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Panama City Beach Offers Tropcal Golf Venues All Year Long - Don't get Sidelined by Winter Weather!

Panama City Beach, one of Florida's top summer vacation destinations has become a popular choice for winter golfers. Once the summer crowds depart and the accommodations lower their rates, Panama City Beach's 27 miles of crystalline white sand and emerald green waters beckon visitors from the north. The mild winter, with daytime highs averaging 64o F, is perfect for "sweater play". The tropical landscaping alone spells winter paradise.

Panama City Beach is home to one public and four semi-private golf courses offering a wide range of difficulty. All are conveniently located within a 15-minute drive of any beach accommodation. Golf packages with discounted greens fees and preferred tee times are offered through some accommodations. Over 20 courses lie within a 40-mile radius of the Beach.

Play Signal Hill Golf Course, the Beach's first course. Designed on original powder white dunes, this public course features wide-open, well-groomed fairways. The 18-hole, par 71 course has a slope rating of 100.82 with 5,617 yards from the blue tees; 5,259 from the red tees. Signal Hill Golf Course is located at 9615 North Thomas Drive (850) 234-3218.

Hombre Golf Club was the site of a PGA qualifying school in November '97. This semi-private club offering an 18 hole par 72 course is set on 145 acres of scenery adorned with lakes, dogwoods, and azaleas. The Hombre has 73.4 course rating and a 136 slope rating from the "Bad Hombre" tees with yardage of 6,820; 6,063 from members tees; 5,275 from senior and 4,800 from ladies.

Water comes into play on 15 of 18 holes. One of the most picturesque holes on the course is the par 3, 11th, a replica of the 16th at Augusta National. The Hombre is a championship course, complete with pro shop, driving range and professional golf lessons. Off-season passes are available at $275 for 10 rounds or $175 for 5 rounds. Darrell Smock is the Hombre's club pro. Hombre Golf Club is located at 120 Coyote Pass (850) 234-3673.

Holiday Golf Club, also semi-private. Offers an 18-hole par 72-championship course featuring newly constructed putting greens to challenge event the most experienced short game artist. Its broad lake-lined fairways and elevated greens are protected by bunkers of silky white sand and have been described as among Florida's most enjoyable tracks. The championship tees provide a course rating of 72.3, slope rating of 130. Yardage from the championship tees is 6, 588; 6,240 from the average tees; 5,749 from seniors and 5,446 from the forward tees. Holiday also features a lighted 9-hole executive par 3, par 29 course designed with the entire family, as well as the scratch golfer in mind. Riding cart rental is required on the championship course, but walking is allowed on the executive course. Additionally, Holiday has a lighted driving range and full pro shop. Club pro Dan Hosey offers individual and group lessons as well as clinics. With a full special events calendar, every day's a holiday at Holiday Golf Club, 100 Fairway Boulevard (850) 234-1800.

Marriott's Bay Point Resort offers golfers a choice of two semi-private courses. Lagoon Legend has a course rating of 75.3 and a slope rating of 152 from its championship tees, which sets it apart as the second most challenging course in the United States. Five sets of tee boxes are available for golfers of every skill level: 6,942 yards from championship tees; 6,469 from pro; 6,079 from members; 5,614 form seniors; and 4,949 from ladies. Water comes into play on 17 of 18 holes making Lagoon Legend a "shot maker's course". The Club Meadows course is one of Florida's most vulnerable and popular courses, long and narrow from the tips but forgiving from the forward tees. Club Meadows slope rating is 126 from pro tees. Yardage is: 6,913 from the pro tees; 6,372 from members; 5.919 from seniors and 4,999 from ladies. Marriott's Bay Point Resort Village hosts the annual Bay Point Super Bowl Open in January during Super Bowl weekend. This tournament is open to golfers of all talents. Features include a complimentary practice round, two competitive rounds, prizes, and a Super Bowl and Victory Party. PGA professionals Tom Weaver, Alan Phillip and David Good and LPGA pro, Meredith Loose are available for lessons. The resort has a practice range, two pro shops and a variety of other amenities. Lagoon Legend (850) 235-6397 and Club Meadows (850) 235-6950 are both located at 100 Delwood Beach Road in Panama City Beach.

Different Strokes Golf Center at 1703 Tomas Drive (850) 230-9973, provides the driving range in North Florida, complete with putting greens, bunkers and chipping area.

Edgewater Beach Resort has a private 9-hole par 3 executive course that is available to guests of the resort. Edgewater Beach Resort is located at 11212 Front Beach Road (850) 235-4044.

Panama City Beach is conveniently accessible by auto from Interstate 85, 75 or 10. Choose to fly into Panama City/Bay County International Airport serviced by Delta Atlantic Southeast Airlines, US Airways Express and Northwest Airlink. The airport is just a 20-minute drive from the Beach. Preferred tee times are booked quickly, so contact the golf courses directly for reservations. Most accept reservations up to seven days in advance.