Best Public Golf Courses in Jacksonville, Florida
You don't need a membership to play great golf in Jacksonville. From resort courses to municipal gems, here are the best public and semi-private courses in the area — ranked by design quality, conditioning, and value.
St. Augustine, Florida · Arnold Palmer & Jack Nicklaus (2000) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,279 yards
The only course co-designed by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, King & Bear at World Golf Village combines both legends' design philosophies. Each architect designed alternating holes through Northeast Florida pine and wetland, creating a unique collaboration at the home of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
Jacksonville Beach, Florida · Donald Ross (original) (1924) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,478 yards
A Donald Ross-routed municipal course just blocks from the Atlantic Ocean, Jacksonville Beach Golf Club is one of the oldest courses in Northeast Florida. The affordable layout offers a throwback golf experience with Ross-era green complexes, mature trees, and a welcoming community atmosphere.
St. Augustine, Florida · Arnold Palmer & Jack Nicklaus (2000) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,279 yards
The only course co-designed by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, the King & Bear at World Golf Village combines the two legends' design philosophies on a property adjacent to the World Golf Hall of Fame. Palmer's aggressive bunkering and Nicklaus's strategic water features blend seamlessly through lush North Florida terrain.
Fernandina Beach, Florida · Tom Fazio (2005) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,137 yards
A Tom Fazio design on Amelia Island north of Jacksonville, Amelia National offers semi-private access to championship golf through moss-draped oaks and marshland. The 7,137-yard layout features Fazio's trademark bold shaping, strategic water features, and a coastal lowcountry ambiance.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida · Pete Dye (1980) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 7,245 yards
Home of THE PLAYERS Championship — the PGA Tour's marquee event — TPC Sawgrass Stadium is Pete Dye's most famous creation. The iconic island-green 17th hole is the most recognizable par 3 in golf, and the demanding championship layout through Northeast Florida wetlands tests every facet of the game.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida · Pete Dye & Bobby Weed (1987) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,864 yards
The lesser-known sibling at TPC Sawgrass, Dye's Valley Course offers a more intimate Pete Dye experience through Northeast Florida wetlands. Redesigned by Bobby Weed in 2017, the layout features dramatic mounding, native marsh hazards, and a challenging but more playable alternative to the Stadium Course.
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida · Herbert Bertram Strong / Bobby Weed (1928) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,811 yards
A historic oceanfront layout at the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club, the Ocean Course features nine holes along the Atlantic Ocean. Originally built in 1928 and renovated by Bobby Weed, the course offers a classic Florida coastal golf experience with sea breezes, dune vegetation, and crashing waves.
Amelia Island, Florida · Tom Fazio (1987) · 18 holes · Par 72 · 6,775 yards
A Tom Fazio design at the Omni Amelia Island resort, Long Point winds through maritime forest and along the Intracoastal Waterway on Florida's northernmost barrier island. The resort layout features salt marsh hazards, live oaks, and scenic water views throughout the round.
Best Time to Play
October through May is ideal, with pleasant temperatures in the 60s-80s. Summer brings heat and afternoon thunderstorms but lower green fees. The Players Championship in March is the marquee event, making the surrounding weeks a great time to visit.
Booking Tips
For the best rates, book tee times midweek or during shoulder seasons. Many courses offer twilight rates for afternoon rounds. Resort courses often bundle with hotel stays for significant savings.
Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) is 30 minutes from Ponte Vedra Beach and TPC Sawgrass. St. Augustine and World Golf Village are 45 minutes south. The Ponte Vedra Beach/Nocatee corridor offers excellent golf resort accommodations. Don't miss the beaches — Ponte Vedra and Jacksonville Beach are beautiful and uncrowded.
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