semi-private · Destin, FL · 18 holes

Emerald Bay Golf Club

A Bob Cupp layout on Choctawhatchee Bay, open to the public at about $97-$140. October 2026 reviews are mixed on greens and upkeep, so it is the third pick in Destin behind Kelly Plantation and Regatta Bay. The Guesthouse suits big groups.

Par72

Tips7,050 yd

Rating / slope73.9 / 143

Green fees seen$77–$140

See Emerald Bay on the 3D map, hole by hole Book a tee time

Tees, rating and slope

Tee	Yards	Men	Women
I	7,050	73.9 / 143	–
II	6,620	71.4 / 141	–
III	6,209	69.8 / 132	–
Combo	5,735	67.7 / 124	–
IV	5,481	71.9 / 132	–
V	4,655	67.2 / 123	–

Course rating / slope, USGA Course Rating database where available.

Green fees

Shoulder	GolfNow Hot Deals $96.99-$101.99 for Nov 1-2, 2026 (read 2026-10-26). A GolfPass reviewer paid $140 per player on Sep 16, 2026.
Summer	GolfLink showed $77.03 per player (18 holes, cart) for Mon Jun 8, 2026.

GolfPass/GolfNow read 2026-10-26; GolfLink snapshot for Jun 8, 2026.

Before you book

Access	Membership club inside a gated residential community that sells public tee times online (TeeItUp) and through GolfNow. Members have a separate tee sheet. GolfPass lists it as semi-private/resort. Sister course of Seascape; the club's 8-bedroom Guesthouse comes with golf discounts at both.
Overseed / closures	No overseed policy or aerification dates published.
Designer	Bob Cupp
Opened	1991
Style	Residential course with water on 12 holes; part of the back nine runs along Choctawhatchee Bay, so wind matters.
Carts	Cart included in green fee (GolfNow).
Practice	Driving range, chipping area, putting green, teaching pro and golf school.
Dress code	Collared shirt, no denim, soft spikes only (GolfNow).
Drive from Destin Harbor	14 min (6.7 mi)
Phone	850-837-5197
Address	4781 Clubhouse Drive, Destin, FL 32541

Local knowledge

Recent reviews (Oct 2026) are split: several complain about weedy greens and worn tees, others rate conditions 4-5. Check recent reviews before paying top rate.
Groups of up to 16 can take the club Guesthouse, which comes with golf discounts at Emerald Bay and Seascape.
The 'Combo' tee (5,735 yds, slope 124) is the sensible set for higher handicaps.

Hole by hole

Hole	Par	Yards*	Elev*
1	4	417	-3 ft
2	4	410	0 ft
3	3	154	+4 ft
4	4	308	-6 ft
5	4	392	+5 ft
6	4	417	+5 ft
7	5	553	+4 ft
8	3	174	-1 ft
9	5	522	+5 ft
10	4	460	+4 ft
11	4	361	+5 ft
12	3	232	-4 ft
13	5	579	-2 ft
14	4	373	-9 ft
15	4	434	+1 ft
16	3	176	-12 ft
17	4	323	0 ft
18	5	516	0 ft

*Yards measured along the mapped centre line (OpenStreetMap), close to the middle tees. Elevation = how far the green sits above (+) or below (−) the tee, from USGS terrain data.

Recognition

Golf Digest best new courses list (early 1990s), per GolfNow description

Closest golf hotels

Holiday Inn Express Destin E - Commons Mall Area — 6 min, 2.5 mi
Newman-Dailey Resort Properties snowbird monthly rentals — 6 min, 2.3 mi
The Henderson Beach Resort — 7 min, 2.9 mi

Questions golfers ask

How much does it cost to play Emerald Bay Golf Club?

Green fees we have seen range from $77–$140, depending on season and time of day.

How hard is Emerald Bay Golf Club?

From the back tees it measures 7,050 yards with a course rating of 73.9 and a slope of 143. 4 - slope 143 from the 7,050-yd tips; water on 12 holes and bay wind.

How far is Emerald Bay Golf Club from Destin?

About 14 minutes (6.7 miles) by road from Destin Harbor in light traffic.