Florida Golf Deals & Courses Guide: Play More, Pay Less in 2026
There’s a particular kind of torture that comes with wanting to golf in Florida. You show up in January with two weeks and your wallet, ready to knock off some bucket-list courses. Then you see the green fees. Resort courses charging $200-plus. Championship layouts that expect you to sacrifice your firstborn. The sunshine state’s golf is world-class – but the prices? Let’s just say they don’t come with that tropical breeze discount.
Here’s what I learned after exploring Florida’s best courses and deals: the real game isn’t hitting fairways, it’s outsmarting the pricing. And spoiler alert: Florida golf deals exist if you know where to look.
Why Florida is Golf Paradise (With a Caveat)
Let’s be clear: Florida is genuinely incredible for golf. The state has more than 1,000 public and resort courses – more than any other state in the US. You can tee off on world-class championship layouts designed by legends like Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. You can play 365 days a year with warm weather and consistent conditions. And you can experience everything from island greens to Scottish-style links without leaving your home state.
The caveat? Florida golf tourism is massive, and pricing reflects it. Peak season (January through March) can run $150-300+ per round at top-tier courses. Even solid public courses creep toward $100 when demand is high.
The good news: There are proven ways to play Florida’s best courses at local prices, not tourist prices.
Orlando & Central Florida: The Value Engine
Orlando isn’t just home to theme parks. It’s golf heaven for golfers watching their budget.
This region hosts a massive concentration of daily-fee courses, resort layouts, and public access spots. You’ll find everything from championship tests to friendly 9-holers. The beauty of Orlando? Volume creates value. When you’ve got 150+ courses competing for your round, prices stay competitive.
Best courses for deals:
- Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge – A PGA Tour venue hosting the Arnold Palmer Invitational, this Dick Wilson-designed course (refined by Arnold Palmer) is challenging but plays fair. Demand drives up pricing in winter, but off-season rates drop significantly. This is a bucket-lister worth catching in May or September.
- Streamsong Resort (near Sebring) – About 90 minutes south, Streamsong features three top-100 courses designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The quality-to-value ratio is exceptional compared to Orlando proper.
Why Orlando wins: Public and resort courses abound. Conditions are manicured year-round. Early-season pricing (April-May) offers serious value before peak season hits.
Tampa Bay & West Coast: The Hidden Gem Region
Tampa gets overlooked in favor of Orlando, which is great news for your wallet.
This region offers coastal scenery, classic designs, and genuinely relaxed golf. You’re 2 hours from Clearwater Beach, close to Lake Tarpon, and surrounded by courses that don’t carry the “destination tax” that Orlando charges.
Best courses for deals:
- Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) – Host of the PGA Tour’s Valspar Championship, Innisbrook is a legitimate championship test. The Copperhead Course’s closing stretch (the famous “Snake Pit”) is brutal in the best way. But here’s the thing: off-season rates at Innisbrook are surprisingly reasonable, and the resort often bundles stay-and-play packages at real value.
- Sycamore Creek Golf Club – A local favorite offering solid public access and mid-range pricing.
Why Tampa matters: Less crowded than Orlando, closer to beaches, and pricing that reflects lower demand. If you’re flexible on timing, Tampa delivers championship golf at championship value.
Jacksonville & Northeast Florida: The Players Championship Connection
Jacksonville has serious golf credentials. This is where PGA Tour excellence lives.
TPC Sawgrass, home to THE PLAYERS Championship, is here. One of the most iconic courses on Earth – that par-3 17th island green is as famous as golf gets. You’ll also find Bay Hill (Arnold Palmer’s home course) just down I-95 in Central Florida, but Jacksonville itself offers access to championship layouts with that PGA Tour prestige.
Best courses for deals:
- THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass – Yes, it’s expensive. Yes, it’s worth it at least once. THE PLAYERS Championship hosts here annually, which means the conditioning is immaculate. Winter rounds run $300+, but May-September rates drop as demand falls. Spring and fall offer the sweet spot: decent weather and reduced pricing.
- Ponte Vedra Inn & Club – This resort sits close to TPC and offers a slightly more affordable alternative while maintaining championship quality.
Why Jacksonville appeals: Championship courses with legitimate pedigree. Off-season pricing aligns your wallet with the desire to play great layouts.
Miami & South Florida: Luxury Golf for Premium Players
South Florida is where golf meets glamour. If you want upscale resorts, pristine conditioning, and that “I made it” feeling, this is your region.
Miami and the surrounding areas (Palm Beach Gardens, Fort Lauderdale) host world-class resort courses and championship layouts. You’ll see more moneyed players here than elsewhere in Florida – and the pricing reflects it. But it also means exceptional service, maintained-to-perfection greens, and courses designed for impact.
Best courses:
- PGA National Resort (Champion Course) – Five courses on property, with the Champion Course being the signature test. It hosts the PGA Tour’s Honda Classic annually. The resort bundles stay-and-play packages that, while not cheap, offer value for what you’re getting: world-class golf, 5-star amenities, and no driving between courses.
- Trump National Doral Miami (Blue Monster Course) – Legendary Tommy Fazio design with water on nearly every hole. Dramatic, beautiful, and expensive. But if you’re playing South Florida, this is the must-do.
Why go South? Premium conditioning, PGA Tour venues, and resort experiences that pamper golfers. You’re paying for excellence across the board.
Southwest Florida: Naples, Fort Myers & The Panhandle
This is where Florida golf gets quiet and affordable.
Naples and the Southwest Coast offer championship courses at prices that beat most of Florida. You get fewer tourists, more local golfers, and courses that deliver quality without the destination premium.
The Panhandle (Pensacola, Destin) is even less crowded – exceptional public access, resort courses with personality, and pricing that feels like 2010.
Why it’s underrated: Less crowded, competitive pricing, similar sunshine and warmth as the rest of Florida. If you’re willing to be flexible on geography, Southwest Florida and the Panhandle deliver serious value.
Snowbird Golf: The Best Kept Deal
Here’s a secret that Florida’s tourism board doesn’t advertise: If you visit as a snowbird (October through April), you’re in peak season. Pricing is highest. Courses are most crowded.
But here’s the flip side: Winter is when northern golfers escape 40-below temps to play 80-degree golf. You’ve got the time. You just need the right pass.
Snowbirds often play 20-40 rounds per winter. The math works like this: A quality golf pass saves you $20-50 per round, depending on the course. Over a winter stay, that’s $400-2,000 in savings. Season pass options are designed exactly for this use case.
Snowbird strategy:
- Visit multiple regions (Orlando, Tampa, Naples, Jacksonville). Different regions have different courses and different deal structures.
- Book 3-5 rounds per week. This keeps you sharp without overcommitting.
- Use off-peak times. Even in winter, Monday-Wednesday morning tee times are cheaper than Friday-Saturday.
- Consider a super pass option if you’re staying the full season and want access to premium courses.
TeeTime Golf Pass is built for this. The Florida and Super Pass options cover courses across every region. Snowbirds in particular see ROI within 2-3 rounds.
When to Play: Best Deals by Season
January – March (Peak Season)
- Pros: Perfect weather, immaculate conditions, no rain
- Cons: Highest pricing, most crowded
- Best move: Aim for non-resort daily-fee courses, book early, avoid weekends
April – May (Shoulder Season)
- Pros: Great weather, mid-range pricing, less crowded
- Cons: Heat starting to rise late May
- Best move: Sweet spot for value golfers. Hit your bucket-list courses now.
June – August (Hot & Humid)
- Pros: Lowest green fees, wide-open tee sheets, quiet courses
- Cons: Heat and afternoon thunderstorms
- Best move: Early tee times (before 9am), deepest discounts of the year
September – November (Transition)
- Pros: Clearing out, temperatures moderating, pricing dropping toward winter
- Cons: Weather still variable through October
- Best move: Great value, fewer tourists, prep for winter season
FAQ: Florida Golf Deals
Q: Is there a “best” time to golf in Florida?
A: January-March offers the best weather but highest pricing. April-May and September-October offer the best value-to-conditions ratio. June-August are hottest but cheapest. Pick your priority.
Q: How much do Florida golf courses typically cost?
A: Ranges widely. Resort championship courses: $150-300+. Public daily-fee courses: $50-150. Off-season discounts can cut costs 30-50%.
Q: Can you play quality courses for under $100?
A: Yes. Public courses and off-season bookings at solid layouts regularly come in under $100. Peak-season championship courses? Usually not.
Q: Is a golf pass worth it in Florida?
A: If you’re playing 3+ rounds in a winter season, or 10+ annually, the math works. Savings per round typically range $20-50.
Q: Why get a Super Pass?
A: Purchase the TeeTime Golf Pass Super Pass and get access to tee time deals at over 1,100 golf courses including 16 courses in Florida. If you’re committed to multiple regions and courses, Super Pass ROI hits faster.
Q: Should snowbirds get an annual pass?
A: All TeeTime Golf Passes are valid for the calendar year. If you’re wintering 3+ months, absolutely. The pass pays for itself quickly.
Q: Are there hidden gem courses?
A: Yes. Mid-tier public courses offer 85% of championship quality at 50% of the cost. Ask locals, not resorts.
Final Thoughts: Play Smart
Florida golf doesn’t have to mean dropping $300 per round. The state’s sheer volume – 1,000+ courses across six distinct regions – means competition keeps prices honest if you know where to look.
The real deal isn’t the golf itself. It’s knowing that Bay Hill and TPC Sawgrass are incredible, sure. But so is that solid public course 20 minutes away that runs $70 in May. Golf is golf. Championship courses and daily-fee munis both deliver fairways, greens, and that moment when you flush one straight.
Florida gives you choices. Pick the right course, the right timing, and the right pass, and you’ll be playing world-class golf at honest prices.
Now get out there. The Sunshine State is waiting.
