FEATURE STORY

Jacksonville one of Florida's best cities for a bachelors' golf trip

By S. Adam Cardais,
Staff Writer

Looking for a great destination in Florida for a bachelors' golf weekend? Orlando and Miami aren't the only games in town.

Jacksonville is the sleeper city for buddies' golf trips in Florida, if not the southeast. Though it's often overshadowed by Orlando, or farther up the east coast, Atlanta and Charlotte, Jacksonville has plenty to offer when it comes to golf and off-course entertainment.

Its proximity to the World Golf Village in St. Augustine puts it close to great golf courses such as the Jack Nicklaus- andArnold Palmer-designed King & Bear. And nightlife? Well, need we say more than The Riverwalk — more than a mile of restaurants and shops in downtown Jacksonville.

"You don't have to be a golfer to experience cultural shock and awe in Jacksonville," National Golf Editor and Jacksonville resident Tim McDonald wrote in a story for GolfFlorida.com. "You can find just about anything on the cultural barometer, including an NFL team, enough barbecue joints to stuff a hog factory, an equal amount of upscale and downscale bars and restaurants."

So if you and your buddies are looking for the next great place for a bachelors-only golf trip, give Jacksonville a shot. Its on and off course attractions will not disappoint.

Jacksonville golf: An overview Three days of golf in Jacksonville, Florida A guide to Jacksonville's golf courses Jacksonville is a perfect place to play top 'designer' golf courses

Hitting the links

King & Bear: Located in the World Golf Village, this course has two of the greatest names in golf attached to it: Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. It is described as one of the few true collaborations between great golfers. Arnie and Jack reportedly walked the layout together and even played it together. The result is a course with aspects of both men.

Stadium Course at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass: Designed by the demonical Pete Dye, this course is home to The Players Championship. Here the pros are faced with three of the toughest finishing holes in the business, so this course is a great place to take-on your buddies.

Trickery is the name of the game at The Stadium Course. Shots you thought were solid, right on … well, God knows where they could end up here. This makes precision a must. It also means you'll have to keep your cool, which might be hard with your buddies busting your balls all afternoon.

Slammer & Squire: If you're feeling a little rough in the morning after a long night out, this is a good option, as it's the easier of the two courses at the World Golf Village. That's not to say this Bobby Weed design is a breeze, but its large greens and manageable rough make it accessible to a range of skill levels.

Hitting the town

Jacksonville Tee Times Tee Times: 866-521-2331

The Riverwalk: If you and the guys are looking for a place to go for some great nightlife after your round, head to The Riverwalk. The area is more than a mile of shops, restaurants, hotels theaters and bars, making it one of Jacksonville's most popular downtown destination. McDonald described it as the place to be for nightlife in Jacksonville.

Morton's: For a great steak you know you can trust, hit up Morton's. Dig into a double porterhouse or, if you don't want to be dragging all that extra weight around next day, might be better to stick to the single-cut filet mignon.

The Wine Cellar: If you and the guys meet any ladies on the course, invite them for dinner and drinks at The Wine Cellar. They'll be impressed. Consistently rated a top 300 restaurant by Florida Trend Magazine, this is a great place to go for an upscale dinner. The menu boasts eclectic, yet classic continental cuisine that doesn't shy away from Asian and European influences. Try the lobster and asparagus ravioli with fresh cilantro broth for $19, or break out the plastic and get the $36 broiled lobster tail.

The wine list features a wide range of red and white wines and Champagnes.

February 22, 2007

Any opinions expressed above are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the management. The information in this story was accurate at the time of publication. All contact information, directions and prices should be confirmed directly with the golf course or resort before making reservations and/or travel plans.