Panama City Beach golf: what is open, what it costs and how far it is from Destin
Panama City Beach golf for Destin and 30A visitors: Bay Point Nicklaus, Legacy and Signal Hill rates seen in 2026, closed courses and drive times by base.
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Panama City Beach golf gives Destin and 30A visitors three courses they can book: the Nicklaus Course at Bay Point, Legacy Golf Club and short, walkable Signal Hill, with 2026 rates seen of roughly $62 to $92. They sit 70 to 85 minutes from Destin Harbor, so they suit a 30A base far better than a Destin one.
This guide covers what is open, what it costs, what has closed and how long the drive is from each base.
Quick facts
- Open to visitors: Bay Point Nicklaus (semi-private), Legacy (semi-private), Signal Hill (public).
- Private: Panama Country Club, Lynn Haven.
- Stay-to-play: Shark's Tooth, Camp Creek and The Third, the Watersound Club courses, $295 for Camp Creek Inn and Watersound Inn guests.
- Closed: Hombre (2018) and the Bay Point Meadows Course (2018).
- Status unclear: Pelican Point at Tyndall AFB. Call first.
- From Destin Harbor: 70 to 85 minutes. From Rosemary Beach: 24 to 39 minutes.
- Nearest airport: ECP, Northwest Florida Beaches International.
- Time zone: Central, same as Destin.
Panama City Beach golf courses compared
| Course | Access | Price seen | Back tee | From Destin Harbor | From Sandestin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay Point Nicklaus | Semi-private, public tee times | $76.99-$91.99 (late Oct-Nov 2026 deals) | 7,053 yds, 74.5 / 137 | 85 min | 68 min |
| Legacy Golf Club | Semi-private, open to public | $75.99-$91.99 (late Oct-Nov 2026 deals) | 6,859 yds, 72.6 / 126 | 70 min | 54 min |
| Signal Hill | Public, walking allowed | $62 walk / $75 cart (Summer 2026 card) | 5,617 yds, 66.5 / 118 | 75 min | 58 min |
| Panama Country Club | Private | Not open to visitors | 6,573 yds, 72.9 / 137 | 107 min | 90 min |
Prices were seen October 26, 2026 and rates change. Tees are GolfPass or GolfNow cards, not USGA database figures. Drive times are routed free-flow estimates without traffic.
Bay Point: the Nicklaus Course
The Nicklaus Course at Bay Point is the best public-access test in Panama City Beach. Bruce Devlin designed the original in 1986; it closed in 2004 and reopened in 2005 after a rebuild by Nicklaus Design (Gary Nicklaus and Rick Robbins). Greens went to TifEagle in 2018, and the course reopened in 2019 after Hurricane Michael cleanup.
It is a marsh and lagoon course on St. Andrew Bay, and a reviewer counts water on 16 of 18 holes. From the back it is 7,053 yards at 74.5 / 137, with forward sets down to 4,948 yards. It is a membership club that sells public tee times on its own GolfNow-powered site and on GolfNow; one listing says prepaid GolfNow times are non-refundable.
October 2026 reviewers praised the greens; one review was titled "Great golf even after hurricane", noting storm damage to the shop and food service. Aerification has been listed for early May, mid-June and mid-August in past years. Pace can be slow on busy days. Phone 850-235-6950. See the Bay Point Nicklaus course guide.
Legacy Golf Club
Legacy is the old Holiday Golf Club, renamed in late 2022 and operated with Oasis Resorts. It is a flat, open course a mile from the beach, opened in 1964 and renovated in 2014 per listings, with TifEagle greens and a 9-hole par-27 executive course on site.
From the Green tees it is 6,859 yards at 72.6 / 126, and there is a 4,019-yard Yellow set. Fall deals ran $75.99 to $91.99, and August 2026 GolfNow prices were about $81 to $112 with cart. Carts are required. Reviewers rate the greens as the best feature, and some say it is pricey for the layout. Our take: fine as a fill-in round if you are already in Panama City Beach, but not worth the drive from Destin. See the Legacy course guide.
Signal Hill
Signal Hill on Thomas Drive is a short, hilly 1962 layout near the beach, par 71 and 5,617 yards from the Blue tees with a 118 slope. Walking is allowed. Its Summer 2026 card, the only one published:
| Signal Hill, Summer 2026 | Cart | Walking |
|---|---|---|
| 18 holes, 6 AM-2 PM | $75 | $62 |
| After 2 PM (no refunds) | $65.50 | $52.50 |
| 9 holes | $65.50 | $52.50 |
| Replay | $52.50 | |
| Juniors, 18 holes | $26 | $16 |
Prices are plus tax. Rental clubs are $40 for 18. There is a putting green but no range, no outside coolers are allowed and every player needs their own bag. Phone 850-234-5051; booking is by phone. See the Signal Hill course guide.
Closed, private and unclear
- Hombre Golf Club: closed for good in October 2018 after Hurricane Michael damage, with a subdivision planned on the former back nine.
- Bay Point Meadows Course: closed after Hurricane Michael in 2018; the owner has no plans to reopen it.
- Panama Country Club, Lynn Haven: private member club. One older blog claimed public play, but no public tee sheet was found.
- Pelican Point, Tyndall AFB: status unclear, call first. Civilian access is not confirmed and the course is not on our map.
Our private golf clubs near Destin guide covers the private and military clubs across the area.
The Watersound Club courses
Shark's Tooth, Camp Creek and The Third carry Panama City Beach addresses but sit at the east end of 30A. They are private, sold to Camp Creek Inn and Watersound Inn guests at $295 a round. Shark's Tooth was closed until further notice after Hurricane Isaias in late October 2026. See our Watersound Club golf guide.
The drive from each base
| Base | Legacy | Signal Hill | Bay Point |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Pearl Hotel, Rosemary Beach | 24 min | 29 min | 39 min |
| Camp Creek Inn | 28 min | 33 min | 43 min |
| Watersound Inn | 36 min | 41 min | 51 min |
| WaterColor Inn | 43 min | 48 min | 58 min |
| Home2 Suites Santa Rosa Beach | 49 min | 54 min | 64 min |
| Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort | 54 min | 58 min | 68 min |
| Destin Harbor | 70 min | 75 min | 85 min |
Times are free-flow and exclude traffic; Saturdays in spring break and summer are slow on US 98. From a Destin base a Panama City Beach round means two and a half to three hours in the car, there and back, which is why we rate these courses as an east-30A day out. Our Destin vs Panama City Beach golf guide weighs basing in each.
Flying in
ECP, Northwest Florida Beaches International in West Bay, is the airport for Panama City Beach and east 30A: about 65 minutes to Sandestin and 82 to Destin. Southwest is its largest carrier, with Delta, American and United also serving it. Airline route lists change often, so verify before booking. See flights to Destin.
Storm notes
This stretch has had two big storms. Hurricane Michael in October 2018 closed Hombre for good and shut the Bay Point Meadows Course, which has no plans to reopen. Hurricane Isaias made landfall near Destin on October 9, 2026 as a Category 2. Bay Point reviewers in October 2026 reported storm damage to the shop and food service but good greens, while no post-storm notice was seen for Signal Hill and Panama Country Club was not checked. See Destin hurricane season.
Is Panama City Beach golf worth it?
From 30A, yes for a change of scene: Bay Point is the strongest test and Legacy and Signal Hill are easy fill-ins. From Destin, the courses in Destin itself, such as Kelly Plantation, 13 minutes from the harbor, are better uses of the day. Our 30A golf guide covers the closer options, and for a different Gulf beach town see Gulf Shores golf courses.
Plan it on the map
Open the Destin golf map to see the Panama City Beach courses at the east signpost, with drive times from every stay. The $30 plan can fit a Panama City Beach golf day into a 30A trip where the drive makes sense.
Courses in this guide
Questions golfers ask
What golf courses are open in Panama City Beach?
Three courses take visitors: the Nicklaus Course at Bay Point, Legacy Golf Club (the former Holiday Golf Club) and Signal Hill, a short walkable course on Thomas Drive. Shark's Tooth, Camp Creek and The Third have Panama City Beach addresses but are private Watersound Club courses sold only to two St. Joe inns' guests.
How far is Panama City Beach golf from Destin?
On routed free-flow times from Destin Harbor, Legacy is 70 minutes, Signal Hill 75 and Bay Point 85. From Sandestin they are 54, 58 and 68 minutes. From east 30A hotels such as The Pearl in Rosemary Beach, Legacy is 24 minutes.
How much does Bay Point golf cost?
GolfPass and GolfNow deals for late October and November 2026 ran $76.99 to $91.99. No rack rate was published. GolfNow prepaid times are non-refundable, according to one listing.
Is Hombre Golf Club still open?
No. Hombre closed for good in October 2018 after Hurricane Michael damage, and the owner planned a subdivision on the former back nine. The Meadows Course at Bay Point has also been closed since 2018, with no plans to reopen.
Can you walk at Signal Hill?
Yes. Signal Hill allows walking, which is rare for the area. Its Summer 2026 card listed 18 holes at $62 walking or $75 with cart before 2 PM, plus tax. Fall and winter rates were not published.
Is Panama Country Club public?
Treat it as private. It is a member club in Lynn Haven, and although one older blog said it had opened to the public, no current public tee sheet was found. It is 107 minutes from Destin Harbor.
Is the Tyndall AFB golf course open?
Status unclear, call first. Pelican Point at Tyndall Air Force Base has no 2026 evidence of operation after Hurricane Michael damaged the base in 2018, and civilian access rules are not confirmed. It is not on our map.
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