A large part of the joy of golfing in Northeast Florida is being within close proximity of the Atlantic Ocean and top beach destinations such as St. Augustine, Ponte Vedra, Clay County, Jacksonville Beach, Palm Coast, and Amelia Island. Each of these beautiful locales not only offers luxurious accommodations, family-friendly attractions, and mouth-watering but is home to some of the most picturesque oceanfront golf courses in the region, where the only competition to the sound of your swing is the soft, soothing echoes of waves rolling in from the Atlantic and other area waterways.
1. OCEAN COURSE AT HAMMOCK BEACH GOLF RESORT & SPA
You can’t golf much closer to the ocean than when you’re at the Ocean Course at Hammock Beach Golf Resort & Spa. Named one of the best golf resorts in Florida by Golf Digest, Ocean Course at Hammock Beach is designed by Jack Nicklaus and features six holes just feet from the Atlantic Ocean. Book an early tee time and watch the sun crest over the waves as you make your way through one of the most picturesque beach golf courses in all of Florida.
2. FERNANDINA BEACH GOLF CLUB
Located on beautiful Amelia Island and not far from accommodations including the Amelia Hotel at the Beach, Fernandina Beach Golf Club is just a stone’s throw from the ocean. Don’t forget to try your skills at the club’s Lighthouse Driving Range powered by Toptracer and refuel after your outing with a meal at the full-service restaurant on-site. Being within walking distance from the beach means oceanfront lounging and relaxation is just mere steps away from this unique Amelia Island course.
3. THE AMELIA RIVER CLUB
Another Amelia Island course, The Amelia River Club offers golfers waterfront views of both the ocean and Kingsley Creek as they work their way through the 18-hole, par 72 course. As if that wasn’t enough water to pay attention to, the island green on the course’s challenging 17th hole is surrounded by water, with a demanding par 3 testing the accuracy of even the most adept golfers.
4. OMNI AMELIA ISLAND OAK MARSH
This gem of Northeast Florida is part of the Omni Amelia Island Resort and is flanked between the Atlantic ocean and the marshes of the Intercoastal Waterway. Designed by Pete Dye and named one of ”Florida’s 50 Finest Courses” by Travel & Leisure Golf, Oak Marsh spans 6,500 yards and features tremendous variation from hole-to-hole. You’ll find water hazards on 14 holes, narrow fairways, and compact greens — including several on the marsh — but only a few forced carries and approaches that are intimidating at first, yet achievable for golfers of all levels.
5. PALM HARBOR GOLF CLUB
Leave no club untouched at the 51-year-old Palm Harbor Golf Club, whose sloping fairways and naturally placed water features test golfers of all skill levels. The 18-hole course was carefully plotted around centuries-old oak trees and is just across the Matanzas River from the ocean, allowing the sounds and sights of Northeast Florida’s natural beauty to infuse with and enhance the course experience. If you stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Palm Coast, located just a few minutes away from the course, you’ll have plenty of options for shopping and dining after your round.
6. OCEAN COURSE AT PONTE VEDRA INN & CLUB
A staple of the Northeast Florida golfing experience for nearly 100 years, the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club’s Ocean Course is steps from the ocean with greens and fairways that weave through the waters of the lagoon. The course was recently renovated by Bobby Weed and MacCurrach Golf Construction, with reconfigured bunkers that challenge course veterans to rethink their strategy, an enhanced putting surface on the famed Island Green for the 9th hole that will delight first-time visitors and a range of other updates to the now par 71 course. The AAA Five-Diamond resort is not to be missed either, with a multitude of luxurious amenities including spas and a heated swimming pool that looks out onto the Atlantic.
7. THE PLAYERS STADIUM COURSE AT TPC SAWGRASS
Though not technically an oceanfront course, the iconic PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass puts golfers within earshot of the Atlantic while also delivering one of the most challenging and coveted golf experiences in the region. The course has a waterfront experience all its own, with the renowned 17th hole Island Green — testing your swing, accuracy, and club selection as you aim to avoid an untimely bath for your ball. Stay at Sawgrass Marriott Golf Resort & Spa on site, and home to 36 holes of championship golf on their two meticulously-maintained courses.
Plan your Northeast Florida golf getaway today and choose from exclusive golf vacation packages that include tee times at area courses and comfortable accommodations at a collection of beachfront hotels and resorts.