Florida is home to many of the world�s greatest golfers and therefore, greatest golf tournaments. Over the years, Florida has seen the likes of Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Greg Norman compete in such tournaments as the Ryder Cup and the Players� Championship on a number of its meticulously crafted courses, fit for the best.

Many of Florida�s best golf courses are open to the public, inviting you to step up and follow the footsteps of the world�s best along the Sunshine State�s luscious fairways. Given the chance, we recommend that you chase Tiger�s shadow at the following Top Ten Golfing Venues in Florida:

10. King & Bear

A visit to the World Golf Village in St. Augustine is a must for any golf enthusiast. The name alone of the King & Bear should serve as sufficient guarantee of the quality of the course, named after the legendary �King� Arnold Palmer and �Bear� Jack Niklaus, who designed the course in collaboration. The course does not disappoint, with placid lakes, open meadows, coquina rocks, and 200 year old oak trees scattered around the course, it is at once the epitome of rural tranquillity and golfing stratagem. That all the carts have Pro Link GPS demonstrates that high standards are maintained in every aspect of this club, not least in the gorgeous clubhouse. With the World Golf Hall of Fame in the same resort, it is unthinkable that any golfer would ever turn down the chance to play on the King & Bear. (www.wgv.com)

9. Ocean Links

The Ocean Links course is part of the Amelia Island Plantation, a 1350 acre resort only 29 miles North of Jacksonville International Airport. Although a short course at 6,300 yards, Ocean Links remains a challenge for golfers of all levels due to the narrow fairways, small greens and prevailing winds. Winding along a coastal Atlantic dune ridge, the course offers golfers five seafront holes, providing exhilarating views as well as intriguing play. Mark Twain famously said that �golf is a good walk spoiled� � he clearly had never played at Ocean Links. (www.ameliaislandplantation.com)

8. Burnt Pine

The Burnt Pine is the most precious gem in the richly ornate crown of the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort in Destin. Water features on 13 holes have earned the course an unforgiving reputation, but as if that didn�t make the course hard enough, the unspoilt pine forests bordering the fairways will punish any errant shot lucky enough not to make a splash. Ironically the very same water and forest that could ruin your scorecard are the very same features that make a round here so enjoyable. Apart from the attractive technical challenge laid down by the course, the �member-for-a-day� philosophy of the resort provides visitors with a level of service rarely found outside the most exclusive clubs. Thus, although the course is only open to public play and resort guests teeing off before 8 am or after 1 pm, it is definitely worth managing your daily routine to accommodate a round here. (www.sandestin.com)

7. ChampionsGate

The National and The International, two outstanding Greg Norman designed courses at ChampionsGate Golf Club in Kissimmee, are both worthy of a mention. The International Course is an authentic British Links layout, with rolling fairways lined with layered mounds, long grass and a more than generous scattering of bunkers. The National Course is an impressive American-style course featuring elaborate bunker placement and daunting tee shots. ChampionsGate offers a visiting golfer the rare opportunity to compare the two styles of course in one day, both being thoroughly enjoyable regardless of which wins the inevitable conclusive argument over a drink at the 19th hole (or in this case the 37th!). (www.championsgategolf.com)

6. Westin Innisbrook

The Copperhead Course is the flagship of the five courses at the Innisbrook Golf Resort in Tampa. The rolling fairways are interrupted by numerous lakes and ponds, which feature an abundance of wildlife (including alligators � an extra incentive to avoid those water hazards!). The Copperhead is an aesthetically beautiful golf course, and is extremely enjoyable to play. If you have some length to your game, it certainly will help enable you to score well here. It is always a thrill to play a course that is annual host to a PGA Tour event, in this case the PGA Tour�s Chrysler Championship each autumn. One can imagine that the pros genuinely look forward to the tournament here, and so should any golfing holiday-maker coming to the area. (www.golfinnisbrookresort.com)

5. Legacy and Independence

The Reunion Resort in Orlando is home to the Legacy course, the Independence course, and soon the Tradition course, designed by Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Jack Niklaus respectively. Watson�s Independence course has an unsurprisingly British feel (he won the British Open five times), with its deep pot bunkers, seemingly narrow driving zones, and huge, multi-layered undulating greens. The fairways on the Legacy course are generously wide, and the bunkers more shallow. Both courses, although not overly demanding, have enough length and risk-rewarding shots to keep you thinking over multiple rounds. Furthermore, the homes around the course are far less intrusive than at many resort courses, lending the feel of a private club to a resort golf course. (www.reunionresort.com)

4. The Champ

The PGA National Resort, near Palm Beach, offers the ultimate golf experience, with five championship calibre courses offering something for every level of player. Having hosted many national and international events, including the Ryder Cup, any European will be looking to emulate Seve Ballestoros� 240-yard strike with a 3-wood from a bunker! Jack Niklaus, witness to the shot, deemed it one of the greatest golf shots ever played. The course recently underwent a $4.1 million renovation and the results of the investment are evident in the condition of the course as well as in the way it plays. A round on the Champ includes a forecaddie with every group, to assist in shot selection and course advice � which every golfer will need. (www.pgaresorts.com)

3. Ocean Hammock

The Ocean Hammock Resort, near Daytona Beach, boasts 90 holes of championship golf within its three signature courses, each unique and comes with its own clubhouse. The Ocean Hammock course is the biggest and brightest jewel of the resort, with 8 holes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Lakes, dunes and forested terrain add to the challenge posed by the many dog-legs and thought provoking layout typical of a Niklaus designed course. The sheer beauty of the surroundings grabs your attention � making it easy to focus. There are not many courses with this combination of beauty, diversity, conditioning and challenge, making Ocean Hammock worth its upscale price. Treat yourself - you will not be disappointed! (www.oceanhammock.com)

2. The Blue Monster

The Doral Golf Club in Miami boasts five courses, of which the Blue Monster is the best-known, and host to the PGA Tour�s Doral-Ryder Open, one of the pros� favourite tournaments. The course is aptly named due to the treacherous water hazards and the deep Bermuda tough, that literally eats balls. The course requires a combination of length and finesse from any suitor, and rewards any golfer who can combine the two. The 18th hole has been lauded as one of the top 100 holes in the world by Golf Magazine, a hole that requires four great shots just to make par, and nigh on a miracle to birdie. The clubhouse and amenities are of the same world-class standard as the course. It is a treat for the golfing public to be able to play here. (www.doralgolf.com)

1. Stadium Course

The Tournament Players Club (TPC) famed Stadium Course at Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach is host to the Players� Championship, one of the PGA Tour�s most coveted titles. The Stadium Course is a target design that features water on almost every hole, and plenty of pot bunkers and moguls to strike fear even into professional golfers. The daunting island green, leaving no margin for error, makes the 17th hole arguably the most famous in world golf. With no margin for error, the layout of this hole has been mimicked on many other courses. A few lucky amateur golfers will take great pleasure from succeeding where so many professionals have failed in reaching this green without a splash. The whole of the Stadium Course is undoubtedly one of the best crafted courses in the world. From the near perfect tee boxes, to the fairways, with mow pattern, a generous first cut, and richly coloured rough, through to the beautiful greens with blended fringe, the course is an aesthetic delight. A richly rewarding experience, the chance to play here should not be missed. (www.tpc.com)

**Ends**

For even more information about other brilliant courses in Florida or just additional information on the Sunshine State, please contact esther.williamson@kbc-pr.com or call + 44 (0) 1825 763633.

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