Sandestin Golf Guide: All 4 Courses Revealed

Sandestin Golf Guide: All 4 Courses Revealed

No single resort property on Florida’s Emerald Coast comes close to matching what Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort has assembled in Miramar Beach. Four distinct 18-hole championship courses — 73 holes total, thanks to a quirk on the Raven — spread across a 2,400-acre resort between the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay. Three of the most respected golf architects of the modern era designed them: Rees Jones, Robert Trent Jones Jr., and Tom Jackson.

The problem for most visiting golfers isn’t finding the golf — it’s knowing which courses to prioritize, how access works, and what to actually expect when you show up. This guide covers all of it.

The Short Version

If you’re looking for a quick answer before diving deeper:

Burnt Pine Golf Club

The Course

Burnt Pine is the standard against which the other three courses at Sandestin are measured, and it holds up to the comparison. Golf Magazine called it the “Crown Jewel of Florida Golf,” and Golfweek has consistently placed it in the Top 20 of Florida’s best courses you can play since 2016. Rees Jones — who has redesigned more major championship venues than virtually any architect alive — designed it, and the work shows.

The front nine runs through pine forests and coastal wetlands, a narrow and demanding stretch that punishes wayward drives with penalty situations rather than just rough. The back nine opens up along Choctawhatchee Bay, with several holes offering direct water views that are among the finest scenery on any course between Pensacola and Panama City Beach. The contrast between the two nines is one of the things that makes Burnt Pine memorable — it plays like two different courses joined at the turn.

From the back tees it stretches to 7,001 yards with a course rating of 74.7. Seven sets of tees run the gamut from 4,268 yards for juniors and high handicappers to the full championship length. The rolling fairways and strategically placed bunkers reward players who think their way around the course rather than just hitting driver on every par 4 and 5.

Access

This is where Burnt Pine differs from the other three. It’s semi-private — members and registered Sandestin resort guests have access, with resort guest tee times available after 1 p.m. during summer (after noon in winter). If you’re not staying on property, the easiest route in is through the Premium Golf Package, which bundles resort accommodation with access to all four courses including Burnt Pine and saves up to 30% compared to booking separately.

Walk-up public access for non-guests is limited, so plan ahead if Burnt Pine is the priority.

Who It’s For

Low handicappers and anyone who wants the most demanding round the resort offers. The length and design complexity reward experienced players. Higher handicappers can still play from forward tees, but the challenge level from the middle tees is enough to frustrate golfers who haven’t yet developed a reliable long game.

Address: 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy W, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 Phone: 850-267-8211

Raven Golf Club

The Course

The Raven is the best publicly accessible course at Sandestin and one of the most decorated layouts in Northwest Florida. Robert Trent Jones Jr. — son of the legendary Robert Trent Jones Sr. — designed it and calls it “a true modern traditional.” Florida Golf News voted it Best New Course in Florida in 2000. Golf Digest awarded it 4.5 stars in 2006 and 2008. It hosted the PGA Champions Tour’s Boeing Championship in 2006 and 2007, with hole No. 18 rated the toughest hole on that Tour stop.

What distinguishes the Raven from comparable resort courses is how it uses its natural setting. The layout is masterfully routed through marshes, wetlands, and pine forest, with long cart path bridges carrying golfers over the wetland areas between holes — a detail that sounds minor but gives the round a genuine sense of moving through wild Florida terrain rather than a manicured garden. Ornamental plantings and natural landscaping vary the visual experience hole by hole.

The 6th hole features an island green par 3 — high stakes, memorable, and well-designed. The 9th — the No. 1 handicap hole — has a serpentine lagoon running up the left side and pinching against the green. The 16th hole offers two alternate greens (16A and 16B, used on alternating days), which is the reason Sandestin’s total stands at 73 holes rather than 72. The back nine includes a split fairway hole that presents genuine strategic choice off the tee.

It plays 6,931 yards from the tips, par 71, with a rating of 73.8. Four sets of tees run from 5,060 yards, giving mid and higher handicappers a reasonable entry point into a course that otherwise demands serious ball-striking.

Who It’s For

The Raven is the answer for serious golfers who want the best publicly accessible round at Sandestin without the membership or resort-stay requirement for Burnt Pine. The routing, design detail, and PGA Champions Tour pedigree make it the choice for anyone who cares about playing a course with credentials.

Golfers who have played Kelly Plantation or Regatta Bay and are looking for what’s next on the Emerald Coast should put the Raven at the top of the list.

Address: 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy W, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 Phone: 850-267-8155

Baytowne Golf Club

The Course

Baytowne is the most versatile course at Sandestin — a Golf Digest 4.5-star layout that works for beginners coming off the forward tees and still challenges experienced players from the championship markers. Tom Jackson designed the original course, and his 2005 renovation sharpened what was already a well-regarded layout into one of the most sought-after experiences in Northwest Florida.

The routing is unusual for the Emerald Coast in that it actually produces some elevation changes. Florida’s coastal golf is predominantly flat, which makes the terrain variation at Baytowne a genuine difference. The course moves from the beach side to the bay side of the Sandestin property, with five holes running along the Choctawhatchee Bay delivering links-style exposure to Gulf Coast winds that changes club selection throughout the back nine.

Baytowne plays 3,002 to 6,804 yards across five sets of tees, including a set of U.S. Kids junior tees that make it genuinely family-accessible. The Gold tees play to a rating of 73.7 with a slope of 141 for men. The course shares a clubhouse with the Raven.

Who It’s For

The best choice for groups with mixed skill levels, because the tee range covers such a wide spectrum without sacrificing course quality at either end. It’s also the most family-friendly layout at the resort. If you’re playing multiple courses during a Sandestin stay, Baytowne pairs well with the Raven — similar designer, connected clubhouse, contrasting terrain character.

Address: 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy W, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 Phone: 850-267-8155

The Links Golf Club

The Course

The Links is the original Sandestin course and the most relaxed of the four. Also designed by Tom Jackson, it plays from 4,897 to 6,710 yards across four sets of tees, with a rating of 72.2. Florida Golf News named it one of the Top Five Golf Courses in Northwest Florida and one of the Top 100 Courses in Florida.

Five holes run directly along Choctawhatchee Bay, giving The Links the best sustained water views of any of the four courses. The bay exposure also means wind becomes a genuine factor — what reads as a benign par 4 in calm conditions can play significantly harder when the Gulf Coast breeze comes off the water. Tom Jackson designed it as a risk-reward course, with shot selections that consistently offer conservative and aggressive lines.

The course has its own clubhouse in the western section of the Sandestin property. It’s the most forgiving layout of the four from the forward and middle tees while still offering enough design interest to keep experienced players engaged.

Who It’s For

Beginners and high handicappers get the most value from The Links — the shorter yardage and more open design makes it the most confidence-building round at Sandestin. It’s also the right choice for a second or third round of a multi-day trip, when you want quality golf without the full mental commitment of Burnt Pine or the Raven.

The bay views throughout make it worth playing regardless of skill level, and it’s often the course that non-golfers in a group remember most favorably because the scenery carries the experience.

Address: 9300 Emerald Coast Pkwy W, Miramar Beach, FL 32550 Phone: 850-267-8144

How to Get the Most Out of a Sandestin Golf Trip

The Premium Golf Package

The clearest path to all four courses — including Burnt Pine — is the Premium Golf Package. It bundles resort accommodation with unlimited access to all four courses and saves up to 30% compared to separate bookings. Group trips and golf buddy weekends are the obvious use case, and the package scales with length of stay. Book through Sandestin directly at 850-267-8211 or the resort website.

Booking Tee Times

Resort guests can book up to six months in advance. Non-guests and club members get a 14-day window. Group and package tee times can be booked up to 13 months out. For peak spring and fall weeks, earlier is better — the Raven and Burnt Pine fill fastest.

Course Maintenance Dates

Sandestin publishes aeration schedules annually. For 2026, greens, tees, and fairways on all four courses were scheduled for aeration May 12–18 and August 4–10. Avoid those windows if green speed matters to you.

Rental Clubs

Callaway rental sets are available at all four courses for $70. Mention the need when booking your tee time.

The Practice Facility

The Sandestin Golf Academy operates out of the resort and is considered one of the better teaching facilities on the Emerald Coast. The practice facility covers driving range, putting green, and short game areas. Practice balls are included with paid rounds at all four courses.

Pace and Scheduling

Playing 36 holes in a day at Sandestin is doable but demanding, especially in summer heat. Most golfers find one quality round in the morning followed by the beach or pool in the afternoon is the better rhythm. If you’re doing a three-day golf trip, a reasonable rotation is: Raven on Day 1 (the best publicly accessible course), Baytowne on Day 2 (different character, easier logistics), and Burnt Pine on Day 3 if you have resort access.

Sandestin vs. The Rest of the Emerald Coast

Sandestin is the obvious anchor for any Emerald Coast golf trip, but it shouldn’t be the only stop. Kelly Plantation in Destin is the course most often compared to Burnt Pine for overall quality — different design philosophy, similar prestige level. Regatta Bay offers one of the best public-access layouts in the region outside of Sandestin. Shalimar Pointe near Fort Walton Beach is worth the short drive west for anyone playing multiple days.

For visitors who want the full Emerald Coast picture, see our Complete Emerald Coast Golf Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many golf courses does Sandestin have? Four 18-hole championship courses: Burnt Pine, Raven, Baytowne, and The Links. The total hole count is technically 73 rather than 72 because the Raven’s 16th hole has two alternate greens used on alternating days.

Is Burnt Pine open to the public? Burnt Pine is semi-private. Members and registered Sandestin resort guests have access, with resort guest tee times available after 1 p.m. in summer (noon in winter). The Premium Golf Package is the most practical way for visitors to secure a round on Burnt Pine.

What is the best golf course at Sandestin? Burnt Pine holds the most accolades — Golf Magazine’s “Crown Jewel of Florida Golf” — but access is restricted. Among the publicly accessible courses, the Raven is the most celebrated, with a PGA Champions Tour hosting record and 4.5-star Golf Digest rating.

Who designed the Sandestin golf courses? Three architects across the four courses. Rees Jones designed Burnt Pine. Robert Trent Jones Jr. designed the Raven. Tom Jackson designed both Baytowne and The Links, and also completed the 2005 Baytowne renovation.

Can I play all four Sandestin courses in one trip? Yes. The Premium Golf Package is designed specifically for this, bundling resort accommodation with access to all four courses. Three to four days is the comfortable window to play all four without rushing.

What are Sandestin golf rates? Rates vary by season and course. The Raven and Baytowne typically run $80–$160 for public rounds depending on season and time of day. The Links tends to be priced lower. Burnt Pine rates are available through the resort for guests. Call 850-267-8211 for current rates and availability.

Is the Sandestin Golf Academy available to non-resort guests? Yes. The Golf Academy is open to the public for lessons and instruction. Contact the resort for current instructor availability and lesson rates.

How far is Sandestin from Destin? Sandestin sits in Miramar Beach, approximately 8–10 miles east of downtown Destin along Highway 98. Most Destin-area accommodations are 15–20 minutes from the Sandestin entrance.