lakes. This 18-hole favourite delivers spectacular views across the Gulf of Mexico thanks to the imaginative design of architect Joe Lee.

It might be known for its unique set of strategic challenges but Seascape also caters to players who want to improve their game with a handy grass driving range and a duo of practice greens. The resort’s Purestrike Golf Academy will show you how to swing like a pro. Afterwards, hit the Whale's Tail Bar & Grill for a sumptuous beachside meal.

There’s a major reason to visit Burnt Pine at the Sandestin Resort — Golf Magazine calls it the "Crown Jewel of Florida Golf". This 18-hole course offers a spellbinding vista of Choctawhatchee Bay thanks to the exemplary design of renowned American architect Rees Jones.

This award-winning club is punctuated with rolling green fairways, picturesque pine forests, and strategically placed bunkers that will really test your golfing skills. Burnt Pine is only open to members and guests of the resort, so make sure you book your accommodation at Sandestin.

Set in the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Baytowne is revered as one of architect Tom Jackson’s greatest golfing masterpieces. Boasting dazzling views of Choctawhatchee Bay, this 18-hole course is different to anything else in the Destin area thanks to a range of unique elevation changes.

Unlike Sandestin’s Burnt Pine course, this coastal gem is open to both paying guests and the wider golfing public. After a game, take a seat at the atmospheric Marina Bar & Grill where you’ll enjoy deck hand sandwiches, first mate pancakes, fresh catch po’boys, and handcrafted cocktails.

Billed as the top-ranked course in Destin, Florida, Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club is a semi-private must-play that’s famed for its verdant 18 holes, sugar white bunkers, and beloved Golf Academy that offers intuitive lessons powered by PGA Pros and Trackman Technology. Overlooking the shimmering blue waters of the Gulf of Mexico, this sporting challenge is apt for all skill levels.

Envisioned by leading golf course designer Robert C. Walker, Regatta Bay’s compelling 18-holes feature extra perks including circulating drink carts and a seriously tasty hot dog stand. The club’s full-service restaurant is also a winner — try the shrimp tacos, tuna poke bowl, or the blackened grouper sandwich.

Considered a hidden gem in Destin, Indian Bayou Golf Club may be less known than some of its nearby brethren but it packs a serious punch when it comes to the game. Visually-arresting with its lush Bermuda grass fairways and expansive lakes, this semi-private, Earl Stone designed course offers 18 exciting holes that anyone can play.

After you’ve landed the perfect hole-in-one, hit the golf club’s restaurant to indulge in delectable American fare. Indian Bayou Golf Club is also equipped with an academy that helps players master their craft and a well-stocked a pro shop selling apparel and equipment.

Belonging to Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, The Links is an enthralling risk-reward course that’s set against the dramatic backdrop of Choctawhatchee Bay and the Baytowne Marina. Designed by legendary golf architect Tom Jackson, one must face obstacles here head on — including the formidably powerful Gulf Coast winds.

The Links features an undulating 18-hole layout peppered with picturesque marshes, lakes, and pine forests. Facilities include a clubhouse, putting green, and a first-class range where only hitting with irons is allowed.

Widely considered one of the best courses in Destin, Kelly Plantation is a bona fide golfing paradise that’s known for its aesthetically striking design, umpteen challenges, and popularity amongst the game’s professional fraternity. Designed by prominent golf architects Fred Couple and Gene Bates, this semi-private 18-holes is open to the public.

Here, you’ll perfect your game in manicured landscapes marked by atmospheric bayous and tropical palmetto trees. After you’ve trounced the course’s strategically-placed hazards, head on over to the clubhouse for a chef-prepared meal.

Raven is based at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort and its impeccable layout was masterfully designed to showcase Florida’s beautiful flora. The lush green fairways are dotted with small-scale lakes and mature Southern trees including oak, myrtle, pine, and magnolia.

Designed by distinguished golf architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. (and former host to a PGA Tour Champions event), Raven delivers hole after hole of strategic perfection. The highlight of the course arrives at the par-3 sixth, which plays to a captivating green on an idyllic island.

With its 18-hole Dye-Finger design and splendid natural surrounds, Shalimar Pointe Golf and Country Club is a sporting sanctuary that will appeal to golfers who appreciate a course’s beauty as much as its brains. Manicured lawns, tactical bunkers, and gorgeous trees abound here, all overlooking the loveliness of Choctawhatchee Bay.

Guests will enjoy the generous driving range, well-kempt putting and chipping greens, and a renovated clubhouse serving tasty burgers and deli-style sandwiches. There’s also a bar and an upmarket pro shop stocking all the latest golf apparel.