The Links course at Sandestin: rates, access and the bay holes
The Links course at Sandestin: 2026 public and resort-guest rates, winter and snowbird prices, overseed and aeration dates, tees and how the bay holes play.
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The Links course at Sandestin is the resort's original layout, with five holes along Choctawhatchee Bay by Baytowne Marina. It is open to the public at $119 for most of 2026, or $95 for Sandestin resort and Hilton Sandestin guests, with winter rates of $89 and $69. It closes November 3-9, 2026 for greens overseeding.
Here is what it costs through the year, who gets the resort rate and how the bay holes play. Rates come from sandestin.com as read on October 26, 2026, and change.
Quick facts
- Designer: Tom Jackson.
- Holes: 18, par 72.
- Back tees: 6,710 yards, 72.2 rating, 135 slope.
- 2026 rate: $119 public / $95 resort guest most of the year; $89 / $69 in winter.
- Included: cart, green fee and practice balls.
- Practice: irons-only facility; club rental $60.
- Address: 165 Sandestin Blvd N, Miramar Beach. Phone: 850-267-8144.
- Drive: 21 minutes and 11.1 miles from Destin Harbor; 3 minutes from the Sandestin Welcome Center.
The Links course at Sandestin: 2026 rates
| Period | Public | Resort guest |
|---|---|---|
| Spring (Mar 6-May 11) | $119 | $95 |
| Summer (Jun 2-Aug 3) | $119 | $95 |
| Fall (Aug 25-Nov 2) | $119 | $95 |
| Winter (Jan 1-Mar 5, Nov 24-Dec 31) | $89 | $69 |
| Aeration recovery (May 19-Jun 1, Aug 11-24) | $69 | $69 |
| Overseed recovery (Nov 10-23) | $59 | $59 |
| Snowbird card (Nov 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027) | n/a | $45 + tax |
| Snowbird card (Feb-Mar 2027) | n/a | $49 + tax |
| Winter Player's Club (Nov-Dec 2026) | n/a | $50 + tax |
The Links' own site still showed an older undated table ($63-$89 public, $57-$79 resort) in October 2026; use sandestin.com. No general twilight rate is published, though winter cardholders get nine holes after 1 PM at half rate.
Who gets the resort rate
The course site gives the resort rate to any resort or Hilton guest or amenity card holder. That means guests in Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort lodging and at the Hilton Sandestin, which is about 7 minutes from the Links by road. Burnt Pine members get member rates (amount not published).
The Links is in both Sandestin packages, the Resort Classic (with Baytowne, up to 25% off, 2+ nights) and the Premium (all four courses, 4+ nights). Packages are booked through a reservation agent before arrival.
Booking
- Public and members: 14 days ahead.
- Sandestin resort guests: 6 months ahead.
- Packages and groups: 13 months ahead.
- Online: the course tee sheet shows the next 45 days.
The tees
| Tee | Yards | Men (rating / slope) | Women (rating / slope) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | 6,710 | 72.2 / 135 | 79.1 / 137 |
| Blue | 6,265 | 70.2 / 124 | 76.5 / 131 |
| White | 5,777 | 69.0 / 114 | 73.8 / 126 |
| Red | 4,897 | not found | 69.1 / 115 |
Ratings are from Chronogolf, not the USGA database. The opening year is not confirmed; GolfPass lists 1971, but we could not cross-check it.
How the Links plays
The bay holes are the reason to play the Links course at Sandestin. Five holes along Choctawhatchee Bay by Baytowne Marina, then the course heads inland over rolling ground. At 6,710 yards from the back, it is the shortest of the four Sandestin courses, so the defence is the wind off the water.
The local advice is simple: go early, before the afternoon sea breeze, if you want a score. The middle tees are gentle on paper, with Blue at 124 and White at 114, so wind is what will move your number.
The greens are bermuda, overseeded each fall. Summer and early-fall 2026 GolfPass reviews reported weedy, slow greens; mid-October reviews were positive. Check the latest before you book a late-summer round.
Closures in 2026
- Spring aeration: May 12-18.
- Summer aeration: August 4-10.
- Greens overseeding: November 3-9.
If you are coming in November, the overseed week is the one to dodge. Baytowne closes the week before (November 2-8), so in early November you cannot play both. Read Destin golf winter conditions for the wider picture.
The Links against the other Sandestin courses
| Course | Back yards | Back slope | Fall 2026 public / guest |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Links | 6,710 | 135 | $119 / $95 |
| Baytowne | 6,804 | 138 | $99 / $75 |
| The Raven | 6,931 | 137 | $159 / $130 |
| Burnt Pine | 6,996 | 147 | $179 (members and registered resort guests, after 1 PM, by phone) |
The Links costs $20 more than Baytowne for most of the year, and you are paying for the bay holes. In winter it is the cheaper of the two ($89 against $99 public). Burnt Pine also has a back nine on the bay, but only members and registered resort guests can play it, after 1 PM. Our Sandestin golf guide compares all four, and the Baytowne Golf Club guide covers its neighbour.
Where to stay near the Links
Sandestin resort lodging is about 3 minutes away and Camping on the Gulf, a beachfront RV park, about 5. The Embassy Suites Destin Miramar Beach is 7 minutes away with free parking per listings, though no golf perks. Guests at non-Sandestin hotels pay the public rate. For the options, read Destin golf resorts and Sandestin golf packages.
A day at the Links
Book the earliest tee you can, play the bay holes while the water is calm, and have lunch at Baytowne Wharf, inside the resort. Add the Raven in the afternoon on a long spring day, or play Kelly Plantation in Destin the next morning; see the Kelly Plantation course guide. The Links course guide has the card on one page.
Plan it on the map
Open the Destin golf map to see the Links course at Sandestin, the resort stays that get the lower rate and the courses around it. The $30 plan puts your Links round on a morning that avoids the overseed week.
Courses in this guide
Questions golfers ask
Can the public play the Links course at Sandestin?
Yes. The Links sells public tee times up to 14 days ahead at the public rate. Guests of Sandestin resort lodging and the Hilton Sandestin pay the resort rate and, for Sandestin guests, can book six months out.
How much does the Links at Sandestin cost?
On sandestin.com's 2026 table, $119 public and $95 for resort guests in spring (March 6-May 11), summer (June 2-August 3) and fall (August 25-November 2). Winter (January 1-March 5 and November 24-December 31) is $89 and $69. Cart, green fee and practice balls are included.
When is the Links closed for overseeding?
November 3-9, 2026, for overseeding the greens. From November 10 to 23 the rate is $59 while the greens recover, and the winter rate starts November 24.
How many holes at the Links are on the water?
Five holes run along Choctawhatchee Bay by Baytowne Marina; the rest of the course heads inland over rolling ground. The wind off the bay is the main defence on a course of only 6,710 yards from the Gold tees.
What is the Links snowbird rate?
The Snowbird card, for extended stays booked directly with Sandestin Rentals, is $45 plus tax from November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027 and $49 in February and March 2027. The Winter Player's Club, for 28+ night rentals through another agency, is $50 plus tax in November and December 2026.
Does the Links have a driving range?
It has an irons-only practice facility, which costs $10 for non-players. Practice balls are included before your round. Club rental is $60.
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