Fairway Fables: The Rise & Fall of Golf Courses in Florida

Florida is golf mecca and world renowned for its spectacular golf courses. With over 1,260 golf courses, it tops the nation—outdistancing California’s ~961 venues by a whopping ~31% . Whether you’re chasing birdies or running from thunderstorms, Florida’s year-round weather keeps the clubs swinging. People from all around the globe travel here to enjoy this majestic game. A pro-level endorsement: 15 PGA Tour players now call Florida home—that’s nearly 10% of the tour! With multiple PGA courses and high-end places to play like TPC Sawgrass, Streamsong, Seminole Golf Club and McArthur golf club, you can throw a rock (or shank a ball) in any direction and find a place to play. But behind the palm trees and putts there’s a tale of swings, closures and reinventions. 

Recently as I take a drive down any road, I noticed more and more of our favorite local courses shutting down to make room for residential neighborhoods. Are golf courses going the way of Florida orange groves? Will one day most of our beloved greens become backyards and pools for the trove of incoming residents? 

I took a deep dive to research this topic because of my worry. Here is what I found... 

From Boom to Bust (and Boom Again) 

In the 1990s–2000s Florida went full throttle adding courses like crazy—a 32% jump nationwide from 1990–2005, primarily here in the Sunshine State. But then came the bust: the housing bubble burst, participation stalled (USA plummeting from 30M to ~26M golfers), and even in Florida, courses lagged. Palm Beach and Broward Counties alone lost nearly 20 courses in the past five years—with developers snapping up fairways for dense housing 

Recovery on the Greens 

Good news—recent years brought a supply rebound. Between 2022–2024, the U.S. saw a net gain of 17 courses, helped by 6 completely new golf facilities, and this stability is spreading to FL. Locally, Tampa Bay dipped to ~125 courses around 2019–20 but is now adding courses back, with five new venues in 2022 and ongoing revitalizations. 

What’s Driving the Trend? 

Country clubs are launching mini 9- and 10-hole courses—perfect for lunch breaks or quick date nights. Florida hotspots like BallenIsles CC invested $6M for short courses, to lure beginners and busy professionals alike. 

Work(golf)-from-home Boom 

Remote work + Florida lifestyle = people buying into golf communities—especially those with cottages on or near fairways. (Watch out for wayward golf balls) 

Tech & Sustainability 

Courses invest in GPS carts, Toptracer ranges, and eco-conscious landscaping. Even my small local muni Bartow golf course (refereed to as “The Tow”) now has GPS carts. Players want smart play and green credentials 

Conflict on State Park Gauntlets 

Recent state proposals to erect golf courses and pickleball courts in Florida state parks (like Jonathan Dickinson) sparked outrage. In May 2025, Gov. DeSantis signed a law banning commercial developments—including golf—in state parks. So if you love swamp turtles and wildflowers—there’s a win for conservation 🎉. 

What This Means for the Bad Bogey Society Crew 

Decline alert: In urban and coastal zones, expect courses to vanish—some now homes, others parks. 

Rise alert: In golf-focused enclaves (Tampa, Palm Beach Gardens), new or revamped courses are cropping up—perfect for fresh bogeys. 

Fun formats: 9-hole, par‑3, tech‑driven layouts are here to stay. Quick, social, and accessible. 

Holing out the Round 

The verdict? Florida’s golf scene isn’t dying—it’s evolving. Traditional 18-hole, full-service courses may be fading in suburban strips, but compact, eco-friendly, and tech-savvy layouts are thriving. It’s less about losing courses, more about reimagining what a “course” can be. 

So grab your wedge, pack sunscreen, and let’s chase those elusive birdies on Florida’s new wave of greens! 

-BrettyWap