Golf in South Florida's Capital of Year-Round Play
Fort Lauderdale occupies an enviable position in American golf. The climate permits play every month of the year, the flat coastal terrain suits the strategic water-and-bunker style of design that defines Florida golf, and decades of investment have produced a dense concentration of quality courses within a short drive of downtown. The region has hosted professional competition, developed notable teaching academies and served as an offseason base for touring professionals.
What distinguishes golf here is not elevation change but water. Canals, lakes and wetlands run through nearly every layout, creating risk-reward decisions on almost every hole. Add persistent coastal wind, Bermuda and paspalum turf that produces firm, fast conditions, and strategically placed bunkering, and South Florida golf rewards accuracy and course management over raw distance.
The 10 Best Golf Courses in and Around Fort Lauderdale
1. Grande Oaks Golf Club
Set in Davie on grounds made famous as a filming location, Grande Oaks offers a mature, tree-lined layout unusual for the region, with substantial oaks framing fairways and a refined clubhouse experience. Conditioning is consistently excellent and the course rewards thoughtful positioning over aggressive driving.
2. Jacaranda Golf Club
Located in Plantation, Jacaranda features two contrasting eighteen-hole courses. The East course presents a more traditional, approachable challenge while the West course is longer and more demanding, with water in play throughout. The facility's practice areas and instruction programs are among the best public options in Broward County.
3. Coral Ridge Country Club
A Robert Trent Jones design in the heart of Fort Lauderdale, Coral Ridge is a classic private club layout with mature landscaping, strong par threes and a layout that has tested strong players for generations. Its central location makes it one of the most convenient quality courses in the city.
4. Fort Lauderdale Country Club
One of the region's oldest clubs, this Plantation facility offers two eighteen-hole courses with a traditional character and excellent conditioning. Its long history and established membership give it a distinctly classic clubhouse atmosphere.
5. American National Golf Club at Parkland
This layout combines generous fairway corridors with strategically placed water and native areas, producing a course that is playable for mid-handicappers while still requiring precision from better players. Practice facilities and teaching programs are strong.
6. Woodlands Country Club
Located in Tamarac, Woodlands offers multiple nines that can be combined into varied eighteen-hole routings. The layout emphasizes approach play into well-guarded greens, and the club maintains an active competitive calendar.
7. Deer Creek Golf Club
Situated in Deerfield Beach, Deer Creek is known for dramatic bunkering and demanding tee shots on a layout that has hosted competitive events. Its conditioning and challenging finishing stretch make it a favorite among low-handicap players.
8. Palm Aire Country Club
With multiple courses in Pompano Beach, Palm Aire provides variety across layouts ranging from executive length to full championship configuration, making it a practical destination for golfers at different skill levels or with different time constraints.
9. Colony West Golf Club
The championship course in Tamarac is a long, demanding layout that has historically ranked among the tougher tests in South Florida, complemented by a shorter course suited to quicker rounds and developing players.
10. Pompano Beach Golf Club
A well-regarded municipal facility with two eighteen-hole courses, Pompano Beach Golf Club delivers quality public golf at accessible rates. Its Pines and Palms courses each present distinct characters, and the facility is a cornerstone of public access golf in the area.
Playing Conditions and Strategy
Success on South Florida courses depends on adapting to local conditions. Bermuda grass greens grow with grain that influences putts noticeably, particularly in late afternoon, and reading grain direction is as important as reading slope. Coastal wind typically strengthens through the day, making early tee times both cooler and calmer. Firm fairways produce substantial roll, which can carry drives into water hazards positioned for a different era of equipment. Around the greens, tight lies demand clean contact rather than the flop shots that softer northern turf permits.
Trends in Local Golf
Course renovation has accelerated across the region, with clubs rebuilding greens to modern specifications, converting to paspalum turf that tolerates brackish irrigation water, and restoring bunker drainage to handle intense rainfall. Technology has permeated the experience through launch monitors in teaching studios, GPS-equipped carts and mobile tee time management. Shorter formats including nine-hole rounds and par three courses are gaining popularity as players seek golf that fits into tighter schedules. Environmental stewardship has also become a priority, with courses reducing irrigated turf acreage, creating native buffer zones around water bodies and pursuing wildlife habitat certifications.
Planning Your Round
Book early for winter months, when seasonal residents and visitors push demand sharply higher and rates reach their annual peak. Summer offers dramatically lower pricing and open tee sheets, with the tradeoff of heat and predictable afternoon thunderstorms that make morning play essential. Hydrate more aggressively than you would at home and carry sun protection regardless of season. Check dress codes and walking policies before arriving, as they vary considerably between private clubs and municipal facilities. And if you play regularly, investigate resident cards and membership programs at public courses, which often deliver substantial savings over a season of golf.