Destin golf courses have grown immensely in number, illustrating how a small fishing village has grown into a destination frequented by people from all around the world. The options in excellent courses now comprise more than 1,000 holes scattered over the entire Emerald Coast. The best golfing in Destin is found at courses designed by world-famous architects such as Robert Walker, and though there are courses in locations covering the entire coastline and inland, there are around a dozen top-notch local courses to play right in Destin and also in popular Sandestin, only a short drive from the city center.

Both public and semi-private courses cover the gamut of Destin golf courses available today. The 18-hole championship golf course Regatta Bay offers some of the best golfing in Destin, Florida. The course is Robert walker favorite and a public course open to anyone seeking out a first-rate golf experience. With a par 72 and 6,864 yards in total. The course exemplifies the beauty surrounding Chocawhatchee Bay, one of Destin’s biggest attractions, where the course is set into the nature preserves which are rich with wildlife and scenic backdrops. Robert Walker has gone all-out and designed the course within the lush wetlands, which are speckled with scores of water hazards and perfectly placed bunkers. All levels will love this course that offers challenges for both the novice golfer and the pro.

Another of the courses offering the best golfing in Destin is Kelly Plantation Golf Club, a signature course created by Fred Couples and located north of Henderson Beach. A neighbor to Regatta Bay, this course provides breathtaking views akin to those it prestigious neighbor. This 18-hole golf course is a championship layout bearing a par 72 and the longest yard at 7,099. As beautiful as it is tough, this course features big, ideally contoured greens and manicured fairways littered with hundreds of sandy bunkers of all sizes offering an easy way to get your game back on track when you’ve strayed into unwanted territory. The fairways themselves are hugged by wild grasses and thick growth reminiscent of Scotland’s famous links courses. As one of the most valued of all Destin golf courses, players have come to appreciate the small things this course offers including carts with GPS systems and chilled, gleaming apples on the initial tee and again on the tenth.

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Emerald Bay Golf Club is also repeatedly noted for offering the best golfing in Destin. Some call it one of Destin’s undiscovered courses, though locals know otherwise. The 18-hole championship golf course is designed by Bob Cupp is considered a work of art—a course that offers incredible play through with 140 slope, a par 72, and more than 6,700 yards. The majority of courses feature some types of water play, creating many situations where golfers are challenged by ponds and lakes. The undulating greens at Emerald Bay Golf Club are tight, creating a challenge for even the most experienced golfer. The back nine holes are bordered by Choctawhatchee Bay, near Santa Rosa Beach, where the views are about as mesmerizing as the course itself.

Heading off the course after a gratifying game of golf, there are plenty of things to do to keep the entertainment coming. An afternoon of fishing is a great plan and an exciting pursuit that keeps the high-energy levels up after experiencing the best golfing in Destin. Or, head out on a diving charter and explore Destin’s stunning underwater realm. Golfers will find many ways to experience Destin, whether by an active endeavor or just a completely relaxing day on the beach.