St. James Bay Golf Resort

Located just off the shores of St. George Sound in the middle of the Panhandle, St. James Bay Golf Resort is an environmentally friendly golf facility whose course design blends seamlessly into its natural terrain. The course was built in 2003 by Robert Walker, and his efforts have earned St. James Bay Golf Resort a host of accolades; most recent being #19 Top 25 Florida Public Courses in 2016, among numerous others.

In the pursuit of designing a beautiful course with exceptional conditions that was also considerate of the unique environment of the Panhandle coast, Mr. Walker worked closely with Audubon International. The result was an award-winning 18-hole championship layout that measures nearly 6,500 yards and has earned the Audubon Signature Sanctuary designation.

Each hole was cut from the dense loblolly pine forests that line the fairways, and if the landing zones were any less generous, tee shots would be much more tricky. Even more helpful, every cart at St. James Bay is equipped with a GPS system which helps players navigate a landscape that features wetlands and bunkers on every hole.

Like a master storyteller, Mr. Walker's design walks the player through a journey that finishes each nine in spectacular fashion. The front nine finishes with a long-hitter's dream-come-true: par-5, par-5, par-4 — these are great opportunities for making a good run into the turn. Not to be outdone, the finish on the back nine draws its inspiration from Augusta National's "Amen Corner," matching its par-4, par-3, par-5 configuration. Hang on tight, it's a roller-coaster ride to the finish!

In the same fashion as its wonderful course, St. James Bay Golf Resort also offers a well-kept practice facility that features a driving range, chipping green and bunker, and two putting greens, as well as a well-stocked pro shop. For satisfying your hunger for more than top-rated golf, there's the Crooked River Grill, a full-service restaurant and bar that is open to the public; breakfast on weekends, lunch through all week, and dinner on Friday and Saturday. With your favorite cold beverage in hand, there's no better place to kick up your feet and cap off another excellent round at St. James Bay Golf Resort.