One of the perks of living in the Fort Lauderdale Area is the 365 days per year of access to some of the worlds most beautiful and challenging golf courses. This list features some of the area’s best-for every type of player.
Florida prides its self on its “casual elegance, personal service, and amenities,” amongst other attributes. The golf course is pristine and private, offering 36 holes of championship golf. Other features of the community include tennis, fitness, fine dining, and an active social life with other members of similar past times.
The courses are home to less than 520 members sharing the two layouts, which guarantees golfers desirable tee-times.
“The Woods Course was designed by storied architect Joe Lee, architect of over 200 fine courses, including the famous Blue Monster at the Doral. Lee’s 6,624-yard layout is marked by gentle doglegs, elevated, fast sloping greens and strategic bunker placement. The Lakes Course, by Karl Litten, is appreciated for its artful landscaping and the challenge of water features on 15 of its 18 holes. ”
The country club features 645 single family homes, ranging from 2,000-6,000 sq ft and starting in the $200,000s. The layouts are fantastic and functional, while the properties are landscaped pristinely and the streets are inviting.
This is surely a luxurious golf community in South Florida close to major highways and businesses.
Most Challenging Golf Course: Blue Monster in Doral.
FL is a hop and skip from Fort Lauderdale, but well worth the trip. Situated on the property of Doral Golf Resort & Spa, the Blue Monster underwent extensive renovations in 2007, leaving the greens pristine and the bunkers anew. Home to many televised PGA championships, and home to the World Golf Championship-CA Championships, this shorter, but tricky course is heavy on water holes, including a 230 yard carry over water.
“The Blue Monster features long fairways, undulating green, a deep Bermuda rough and a unique assortment of water hazards. The famous 18th hole, with its signature fountain, was ranked by GOLF Magazine as one of the Top 100 Holes in the World.”
The service at this course is wonderful, where the ranger is local throughout your experience and the beverage cart is frequent.
This is one of the most expensive courses in the area, with greens fees running you about $250-$350 per person, but one of the best area courses open to the public.
Most Scenic: Heron Bay in Parkland
Also a wonderful golf course to live on, featuring beautiful estate homes within the community and top notch pool-side concierge service on the weekends. This golf course was rated “One of the Top 10 daily fee courses you can play in Florida” by Golf Magazine. Golf Digest rated the course 4 stars and in their ‘Best Places to Play’ category in 2008-2009.
Parkland is a small, slightly-rural area located just North West of Fort Lauderdale. The homes are ‘off the beaten path,’ generally considered within the category of a ‘McMansion’ and if you are of the elite group that can afford the property taxes, it is a wonderful city to live in: 20 minutes from the beach, but far enough away from the ‘big city feel.
The Heron Bay Golf Course was designed by noted golf course architect, Mark McCumber, solely to create a new home for the Honda Classic.
Aesthetically, the course is naturally beautiful, not contrived. By using subtle contours instead of tiers and large mounding, the course fits its surroundings. Water comes into play on only three of the 18 holes. There are no forced carries on the course, making the layout very playable for the less experienced golfer.”
Heron Bay Golf Club is located within walking distance to the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel and Convention Center, making it an ideal golf destination for visiting golfers taking advantage of stay-and-play packages.
Top Private Course in South Florida: TPC Eagle Trace
Since the Club’s opening in 1983, TPC Eagle Trace has been recognized as one of the top private golf clubs in South Florida.” Situated within the Eagle Trace Community in Coral Springs, Eagle trace Golf Club is an exciting, fun golf course with a friendly staff.
As per their website:
“The golf course at TPC Eagle Trace is an Arthur Hills design that provides balance, aesthetics, and outstanding conditioning for Members and guests.
Playing to a par 72, the course has four tee settings with the Championship tees stretching over 7,000 yards. The course rewards shot making more than length and features gently undulating greens framed by attractive spectator mounds, a TPC trademark. The 18th hole provides a memorable finish to the golfing experience.
TPC Eagle Trace is recognized as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary for its commitment to environmental quality by meeting required standards for protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, and providing wildlife habitats. For more information on the Audubon Society, please see here.
Real Estate within the Eagle Trace community is scarce, as the real estate down turn didn’t effect certain areas of Coral Springs the same way it effected the rest of South Florida. 4 homes are currently available in Eagle Trace, all at least 4 bedrooms, 3 bath, and at least 3400 sq ft, starting at $275,000.
Although not heavily publicized, The Club at Emerald Hills is, in my opinion, the best in South Florida. Located at 4100 N. Hills Dr. in Hollywood, FL, the Club at Emerald Hills was the host site for the Doral and the Honda Open qualifiers for many years.
“The Club at Emerald Hills displays a harmonious blend of undulating greens, contoured bunkers and hills, all meticulously maintained to guarantee you the challenge of a lifetime.”
