PAR-EXCELLENCE: Your link to The Links on the Emerald Coast

Spring. Summer. Winter. Fall.

Golf’s good along the Emerald Coast every month of the year.

But let’s say you don’t like the heat of a clear summer day.

Then come back in the fall or winter.

The many prestigious golf courses have become a huge drawing card for the region. For some winter visitors to the Emerald Coast, golf clubs are the first thing packed for the trip.

Here are brief descriptions of area golf courses.

•Bluewater Bay: East of Niceville on State Road 20, this facility is composed of four nine-hole courses: Bay, Lake, Marsh and Magnolia. For information, call 897-3241.

•Camp Creek Golf Club: Located just off of Northwest Florida’s Scenic Highway 30A, 21 miles east of Sandestin, this 18-hole course is a water and sand experience of a different sort. Designed by Tom Fazio, the golf course offers a driving range, golf shop and snack bar. The course is private and can only be played by WaterColor and WaterSound resort guests and club members. For more information, call 231-7600.

•Emerald Bay: This 18-hole course is on U.S. 98 near the Okaloosa-Walton County line. Call 837-5197.

•Fort Walton Beach Municipal: This city-owned course contains 36 holes on two courses, Pine and Oaks. The two courses do not contain many water hazards. The facility is open to the public. Call 833-9529 or 833-9530.

•Foxwood Country Club: This course is in Crestview, about 40 miles north of Destin, on Antioch Road. The 18-hole course with seven water hazards is open to the public. Call 682-2012.

•Golf Garden: This course is on U.S. 98 about 4 miles east of Destin. The Garden is a short-game player’s delight with seven par 3s and two par 4s. Call 837-7422.

•Holiday Golf Club: Located a mile off the beach in Panama City Beach, this is a semi-private, 18-hole par-72 championship course. Championship tees provide a course rating of 72.3 and slope rating of 130. The club also has Bay County’s only lighted nine-hole executive, par 3, par-29 course for the family. Call 234-1800.

•Hombre Golf Club: As host of PGA qualifying schools, The Hombre has earned a reputation as an intimidating course. The Hombre’s 27 Championship Holes, “The Good, The Bad & The Ugly” feature water on 21 of the 27 holes and are meticulously manicured to PGA specifications throughout the year. The semi-private course near Panama City Beach was designed by Wes Burnham. Call 234-3673.

•Indian Bayou Golf and Country Club: In Destin just off Airport Road, Indian Bayou contains three nine-hole courses: Creek, Choctaw and Seminole. The course is open to the public. Call 837-6191.

•Kelly Plantation: Fred Couples designed this 18-hole course on the east side of Destin. The course is semi-private with limited public play. Call 650-7600.

•The Meadows Course at Bay Point and the Nicklaus Course at Bay Point: Offering two semi-private courses, Bay Point Resort at Panama City Beach was founded in 1979. The Club Meadows has country club ambiance and is designed for repeat play. This is one of Florida’s most popular courses. Call 235-6950.

•Regatta Bay: On Destin’s east side, this 18-hole course is open to the public. Designed by acclaimed course designer and former lead architect for Arnold Palmer, Robert C. Walker, this 6,894-yard, par-72 course offers an extraordinary golf experience for players of all skill levels and was named one of Golf Digest’s “Top Places to Play in North America.” Call 650-7800.

•Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort: The largest facility in the area is 8 miles east of Destin north of U.S. 98. It offers four 18-hole courses: Baytowne, Links, Burnt Pine and the newest, Raven.

The Raven is on Troon Drive North in Sandestin and is a Robert Trent Jones Jr. design. It is a 19-hole course and opened in March 2000. The course is a 6,900-yard par 71 and has water on 11 of the 18 holes. The 16th hole is actually two holes that alternate each day. Call 267-8155. The course played host to the local PGA Boeing Champions Tour.

The Baytowne is a short 3,300-yard, heavily bunkered playing field. Water comes into play on every one of the front nine holes and seven of the back nine. The course takes full advantage of the land’s natural elevation changes and offers views of the Gulf of Mexico, Choctawhatchee Bay and the entire Sandestin property. Call 267-8155.

Burnt Pine has been referred to as the “Crown Jewel of Florida Golf” by Golf magazine and has been recognized as one of the Top 30 courses in Florida by Golf Digest. It stretches more than 7,000 yards from the championship tees. Twelve of the 18 holes require shots over water. Call 267-6500.
The Links often plays into a strong prevailing Gulf wind and has water on 13 holes. Imposing hazards have earned the course the title of one of the most challenging resort courses in Florida. Call 267-8144.

•Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club: This 18-hole course 4 miles east of Sandestin on County Road 30A features holes overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. The facility is a semiprivate club but is open to the public. Call 267-2229.

•Seascape Resort: This 18-hole course is 7 miles east of Destin on U.S. 98. Its 13 water hazards pose a challenge for any golfer. The course is open to the public. Tee times can be made two days in advance. Call 654-7888.

•Shalimar Pointe: This 18-hole course on Country Club Drive in Shalimar is open to the public. Call 651-1416.

•Signal Hill: Panama City Beach’s first golf course was designed on the original dunes. The 18-hole par-71 course features wide-open fairways. Call 234-3218.

•Wild Heron: Designed by World Golf Hall-of-Famer Greg Norman, this 18-hole course is located among the oaks and pines along the shores of Lake Powell, near Phillips Inlet. This 7,200-yard course is private. For more information, call 1-866-474-2751.

Other courses within a few miles of Destin include:

•Hidden Creek: This semi-private club in Navarre is known for its excellent condition, fast greens, lush landscaping and scenic, rolling terrain. Call 939-4604.

•The Moors: Former home of the senior PGA Tour Emerald Coast Classic, the par-70 course is near Milton. Call 800-727-1010.

•Acadian Hills: Off State Road 81 near Bruce, this 18-hole course is open to the public. This course, formerly known as Sandy Pines Golf Course, is under new management. Sam Rachel Jr. is new course manager. Walkers are welcome any time of day. Call 835-5254.

•Sunny Hills: The course was built in 1974 with Gene Sarazen and Ken Venturi as consultants. It has wide, well-bunkered fairways and large, well-bunkered greens. Take State Road 20 to State Road 77 and drive north 18 miles. Call 800-956-4455.

•Tiger Point East and West: Built along the Santa Rosa Sound, both courses offer breathtaking waterfront views. The East course is a Scottish-style links course. The courses are just off U.S. 98 on Country Club Road in Gulf Breeze. Call 932-133o.

•Windswept Dunes: Voted one of the Top Ten Best New Public Courses in America by Golf Magazine, this 18-hole course is just east of Freeport on State Road 20. It’s the longest course in Florida at 7,608 yards and features include six sets of tees, full practice facility, wide fairways, huge greens and a Doug O’Rourke designed pro shop. For information, call  835-1847.

•Adara: This 18-hole public course in Crestview calls itself as “Okaloosa’s newest golf course.” The course is 6,431 yards from the longest tees and plays to a par 72. For tee times, call (850) 689-1111. The course is at 1111 Shoal River Drive, just off State Road 85 in Crestview.