Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches: Oceanside golf and plenty of activities for all to enjoy

Hammock Beach Ocean Course

When you’re researching your next getaway to the Sunshine State, we’d like to showcase an option for you that resides between Jacksonville and Orlando off the I-95 corridor known as Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches. 

This area of the Sunshine State provides visitors with an alternative that provides an escape from the nearby booming metropolises that surround it allowing you to slow down a bit and just relax as you enjoy the amenities that this destination has to offer.  The area is known for being great for family getaways and for couples looking to escape to a sanctuary that provides them with the perfect setting to reconnect and enjoy some quiet time in the relaxing Florida sun. 

Palm Harbor Golf Club

Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa 

Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa is the star of the show in this neck of the woods, and rightfully so.  The resort has always provided golfers with a first-class getaway, but in a strange turn of events it was a hurricane that took the golf experience here up a notch in a way that you wouldn’t believe. 

Hammock Beach’s Ocean Course was designed by the one-and-only Jack Nicklaus.  It has long been found on various media lists of the top courses in the United States as this stunning design features six holes that run along the ocean, the most of any course in the state of Florida. 

But what one could never plan for was the fact that the massive storm surge that once wrecked the course would eventually change the dune line so holes that once featured obscured ocean views now provide golfers with a clear sightline to the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean that will leave you breathless.  

The other major change was the implementation of Platinum Paspalum grass from tee to green.  This lush grass variation is much more tolerant to the salty conditions of being adjacent to the ocean providing their maintenance staff with an easier way to give golfers perfectly green conditioning all year long.  You’ll also find very little rough around this course, and when you do you are often glad to see it as it’s typically around hazards or thick vegetation where you’d gladly take a slightly buried lie over the alternative of a lost ball.  

In addition to the Ocean Course, Hammock Beach also features the Conservatory Course, a Tom Watson-designed masterpiece that gives you a completely different experience from the Ocean Course creating a fantastic 1-2 combination for your golf getaway. 

As you’d expect from a gentleman who won five Open Championships, this course integrates a links-style design that also integrates several streams, waterfalls and detailed stonework to give you that classic Scottish golf feel with a modern flair. 

When you combine this unforgettable golf with first-class accommodations including two newly renovated restaurants, a full-service spa and nine swimming pools to choose from, and you can see how this property is great for any type of golf trip. 

Additional golf: From World Golf Village to Palm Harbor Golf Club

If you’re looking for some additional placed to tee it up outside of Hammock Beach Resort and Spa, you’re only a short drive away from other iconic Northeast Florida venues including World Golf Village (see story here), TPC Sawgrass, and Amelia Island (see story here).  But if you’re looking for something a little closer that we think you’ll enjoy, then look no further than Palm Harbor Golf Club. 

Palm Harbor Golf Club recently went under the knife and received a complete renovation under the dutiful eyes of the Clifton-Ezell-Clifton Design Company.  For a very affordable rate, you can make your way around through the palm trees and old oaks that are cradles with Spanish moss.  The course presents with plenty of water hazards, reimagined bunkering and well-maintained greens giving you a lot of value on this local muni legend. 

Things to Do

If you’re looking for a few things to do off the course, then Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches have plenty for you to see and do during your visit including: 

  • Marineland Dolphin Adventure: As the world’s first oceanarium, this unique venue allows you to get up close and personal with dolphins including the ability to swim with these incredible animals. 
  • The beaches: As you’d expect, this area is known for a tranquil beach setting that delivers cinnamon colored sand and pet-friendly beaches for visitors to enjoy. 
  • Outdoor adventures: Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches provide plenty of opportunities outside of the golf courses to connect with nature including horseback riding on the beach, biking and hiking along more than 125 miles of connected trails, birding, kayaking, boating and fishing. 

Lodging options 

Our favorite destination in this area is Hammock Beach Resort and Spa, but if you’re looking for a golf getaway that is a bit more budget friendly, Palm Coast and the Flagler Beaches provide more than 20 different options to choose from to cater to any visitor’s needs. 

One such location is the Fairfield Inn & Suites Palm Coast.  As a member of the Marriott family, visitors can either capitalize on booking with a reasonable amount of points or at an affordable fee.  If you’re looking to spend the majority of your time on course and enjoying the activities of the destination, this is a great option to help you save a few dollars during your trip to put towards activities outside of the room where you will likely be spending the majority of your time.