Grand Golf Resorts of Florida
If you’re a honeymooning couple that loves golf, consider the Grand Golf Resorts of Florida.
Located in three spots: on the Gulf coast near Tampa, in central Florida near Orlando, and on the Atlantic Coast near St. Augustine, these majestic resorts will appeal to lovers—of each other and golf, that is.
On the west coast of Florida near Tampa, Innisbrook Golf Resort boasts four courses named in Golf Magazine’s Top 100 You Can Play list, as well as Golf Digest’s Top 75 Golf Resorts in America list. Innisbrook also hosts a PGA Tour Championship and the LPGA Legends First Major.
Architect Lawrence Packard designed these courses for any level of play. If you want a challenge, take a shot at the distinctive Copperhead course, or try the Island Course, with its 70-foot elevation change— atypical of Florida terrain. The North Course packs a punch with its challenging par-3s and tight fairways. The South Course features rolling terrain, fairway bunkering and 10 water hazards. Golf Magazine ranks its Innisbrook Golf Institute one of the Top 25 Golf Schools. Perhaps you won’t take a class on your honeymoon, but chances are you’ll want to enroll during an anniversary trip.
Golfers who honeymoon here can enjoy Innisbrook for other reasons, too, like 900 acres graced by condos, pools, tennis courts, a spa, a fitness club and wonderful restaurants. The bride and groom can even enjoy a ceremony on the Island Course, and resort staffers do a great job with rehearsal dinners, bachelor and bachelorette parties, bridal parties, spa packages, receptions and morning-after brunches. Destination wedding packages are also available.
Reunion Resort in Orlando
This AAA Four Diamond-rated, 11-story resort is a terrific honeymoon option. It features a modern restaurant and a fabulous rooftop pool. Its Grand Falls, with two staircases leading to the base of a cascading waterfall, would make a great photo op or reception. The 8,700 square-foot Reunion Grand ballroom is truly grand, and the Heritage Center is another noteworthy option. These elegant offerings range from traditional to modern, and are located just six miles from Disney.
Legendary golfers Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson designed Reunion Resort’s golf courses. Recognized in Golf Digest’s America’s Top 40 New Courses, the Palmer Course boasts dramatic elevation changes, six tee locations on each hole, strategically placed bunkers and wide fairways. The Watson Course, called The Best You Can Play by Golf Week, as well being named one of the Top 25 Toughest Men’s and Women’s Golf Courses by The Orlando Journal, offers beauty, variety and challenge. It’s also home to Annika Sorenstam’s ANNIKA Academy. The academy is a Certified Callaway Performance Center that does club fittings and video swing analysis.
Hammock Beach Resort
Situated along 2.4 miles of Atlantic beach on Florida’s Palm Coast, the AAA Four Diamond-rated Hammock features a 12-story tower of luxury suites, a 91,000-square-foot water park and a lazy river ride. With pools, restaurants, a spa and a fitness center—not to mention the ocean backdrop—this resort is an intriguing honeymoon option. Customers can also opt for ceremonies on its 117-foot yacht.
But golf is the game here, and Hammock’s courses are appealing. The aptly named Ocean Course by Jack Nicklaus offers six holes along the Atlantic Ocean. The Conservatory course by Tom Watson is one of Florida’s longest and most challenging layouts (and it’s complete with waterfalls and babbling brooks). While these courses have hosted PGA tour events, they’ve also earned the highest rankings from Golf Magazine, Golfweek, and Golf Digest.
Time to play.
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