7 Best Fort Lauderdale Golf Courses: Play Like the Pros

The beautiful coastal city of Fort Lauderdale in South Florida is just 25 miles north of the city of Miami. Although the city earned a reputation as the Venice of America due to its enormous canal system and numerous marinas, Fort Lauderdale's outdoor recreation opportunities and natural beauty extend beyond these maritime activities. Fort Lauderdale boasts some of South Florida's best golf courses, equipped with the best amenities, from fine restaurants and relaxing lounges to state-of-the-art practice facilities and other sports areas like tennis courts. Read on to discover seven of the best golf courses near Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Fort Lauderdale Country Club

The Fort Lauderdale Country Club offers two challenging 18-hole courses spanning 288 acres of forested parkland just five miles from the beaches. Both golf courses have a par of 72.

The South Course is the club's original course, first built in 1926 by Joseph A. Roseman. The traditional links-feel golf course offers tees measuring up to 6,661 yards, with a course rating of 71.1 and a slope of 126.

Meanwhile, the North Course offers five tee sets stretching to 7,084 yards. The traditional course has a rating of 73.2 and a slope of 122.

The Fort Lauderdale Country Club clubhouse provides superb opportunities for recreation, relaxation, and refreshments. Members can grab a bite to eat in the Plantation Room, play various card games, or relax in the locker room's steam room.

Coral Ridge Country Club

The private Coral Ridge Country Club boasts two golf courses and impressive amenities, like tennis courts, a swimming pool, and on-site dining.

Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. in 1954 and restored by his son Rees Jones in 2020, the club's 18-hole course measures 7,160 yards from the longest tees. It has a course rating of 75 and a slope of 133.

Rees Jones designed the club's 9-hole par-3 course in 2015. This course offers an experience distinct from the club's championship course, with holes ranging from 70 yards to over 200 yards. It spans 1,399 yards total.

Coral Ridge also offers numerous resources for practicing golf. Members can enjoy the club's practice facilities, attend a weekend clinic, or book a private lesson.

Membership also provides access to Coral Ridge's other splendid amenities. A heated Olympic swimming pool and eleven tennis courts offer excellent opportunities for exercise. Additionally, the club has several dining venues, including an outdoor snack bar for eating on the go.

The Enclave at Coral Ridge borders the club. This private gated community features beautiful Fort Lauderdale luxury homes and Fort Lauderdale new construction homes overlooking the golf courses.

Jacaranda Golf Club

Located just 15 minutes west of Fort Lauderdale in the city of Plantation, the Jacaranda Golf Club features two 18-hole championship courses with five sets of tees. Both golf courses received four-star ratings from Golf Digest.

The par 71 East Course is the longer of the two courses, spanning a monstrous 7,235 yards. The challenging course has water hazards on 15 holes, affording it a 75.5 course rating and a 133 slope.

Meanwhile, the par 72 West Course focuses less on length and more on shot-making for its difficulty, with its longest tees measuring 6,778 yards. The course has a rating of 72.8 and a slope of 130.

The Jacaranda Golf Club also offers its locally brewed craft beer, the Hosel Rocket, available in both on-site restaurants and at the course's beverage carts.

Davie Golf Club

Davie Golf Club offers a par 70 18-hole course and excellent practice facilities. Located in the town of Davie, the golf course is just 15 to 20 minutes away from some of Fort Lauderdale's best beaches.

The course features five sets of tees, with the longest measuring 6,347 yards. The links course features rolling fairways and contoured, multi-tiered greens surrounded by hundreds of beautiful native trees. With a rating of 71.1 and a slope of 135, the golf course offers a fair challenge for players of most experience levels.

Davie Golf Club features various practice facilities, including a driving range and other practice areas. Additionally, the club provides individual and group lessons geared toward all skill levels.

In 2021, Davie Golf Club appeared in the DJ Khaled music video, "Let It Go," featuring Justin Bieber.

Grande Oaks Golf Club

Grande Oaks Golf Club features an 18-hole championship golf course and a 40-acre practice facility, the Grande Oaks Golf Academy. It became known as the Home of Caddyshack after appearing in the 1980 sports comedy Caddyshack.

Designed by golf legend Raymond Floyd, the club's par 71 course offers tees stretching up to 6,752 yards. The golf course's rating ranges from 66.5 to 72.6 and its slope from 114 to 138, depending on the tees. With such variety, it's possible to enjoy a relaxed, laidback game or take on a more difficult challenge.

The club hosts corporate, charity, and private tournaments. Snacks and beverages are available on the course during these events. Additionally, the club's Executive Chef can plan custom menus.

The Grande Oaks Golf Academy offers impressive practice facilities and tools to refine golf skills, from private lessons to swing analyzing technology.

Colony West Golf Club

The Colony West Golf Club in the city of Tamarac hosts two excellent 18-hole courses, a 107-room hotel, and an impressive lakeside restaurant, The View.

Colony West's Championship Course opened in 1971 for the Jackie Gleason Classic, but Jack Nicklaus and the Tournament Committee decided the course was too challenging. After several renovations, the Championship Course now spans an impressive 7,152 yards. It remains one of the trickiest golf courses in the region, with a course rating of 75.1 and a slope of 141. Golf Digest also considers it one of the top 50 courses in the United States.

The par 64 Glades Course provides a more relaxed golfing experience, with a course rating of 61 and a slope of 107. The golf course's three tee sets range from 3,292 to 4,175 yards.

The Club at Emerald Hills

The Club at Emerald Hills in the beachfront Hollywood community boasts Florida's longest golf course with a tour course layout, with tees stretching 7,827 yards. Golf Digest named the 18-hole championship course one of its best places to play, and it is a popular site for tournaments and other events.

In 2016, the USGA rated the Club at Emerald Hills #1 in South Florida, making it the most challenging golf course in the region. It has an impressive course rating of 78.6 and a slope of 148.

Bruce Devlin and Robert Von Hagge first designed the golf course in 1969. Its contoured bunkers and beautifully manicured greens take about four hours to play.

After the game, visitors can enjoy a delightful meal at the club lounge and relax with other games like billiards.

Live Near the Best Golf Courses in Fort Lauderdale

Living in Fort Lauderdale provides quick access to some of the best golf courses in South Florida, with fun layouts that can challenge players of all experience levels. With exciting options for recreation and relaxation, the best golf courses in Fort Lauderdale can provide countless hours of enjoyment.