The Links Golf Club at Sandestin

The Links Golf Club at Sandestin: Where Gulf Coast Winds Decide Who Scores

The Links is where Sandestin golf started. Tom Jackson designed the original layout in 1971, making it the oldest of the resort’s four courses and the one that set the architectural identity for everything that followed. Florida Golf News named it one of the top five golf courses in Northwest Florida. It’s been ranked among the top 100 courses in the state. The accolades are real, but the more accurate description is simpler: it’s a course that punishes dishonest shots.

Five holes run directly along the Choctawhatchee Bay shoreline with the Baytowne Marina as a backdrop. The prevailing Gulf Coast winds that sweep across those holes don’t care about handicap. Accuracy and club selection aren’t optional here — they’re the game. Golfers who treat it like a standard resort track and grip-and-rip their way through the bay holes will give strokes back in bunches. The 13 water features scattered across the other holes keep the inland sections honest too.

At 6,710 yards from the tips with a 72.2 rating and a 124 slope, The Links plays more manageable than Raven or Burnt Pine in raw numbers. The slope reflects the course design more than the difficulty — there aren’t many heroic risk-reward carries, just relentless accuracy demands from tee to green. The four tee sets make it accessible, and the shortest set at 4,897 yards gives casual players a genuine round without the round becoming a survival exercise.

The Links shares a booking system with the other Sandestin courses. Non-resort guests book up to 14 days out; resort guests up to six months. Rates include cart and practice balls.

Guide to Emerald Coast Golf

The Links Golf Club at Sandestin — Course Info

Membership at The Links Golf Club at Sandestin

The Links is included in the Golf Club of Sandestin membership alongside Raven and Baytowne. Members play The Links with no greens fee and pay preferred cart rates. Full membership benefits include unlimited practice facility access, special guest rates, advance reservation privileges, PGA instruction discounts, and charge privileges at all courses. Initiation fee is $7,500; monthly dues start at $163/single for Sandestin owners and $175/single for public members. Contact (850) 267-8208 or golf@sandestin.com.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Links Golf Club at Sandestin

Is The Links Golf Club at Sandestin open to the public? Yes. The Links is open to the public and to non-resort guests. Tee times can be booked up to 14 days in advance for outside players and up to six months for Sandestin resort guests.

What makes The Links Golf Club at Sandestin different from the other Sandestin courses? The Links is Sandestin’s original course, designed in 1971. Five of the 18 holes run directly along the Choctawhatchee Bay shoreline, making Gulf Coast wind management a central part of every round. No other Sandestin course has the same bay exposure.

What are the green fees at The Links Golf Club at Sandestin? Estimated peak rates run approximately $119, including cart and practice balls. Rates vary seasonally and by tee time. Call (850) 267-8144 for current pricing and daily specials.

How difficult is The Links Golf Club at Sandestin? From the tips it plays 6,710 yards with a 72.2 rating and 124 slope. The raw numbers are modest, but the five bay-side holes are heavily influenced by prevailing Gulf Coast winds, and water comes into play on 13 holes. The course rewards precision over power.