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Best Golf Courses in Fort Lauderdale Florida
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Fort Lauderdale, Florida offers 12+ championship golf courses from oceanfront links to inland resort layouts. The city features courses designed by legends like Robert Trent Jones and Arnold Palmer. Located between Miami and Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale provides year-round golf with professional tournament venues and municipal options.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) sits 15 minutes from the beach hotels and 20 minutes from the Plantation-area courses that make up most of the area's public-access play. Broward County has more than 50 courses total, with the highest concentration clustered between Plantation, Coral Springs, Pompano Beach, and Hollywood. Cruise travelers sailing from Port Everglades, the world's third-busiest cruise port, often build a round into their pre-board or post-disembark day.
The Best Golf Courses in Fort Lauderdale Florida
Jacaranda Golf Club
Jacaranda in Plantation is the most played public facility in the Fort Lauderdale area, with two 18-hole championship courses, the East and the West. The East Course plays par 72 at 7,200 yards and is the more demanding of the two. Jacaranda regularly hosts county and regional amateur tournaments. Green fees typically run $40 to $80 depending on season. Rental delivery is available to the course bag room.
The Club at Emerald Hills
Emerald Hills in Hollywood is a private club that has hosted numerous PGA Tour qualifying events and draws serious local players. The course plays 7,280 yards at par 70 with mature trees, elevation changes rare in South Florida, and water on 14 holes. Access is member-guest or through corporate outings. One of the most respected private clubs in Broward County.
Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Course
Pompano Beach Municipal is a 36-hole public facility that reopened in 2020 after a full Greg Norman redesign. The Palms course is the more walkable, traditional layout, while the Pines course is the longer, more challenging of the two. Both are now considered among the best public courses in South Florida. Green fees are reasonable at $50 to $100 depending on day and season.
TPC Eagle Trace
TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs is a private PGA Tour course that previously hosted the Honda Classic. The Arthur Hills design plays 7,190 yards at par 72 with trademark TPC conditions and tournament-speed greens. Access requires a member invitation or PGA Tour credentials. One of the most demanding layouts in Broward County and a bucket-list round for serious golfers who have the connections.
Coral Ridge Country Club
Coral Ridge is a private club in the heart of Fort Lauderdale with a Robert Trent Jones design from 1956. The course plays 6,891 yards at par 72 through mature live oaks and cypress trees. Notable for hosting several LPGA and PGA Tour events over its history. Member access only, but listed here because Fort Lauderdale locals rank it among the city's top private rounds.
Rolling Hills Golf Resort
Rolling Hills in Davie is a public resort course 20 minutes west of Fort Lauderdale beaches. The 18-hole layout plays 6,905 yards at par 72 across genuinely rolling terrain. The course earned regional fame as a filming location for Caddyshack. Green fees are accessible at $40 to $75. A fun, forgiving round for visiting golfers who want championship yardage without championship difficulty.
Hollywood Beach Golf Club
Hollywood Beach is a historic public course just minutes from the Hollywood Broadwalk and beach hotels. Originally designed in 1924, the course has been restored multiple times and retains a classic feel. Par 70 at 6,572 yards, which plays shorter than modern designs but demands precision off the tee. Green fees typically run $40 to $80. A solid option for golfers staying at Hollywood Beach or South Fort Lauderdale hotels.
Plantation Preserve Golf Course
Plantation Preserve is a public 18-hole course operated by the City of Plantation, 15 minutes from FLL. The course winds through wetland preserves with native Florida landscape and plays 7,158 yards at par 72 from the back tees. A certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary with alligators and native birds regularly spotted during rounds. Green fees are among the best values in Broward County at $30 to $70.
Golf Club Rentals for Fort Lauderdale Courses
Traveling golfers can rent premium golf clubs in Fort Lauderdale starting at $59 per day with convenient delivery to hotels near the beach, Las Olas Boulevard, and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Full golf club rental in Fort Lauderdale covers every course in this guide, every beach hotel from Hollywood to Pompano, and every resort along the A1A corridor.
Basic sets include premium-brand irons, a driver, a putter, and a stand bag for $59 per day. Premium sets include current-season Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway, or Ping equipment for $84 per day in men's and women's, right and left-handed configurations. Add a Loaded Bag with balls, tees, glove, and towel for $15. Skipping the airline bag fees of $35 to $45 each way saves $70 to $90 round trip and eliminates the risk of damaged clubs through checked baggage.
How Rental Delivery Works
- Reserve online. Pick a Basic or Premium set. Enter your Fort Lauderdale hotel name and your first tee time.
- Clubs are delivered. Fort Lauderdale golf club delivery brings the rental set to your hotel front desk as early as 6 AM, 7 days a week.
- Play your round. Bring the clubs to any Broward County course, from Jacaranda to Hollywood Beach. All sets include a full complement of irons, woods, and a putter.
- Leave clubs at the front desk. The service picks up the set on your checkout day at no extra charge.
Golf Before or After a Port Everglades Cruise
Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale is the world's third-busiest cruise port, handling over 4 million passengers per year on lines including Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Princess. Many travelers arrive a day early or stay a day late to avoid travel stress, and a round of golf fills that day perfectly. Courses closest to Port Everglades include Hollywood Beach Golf Club (10 minutes), the two Pompano Beach Municipal courses (20 minutes), and Plantation Preserve (25 minutes).
For clubs, have the rental delivered to your pre-cruise hotel the evening before boarding, then play your round on embarkation morning and leave the clubs at the hotel concierge for pickup. Post-cruise golf works the same way in reverse. Visiting golfers from other South Florida cities can also arrange rental delivery in Miami, Palm Beach, or West Palm Beach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Jacaranda Golf Club in Plantation is widely considered the top public course in the Fort Lauderdale area, with two 18-hole championship layouts. The Club at Emerald Hills in Hollywood is the top private option, known for hosting PGA Tour qualifying events.
TPC Eagle Trace in Coral Springs is a private club that requires a member invitation or PGA Tour credentials to play. The course previously hosted the Honda Classic on the PGA Tour and remains one of the most demanding layouts in Broward County.
Yes. Jacaranda Golf Club, Pompano Beach Municipal, Hollywood Beach Golf Club, Plantation Preserve, and Rolling Hills Golf Resort are all public courses open to visitors without a membership requirement.
Golf club rentals in Fort Lauderdale start at $59 per day for a Basic Set and $84 per day for a Premium Set with Titleist, TaylorMade, Callaway, or Ping equipment. Delivery and pickup are available upon request.
Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) is the closest, 15 minutes from beach hotels and 20 minutes to Plantation-area courses. Most FLL-area hotels are inside the 15-mile delivery service area for rental clubs.
Yes. Port Everglades is one of the world's busiest cruise ports, and many travelers squeeze in a round before or after their cruise. Clubs can be delivered to your hotel the day before you sail and picked up when you disembark.
Fort Lauderdale and surrounding Broward County have more than 50 golf courses, including public daily-fee tracks, semi-private clubs, resort layouts, and private championship venues. Most are within 30 minutes of downtown Fort Lauderdale.