The best Daytona Beach golf courses for visitors are LPGA International (36 holes, Hills and Jones) and Daytona Beach Golf Club, where the South Course dates to 1921. Sunny Florida Rentals, a local team running oceanfront stays on this coast, picked nine courses and added the planning details most roundups skip.
Key Takeaways
- The Daytona Beach tourism site says the area has nearly 20 golf courses, so nine picks cover the best mix of history, design and difficulty.
- LPGA International has two courses: the Jones Course (7,088 yards, built 1994) and the Hills Course (6,984 yards, built 1997).
- Daytona Beach Golf Club’s South Course (1921) and New Smyrna Golf Club are Donald Ross designs recognized on the Florida Historic Golf Trail.
- Crane Lakes and Riviera Country Club are the shorter, friendlier layouts for beginners.
- Always confirm access type, cart fees, rental clubs and current course conditions directly with the club before you book.
- Daytona Beach condo and rental-house guests typically stay 8.1 nights, per the 2025 visitor report, which leaves room for several rounds plus beach days.
Golf in Daytona Beach has a reputation problem. People hear “Speedway and spring break” and forget there is a deep bench of Rees Jones, Arthur Hills, Lloyd Clifton and Donald Ross layouts within a short drive of the sand. In 2026, that variety is the whole reason to plan a golf-forward trip here.
This list is built for how you actually travel: a morning tee time, an afternoon on the beach, dinner on the water. We live and work along this stretch of Atlantic Avenue, so we sorted the picks by course character and who each one suits, not by marketing copy.
How Do You Choose Among Daytona Beach Golf Courses, and Which Are in the City?
Choosing a Daytona Beach golf course comes down to three filters: how far you want to drive, how much architecture history matters to you, and your handicap. Some picks below sit in Daytona Beach itself; others are regional day-trip options in nearby Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach and neighboring communities.
The Sports Volusia golf facilities directory lists addresses for courses across the county, which helps you check what is actually inside city limits. The GolfPass course directory for Daytona Beach adds access classifications and reviews, though ratings change.
One caution that most roundups skip: courses change. Green fees, booking windows, rental-club availability and open holes shift by season. We do not print fee numbers here because they go stale fast, and we have not measured drive times from our units to each course, so check a map app for your travel date. Call the pro shop and ask: is the course public, semi-private or private? Is a cart included? Are rental clubs available? How far ahead do tee times open? Are all 18 holes in play?
Quick Comparison of the Nine Picks
| Course | Designer | Built | Length (per GOLF.com) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LPGA International (Jones) | Rees Jones | 1994 | 7,088 yards | Strong ball strikers |
| LPGA International (Hills) | Arthur Hills | 1997 | 6,984 yards | Design lovers |
| Daytona Beach Golf Club (South) | Donald Ross | 1921 | 6,229 yards | History fans |
| Daytona Beach Golf Club (North) | Slim Deathridge | 1946 | 6,338 yards | Mid-handicap rounds |
| New Smyrna Golf Club | Donald Ross | Not stated in our research | Not stated in our research | Historic day trip |
| Cypress Head | Arthur Hills and Mike Dasher | 1992 (redesigned 2015) | Over 6,800 yards | Modern redesign |
| The Club at Pelican Bay | Bill Amick (North), Lloyd Clifton (South) | Not stated in our research | Not stated in our research | 36 holes, two personalities |
| Riviera Country Club | Not stated in our research | 1953 | 6,250 yards | Relaxed, classic feel |
| Halifax Plantation | Bill Amick | 1993 | Over 7,000 yards (back tees) | Long-hitters |
River Bend and Crane Lakes appear in the beginner section below, so the numbered picks run alongside them.
1. Is LPGA International the Best Golf Course in Daytona Beach?
LPGA International is a 36-hole facility with two distinct courses: the Rees Jones-designed Jones Course and the Arthur Hills-designed Hills Course. For most visitors it is the first call to make, and the official site notes a Golf Digest 4-Star rating for both.
The Jones Course plays 7,088 yards (built 1994) and the Hills Course 6,984 yards (built 1997), each with four par-3s and four par-5s. Both are long, serious tests, so pick the back tees only if you carry your driver well.
Our take: if you can only play one round, play here. If you can play two, play both courses and compare. Check the facility’s website if you want to ask about tee-time windows.
2. Why Play Daytona Beach Golf Club’s Donald Ross South Course?
Daytona Beach Golf Club is a two-course municipal-style facility at 600 Wilder Blvd, and its South Course dates to the club’s 1921 opening. The tourism site names the South Course as a Donald Ross design recognized on the Florida Historic Golf Trail.
The North Course came later: Slim Deathridge designed it in 1946. The North plays 6,338 yards and the South 6,229, both with four par-3s, and the North carries one more par-5.
This is the pick for golfers who care about where a course came from. Check the club’s current rates page before you go, and contact the club through its website with questions.
3. What Makes New Smyrna Golf Club a Worthwhile Day Trip?
New Smyrna Golf Club is a Donald Ross design in New Smyrna Beach, listed alongside Daytona Beach Golf Club’s South Course on the Florida Historic Golf Trail. It sits outside Daytona Beach proper, so treat it as a regional day trip rather than a morning round before lunch downtown.
We do not have its yardage, opening year, fees or address, so we will not guess; the club’s pro shop can give you all four. What we can say: playing the South Course in Daytona and this one down the coast makes a tidy two-course Ross mini-tour.
Pair it with an afternoon in New Smyrna Beach and you have a very different day from your oceanfront base on the Boardwalk side of Daytona.
4. Is Cypress Head the Best Modern Round Near Daytona Beach?
Cypress Head Golf Club in Port Orange was designed by Arthur Hills and Mike Dasher in 1992 and redesigned under Dasher in 2015. That redesign is why it plays fresher than many courses of its era.
It measures over 6,800 yards with four par-3s and four par-5s. Port Orange is a regional option, not a Daytona Beach address, so budget extra driving time and confirm exact travel from your lodging yourself.
It is a good second-round pick after LPGA International if you like Hills’ style but want a different setting.
5. Why Consider The Club at Pelican Bay?
The Club at Pelican Bay has two courses with different designers: Bill Amick created the North Course and Lloyd Clifton the South. Each has four par-3s and four par-5s.
Two designers on one property means your second round feels different from your first, which matters on a multi-day trip. We would book one round on each side and compare notes over dinner.
We do not have its yardage, fees or exact address. Access rules vary by club type, so call ahead to confirm whether visitors can book and how far out.
6. Is Riviera Country Club a Good Value Pick?
Riviera Country Club began as a nine-hole course after its 1953 founding and was later expanded to 18 holes. It plays 6,250 yards with five par-3s and four par-5s.
That extra par-3 changes the rhythm: you get more short-iron chances and fewer driver holes. It suits golfers who want a relaxed round and a vintage feel rather than a stadium-length test.
We could not verify its fees or exact location, so confirm both, along with visitor access and current conditions, before you build a day around it.
7. Who Should Play Halifax Plantation Golf Club?
Halifax Plantation Golf Club is a Bill Amick design that opened in 1993, with 18 holes, five tee boxes and more than 7,000 yards from the back. It is built for long hitters who want room to swing.
The 195-yard par-3 third is its shortest hole, which tells you how the course treats the short game: the one-shot holes still ask for a long iron or hybrid.
If your group has mixed abilities, five tees means everyone can find a fair yardage.
8. Is River Bend Golf Club a Fair Test for Mid-Handicappers?
River Bend Golf Club is a par-72, 18-hole Lloyd Clifton design measuring 6,821 yards, with four tee boxes, four par-3s and four par-5s. Four sets of tees make it flexible for foursomes with different games.
Choose it when you want a straightforward championship-length layout without the pressure of a marquee name.
9. What Should Beginners Know About Crane Lakes Golf and Country Club?
Crane Lakes Golf and Country Club redesigned its 18-hole course in 2014 and installed Bermuda grass on the greens. It offers four sets of tees, and the black-tee distance is 5,186 yards with eight par-3s and eight par-4s.
That par-3-heavy mix makes it one of the friendlier layouts here for newer players, and the short black-tee yardage keeps rounds moving. Start here if your group includes someone who still counts strokes carefully.
Which Daytona Beach Golf Courses Fit Beginners, Low Handicaps and Architecture Fans?
The right Daytona Beach course depends on your game. Beginners do best at Crane Lakes and Riviera; low handicappers should target LPGA International and Halifax Plantation; architecture fans should chase the two Donald Ross courses.
- Beginners: Crane Lakes (short tees, many par-3s) and Riviera (modest 6,250 yards).
- Low handicaps: the Jones Course at LPGA International (7,088 yards) and Halifax Plantation’s back tees.
- History and design: Daytona Beach Golf Club’s South Course and New Smyrna Golf Club.
- Two courses, one stop: The Club at Pelican Bay and Daytona Beach Golf Club.
Two other names show up in regional lists: DeBary Golf and Country Club, a Lloyd Clifton design that has hosted U.S. Open qualifying, and Victoria Hills, a Ron Garl design. Both sit well outside the city, so treat them as bonus rounds.
How Do You Check Course Conditions and Tee-Time Details Before You Book?
Course-condition checks mean calling or emailing the club the week of your round to confirm which holes are open, whether carts are included and how rental clubs work. Roundups age quickly, and recent coverage of Oceans Golf Club noted two holes closed at the time of one review.
Here is the checklist we hand to guests who ask:
- Ask whether the course is public, semi-private or private, and whether visitors can book.
- Confirm green fee, cart fee and any twilight rate for the exact date.
- Ask how many days ahead tee times open.
- Check that all 18 holes are in play.
- Ask about rental clubs if you are flying in.
Timing matters too. March is the busiest short-term-rental month in Daytona Beach, near 72% occupancy, thanks to Bike Week and spring break. September drops to about 42%, so fall and shoulder months are friendlier to both tee sheets and nightly rates.
Does Daytona Beach Have Nice Beaches to Pair With a Golf Trip?
Daytona Beach has a 23-mile shoreline open to pedestrians around the clock, according to the official tourism beach page. The county says the beach can reach 500 feet wide at low tide, so there is room to spread out after 18 holes. The 2025 visitor report found that 80% of visitors went to the beach.
Our favorite rhythm: a 7:30 a.m. tee time, back for a pool or sand afternoon, then dinner at Joe’s Crab Shack or The Roof on Main Street Pier, or Crabby Joe’s on Sunglow Pier. If you want a quieter evening after a southern round, Down the Hatch in Ponce Inlet works well.
For rainy afternoons, the Daytona Beach water park guide and our Daytona Beach day trip guide cover easy non-golf plans.
Where Should Golfers Stay in Daytona Beach?
Golfers should stay near the beach corridor on Atlantic Avenue, where restaurants, the Boardwalk and the oceanfront are walkable and courses are a short drive away. Sunny Florida Rentals manages five oceanfront units across Daytona Beach Club (800 N Atlantic Ave) and Harbor Beach (701 S Atlantic Ave), both directly on the sand, with full kitchens, free parking and no mandatory resort fees.
For a couples’ golf weekend, this one-bedroom oceanfront condo has a private balcony and king bed, about 1 mile from the Boardwalk and Ocean Center. It also sits about 4 miles from Daytona Beach International Airport, which helps if you fly in with clubs.
For a group of four on a budget, this non-smoking studio is about 0.7 miles from Daytona Lagoon and includes garage parking, handy for clubs and golf bags. Every booking has a cleaning fee and a refundable security deposit, so there are no surprises at checkout.
For more area context, see our Daytona Beach vacation rental guide and where-to-stay breakdown. Nightly rates start around $63 and climb well into the $200s during Bike Week, as covered in our peak season pricing explainer.
How Long Should a Golf-Focused Daytona Beach Trip Last?
A golf-focused Daytona Beach trip works best at four to six nights, giving you two or three rounds with beach days between. The 2025 visitor report shows condo and rental-house guests stay about 8.1 nights on average versus 4.4 for hotels, which suits multi-round itineraries and full kitchens.
A sample plan: night one, arrive and walk the Boardwalk. Day two, LPGA International Jones Course. Day three, beach and pool. Day four, Daytona Beach Golf Club South Course for the Ross experience. Day five, a regional round at New Smyrna or Cypress Head.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best golf courses in Daytona Beach?
LPGA International and Daytona Beach Golf Club are the two strongest starting points. LPGA International has the Jones (7,088 yards) and Hills (6,984 yards) courses, and Daytona Beach Golf Club has the 1921 Donald Ross South Course.
What public golf courses are near Daytona Beach?
Access rules differ by club, and our research does not label each one. Use the Sports Volusia directory and GolfPass course directory, then call the club to confirm whether visitors can book.
How do I book tee times at LPGA International?
Contact the facility directly through its official website. Ask how far ahead tee times open and which course (Jones or Hills) has availability for your dates.
Which Daytona Beach golf courses are best for beginners?
Crane Lakes Golf and Country Club and Riviera Country Club are the friendliest here. Crane Lakes has four tee sets, a 5,186-yard black tee and eight par-3s, while Riviera measures 6,250 yards.
How many golf courses are near Daytona Beach?
The Daytona Beach tourism site says the area has nearly 20 golf courses. Some sit in nearby Port Orange, New Smyrna Beach and other Volusia County communities rather than in Daytona Beach itself.
Does Daytona Beach have nice beaches?
Yes. The tourism board describes a 23-mile shoreline open to pedestrians 24/7, and Volusia County says the beach can reach 500 feet wide at low tide.
Where should I stay for a golf trip in Daytona Beach?
Sunny Florida Rentals offers five oceanfront units at Daytona Beach Club and Harbor Beach, directly on the sand, with full kitchens, free parking and no mandatory resort fees. Compare unit sizes and pick the one that fits your group.
Is there Topgolf in Daytona?
We have not verified a current Topgolf listing for Daytona Beach. Check the official Topgolf location finder before you plan around it.
Which Daytona Beach Golf Courses Should You Play First?
Start with LPGA International, add Daytona Beach Golf Club’s Donald Ross South Course, and fill remaining days with Cypress Head, Pelican Bay or Crane Lakes depending on your handicap. These Daytona Beach golf courses offer far more variety than most visitors expect in 2026, and nearly 20 courses in the area means you will not run out of options.
Verify access, fees and open holes directly with each club, then build your beach days around the tee sheet.
Planning a golf trip and want a beachfront base with transparent pricing? Sunny Florida Rentals can help you check dates at Daytona Beach Club and Harbor Beach, directly on the sand.
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