With The Players Championship tournament bringing the best and brightest talent in golf from across the world, it’s no surprise that Northeast Florida is a coveted destination for golfers. Even if you’re not a pro, you can feel like one with the quality and variety of courses in the area.

Just south of Jacksonville, in St. Johns County, you can find four amazing courses, all within less than 30 miles of each other. Play like a pro at the course that hosts the aforementioned TPC tournament, The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. It is the world’s first true stadium course, designed to favor no particular style of play and improve the fan experience. It’s a balanced course best known for its iconic Island Green on the 17^th. Sawgrass’ other course, the Dye’s Valley Course, is no stranger to champions, having hosted the Senior Players Championship and the NFL Golf Classic. It features large greens, a myriad of water features and rolling hills and valleys.

At the iconic World Golf Village, enthusiasts of the sport can view an extensive collection of memorabilia in the World Golf Hall of Fame before hitting the links at their two iconic courses: the King & Bear and the Slammer & Squire. The King & Bear is a championship course in its own right. Legendary rivals Arnold “The King” Palmer and Jack “Golden Bear” Nicklaus came together to design a course that is a testament to their love of the game. The course is set amongst towering oaks and boasts a layout that combines Nicklaus’ inviting fairways and Palmer’s fast greens. The Slammer & Squire was named after World Golf Hall of Fame members Sam “Slammer” Snead and Gene “Squire” Sarazen. The course was designed to showcase the area’s natural beauty, with lush woods and pristine wetlands.

Arnold Palmer continues to leave his mark on the area with Hidden Hills Golf Club in Jacksonville. Home to high-profile regional tournaments in the 1970s, Palmer redesigned the course in 1986. Surrounded by towering pine and oak trees, the course exudes classic North Florida, with hole 8 being considered the most charming.

Just north of Jacksonville lies a unique course situated on a barrier island. The Fernandina Beach Golf Club sprawls across Amelia Island, offering three 9-hole courses, each with a different configuration for a total of 27 uniquely challenging holes. The course is situated along the Atlantic Ocean, providing a serene, escapist atmosphere.

Golfers looking for a more budget-friendly course need not compromise. The Jacksonville Beach Golf Club is a municipal course that received a complete overhaul in 2018. The course is fast and fun with creative holes and well-maintained putting surfaces. Play like a local (call it Jax Beach, though) and try to hit the boat that serves as a target at the driving range. For under $50, this course is a great play and is beloved by locals for a reason.

With Northeast Florida playing host to almost 70 courses – 70! – the First Coast is the place to be for any golfer looking to have their choice of game and all within a 30-minute drive from home.