DESTINATION GUIDES

Naples, Miami spearhead the burgeoning South Florida golf scene

Local literature claims proudly that there are more golf courses per capita in the Naples area than anywhere in the world, and coupled with the town's bent for luxurious living, it means high class fun in the sun. Miami on the other hand has long been reputed as ‘the’ destination for the prolific golfer, what with its sundry of swank resorts and semi-private courses waiting for you on the east side of the Alligator Alley.

• Course Reviews • Transportation • Map

The route from Interstate 75 to the Lely Resort could earn the nickname "Golf Course Alley" or "Hacker's Row." From the time you leave I-75 on exit 101 (a.k.a. Collier Boulevard) - the final exit before this well-traveled asphalt ribbon turns into a desolate road through the Everglades National Park - all you see are semi-private golf communities. This links-loaded trek is just a reminder that this is not God's Country. More like Golf Country.

Between them, the two cities are said to have spearheaded south Florida’s expanding golf scene. Though for the discerning golfer looking for some upscale golf, quality does not suffer at the hands of quantity.

The crown jewel of the set is the storied Doral Golf Resort, with its 90 golf holes, 693 guest rooms and the country's largest pro shop (4,400 square feet).

With all the amenities in tow, Doral’s biggest selling point is still its location - Miami is one of the most vibrant, entertaining cities in the country, if not the world. The resort is 15 minutes from one of the world's best beaches, South Beach, with its chic restaurants, elegant shops, and trendy clubs and bars.

Orlando may get more ink as the destination dejuré, and Jacksonville is only a day's drive from most of the East Coast's population centers. But South Florida is worth the extra time and effort for golfers searching for luxurious links under the sun.

• Winter Golf: Playing, Staying, and Dining the Naples Way
• South Florida PGA Calendar
• The South's best reachable par-5s
• The art of the short par-4: Tempting two-shotters from the South
• Greg Norman not at the Masters, but presence still strong in the South