Not even a battering from Mother Nature’s fury could destroy a great 
golf vacation destination. Well, almost. Not that it was left unscathed, but the Tiger Point Golf Club in Gulf Breeze, Fl rose up from the debris of successive Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis. The aftermath of the hurricanes were devastating, reducing a once-36 hole golf facility into a 27-hole course. But not just any 27-hole course – it is still one of the most beautiful, most interesting courses on Florida’s Emerald Coast, hurricane or no hurricane.
The Tiger Point Golf Club has two courses – the 18-hole East Course 
and the West Course nine. Half of the former West Course got the worst end of the hurricanes and is on its way to reconstruction. Thankfully, the remaining 27 were salvaged by one of its original designers, the legendary Jerry Pate. The East Course measures 7,041 yards from the longest tees, par 72, and has a Scottish links layout design. The West Course plays par 36 and measures 3,414 yards. Both courses have four sets of tees , and features stunning views of the bay, a sprinkling of southern pines, and some interesting undulation – a rarity of sorts in the mostly flat terrain hereabouts. Its championship layouts are not only golf vacation-savvy; they are also tournament ready.
In fact, the Tiger Point Golf Club was host to several PGA Tour Events then and now. That, plus excellent practice facilities have merited it some huge awards, including being voted “Best of the Bay” (Pensacola News Journal, 2007). With huge reconstruction projects along the way, this golf trip haven is well on its way not only to a full recovery but becoming one of the best in the state. Not that it’s any less better now.
standout among Florida courses for a number of things. For one, it bears some very dramatic elevation changes that are mostly unheard of in this flat side of the golfing country. The fairways are lined with trees, and water plays on six of the 18 holes but there are no forced carries to hurdle. This makes playing here truly fun and enjoyable; golfers are saved from the heartbreak. From too much heartbreak, that is. This course naturally does not go without challenge. The well bunkered greens will take care of that. 
keep things interesting. It opened in 1988 and its resume includes an impressive list of US Open Qualifying Rounds and a 4 ½ star rating from Golf Digest. It is also in the elite list of Golf Digest’s Top 201 Places to Play in North America. With 6,805 yards from the longest tees, the course plays for a par of 72 with four sets of tees on a fairly open layout. It is slightly elevated, with a lot of room for tees, and the greens are fast and true. Pines dot the well manicured greens adding a scenic and challenging touch up to the relatively flat terrain. To complete the 
It boasts of a newly built clubhouse complete with two full locker rooms, a shower and a sauna. The fine dining restaurant, The Tuscan Grille, completes any guest’s 
the littlest amount of interruption on the natural vegetation and topography of the area. And the result is wild: miles and miles of natural sand dunes with some measuring twenty feet tall, huge rolling fairways, and bunkers that are a work of art in themselves. All that is spread on 750 acres of paradise, with tees measuring a whooping 7,607 yards from the longest ones – if that is not one big course, then anything else smaller than this is a mere miniature version. Featuring six sets of tees, the 
grand, is that it is well secluded from the usual Florida tourist hubs that are mostly overcrowded, to say the least. This gives 
natural wetlands, a lot of water, a generous helping of bunkers, and pines lining the tight fairways. This takes the golfers to an entanglement of colors and textures, spread on undulating greens, making it very interesting and challenging. Each hole has a distinct attitude, and has an overall requirement for shot precision and excellent club selection. And it is the same from either one of its four sets of tees. This quality of the course also makes it a sight to behold – something that seems carved by Mother Nature herself, making it quite the 
There is not much question neither surprise at the fact that the 
What could be better than a Rees Jones masterpiece in Florida? A Rees Jones masterpiece that sits next to a Robert Trent Jones Sr masterpiece – in a Northwestern Florida paradise, backdropped by the stunning Choctawhatchee Bay. This impossible dream, thankfully, comes to reality at the 
from being consistent on Florida Golf News’ list on the best in the area and best in the state, Golfweek and Golf Digest unanimously say this ranks among the top 30 in the State. In fact, it has also made it to Golfweek’s Top 150 in the country (2003). The list could go on and on and on – because it definitely could. But what could be better than knowing all the merits of the 
and the Baytowne Marina in the background; not the least bit a foreshadowing of the challenging layout ahead. Five of its 18 holes run along the bay, giving it a links feel; the rest meander through natural Florida wetlands following the natural contours of the land. The layout requires some accuracy in shots and excellent club selection skills; the persistent wind requires a lot of patience. But deciding on taking a 
the major golf publications may agree. Golf Digest gave it a four star rating multiple times in its Places to Play list; Florida Golf News included it in the Top 15 in Northwestern Florida – that is out of hundreds of courses in the area – and amongst the Top 100 in the State – out of the thousands. Perhaps, the only risk here is not getting to experience a mediocre 
Originally, the 
of hazards that would try to block their every attempt at a low score. Its four sets of tees only vary in yardage, not in the level of difficulty. When the situation calls for professional intervention, the Golf Academy at 
and human genius. The holes are placed to take the golfers around pines, water features, to the beach and all through the bay. The 
longest tees, playing for a par of 72. As is characteristic of a Florida 
If there is anything that makes one realize that this is not at all purely organic, it could be the 11 little bridges strewn all over the course. But that is not saying they are unwanted and out of place. On the contrary, these bridges are a most perfect accessory to the nature-themed golf course. To say the least, 
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