South Florida

The take

South Florida is not Streamsong and should not be judged like Streamsong. This is not remote, minimalist, walk-all-day golf. This is Palm Beach to Miami: PGA National, The Park West Palm, Doral, resort pools, steak dinners, airport choice, and a lot of sun.

The golf has more substance than casual planners assume. Trump National Doral's Blue Monster is back in the tournament conversation with the PGA Tour's Cadillac Championship returning to Doral in 2026. The Park West Palm gave the region a credible modern public course by Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, and Dirk Ziff after a major civic rebuild of the old West Palm Beach municipal site. PGA National's Champion Course remains a brutal tournament test with The Bear Trap, while The Match and The Estate give resort groups useful supporting rounds.

Read the full take

The mistake is treating South Florida as one compact golf neighborhood. Palm Beach Gardens, West Palm Beach, Doral, and Miami are not interchangeable. Build the trip by cluster first, then decide whether the group wants Palm Beach polish, Miami nightlife, or a split trip that accepts the drive.

Best version

Base the serious golf around Palm Beach Gardens and West Palm Beach, then add one Miami/Doral night if the group actually wants the city. Play The Park and PGA National early in the trip, then use the Blue Monster as the big-ticket Miami finish. The best version balances golf with lifestyle instead of pretending this is a pure-golf bunker.

Skip if

Insider notes

Base the serious golf around Palm Beach Gardens and West Palm Beach, then add one Miami/Doral night if the group actually wants the city.
Play The Park and PGA National early in the trip, then use the Blue Monster as the big-ticket Miami finish.
The best version balances golf with lifestyle instead of pretending this is a pure-golf bunker.

The courses

5 core rounds. Scan first, then click into the course detail when you want the full read.

Full destination course detailsExpand this section for the deeper course reads, then click again to hide it.Expand

#86GD Public

4.5(2,356)

4400 NW 87th Ave, Miami, FL 33178, USA

(305) 592-2000

Must play

Trump National Doral - Blue Monster

Designer: Dick Wilson; Gil Hanse and Jim Wagner renovation
Year: 1962
Par: 72
Yardage: About 7,590 yards from the back tees; tournament setup can vary
Difficulty: High
Green fees: Premium Doral resort/daily-fee pricing; verify current tee-time and resort-package rates. Build in caddie/forecaddie and service costs if required.

The Blue Monster is the headline round if the trip includes Miami. It is long, wet, polished, and a little theatrical, which is exactly what it is supposed to be. The return of a PGA Tour Signature Event gives it fresh relevance, but the reason to play is still the same: tournament history, resort sheen, and a closing stretch that can make decent players look like they borrowed clubs at the airport. Do not play it expecting quiet restraint. This is Doral. Subtle left the building years ago.

Strengths

Tournament identity
Big finishing holes
Resort conditioning
Miami name value

Weaknesses

Expensive
Penal water
Less charming than the best architecture trips
Traffic-sensitive

Must play

0/5

Signature holes: 1, 15, 16, 18

Image coming soon

#89GD Public

Must play

The Park West Palm

Designer: Gil Hanse, Jim Wagner, and Dirk Ziff
Year: 2023
Par: 71
Yardage: About 7,100 yards
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: Public dynamic/seasonal pricing; West Palm Beach resident and non-resident rates can differ materially. Non-resident prime times can be meaningfully expensive for a municipal course.

The Park is the course that makes South Florida interesting to serious golf people again. It has the rare combination of public access, architectural credibility, and actual local energy. The lighted short course, practice center, and junior/caddie programming also make it feel like a real golf community rather than another guarded resort gate. It is not the biggest flex in the region. It may be the best sign that the region is not just selling sun and steak.

Strengths

Modern Hanse/Wagner design
Public access
Serious practice setup
Community credibility
Less resort-stiff

Weaknesses

Can be hard to access at prime times
Expensive for non-residents
Less traditional trophy-course aura

Must play

0/5

Signature holes: 6, 10, 11, 18

Must play

PGA National - Champion

Designer: Tom and George Fazio; Jack Nicklaus redesign/renovations
Year: 1981
Par: 72 for resort play; tournament setup can vary
Yardage: About 7,081 yards from the Bear tees
Difficulty: High
Green fees: PGA National resort/package pricing; Champion surcharges can apply and vary by season.

The Champion is not trying to be charming. It is trying to put you in trouble and then ask why you were standing there. The Bear Trap gets the marketing, but the whole course has enough water, wind, and long approaches to expose shaky players. The smarter itinerary pairs it with The Match or a lighter Palm Beach day, not another ego test. Put it on the trip, but do not pretend everyone in the group will love it equally.

Strengths

The Bear Trap
Cognizant Classic identity
Championship test
Resort logistics

Weaknesses

Penal for weaker players
Water-heavy
Can be more famous than fun

Must play

0/5

Signature holes: 15, 16, 17, 18

4.5(759)

400 Ave of the Champions, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418, USA

(877) 468-1705

Strong play

PGA National - The Match

Designer: Andy Staples; reimagined from the former Squire Course
Year: 2021
Par: 54
Yardage: About 5,789 yards from the longest tees
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: PGA National resort/package pricing; verify current course availability and inclusions.

The Match is a smart supporting round because it solves a real trip problem: not every day should be a grind. It is creative, flexible, and built for matches instead of scorekeeping vanity. If the group has mixed skill levels, this may do more for the trip than another hard Florida resort course.

Strengths

Fun format
Fast pace
Match-play energy
Good for varied skill levels

Weaknesses

Nontraditional
Not a tournament-course flex
Some players may not understand the concept

Strong play

0/5

Signature holes: 1, 6, 11, 18

Image coming soon

4.5(77)

7736 Bay Hill Dr, West Palm Beach, FL 33412, USA

Google Maps

Strong play

PGA National - The Estate

Designer: Karl Litten
Year: 1984
Par: 72
Yardage: About 6,694 yards
Difficulty: Medium
Green fees: PGA National access and availability can vary; verify current routing, tee times, and package rules directly.

The Estate is a supporting piece, not the star. It is useful if you are staying at PGA National and want a more manageable round, especially for mixed-skill groups. The caution is access clarity: verify directly with the resort before building the trip around it.

Strengths

Useful resort depth
More playable than Champion
Convenient if included in a stay

Weaknesses

Less distinctive
Access/availability needs verification
Not a reason to travel by itself

Strong play

0/5

Signature holes: 3, 4, 12, 18

Full course library

Where to stay, eat, and stray

Lodging

Where to stay

PGA National Resort

PGA National is the cleanest Palm Beach Gardens base. Use it when the group wants resort structure, multiple rounds, and fewer moving parts.

The Ben West Palm / Downtown West Palm Beach hotels

West Palm is the better lifestyle base if The Park is central and the group wants actual restaurants after golf.

The Breakers Palm Beach

The Breakers is the flex. It is not the value play and it is not the practical golf headquarters, but it can make the trip feel like Palm Beach instead of just another resort weekend.

Dining

Where groups actually eat

PGA National resort dining

Use resort dining when the golf day was hard and nobody should be trusted with logistics.

Buccan / Palm Beach

Buccan is the kind of dinner that makes the Palm Beach side feel like a real trip rather than a resort stay with golf attached.

Downtown West Palm Beach

Downtown West Palm is the practical sweet spot: enough energy, fewer mistakes.

Things to do

Beyond the golf

Palm Beach / Worth Avenue

Good for couples, mixed groups, and a polished off-course afternoon. Not a buddies-trip requirement.

Miami Beach and Brickell nightlife

The strongest social upside in the destination. Put it at the end of the trip or accept the consequences.

Spa and pool time

PGA National, The Breakers, and Doral all work well for recovery days or mixed groups.

Planning mechanics

Logistics

Flights, driving, walking

Flights

Palm Beach International (PBI): Best for PGA National, The Park, and Palm Beach lodging Fort Lauderdale (FLL): Flexible middle option with broad flight coverage Miami International (MIA): Best for Doral and Miami lodging Boca Raton / Fort Lauderdale Executive / Miami-Opa locka: Useful private aviation options depending on base

Ground transportation

Use rental cars or arranged transportation. Rideshare works for dinners in dense areas, but golf bags and early tee times make cars more practical.

Walking

Walking/caddie rules vary. The Park is the best fit for a walking-style experience. PGA National and Doral are resort environments where carts and forecaddie-style service may matter more. Confirm directly before promising anything to the group.

Weather

When the trip works best

Best window

Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr

Weather reality

Conditions can materially change the value and feel of the trip.

Planning ranges

Cost and value levers

Blue Monster

Premium daily-fee/resort pricing - The Miami trophy round; verify current rates and caddie/forecaddie rules.

The Park West Palm

Public dynamic pricing - Often not cheap for non-residents, but worth prioritizing.

PGA National Champion

Resort/package pricing plus possible surcharges - The famous hard round. Budget for the pain twice: scorecard and invoice.

Itinerary builder

Build your itinerary

The sample on the right is an illustrative Streamsong example.

It is meant to show the depth and shape of a real plan. Build your own around your group, dates, rounds, lodging, dining, and travel timing.

Build my itinerary

Illustrative sample output

Streamsong in 3 Days: 4 Rounds, Mixed Group

3 nights at Streamsong Lodge covering all 3 courses plus a repeat of whichever lands best with the group. With a mixed-skill group and a social thread running through the trip, the sequencing matters: start approachable, build toward bold, and protect evenings for the group to decompress together.

Recommendation

Start with Red to set the right tone for mixed players, not Black. Black's scale can deflate weaker players early and that poisons the rest of the trip.

Day 1

Morning: Arrive, check in to Streamsong Lodge, and get settled without rushing. Arrival timing is unknown, so do not force a same-day round.

Afternoon: If arriving early-to-midday, use the practice facilities to shake off travel; skip forcing an afternoon round on an unknown schedule.

Evening: Make this the nicer dinner night. Gather the group, debrief the plan, and use the evening to build energy for the heavy golf days ahead.

Insider note: Day 1 is the setup day, not a golf day. Burning a round here on travel legs is the most common mistake groups make at Streamsong.

Day 2

Morning: Tee off on Streamsong Red first thing. It is the most balanced course and the right anchor for a mixed-skill group on fresh legs.

Afternoon: Afternoon round on Streamsong Blue. It is more open and wind-affected, which rewards better players while staying manageable enough for the group.

Evening: Keep dinner casual and on property. Two rounds is a full day and the group needs to recover, not power through a production.

Insider note: Red in the morning lets the group settle in before Blue asks harder questions in the afternoon wind.

Day 3

Morning: Play Streamsong Black. Use it as the bold contrast round the guide describes, not as the centerpiece, and set expectations accordingly for higher-handicap players.

Afternoon: Replay the course that resonated most with the group. Red is the likely call for mixed groups, Blue for stronger players who want another look.

Evening: Final evening on property. Keep it relaxed since departure timing is unknown and no one should be grinding through dinner logistics.

Insider note: Black is the experience round, not the best round. Frame it that way for the group before the first tee so no one is quietly disappointed by the rougher edges.

Tradeoffs

Four rounds in two full golf days is aggressive but workable at a comfortable pace. The plan keeps Day 1 golf-free to protect legs and group cohesion rather than chasing a fifth round nobody would enjoy.

Black is scheduled for Day 3 morning rather than being skipped. It adds useful contrast and a memorable moment, but it was deliberately placed after the group already has two courses under its belt rather than as an opener.

The nicer dinner was placed on Day 1 rather than a golf day. This protects energy on the days that matter and gives the group something to build toward without splitting a long golf day around a formal meal.

Book first

Book all four tee times at Streamsong before lodging fills. The property manages its own tee sheet and availability tightens fast in peak season.

Confirm Streamsong Lodge rooms for all three nights in a single block. A small group of 3-4 makes this manageable, but winter weekends can still book out early.

Arrange caddies for at least Red and Blue if the group is open to walking. First-time looks benefit significantly from local knowledge on both courses.

Watchouts

Two rounds on Day 2 is the heaviest ask of the trip. If anyone in the mixed group is a high-handicapper or infrequent player, build in flexibility to skip the afternoon Blue round rather than grinding through it.

Streamsong is genuinely remote and there is no nightlife option off property. Groups expecting energy beyond the lodge bar will be disappointed, and that expectation gap kills trip morale faster than a bad round.

Black's scale and difficulty can frustrate less experienced players, especially after already playing 36 holes the day before. If the group's weakest player struggled on Day 2, consider swapping Black for a Red replay.

LodgingExpand

Choose the base by trip personality. Palm Beach Gardens is golf-first and PGA National-friendly. West Palm Beach gives The Park plus better town energy. Doral/Miami works if the Blue Monster and nightlife are central. Splitting bases can be smart; commuting across South Florida every day is not.

Golf resort

PGA National Resort

0/5

Best for: Champion, The Match, and PGA National-focused trips

Cost: Peak winter resort pricing; package rates and course surcharges can move the all-in number.

4.4(3,319)(844) 773-9577

400 Ave of the Champions, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418, USA

PGA National is the cleanest Palm Beach Gardens base. Use it when the group wants resort structure, multiple rounds, and fewer moving parts.

Pros

Best course access, Easy resort logistics, Spa/pool/dining amenities, Good for mixed groups

Cons

Expensive in season, The Champion can be too hard for casual players, Not a Miami nightlife base

Boutique and city hotels

The Ben West Palm / Downtown West Palm Beach hotels

0/5

Best for: The Park, restaurants, and a more urban Palm Beach trip

Cost: Seasonal boutique-hotel pricing; downtown rates rise sharply in peak winter.

West Palm is the better lifestyle base if The Park is central and the group wants actual restaurants after golf.

Pros

Better dining access, Good for The Park, Walkable downtown energy, Easier for non-golfers

Cons

Not as golf-convenient as PGA National, Parking/traffic, Less resort-contained

Luxury oceanfront resort

The Breakers Palm Beach

0/5

Best for: Ultra-luxury, couples, and big-spend Palm Beach trips

Cost: Luxury oceanfront pricing; peak winter can be very high.

4.7(6,318)(561) 655-6611

1 S County Rd, Palm Beach, FL 33480, USA

Monday: Open 24 hours

The Breakers is the flex. It is not the value play and it is not the practical golf headquarters, but it can make the trip feel like Palm Beach instead of just another resort weekend.

Pros

Elite service, Oceanfront setting, Strong non-golf appeal, Palm Beach prestige

Cons

Very expensive, Not the best pure golf value, Requires driving to the key courses

Golf resort

Trump National Doral Miami

0/5

Best for: Blue Monster, Miami groups, and Doral-focused trips

Cost: Premium resort and tee-time pricing; verify current stay-and-play and daily-fee rules.

4.5(2,356)(305) 592-2000

4400 NW 87th Ave, Miami, FL 33178, USA

Monday: Open 24 hours

Stay at Doral if the Blue Monster is the point or if the group wants a Miami-side finish. Do not base here for The Park and PGA National unless you enjoy turning highways into hobbies.

Pros

Best Blue Monster access, Multiple resort courses, Close to MIA, Good group infrastructure

Cons

Doral location is not Miami Beach, Expensive, Less useful for Palm Beach courses

City luxury and nightlife hotels

Miami Beach / Brickell hotels

0/5

Best for: Social trips, nightlife, and one Miami finish night

Cost: Highly seasonal; event weeks can spike hard.

4.2(3,233)(786) 600-2600

1500 SW 1st Ave, Miami, FL 33129, USA

Miami is the after-golf answer, not the best golf base. Use it deliberately.

Pros

Best nightlife and dining, Strong non-golf appeal, Good celebratory trip energy

Cons

Poor golf logistics, Parking/traffic, Easy to sabotage morning tee times

Luxury oceanfront resort

Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach

0/5

Best for: Couples, premium Palm Beach trips, and a quieter beach base

Cost: Luxury beachfront pricing; peak winter can move fast.

4.6(1,210)(561) 582-2800

2800 S Ocean Blvd, Palm Beach, FL 33480, USA

Four Seasons Palm Beach is the softer luxury alternative to The Breakers. Use it when the trip has spouses or a slower Palm Beach rhythm. Do not use it if the group is trying to maximize rounds.

Pros

Beachfront setting, polished service, strong non-golf appeal, calmer than Miami

Cons

Not a golf base, expensive, requires driving to every key course

DiningExpand

South Florida has real dining depth. The question is whether the group wants polished Palm Beach, downtown West Palm, resort convenience, or Miami energy. Do not book dinner 75 minutes away because it looked cool on a list.

Resort dining

PGA National resort dining

0/5

Best for: Easy group dinners after Champion or Match

4.4(3,319)(844) 773-9577

400 Ave of the Champions, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418, USA

Use resort dining when the golf day was hard and nobody should be trusted with logistics.

Pros

Convenient, No extra driving, Good for tired groups

Cons

Not the region's best dining, Can feel contained over multiple nights

Polished Palm Beach dinner

Buccan / Palm Beach

0/5

Best for: One nicer Palm Beach meal

Buccan is the kind of dinner that makes the Palm Beach side feel like a real trip rather than a resort stay with golf attached.

Pros

Strong local reputation, Better than generic resort dining, Good celebratory fit

Cons

Reservations matter, Not ideal for loud oversized groups

Restaurants and bars

Downtown West Palm Beach

0/5

Best for: The Park day and walkable evening energy

Downtown West Palm is the practical sweet spot: enough energy, fewer mistakes.

Pros

Good variety, Easier than Miami, Stronger lifestyle base than Palm Beach Gardens

Cons

Seasonal crowds, Not as glamorous as Miami

Miami-side dinner

Doral / Miami steakhouse and Latin dining

0/5

Best for: Blue Monster night and social groups

If the trip includes Miami, let Miami be Miami. Just do it after the hardest golf, not before.

Pros

Deep dining bench, Better nightlife, Strong group energy

Cons

Traffic, Price, Late nights can wreck the next day

Iconic Miami meal

Joe's Stone Crab / Miami Beach

0/5

Best for: Bucket-list Miami dinner in season

4.5(11,471)(305) 673-0365

11 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139, USA

Monday: Closed

Joe's is a Miami icon. It belongs only if the group is already doing Miami. From Palm Beach, it is a long dinner with a golf bag attached.

Pros

Classic, Memorable, Strong celebratory energy

Cons

Seasonal, Expensive, Logistics-heavy from Palm Beach

Korean steakhouse / high-energy dinner

COTE Miami / Design District

0/5

Best for: Miami finish night and food-focused groups

4.6(2,582)(305) 434-4668

3900 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, FL 33137, USA

Monday: 12:00 – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 11:00 PM

COTE is the modern Miami dinner if the group wants the night to feel current instead of just expensive. Book it after the Blue Monster, not before a 7:40 at PGA National.

Pros

Strong group format, serious beef program, more interesting than another generic steakhouse

Cons

Hard reservation, Miami logistics, not worth the drive from Palm Beach unless staying south

Casual breakfast/lunch

Zak the Baker / Wynwood

0/5

Best for: Miami recovery morning

4.4(2,923)(786) 294-0876

295 NW 26th St, Miami, FL 33127, USA

Monday: 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Zak is the casual Miami move that proves someone did homework. Use it for breakfast or lunch, then get out before the itinerary turns into wandering.

Pros

Real local credibility, excellent bakery/cafe, useful before Wynwood or airport

Cons

Not a dinner answer, not convenient from Palm Beach