Talk to me about Florida...

**d373rm1ned** · March 8, 2010

Have been considering a move to a warmer year round climate and Florida is on the radar. However, I have no idea what areas in Florida I should be looking at? Which places/cities in Florida are ideal for year round golf? I would rather have numerous public courses to choose from than 1-2 private clubs to join if that makes sense. I just want some opinions on which areas of Florida are golf hot spots and please be as specific as possible. Thanks!

**kpaulhus** · March 8, 2010

I live in Jacksonville, and there are a decent amount of courses in the area. I grew up in Tampa and eventually Ill move back. Love living there since there are a bunch of courses within a 30 min drive, the Bucs, Lightning, Rays, USF Bulls also provide plenty of sports entertainment. Really if you live near any of the major cities in FL (Miami, Jax, Orlando, Tampa) there is a lot to do, and plenty of golf. The further south you go, the cheaper the home prices get from what I can see.

Good Luck in your decision.....btw the weather speaks for itself.

**The Road Dog** · March 8, 2010

I live in St Petersburg, FL across the bay from Tampa. There are @129 courses within 30 mile radius of my house. It runs the gamut from private CC( I live on one but am not a member) to Munis and Publicly owned courses. from 2200 yard execs to 7000+yard ball busters. Then if you want variety you can drive to Orange County (Disney country @ 80 miles away) and start all over again.

**canes113** · March 8, 2010

South Florida (Miami or Ft. Lauderdale) you can't go wrong. Starting April 15th, we have the Premier card whereby you can play some of the best public & semi-private courses in South Florida for cart fee only ($22-$30 per round).

**The Road Dog** · March 8, 2010

As additional info, I will add this warning. Don't think about moving to Florida if you are not an outdoors type person. You will get bored getting up each day to the same old sunshine.

I stopped counting the number of times I went to apartment house sales where Canadians were selling everything and moving back up north. When asked why they give up on Florida they always say it is so hard to make friends here. Right! because they are indoors folks. They have a hard time finding people that want to come by and sit in their apartment playing card games or go bowling etc. If you come here the Golf is one thing and it's great but the fishing is awesome. I have saltwater beaches in three direction from my house and two I can walk easily. Boating, check. Seafood restaurants, check. Sports teams, check, especially spring training. Culture, well we're not New York, but we have some to offer. Colleges, Universities, Bicycling and running, we are the Triathalon training capitol of the US. Don't worry about Hurricanes. look up the last one to hit Tampa on Google. Plus the building codes here are up to date and newer houses and apartment buildings should be fine in case a storm does come this way.. The biggest problem I find about living here is how long it takes to get to the Georgia state line when I travel by car or motorcycle.. Oh yeah, sell the snowmobile before heading this way, get a bike and you can actually get your money's worth when you insure it because we ride 12 months not 3. Finally it is really hard to restrain your self from calling old friends when you see coverage of the latest snowstorm or blizzard that is hitting them after you move here..

**Jcp907** · March 8, 2010

I am in the Northeast Orlando area, and love it. I don't even know how many public courses I have around me. Going on courses that I recall, I have 10 courses within 12 miles of my house. They play for under 30.00 in the summer, after 2 pm. It's hot in the summer though. The coasts are a little cooler because there is some wind. I imagine anywhere you end up in Florida, there is a variety of golf for every budget. I ended up cleaning out the garage today, so didn't make it out. But, I could have played 18 with a cart (most courses require a cart) for 28.00 and it's the season right now. Prices come down in March, and again in the summer. Over the summer, I could play 18 for about 15.00 on an okay course (slow greens) any day of the week. There are also a large number of more expensive courses around.

**kpaulhus** · March 8, 2010

Just log on to golfnow.com and check out all the courses.

**Fatphil** · March 8, 2010

I'm in Miami for work not for golf but yeah the weather in S FL is the best. I would tend to recommend SW FL rather than SE. Miami FLT has traffic and is basically NYC with palm trees..Naples, FT Myers has a ton of courses and is a bit more tranquil.

It does get chilly at times Orlando and north but one word of advice about S. FL it's really far away if you're driving back up north. Miami to the Georgia border is a good 6-7 hours. If flying MIA is very congested but the FT Myers airport is a breeze. Orlando due to Disney is a very expensive airport to fly from due to all the tourist scooping up the discount seats.

If I had not job needs I think the Tampa St Pete recommendation is the best. IMO.

**d373rm1ned** · March 9, 2010

Great info guys. Looking for any more opinions on the matter. Thanks.

I live in St Petersburg, FL across the bay from Tampa. There are @129 courses within 30 mile radius of my house. It runs the gamut from private CC( I live on one but am not a member) to Munis and Publicly owned courses. from 2200 yard execs to 7000+yard ball busters. Then if you want variety you can drive to Orange County (Disney country @ 80 miles away) and start all over again.

I'd have to say that Tampa is at the top of my list currently. Seems so centrally located.

South Florida (Miami or Ft. Lauderdale) you can't go wrong. Starting April 15th, we have the Premier card whereby you can play some of the best public & semi-private courses in South Florida for cart fee only ($22-$30 per round).

Miami my just be too south for my liking. Seems so far from everything else FL has to offer.

As additional info, I will add this warning. Don't think about moving to Florida if you are not an outdoors type person. You will get bored getting up each day to the same old sunshine.

Definitely the outdoor type. How's the hiking around the Tampa area? You mentioned hurricanes...how rainy is it around that area? I love calm, sunny days and would get pretty frustrated if it rained during my after work round of golf on a consistent basis.

I am in the Northeast Orlando area, and love it. I don't even know how many public courses I have around me. Going on courses that I recall, I have 10 courses within 12 miles of my house. They play for under 30.00 in the summer, after 2 pm. It's hot in the summer though. The coasts are a little cooler because there is some wind. I imagine anywhere you end up in Florida, there is a variety of golf for every budget. I ended up cleaning out the garage today, so didn't make it out. But, I could have played 18 with a cart (most courses require a cart) for 28.00 and it's the season right now. Prices come down in March, and again in the summer. Over the summer, I could play 18 for about 15.00 on an okay course (slow greens) any day of the week. There are also a large number of more expensive courses around.

When you hear the word Orlando - I automatically think of tourists. How truly bad are tourists in and around Orlando. I think I may be better off living around Tampa and visiting Orlando on occasion.

Just log on to golfnow.com and check out all the courses.

Nice website.

I'm in Miami for work not for golf but yeah the weather in S FL is the best. I would tend to recommend SW FL rather than SE. Miami FLT has traffic and is basically NYC with palm trees..Naples, FT Myers has a ton of courses and is a bit more tranquil.

Thanks for the info on the Miami area.

**Shanks A Million** · March 10, 2010

Florida can be a tough place if you don't like it. You should check out each area, and figure where you like best. Many people are just not cut out for it. It can be very hot, violent, crowded, bizarre, or just annoying. I was born in Ft. Lauderdale, so to me, it's what I know. Other parts of the country seem boring and white in comparison. I prefer living in a major city, and I like the color. Many people don't. You can look at Google Street view and see just how varied the landscape can be. If you like golf though, we have some of that...

**Jcp907** · March 10, 2010

I'd have to say that Tampa is at the top of my list currently. Seems so centrally located.

If I could move now, I would look at the Brooksville area. I would LOVE to live here, near World Woods, just north of Tampa. There are other courses, but Pine Barrens at World Woods is incredible!

Definitely the outdoor type. How's the hiking around the Tampa area? You mentioned hurricanes...how rainy is it around that area? I love calm, sunny days and would get pretty frustrated if it rained during my after work round of golf on a consistent basis.

Hiking? No idea. Florida is pretty flat. It does rain regularly in the afternoon 3-5PM or so during the summer, but it comes down in buckets, and is over pretty quickly, usually. This is true for Central Fl, but may not be for other areas of FL.

When you hear the word Orlando - I automatically think of tourists. How truly bad are tourists in and around Orlando. I think I may be better off living around Tampa and visiting Orlando on occasion.

Tourists are non-existent in Northeast Orlando, unless they are on their way to Daytona (39 miles away). The Tourist areas are probably 15-40 miles south of where I am. Although, I do thank Tourists for eliminating income taxes though. Coming from CT, I am very thankful for that.

**murphmjm** · March 10, 2010

I'm from mass and moved down to Miami for school. I ended up living in Miami Beach for a year then downtown for a couple of months. I would stay away from these areas if you are looking to move to South Florida. The beach traffic is horrible and downtown is well slum like apart from the nice condos. I would recommend looking up north a bit in boca/delray or even west palm. Weston is a nice area but its a bit pricey for what your getting. There are tons of golf courses around boca. If you don't like the outdoors you are going to be miserable, its the same thing every day 80, humid, sunny early summer then its 70 not so humid, rain, cold, humid, hot in the winter time. the high temps will be 85-90 in the summer with low temps around 80. The weather does not change much. I moved back after a little over a year, it wasn't for me at least not living in downtown.

Traffic is horrible on I-95 most of the time, people are crazy drivers, perhaps the worst I've ever seen and I drive in Boston frequently. I did catering deliveries while at school and the further north I went the better things were with traffic etc. Homestead is barren so you could probably get a place down there quite cheaply. Aventura is a trip, if you like to have your main attraction be a shopping mall then def move there. I don't see the hype in that area, 1mil for something that's tiny and has a crap view of the ocean and tons of other condos.

I think the best way to describe South Florida in the Miami Metro area would be a poor Long Island with palm trees. Strip malls everywhere no elevation change and overpriced everything. There are defintley nice places down there but they are always behind big gates or armed guards.

**Fatphil** · March 10, 2010

I think the best way to describe South Florida in the Miami Metro area would be a poor Long Island with palm trees. Strip malls everywhere no elevation change and overpriced everything. There are defintley nice places down there but they are always behind big gates or armed guards.

wow guess you won't be workin for the chamber of commerce anytime soon! FYI, I hit 50 balls today at lunch...75* and 10mph breeze..had a quick beer in Doral and finishing up work in the office with the doors and windows open and smokin a nice cigar.

**Shanks A Million** · March 11, 2010

I would recommend looking up north a bit in boca/delray or even west palm. Weston is a nice area but its a bit pricey for what your getting.

And you think we're crazy? Boca sucks. Boca is about as welcoming as a colonoscopy with a rusty spoon. Weston is like something out of a bad movie. Delray is nice. Miami and Miami Beach are much better, so is Ft. Lauderdale. If you're from Mass, you're not used to the extreme environment, that's all.

**murphmjm** · March 11, 2010

I didn't meant to bash Miami so bad although it seems i did, I should say mostly downtown is what I was hating. There are some great places down there I just wouldn't call downtown one of them. I think ft lauderdale is pretty nice though, I did a party one of the large canals down there and it was quite nice i think its along the river walk or something like that. If you can afford it the beach has some real nice areas and I never had a problem with someone trying to hustle me fake jewelry for money as I did walking from my parking garage on 3rd street to the condo across the street when i lived downtown! There were some nice places in Miramar off the red road / old Miramar pkwy area that i wouldn't have minded living in, maybe you could check out there, you would actually have some space and neighbors wouldn't be 4 feet away.

**Shindig** · March 11, 2010

I'm going to jump on this thread and put in a related question of my own: what of Gainesville? How about the northern parts of Florida, closer to the GA border?

And, while I'm at it, for these areas, what salary level would allow someone a good standard of living, including plenty of golf?

**The Road Dog** · March 19, 2010

Shindig, Gainesville is a college town in a rural setting. But it is a large college town. Nuf said.

Closer to Georgia it gets more rural. You need to visit and see it.

As far as a salary. Subtract what you pay for state income taxes, from your yearly expenses. And if that makes you happy that same amount
would make you happy here. There are lots of courses you can visit for less than $20 a round at 2pm. So it doesn't require a lot of money.

**Fozcycle** · March 19, 2010

I was transferred here in 1987.......just north of Tampa......so I have the semi-rural lifestyle, with all the amenities of Tampa (sports & arts). Housing is reasonable, no state income tax.

Golf is very affordable.....I run a game every Saturday at a Pebble Creek (New Tampa area), just 7 miles from the house. I am not a member, but they give me many perks because I run the game for them which totaled 1,200 rounds in 2009. They give us a year round rate of $30...which is normally $25 in the summer & $55 in the winter).

You can purchase a $200 Paradise card (April throught sept) you can play many other courses such as TPC Tampa, Lake Jovita & Saddlebrook Resort for about $50-$75.

Join the Tampa Sports Authority golf card (about $60/yr) and play their 3 courses, Roger's Park, Babe Zahairas & Rocky Point at a discount, plus every 13th round is free.

During the summer you can get on Saddlebrook Resort (Arnold Palmer designed) two courses for $35, which is $80 in the winter by booking tee time online.

There are also deals for World Woods in Brooksville as well.

All in all, you can find an affordable game in the Tampa Bay area.

We play every weekend of the year.

Come join us.

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Talk to me about Florida...

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