DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Auto racing fans will soon descend on Daytona Beach for the “Great American Race,” and the golfers among them will also enjoy an easy trip from the track to the first tee.
Daytona Beach is home to nearly 20 golf courses, including five that are less than 8 miles from Daytona International Speedway (DIS). Players that want to play a round in the run-up to the 2022 Daytona 500 can find this quintet of courses (at three facilities) in the time it will take defending race champion Ryan Blaney to complete a couple laps around the famed 2.5-mile tri-oval.
● Players can go from watching NASCAR’s contemporary stars to The Club at Pelican Bay where Orville Moody famously chipped in to defeat Arnold Palmer in a sudden death to win a Senior PGA Tour event. The Bill Amick design plays through loblolly pines, bayberry and white cedars and around the area’s abundant water, creating a challenge players relish. Distance from DIS: 4.6 miles.
● A Donald Ross design, the South Course at Daytona Beach Golf Club is a destination layout for golf course architecture aficionados. The layout is forgiving off the tee but as is the case with so many Ross courses, the challenge stiffens around the greens, where precision and creativity are rewarded. Distance from DIS: 5 miles.
● The North Course at Daytona Beach Golf Club doesn’t enjoy the acclaim that comes with the Ross name, but following a 2019 renovation project the experience is better than ever. The project was highlighted by the installation of new TifEagle greens and the re-routing of the back nine, an effort that has drawn rave reviews. Distance from DIS: 5 miles.
● The Jones Course was the first to open at LPGA International, the area’s most acclaimed facility, and it continues to be a favorite of traveling golfers. Designed by Rees Jones, the course challenges players with mounding, sprawling bunkers and expansive greens complexes. Renowned for its playability, the Jones Course has been ranked among America’s top 50 courses for women. Distance from DIS: 7.8 miles.
● Architect Arthur Hills took full advantage of nature’s abundant gifts in designing his namesake course at LPGA International. The Hills Course plays through native pine trees and magnolias, rewarding accuracy off the tee. With homes at a minimum, the course’s natural terrain evokes visions of Pinehurst. Distance from DIS: 7.8 miles.
For information on all of Daytona Beach’s golf offerings, visit DaytonaBeach.Golf.