Quick Reference Golf Guide to Daytona Beach
by Rita Cook



Remember the days when golf was all about men and business deals? It still is in many areas, but not quite as common in Daytona Beach. In fact, Daytona Beach is rapidly becoming known as Florida's golf capital. So well known that the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) recently relocated to Daytona from Texas.

The biggest draw to Daytona Beach at this time of the year is the area's free golf program. That's right, free golf. The program, which runs from May 21 through Oct. 31, offers players waived greens fees anytime after noon so the only expense a golfer has is a golf cart.

The area's golf courses aren't exactly a piece of cake either. After all, what do you expect when names like Arnold Palmer, Rees Jones and Jack Nicklaus had a hand in designing them.

Where to Find a Course
Championship golf courses can be found all along the 23-mile stretch of Atlantic coastline in Daytona Beach. And with temperatures on a lazy day on the golf course being an average of about 70.8 degrees, golfing is perfect for the entire family. Daytona Beach is a wonderful family place with great restaurants, oceanfront resorts and warm ocean breezes that compliment a week or weekend of fun on or off the golf course.

Courses to visit during your stay in Daytona Beach:

Pelican Bay
This place is one of the area's most popular. It's an 18-hole championship course that was designed by Lloyd Clifton. The course winds through a series of water canals and lakes, and the golfer might even get a glimpse of some wildlife.

Pelican Bay
550 Sea Duck Drive
Daytona Beach, FL 32119

Spruce Creek Country Club
Designed by Bill Amick, this 18-hole championship golf course boasts more than 6,700 yards of fairways, lakes and the greens are a manicured haven for golfers. Golfers will find white tees for the average player and championship tees for those seeking more of a challenge.

Spruce Creek Country Club
1900 Country Club Drive
Daytona Beach, FL 32124

Indigo Lakes Golf Club
This golf course often finds its way to the "Top 10 Golf Courses in Florida" list, and for good reason. The course offers amazing fairways, a wonderful landscape and a challenge to almost any level of golfer.

Indigo Lakes Golf Club
312 Indigo Drive
Daytona Beach, FL 32114

Other Golf Course in the Daytona Beach Area
Visit some of these other golf courses around Daytona Beach for a change of pace.

Turnbull Bay
Cypress Head
River Bend
Halifax Plantation
Cypress Knoll
Pine Lakes
Grand Haven
Palm Harbor

The Daytona Beach Family Open
The Daytona Beach Family Open will be held this year on June 11 and 12 at the Halifax Plantation and Indigo Lakes Golf Club. The family tournament involves one adult and one junior golfer; mothers and daughters; fathers and sons; mothers and sons or whatever the combination may be. The entire tournament will be played on courses throughout Daytona Beach. The twosome will play 18 holes on Friday and 18 holes on Saturday. Although it's too late to get in the tournament this year, the event will be a wonderful family-oriented golf event.

What to Do When Your Not Golfing
One of the biggest draws to Daytona Beach is, well, the beach. When the tide is low, the beach may be up to 500 feet wide, making it a perfect atmosphere for walking, running or even playing volleyball. Water activities are also an enjoyable way to spend some time while not on the golf course. There's deep-sea fishing, jet skiing, sailing, sailboarding or surfing. And there's more. Right around the corner from Daytona Beach is Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Florida, Kennedy Space Center's Spaceport USA, all within an hour from Daytona Beach. So if not everyone in the family is a golfer, there's still plenty to do.