Eagle Dunes Golf Club

A course that's atypical to most Florida golf layouts, Eagle Dunes Golf Club is a championship level test that features lots of sand, elevation changes and not as much water as you typically find on courses in this region. Designed by Mike Dasher, the 7,024 par-72 course opened in 2003 and was honored a few years later by Golf Digest, which gave it a four-star rating and named it among its "Best Places to Play." Known for its beautiful, well-maintained greens and extensive bunkering, the course has four sets of tees, which starts at 5,277 yards. The no. 1 handicap hole comes early, the 464-yard, par-4 second. The straightaway hole is tree-lined all the way down the left side of a narrow fairway. Eagle Dunes Golf Club also has a nice variety of par 3s that range from the 178-yard eighth to the 208-yard 16th. There's no water on either of the holes, but the latter has a bunker that's at least 40 yards long bordering the right side of the hole in front of the bunker. The club, which offers memberships but is open to the public, also has excellent practice facilities. They include a full grass driving range, short-game area and practice putting green. Lessons are also available as are periodic free instructional clinics. The club also offers discounts for junior play when accompanying an adult. Inside the clubhouse is a well-stocked golf shop as well as a clubhouse restaurant open to golfers as well as visitors.