Destin buddies golf trip: group tee times, condos and what it costs
Plan a Destin buddies golf trip: courses that take groups, group condos, the Emerald Bay Guesthouse for 16, three budget levels and harbour nights out.
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A Destin buddies golf trip works best with one shared house or condo and three or four public courses within 15 minutes. Book Regatta Bay, Kelly Plantation and the Raven for a strong set, take the Emerald Bay Guesthouse (sleeps 16) or a Sandestin townhome, and spend the nights on Destin Harbor, where the bars and seafood houses sit side by side.
This guide covers who takes group tee times, where an eight- or twelve-man group can sleep under one roof, three budget levels, and the details that trip up groups here.
Quick facts
- Group golf packages: Regatta Bay sells them to groups of 9 or more (850-337-8080).
- Book far ahead: Sandestin groups and packages can book up to 13 months out.
- Best group house: Emerald Bay Guesthouse, 8 bedrooms, sleeps 16, $600-$1,300 for the house.
- Nights out: Destin Harbor (AJ's, McGuire's, Boshamps) or Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin.
- Watch for: age-25 booking rules, mandatory condo fees and Saturday traffic on US 98.
Group lodging for a Destin buddies golf trip
| Stay | Group fit | Golf tie | Watch-outs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emerald Bay Guesthouse | 8 bedrooms, sleeps 16, pool and tennis | Golf discounts at Emerald Bay and Seascape | Discount amount not published |
| Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort | Studios to 6-bedroom homes; golf-course townhomes | Resort-guest rates on four courses; only way into Burnt Pine | Resort fee reported at $40 + tax per night; must be 25; 10 a.m. check-out |
| Emerald Grande at HarborWalk | 1-4 bedroom condos; 3-4 bedrooms suit 6-8 | None | About $45-50/night resort fee, $99 service fee and $245-260 cleaning per stay (OTA listings); bar noise |
| Four Points Destin-Fort Walton Beach | 216 rooms; 2-queen balcony rooms sleep 4 | None | Fees not confirmed |
| Watersound Inn | 11 kitchen suites; two suites fit a foursome | $295 rounds on the private St. Joe courses | Few rooms; no shuttle; must be over 25 |
The Emerald Bay Guesthouse is the standout for a big group. It belongs to the Emerald Bay club, a Bob Cupp course on Choctawhatchee Bay with water on 12 holes, and the golf discounts cover both Emerald Bay and its 9-hole sister course, Seascape. October 2026 reviews of Emerald Bay were split on greens and upkeep, so read the latest before paying top rate. See the Emerald Bay course guide.
Sandestin suits a group that wants to drive less. Its tram runs between the beaches, Baytowne Wharf and the courses, and a multi-bedroom golf-course townhome fits a foursome. Note that many units are privately owned and rented by outside managers, who may not pass on resort-guest golf rates, so book through Sandestin if the golf rate matters.
Group tee times
- Regatta Bay: groups of 9 or more book packages through the sales office, 850-337-8080. It is the hardest course in Destin, slope 147 from the 6,840-yard tips, and has a covered practice area with greenside bunkers and Trackman. See the Regatta Bay course guide.
- Sandestin: packages and groups book up to 13 months ahead, resort guests six months, and the public 14 days. Golf packages must be booked through a reservation agent before arrival, not the pro shop.
- Kelly Plantation: books through GolfNow; nine tee sets from 7,099 to 4,096 yards make it easy to split a mixed group. See the Kelly Plantation course guide.
- GolfNow prepaid deals: at Shalimar Pointe and Bluewater Bay, groups smaller than four may be paired with others, and most deals are refundable only with 24 hours' notice.
If your group has eight, book two consecutive times on the same course. For twelve or more, Regatta Bay's package route or a Sandestin group booking saves calling round.
A three-round budget at three levels
Green fees per golfer, with cart, from prices seen in October 2026. Rates change by date and time.
| Level | Rounds | Fees seen | Three-round total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value | FWB Pines, Shalimar Pointe, Indian Bayou (afternoon) | $37-$42 (Aug deals), $34-$51, from $75 | About $145-$170 |
| Mid | Kelly Plantation, Regatta Bay, The Raven | $90-$119, $91-$190, $159 public to Nov 1 | About $340-$470 |
| Splurge | Camp Creek, Shark's Tooth, The Third (inn guests) | $295 each | $885 plus the inn |
The value round at the Fort Walton Beach city club comes with a catch for groups: the club charges 50 percent of the booking for a no-show or a cancellation inside 24 hours, and the cart fee was $20 in August 2026 with a rise to $32 proposed. At Shalimar Pointe, see the Shalimar Pointe course guide.
For a full cost breakdown including lodging, see Destin golf trip cost, and for more ways to save, cheap golf in Destin.
The splurge option: the St. Joe courses
The private Watersound Club courses at the east end of 30A, Camp Creek (Tom Fazio), Shark's Tooth (Greg Norman) and The Third (Davis Love III, 2025), are open to overnight guests of Camp Creek Inn and Watersound Inn at $295 per golfer per round. Camp Creek Inn lists group golf packages, and Watersound Inn's Golf Getaway bundles two rounds. Each course has a weekly closed day: Camp Creek Monday, Shark's Tooth Tuesday, The Third Wednesday.
Two cautions for late 2026. After Hurricane Isaias, Shark's Tooth was closed until further notice and Camp Creek was playing its front nine only from October 17. And member-guest weeks (Sharkfest in mid-October, Campfest November 12-14, 2026) take courses off the guest sheet. Our Watersound Club golf guide has the full access rules.
The Sandestin option: four courses, one gate
Sandestin's Premium stay-and-play package (four or more nights) includes one round on each of its four courses, including Burnt Pine, the hardest on the property at slope 147. Burnt Pine is for members and registered Sandestin resort guests only, after 1 p.m., booked by phone. Resort-guest rates in fall 2026 were $75 at Baytowne, $95 at the Links, $130 at the Raven and $179 at Burnt Pine. See Sandestin golf packages.
Nights out and a day off
Destin Harbor is built for groups. AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar is big, loud and busy with live music; McGuire's Irish Pub is reliable for big tables; Boshamps has harbour views but waits in season. At Sandestin, Baytowne Wharf is a tram ride away, and Fleming's at Grand Boulevard has private rooms. Our where to eat in Destin guide has the full list.
For a day off the course, book a half-day fishing charter from the harbour, or rent a pontoon to Crab Island between April and October. In October, the Destin Fishing Rodeo keeps charters busy, so book early. More in things to do in Destin for golfers.
Details that trip up groups
- Age rules. Sandestin requires 25 to book; the Hilton Sandestin 25 to check in; Watersound Inn over 25.
- Fees. Condo resorts add resort, service and cleaning fees on top of the nightly rate. The Emerald Grande's per-stay fees alone are about $344-$359.
- Parking. Sandestin gives one parking pass per rental unit, with an extra on request if available. Camp Creek Inn allows one standard vehicle per room.
- Saturday traffic. US 98 and the 331 bridge back up on spring-break and summer Saturdays, the usual changeover day.
- Season. Spring break brings week-long minimum stays to beach condos. Mid-April to mid-May and October are easier.
For the day-by-day plan, see the Destin golf trip itinerary, and for booking windows, Destin tee times. Comparing coasts? Our Gulf Shores buddies golf trip guide covers the Alabama side.
Plan it on the map
Open the Destin golf map to see every course and group stay together, with drive times from your house to each tee. The plan builds the trip day by day for your group size and budget.
Courses in this guide
Questions golfers ask
What is the best base for a Destin buddies golf trip?
For a group that wants one roof, the Emerald Bay Guesthouse sleeps 16 in eight bedrooms for $600 to $1,300 for the whole house and comes with golf discounts at Emerald Bay and Seascape. For four courses on one property, a multi-bedroom golf-course townhome inside Sandestin works. For bars on the doorstep, the Emerald Grande condos sit on Destin Harbor.
How do large groups book golf in Destin?
Regatta Bay sells packages to groups of nine or more through its sales office on 850-337-8080. Sandestin lets groups and stay-and-play packages book up to 13 months ahead. On GolfNow prepaid deals, groups smaller than four may be paired with other golfers.
How much does a Destin buddies golf trip cost?
Green fees for three rounds ran from about $145 to $170 per golfer for a value mix (Fort Walton Beach Pines, Shalimar Pointe and an Indian Bayou afternoon) to about $340 to $470 for Kelly Plantation, Regatta Bay and the Raven, on October 2026 prices. The private St. Joe courses cost $295 a round on top of an inn stay. Lodging is extra and varies widely by season.
Can a group play the private Watersound Club courses?
Only by staying at Camp Creek Inn or Watersound Inn, whose guests pay $295 per golfer per round for Camp Creek, Shark's Tooth or The Third. Watersound Inn has just 11 suites, so it books up. After Hurricane Isaias in October 2026, Shark's Tooth was closed and Camp Creek was playing nine holes, so check first.
Where do golf groups go out in Destin?
Destin Harbor is the easiest night: AJ's Seafood and Oyster Bar is loud, busy and good for groups, and McGuire's Irish Pub is reliable for big tables. At Sandestin, Baytowne Wharf has bars and restaurants reached by the resort tram. Fleming's at Grand Boulevard has private rooms.
Is there a minimum age to rent for a Destin golf trip?
Often 25. Sandestin requires you to be 25 to book, the Hilton Sandestin requires 25 to check in, and Watersound Inn and Destin West Beach and Bay Resort condos also exclude under-25s. The Holiday Inn Express in east Destin lists a minimum check-in age of 21.
What is the best time for a Destin buddies trip?
Mid-April to mid-May or October. Spring break fills beach condos with week-long minimums in March and early April, and summer has the highest room rates. Winter is cheapest outside Christmas week, but courses are busy with snowbirds on weekday mornings.
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