It should be called “Fort Golfer-dale.”
With more than 40 golf courses within 10 miles of downtown, and more than 100 within 20 miles, Fort Lauderdale is truly a golfer’s paradise.
The large number of courses offers duffers and Tigers alike a wide variety of locations, scenery and difficulty. Best of all, with so many golf courses competing with one another, tee times are readily available.
Winter may be the best time of all for South Florida golf. It’s the dry season, so rain days are few and greens are fast. Temperatures are generally mild, rarely requiring little more than a sweater or light jacket. Sadly, though, golf rates hit their peak at this time of year.
Some of the best golf courses in the area:
Plantation Preserve: Recently renovated, wonderfully conditioned, and challenging. The 18-hole golf course amid wildlife-filled wetlands includes an island green on the 9th hole and a split fairway on the 14th. Every hole has five sets of tee boxes, so golfers can set their own degree of difficulty.
(7050 W Broward Blvd., Plantation; http://www.plantationpreserve.org)
Pembroke Lakes Golf Course: Underwent a $7 million renovation in 2007, which included adding new lakes on three holes. Avid golfers insist that this well-maintained golf course has some of the best greens of any public course in the Fort Lauderdale area. Coquina waste bunkers; LOTS of water.
(10500 Taft St., Pembroke Pines; http://www.pcmgolf.com)
Jacaranda: East or West – both are excellent golf courses that are generally in tip-top shape. Studded with lagoons, doglegs and tight landings, Jacaranda has hosted multiple PGA and USGA tournaments and qualifying events.
(9200 W Broward Blvd., Plantation; http://www.golfjacaranda.com)
Inverrary Country Club: Known for its rolling greens, large fairway traps and lakes, Inverrary has been home to 15 PGA and LPGA tournaments. Challenging for players at all levels, the East and West courses offer distinctly unique experiences.
(3840 Inverrary Blvd., Lauderhill; http://www.inverrarygolf.com)
The Westin Diplomat Golf Resort & Spa: Challenging but not daunting, the Diplomat is dotted with banyans and royal palms and features a gorgeous island green on the 2nd hole, and a tricky, over-water carry on the 4th.
(501 Diplomat Pkwy., Hallandale Beach; http://www.diplomatresort.com/golf)
