Shalimar Pointe Golf Club

Shalimar Pointe Golf Club: The US Open Qualifier Course Most Emerald Coast Visitors Drive Past

The Choctawhatchee Bay is visible from multiple holes at Shalimar Pointe, and the course has the kind of rolling terrain and varied bunkering that prompts Golf Digest panelists to use the phrase “hidden gem” in their notes. It’s been described that way for years. The course has hosted US Open local qualifiers and served as a venue for the Emerald Coast Tour — two data points that say more about its design quality than any star rating.

Joe Finger and Ken Dye designed it in 1986 on a site that had been a golf property since 1968. A full renovation in 2022 restored conditions and updated the layout without altering the fundamental character Finger and Dye built in: five tee sets, strategic bunkers, doglegs that require honest decisions, and water hazards that punish lateral misses on several holes without making the course feel manufactured. The 11th hole is the most talked-about — a par 3 with water surrounding the front and both sides of the green, ranging from 150 yards to the mid-teens depending on tee selection. The 16th runs 218 yards from the back with three bunkers framing the approach and water in play.

At 6,743 yards from the tips with a 73.5 rating and a 129 slope, this is a real test — comparable in difficulty to anything the resort courses nearby charge considerably more to play. Tifdwarf greens on Bermuda fairways give the course consistent surface quality. The Grill at Shalimar Pointe serves breakfast and lunch daily, covering the before-and-after of a round without requiring a drive out.

One practical note: the course does not allow walking. Cart is required.

Guide to Emerald Coast Golf

Shalimar Pointe Golf Club — Course Info

Membership at Shalimar Pointe Golf Club

Shalimar Pointe offers golf and social membership options for individuals and families at competitive rates. Member benefits include preferred tee times, reduced green fees, access to practice facilities, club fitting, and lesson programs. Specific pricing is not published online; contact the club directly at (850) 651-1416 or via shalimarpointe.com for current membership details.

Frequently Asked Questions About Shalimar Pointe Golf Club

Is Shalimar Pointe Golf Club open to the public? Yes. Shalimar Pointe is open to daily public play. Tee times can be booked online or by calling (850) 651-1416. Note that walking is not permitted — cart is required for all rounds.

Has Shalimar Pointe Golf Club hosted competitive golf events? Yes. The course has been used for US Open local qualifier rounds and hosted the Emerald Coast Tour. Its 73.5 course rating and 129 slope from the back tees reflect a layout that holds up under competitive conditions.

What did the 2022 renovation change at Shalimar Pointe Golf Club? The 2022 renovation updated course conditions throughout, restoring greens and fairways and refreshing bunker edges. The fundamental layout designed by Joe Finger and Ken Dye was preserved.

Where is Shalimar Pointe Golf Club located? The club is at 302 Country Club Road, Shalimar, FL 32579 — roughly 10 minutes east of Fort Walton Beach, along the south shore of Choctawhatchee Bay between Fort Walton Beach and Niceville.