Acclaimed for its sporting collection of great golf
escapes, the Destin, Florida and Fort Walton Beach area tees up an incredible 1,080 holes.
From challenging links designed by world-renowned architects to panoramic enticements
engineered by Mother Nature -- they capitalize on woods and wetlands for scenic -- yet
sinister -- contrasts. The popular courses of the Emerald Coast are reasonably priced and
pure pleasure to play year round.

Featuring varying views, the 18-hole Regatta Bay Golf Club is
punctuated by heavily wooded interiors, mazed marshes and alternating rolling and flat
terrain. Winding along the shore of Choctawhatchee Bay for picturesque play, the
6,864-yard (6,276m), Robert C. Walker design wraps tight fairways and narrow greens around
an array of crystal-clear lakes demanding displays of shot placement. The signature
seventh hole, a 464-yard (422m), par-4 challenges expert golfers with a blind tee-shot
over a fairway-dominating sand trap, leaving a long downhill approach to a green engulfed
in bunkers, palm trees and lurking water. Surrounded in 120 acres (48.6h) of
never-to-be-disturbed nature preserves, the Regatta Bay Golf Club is a phenomenon of
natural hazards. Email
for Info

The creation of Fred Couples and Gene Bates, Kelly Plantation
Golf Club is one of the newest additions to the Emerald Coast. The 18 hole course is
layered throughout the southern shores of majestic Choctawhatchee Bay. Its landscape
represents perfect harmony between nature and humanity, while its artistic fairways cater
to the novice or mater golfer. Email
for Info

Emerald Bay is a 6,802-yard (6,190m) masterpiece designed by
nationally recognized architect Robert Cupp -- formerly chief designer for Jack Nicklaus.
Acclaimed by Golfweek as one of the "50 Most Distinctive Development Courses the
Southeast," it presents gentle, undulating greens and towering pine-lined fairways in
a medley of short and long holes all affected by surrounding bay breezes.
Touting a tough slope rating of 135 from the championship tees,
all 18 holes are a privilege to play. Designer Cupp claims of Emerald Bay, "There is
no signature hole, it is -- instead -- a signature golf course." Email
for Info

Also situated on the banks of Choctawhatchee Bay, Shalimar Pointe
Golf and Country Club boasts 18 holes of Finger-Dye acclaim. Bordered by rolling white
dunes and dense hammocks of pine, oak and magnolia, the course blends beauty with the
beast. Heralded by Links magazine as having "Two of the Hardest Holes on the Emerald
Coast," the 6,765-yard (6,156m) course highlights are undoubtedly the famed 11th and
17th holes. Requiring a 149-yard (136m) drive from an elevated and forbidding water
hazard, the 11th hole is banked by a tough grass bunker and lake to the right, and a
drastic downslope -- some swear it's a cliff -- to the left.
If that is not enough, an unforgiving dogleg left awaits at the
par-4, 455-yard (414m) 17th hole. With a stretch of sand and heavy woods to the left of
the tee, an immense tree on the inside corner of the dogleg, and a deep grass pit to the
right and lake to the left of the pine-bordered green -- the hole redefines navigational
know-how. Email
for Info

At Indian Bayou Golf and Country Club, the Earl Stone-designed
links are a challenging, yet playable, assortment of nines. The 3,541-yard (3,222m)
Seminole and 3,417-yard (3,109m) Choctaw courses are woven with gracious fairways and
long, wide holes, but punctuated with periodic "problems."
Both feature left and right doglegs and a combination of
difficult par-3s, tough par-4s and moderate par-5s. The newest nine, the 3,475-yard
(3,162m) Creek, applauds accuracy with all nine holes winding through natural swamp.
The showcase is the 514-yard (468m), par-5 fourth hole, requiring
a tricky tee-shot over the marsh, a tight island landing, and a return drive over wetlands
to the fairway -- just short of the green. The course is liquid-locked between the Gulf of
Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay.

A veritable fortress of nature, Shoal River Country Club threads
all 18 holes through, around and above statuesque forests of oak, magnolia and pine.
Demanding accuracy, the 7,020-yard (6,388m) course is heavy with continual elevation
changes and tight landing areas flanked by bunkers, grass depressions and various species
of wild grass.

Fort Walton Beach Municipal Course is a must for pleasurable play
with good, solid scores. The first 18 of 36 holes sport wide fairways and spacious greens,
while the third nine spices the course with tight, tree-lined fairways and an array of
water oppositions. Email
for Info

Available with government I.D., two 18-hole courses -- Eagle and
Falcon -- are at Eglin Air Force Base. And edging Hurlburt Field is 6,894-yard (6,274m)
Gator Lakes where water comes into play on 14 holes with rugged forests, scattered
bunkers, restricted fairways and ball-hungry gators sweetening the pot. The signature
showpiece is hole No. 17 alongside azalea-encircled Lake Carry.

Island Golf Center is ideal for perfecting techniques or just
"putting" around. Set between the Choctawhatchee Bay and Gulf, it has nine
par-3s and nine holes of pitch-and-putt around four course lakes. Play is lit from
March-November. The center also sports 36 holes of miniature golf. Email
for Info

Other Area Destin Golf Courses:
Bluewater Bay Golf Resort - Semi-private course featuring 36
holes. Pro shop, putting greens, driving range, club rentals, restaurant. Email
for Info
The Club At Hidden Creek - Semi-private, 18-hole championship
golf course, clubhouse facility, pro shop, restaurant. Email
for Info
The Moors - Email
for Info
Sandestin Resort - 2400 acre resort and golf complex. E72 holes
of golf on four spectacular golf courses. Email
for Info
Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club - Semi- private, 18-holes, putting
green, driving range, club rentals and clubhouse. Email
for Info
Seascape Resort Golf Club - Public, 18-hole course with driving
range, putting greens, club rentals and a snack bar.
Tiger Point Golf and Country Club - Semi-private, two 18-hole
courses, driving range, putting green, club rentals, restaurant. Email
for Info
Destin, Florida
- With its brilliant white quartz sand and
warm gulf waves, Destin and Fort Walton Beach lures visitors with plenty of recreational
opportunities, fresh seafood dining, and reasonably priced lodging. Part of northwest
Florida's less crowded Emerald Coast, it is conveniently located between Pensacola and
Panama City.