Receive your complimentary relocation guide
Guide to the Top Golf Communities in Florida
Guide to the Top Golf Communities in Florida
Golf communities in Florida are among the region’s best retirement communities. Retirees and other seniors who love to play golf can take advantage of top-notch courses and an active social calendar that comes with the country-club lifestyle. 
Designed with Play in Mind
The best golf communities feature courses designed by the finest minds in the industry, including Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Tom Watson. Acclaimed architects Tom Fazio, Pete Dye, Tom Jackson, and Arthur Hills have also created exceptional courses all over the country.
Of course, a great golf community starts with a course that uses the area’s natural features to create a unique experience. Mountain courses challenge players with elevation changes and reward them with sweeping views. Lakeside links are dotted with water features to maneuver around. Tidal wetlands and strong ocean breezes of seaside courses test the most skilled golfers.
Courses are the gems of golf residential communities; thus, upkeep is a priority. From routine maintenance to complete refurbishments, golf communities offer consistently high-quality courses.
Most golf communities have multiple onsite courses—some as many as six! This means convenient tee times and a rotation of different challenges. And even if there is only one course within the community, residents are usually provided complimentary access to other local courses.
Up-To-Par Member Services
Golf community residents experience superior services to help them reach the top of their game. Professional instruction, available as group or private lessons, takes players’ skills to the next level. For those who prefer a tech approach, digital swing analysis may also be available.
Professional staff help residents book lessons and tee times. They also manage league schedules and member-exclusive tournaments. An onsite pro shop means that residents are always fully equipped to play.
Clubhouse Calendar
New residents and veteran members can mingle at the clubhouse. Restaurants and private dining rooms provide an intimate setting for old friends, while lounges and outdoor decks are great places to make new ones.
Aside from golf, clubhouses also feature amenities such as state-of-the-art fitness facilities and pool complexes. Those who want to take a break from golf can pick up a racket and play on the tennis courts.
From playgrounds to lounges, these communities offer amenities to entertain residents of any age. Further, these amenities add value to the neighborhood, which benefits homeowners in these great communities.
Sample Communities to Discover
Shell Point Retirement Community
THE BEST PLACE TO BE
Shell Point® is an award-winning lifecare retirement resort located along the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, Florida just minutes from Sanibel Island and the Gulf of Mexico. When you retire at Shell Point, you have the comfort of knowing that your needs will be taken care of – both now and in the years to come.
RECREATION FOR EVERYONE
Shell Point offers an unparalleled lifestyle in an unparalleled waterfront setting. For those who enjoy exploring Florida’s waterways, there’s boating, fishing, sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and canoeing. For sport and fitness fans there is Shell Point’s championship golf course, four Har-Tru tennis courts, five pickleball courts, a bocce court, fitness centers with trained professionals and four heated swimming pools. Nature lovers will enjoy the boardwalks, bridges, bike paths and miles of walking trails. Residents who are interested in gardening enjoy individual garden plots, a lovely rose garden, and a fully-equipped orchid greenhouse and a butterfly garden.
ARTFUL LIVING
No other community offers the variety of outlets for creativity and personal expression that are available at Shell Point. Shell Point provides extensive craft and hobby facilities, including a complete woodworking shop, lapidary room, train room for miniature train enthusiasts, digital photography lab, modern pottery and ceramics studio, and an art studio with classes for beginners as well as advanced artists in a variety of media. Performing arts are enjoyed through choral ensembles, a jazz band, and multiple musical groups for participants at all levels.
DISCOVER SHELL POINT
Discover for yourself what residents of Shell Point already know – that Shell Point is the perfect place for retirement living – all in a resort-style setting. Shell Point offers private appointments with a tour of the community. Schedule your visit by calling (239) 466-1131, press 1 for Sales.
Ave Maria
Ave Maria is an award-winning master-planned community that combines an active lifestyle with the charm and friendliness of a small town in the Gulf Coast region of southwestern Florida. The Collier County community encompasses multiple residential neighborhoods, schools, a town center with shopping and dining, office space, business parks, and recreational amenities located 20 minutes east of Interstate 75 near Naples, Immokalee and Bonita Springs.
One of the best-selling communities in the nation, Ave Maria features a resort-style water park and two expansive community parks with picnic areas, sports fields, playgrounds, tennis, bocce and pickleball courts. Residents also have access to quality K-12 education, 100 miles of nature, hiking and biking paths, a dog park, a fitness center, 2 championship 18-hole golf courses, and much more.
Real estate options within Ave Maria include several family-friendly neighborhoods of homes in a variety of styles- from single-family homes to condominiums, plus the Del Webb Naples 55+ active adult community
Plantation Bay
Plantation Bay
Few communities offer the kind of abundance that has come to be expected at Plantation Bay. You won’t need your imagination to know what life will be like here in the charming seaside town of Ormond Beach, Florida, where an unhurried pace, year-round warm weather, no state income tax, and a lower cost of living offer superb value and a lifestyle second to none.
Plantation Bay is a distinguished community that stands out for its harmonious blend of thriving wildlife and state-of-the-art facilities. With the Founders Club, an impressive 40,500 square-foot full-service Golf and Lifestyle Center influenced by the charm of the West Indies, a second full-service clubhouse, the Prestwick Clubhouse, a grand 7,000 square-foot Spa and Fitness Center, well-lit Har-Tru tennis courts, pickleball courts, walking and biking paths, and two and a half championship golf courses, it is the perfect place for both living and leisure.
Plantation Bay offers dozens of award-winning one- or two-story homes starting at just under 2,000 sq ft. Choose the plan that best speaks to your taste, needs, and personality. Choose from spacious, low- maintenance one- and two-story townhomes, single-family custom homes, and custom estate homes by one of the country’s largest homebuilders celebrating over 40 years of building excellence. Request information about Plantation Bay below.
- Acreage– 3,600 acres (1,450 hectares) Gatehouse – Plantation Bay Golf & Country Club is a gated development with around-the-clock security.
- Club Structure – Homeowners may choose from a range of optional membership packages including clubhouse, fitness, sports, and full golf memberships. All memberships in Plantation Bay are optional, allowing you to indulge in only the activities you love.
- Golf – An established trio of well-maintained golf courses adds up to a unique private golfing experience, with a total of 45 holes set among gentle hammocks of moss-draped indigenous oaks, extensive practice facilities, a brand-new Pro Shop, and quality instruction by a PGA Professional staff.
- Clubhouse –Two full-service clubhouses, The Founders Club and the Prestwick Clubhouse provide a range of indoor and outdoor dining options, along with versatile event spaces suitable for business meetings, weddings, and private parties. The Founders Club is our newly completed 40,500 sq ft Golf and Lifestyle Center that brings a refreshing West Indies-styled flair to the community with an abundance of elevated amenities.
- Tennis – Plantation Bay’s robust tennis program features 10 lighted Har-Tru tennis courts with an active schedule of lessons, clinics, and league play, including special lessons and camps for youth players.
- Pickleball – Plantation Bay is proud to offer 10 dedicated Pickleball courts to play on, making it the go-to destination for everything Pickleball. From tailored lessons to friendly matches, and organized round-robins to holiday-themed tournaments, Plantation Bay is the ultimate setting to master the art of Pickleball.
- Recreation – Additional recreational amenities include basketball, and bocce ball courts, nature parks, and miles of private walking trails.
- Swimming – Members have access to a private swim pavilion with a heated lap pool, a zero-entry free-form pool, ample deck space including a tiki cabana bar, and regularly scheduled water aerobics classes.
- Spa & Fitness – Plantation Bay’s 7,000-square-foot spa and fitness center combines quality strength training and cardio machines with free weights, steam rooms, exercise classes, personal trainers, and a full menu of massage and beauty treatments.
- Shopping & Dining – From casual fare to haute cuisine, residents can experience a variety of dining options without leaving the development. The property is convenient to an extensive selection of shops, restaurants, and commercial services within easy driving distance.
- Area Attractions – Plantation Bay residents have easy access to nearby coastal communities and miles of wide Atlantic beaches. The property is about 30 minutes from Daytona Beach and Port Orange, 25 minutes from St. Augustine, 45 minutes from Jacksonville, and just over an hour from Orlando.
- Healthcare – Advent Health located about 15 minutes away provides 24-hour emergency care and a full range of inpatient and outpatient services. Additional healthcare options are available throughout the Daytona Beach-Port Orange area.
- Leases – Long-term leasing options are available.
Single-Family Custom Homes For Sale – Priced from the $500,000s
Custom Estate Homes For Sale – Priced from the $700,000s
Townhome Villas For Sale – Priced from the $400,000s
Disclaimer: Prices subject to change. Void where prohibited.
Get Started
Finding and choosing the right golf community can be a daunting task. This is where ideal-LIVING can help. Sign up below to receive our complimentary relocation guide, which offers tips on how to find a community that suits your needs. In this guide, you’ll discover the best golf communities in Florida, as well as what you can do to get started. Sign up for this free package to take the first step in your exciting journey.
Free Package includes:
- ideal-LIVING Relocation Guide
The ultimate guide to finding your ideal destination, life and home. This annual guide contains more than 15 state maps, a location-based cost of living and climate comparison chart and discovery travel packages.
- ideal-LIVING Magazine
Quarterly print magazine features the best places to retire and/or purchase your ideal second home.
- ideal-LIVING E-Newsletter
Receive our digital newsletter, two to three times a month, highlighting communities around the country and abroad.
- Tickets to ideal-LIVING Live Events
The ideal-LIVING Resort & Retirement Show has helped retirees and second-home buyers find their ideal community and home for more than 30 years.
© 2024 ideal-LIVING Magazine • 265 Racine Dr #201 • Wilmington, NC 28403 • 910.763.2100