From Pensacola to Keywest and from Jacksonville to Naples, everywhere you look there is a golf course waiting to be discovered in Florida. With more than 900 courses spread over an area of 58,560 Sq. miles is it any wonder then that the state figures on every golf holiday maker s wish list? Golf erupted on the recreation scene in Florida sometime during the early 20th century and the Sunshine State became the most preferred golf vacation destination for enthusiasts across the country.

Two things that swing in favor of Florida being the no.1 place golf tours head to are the prolific presence of top-rated courses and near perfect weather all year round. Another plus is that golf holiday makers have to spend lesser putting away in Florida. Golf is spread out over all major regions with Orlando coming up the tops. Although Disney World has been a traditional competitor, with more than 150 courses, Orlando was meant to be savored on a golf holiday. Courses like the Bay Hill Club and Eagle Creek added in the top 100 best courses in America list by Golf Week see a lot of golf travel enthusiasts.

But the courses at the Grand Cypress are the single most popular on most golf tour checklists. Grand Cypress whopping 45-holes Jack Nicklaus extravaganza is enough to keep your golf vacation busy for a few days. Three 9-hole courses: The North, South & East courses are stimulating in their layout and the way they test a golfer s skills, the 18-hole new course is a Scottish style links course for the more traditional golfer. The best part is that you need to extract only about $120 for the four courses.

Tampa, with its fantastic array of first-class resort courses, upscale daily fee and semiprivate tracks, is fast becoming a delightful golf travel destination. Make a stopover in the other “city by the bay” just for World Woods that offers two top 100 courses Tom Fazio designed Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks. At $75 each, playing 36 holes on natural golf terrain is quite a bargain. Pine Barrens snakes through a thick pine forest and offers different levels of difficulty with sudden elevation changes and large fairways and teeming bunkers make the game more enjoyable. Sharply defined bunkers and silver white sand contrasting with the well kept greens on Rolling Oaks lend it an Augusta like quality. But don t let all the prettiness fool you because Rolling Oaks is an equally challenging and dramatic course that will add flavor to your golf tour.

The First Coast, home to the PGA Tour and host of The Players Championship, has a course to suit every palate and purse. If your golf travel does not include Jacksonville it would halve the fun. Give it a miss and your golf tour would be poorer by an experience to remember on the Jack Nicklaus designed Ocean Hammock Golf Club in Palm Coast. This 18-hole, ocean front course would cost you $189, however the view and the mentally challenging game it throws up makes it worth the while. Other courses in J-Ville that should figure on your golf vacation checklist are the Pete Dye designed Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach and Arthur Hills creation The Palencia Club in the historic town of St. Augustine .

Golf travel to Florida can expect some of the hardiest yet eye-catching courses like the Calusa pines golf club in Naples and the best part is you don t have to pray for a fortune to play them.