 
|
Sandestin GolfHere at Ocean Reef, we know that many of our rental guests love to golf and come here often to do so. The Emerald Coast is blessed to have some of the best golf courses in the entire world and four of them are located at the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Sandestin is a unique, five star 2,400 acre resort which is the only one in northwest Florida that actually extends all the way from the Gulf of Mexico on its southern edge to the huge Choctawhatchee Bay to the north. This whole part of Florida, which includes both Destin and Miramar Beach where Sandestin is located, is similar to an off shore island. It is sandwiched in between the vast Gulf and the bay which extends up to five miles across the water to the “mainland”. Although this area resembles a peninsula, you cannot get here without crossing some kind of bridge, two of which are literally miles off shore in length. In other words: “Welcome to Fantasy Island!”
There are three golf courses at Sandestin which include Baytowne, The Raven and The Links which are all available for public play. (A fourth one called Burnt Pines, is a private country club for those fortunate enough to own homes within the resort.) The Sandestin golf courses have won a series of national awards over the years including Best Golf in Northwest Florida by Birmingham Magazine and Top 75 Golf Resorts Worldwide. Golf Digest has named Sandestin as one of the Top Golf Resorts nationwide with a four and one half star rating. Golf for Women magazine listed it as one of the best courses in the nation and the courses have received the coveted Gold Tee Award multiple times. In addition, Sandestin has become a part of the PGA championship tours in recent years. All in all, the Sandestin golf courses have received a sum total of over thirty different awards since its inception. The Baytowne course was designed by Tom Jackson and is rated four and one half stars for play. This course extends from the beach to the bay with rolling hills offering awesome vista views. Pure white sand traps dot the far ends of the dark green fairways and the greens are meticulously maintained. Sky blue colors are reflected mirror like upon the myriad of small lakes, ponds and natural lagoons on clear sunny days. This is a great course to travel across the resort as the fairways actually straddle the Emerald Coast Parkway which separates the “bay side” from the “gulf side.” You get a little bit of everything with this course as far as visuals are concerned. These views include not only the bay to the north but also provide a tantalizing glimpse of the shimmering gulf in the distance to the south, amidst the high rise luxury towers that are strategically placed along the beach. 2011 rates are as follows (rates subjest to change): Thru August 10th = $79 The Raven also has a four and one half star rating status per Golf Digest magazine and was designed by Robert Trent Jones. This par 71 course has lush landscaping with over 250,000 flowering plants including over 50,000 day lilies alone. There are also a number of exotic aquatic plantings located in the numerous lagoons with pastel colored ornamental grasses placed to border water ways and marshy areas. Small ponds and lakes dot the entire course with towering Loblolly Pines extending along the sides of many of the fairways in some heavily wooded areas. These evergreens retain their beautiful color year round and are indigenous to this part of the country. 2011 rates are as follows (rates subjest to change): Thru May 8th = $109 The Links is another Jackson design and is the original golf course, completed in the mid 1970s. It has been rated as one of the best golf courses in the entire state of Florida. If you are looking for gorgeous water views, this is the course for you but be sure to check those off shore breezes. Winds are always variable here coming across the bay from the north or shooting in across the gulf to the south. The challenge is that they can change in an instant depending upon the weather. Distant thunderstorms on the other side of the bay can whip up winds even if the sun is still shining on this side, which can be a common occurrence during the summer months. In the late fall, dry northerly breezes are almost always the norm but provide a refreshing sense of well being under azure blue skies. The Links course has five fairways that meander along the water's edge extending from Horseshoe Bayou out into Choctawhatchee bay. Besides the strategy required circumventing the bay breezes, you may find that you need to focus on your shot instead of the beautiful visual distractions. These include awesome views of Baytowne Wharf, the Grand Sandestin and a big marina which is decorated by luxury yachts that are docked there. On the bay itself you can see fish jumping out of the water, usually with a distant pod of dolphin in fast pursuit. 2011 rates are as follows (rates subjest to change): Thru May 8th = $64 Be sure to check on Special Afternoon Specials which are available from time to time. Notices of these specials and reservations must be made 48 hours in advance. You may check on these by calling 850.267.8155.
For those who want to improve their game or are just starting out, the Sandestin Golf Academy is available to offer you personal, professional instruction. Private lessons are offered on an hourly basis. There are also classes provided in Package Formats along with Specialized Clinics and even Junior Programs. The Sandestin Golf Academy uses the latest in technological training equipment as well. Advanced digital videos are used to provide “Virtual Instruction” which are the same programs used by PGA tour players to improve their games. If you are planning to stay at one of Ocean Reef Resort's private vacation rentals in or around Sandestin and enjoy the game of golf, be sure to treat yourself to one of these award winning courses. You will never forget it! |
 |
|
