Palm tree-lined fairways, expertly manicured greens, broad grassy expanses, plenty of water, and deep sandy bunkers challenge even the most seasoned golfer. Golf courses come in all shapes and sizes, but in the West Palm Beach area, they are sunny, lush, and beautiful. You will find a golf course suitable for every level of play, from novice to expert, offered in a variety of price ranges.
Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Shores, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, and other nearby communities come together to provide some of the best golf in Florida and the U.S. Organized golfing vacations are typical for Florida, particularly when a good part of the country is in a deep freeze.
Not only are Florida’s courses for golf play, there are also plenty of birds, gators, and other wildlife joining in the fun. Golfing in Florida’s golf capital is the best way to enjoy an early morning workout, get some fresh ocean air, and view Mother Nature’s creatures in their natural habitat.
Here, we have listed several courses that are private, member-only courses that can be accessed via a play-and-stay getaway at the resort. There are a large number of exclusive courses in the West Palm Beach area that are essentially inaccessible to nonmembers. The great news is there are also a large number of wonderful public courses, and we have highlighted several excellent ones below, too.
Prices for a round of golf vary with the day of the week and time of day, so we offer a range of prices based on green and cart fees. The rate scoring does not include club rentals.
- $: $75 or less
- $$: $75 to $150
- $$$: $150 to $250
- $$$$: $250 and up
Note: Some information in this piece was obtained during a sponsored press trip, but all recommendations are my own.
PGA National Resort & Spa, Palm Beach Gardens
Cost: $$$$
PGA National Resort & Spa currently offers golfers five course options: The Champion, The Palmer, The Fazio, The Estate, and The Match — and The Staple is under construction. With so many amazing and challenging options your golf game vacation experience will be different every day.
PGA National offers world-class golf, exceptional amenities, and first-class service. Home to the Honda Classic, you know the courses are challenging, scenic, and well-groomed.
Playing PGA National is restricted to members and resort guests. The luxury resort offers guests a variety of stay-and-play vacation packages for the perfect golfcation. Their golf packages include a relaxing resort stay and a round of exceptional golf.
The Champion
Home to the Honda Classic, The Champion Course will challenge the most skilled golfer. This course will test your skill, patience, and focus. It is the perfect course to practice your mental game.
The Palmer
Designed by Arnold Palmer, this course offers beautiful vistas and challenging play. The course is appropriate for players of all skill levels and is a fun course to play with a group of golfing buddies.
The Fazio
The Fazio is a great player-friendly option for a group of golfers who play at different levels. The course allows players to be able to enjoy a round together while offering each golfer’s game some challenging shots.
The Estate
Located off the main resort, The Estate Course is perfect for the high-handicapped golfer who is looking to experience world-class golf with more friendly lies. This is a perfect course to practice and hone your skills.
The Match
At The Match Course, golfers practice high-risk, high-reward shots at every hole. Driving, chipping, and putting at the Match Course bring your golf skills out to play.
The Standard
The Standard Course is a par 3 course set to debut at the end of 2021.
Pro Tip: Bar 91 is PGA Nationals answer to the 19th hole. With five open courses, the 19th hole becomes the 91st hole. Either way, it is the perfect spot to enjoy a post-round adult beverage and a snack.
The Breakers, Palm Beach
Cost: $$$$
The Breakers offers guests an exclusive haven where they can vacation in luxurious anonymity. Posh and high-end, the amenities at The Breakers are world-class. Their golf courses offer resort guests exclusive access to their two meticulously tended courses. When you are finished tearing up the course, enjoy a cocktail at HMF, a fun, casual bar, followed by a gourmet meal at Flagler Steakhouse.
The Breakers is an indulgent place to spend your golf getaway.
The Ocean Course
Renovated in 2018 by the legendary Rees Jones, the old 1897 Ocean Course received a well-deserved facelift. Now poised as a perfectly maintained and challenging course, guests here experience golf in a lush and luxurious setting.
The Breakers Rees Jones Course
Just a few miles from the resort lies the Rees Jones course offering golfers forgiving fairways and challenging pin positions. This course plays perfectly for all golfing levels.
Abacoa Golf Club, Jupiter
Cost: $$
Fast greens, clusters of bunkers, and ever-present water hazards make Abacoa Golf Club a force to be reckoned with. Abacoa Golf Club is a beautiful public course that challenges players with interesting doglegs, water-lined fairways, and sand traps that balls seem to love.
Pro Tip: You may want to pack a few extra balls. There are a number of holes that are edged with lakes.
North Palm Beach Country Club, North Palm Beach
Cost: $$
The North Palm Beach Country Club links-style golf course is open to the public. This is a rare opportunity to play a course designed by Jack Nicklaus, and the experience is offered at a fraction of the price of a private or resort course. The North Palm Beach course will insist you up your game, making you a better golfer in the end.
Okeeheelee Golf Course, West Palm Beach
Cost: $
Okeeheelee Golf Course offers three nine-hole courses. The Eagle, Osprey, and Heron Courses can be combined to offer different play sequences and skill challenges. This beautiful public course participates in the Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary Program. Through this program, the course helps to protect the natural environment while at the same time providing a well-maintained recreation spot for visitors.
Pro Tip: There is water on every hole, requiring golfers to shoot true or carry plenty of extra balls.
Osprey Point Golf Course, Boca Raton
Cost: $
Osprey Point Golf Course is about a 30-minute drive out of the Palm Beach area, but it’s certainly worth mentioning. Sporting three gorgeous 9-hole courses; Raven, Hawk, and Falcon, Osprey Point offers golfers different 18-hole options to keep their games fresh.
Osprey Point is a classic Florida course with open fairways, blue water, and deep bunkers, and you will enjoy a day honing your skills here. Nature surrounds this Audubon International Classic Sanctuary, representing Osprey Point’s dedicated commitment to the environment.
Park Ridge Golf Course, Lake Worth
Cost: $
Park Ridge Golf Course is a public course built on a retired landfill. The course is one of the few in the area that varies in elevation throughout the course. This beautifully maintained course is a pleasure to play with a group of great golfing friends.
A Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary, Park Ridge is a steward of Florida’s natural environment. Be sure to aim for the birdie in the hole, not the birdie on the fairway.
Pro Tip: Park Ridge offers 9- and 18-hole rounds and allows players to go out without a cart.
Madison Green Country Club, West Palm Beach
Cost: $
Palm-, pine-, and oak-lined undulating fairways support forgiving greens at Madison Green Country Club. This public course is reasonably priced and a great spot to work on your long or short game. Madison Green is the typical public course where golfers of all skill levels come to enjoy the game, the fresh air, and the glorious Florida sunshine.
Playing at a new course helps hone your skills and sharpens your game. Whether you try out some upgraded rental clubs, travel with your own, or use Ship Sticks to transport your clubs, chasing that little ball around the grass is a wonderful way to get out and enjoy nature’s beauty.
While you are on Florida’s east coast, take some time to visit Miami; you will find some great ideas in How To Spend The Perfect Weekend In Miami, Where To Eat, Stay, and Play.
For other fun golf getaway options where golf courses rule, check out 9 Must Play Golf Courses on Hilton Head and the 9 Best Golf Courses On Cape Cod And The Islands.
Expert golfers love the West Palm Beach area courses, and there are plenty of opportunities for the novice golfer to get in a round or two also. Any way you slice it (please don’t slice it!), golf in Florida’s Golf Capital is fun for everyone.
