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Emerald Bay Golf Club

4.1
2133 Reviews (2133)
Emerald Bay GC: #18
View of the 18th hole at Emerald Bay Golf Club.

Rating Snapshot

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Rating Index Rating
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4.1
2133 Reviews (2133)
5 Stars
998
4 Stars
828
3 Stars
212
2 Stars
57
1 Stars
38
Conditions
3.9
Value
3.9
Layout
4.4
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.2
Tooltip Information Icon
84.7%
Recommend this course
1908 out of 2133 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
66 Reviews (66)
5 Stars
36
4 Stars
23
3 Stars
6
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.1
Layout
4.5
Pace
4.3
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.8
92.4%
Recommend this course
61 out of 66 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.5
126 Reviews (126)
5 Stars
71
4 Stars
45
3 Stars
8
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
2
Conditions
4.2
Value
4.2
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.4
Amenities
4.4
StaffFriendliness
4.7
94.4%
Recommend this course
119 out of 126 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
Exceptionally friendly staff and a challenging, well-designed layout consistently earn high marks from golfers visiting the Destin area. Fast greens, well-kept fairways, and attentive rangers contribute to a smooth and enjoyable round.

About

Holes 18
Type Semi-Private/Resort
Par 72
Length 7050 yards
Slope 143
Rating 73.9

Located right along the water, Emerald Bay Golf Club was designed by Bob Cupp to be Destin's premier full-service, 18-hole championship course. Water is a prominent feature as the course overlooks the shores Choctawhatchee Bay and incorporates water features on 12 of the holes. Oftentimes golfers will face an intimidating shot across a lake or a pond. Emerald Bay Golf Club's sculpted fairways and tight greens are always in excellent condition. There are four sets of tees that make the golf course accessible to most players' abilities and no matter what skill level you are, the views are not to be missed. The views are especially breathtaking on the back nine, which borders the bay. There is also an expansive driving range at Emerald Bay that golfers can use before playing the golf course.

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Emerald Bay Golf Club
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Satellite Layout
Tees
Tee Par Length Rating Slope
I 72 7050 yards 73.9 143
II 72 6620 yards 71.4 141
III 72 6209 yards 69.8 132
Combo 72 5735 yards 67.7 124
IV (W) 72 5481 yards 71.9 132
IV 72 5481 yards 66.9 122
V 72 4655 yards 63.6 115
V (W) 72 4655 yards 67.2 123
Track Rounds
Scorecard
Scorecard for Emerald Bay Golf Club
Metrics:
Hole 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Out 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 In Total
I M: 73.9/143 427 424 164 313 399 430 562 232 529 3480 474 362 246 605 372 449 204 331 527 3570 7050
II M: 71.4/141 405 390 150 296 385 410 554 162 505 3257 455 348 215 580 352 409 178 318 508 3363 6620
III M: 69.8/132 376 378 138 284 365 380 515 152 485 3073 395 330 202 555 325 382 152 308 487 3136 6209
Combo M: 67.7/124 311 353 138 284 339 321 463 152 485 2846 332 330 202 504 261 313 152 308 487 2889 5735
IV M: 66.9/122 W: 71.9/132 311 353 115 264 339 321 463 140 418 2724 332 302 181 504 261 313 128 290 446 2757 5481
V M: 63.6/115 W: 67.2/123 267 304 91 227 298 289 387 85 378 2326 291 277 107 483 146 285 114 210 416 2329 4655
Handicap 9 7 15 17 3 5 1 11 13 2 14 10 4 8 6 16 18 12
Par 4 4 3 4 4 4 5 3 5 36 4 4 3 5 4 4 3 4 5 36 72
Handicap (W) 9 7 15 17 1 5 3 13 11 8 6 14 4 12 10 18 16 2
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Course Details

Year Built 1991
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens TifEagle Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Bob Cupp (1991) Bob Cupp (2014)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes - included in green fees
GPS Yes
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Golf School/Academy Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes

Policies

Credit Cards Accepted VISA, MasterCard, Amex Welcomed
Metal Spikes Allowed No
Dress code Appropriate golf attire. No denim, collared shirt required.

Food & Beverage

Bar, Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Banquet Facilities
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Reviews

4.1
2133 Reviews (2133)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 21
Watching the Game 11
19th Hole Scenic Views 10
Course Challenges Include:
Water Hazards 49
Bunkers 38
Forced Carries 29
This course/club is great for:
Advanced Golfers 29
A Weekend Splurge 22
Seniors 21
This Course's Location is:
Convenient to the City 34
Near Local Attractions 30
Worth the Drive 15

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Reviewer Photos

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Recommended
Handicap
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Default User Avatar
thomasjoel
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Big disappointment

Very poor golf cart paths. Heaving concrete throughout the path.

Extremely poor green maintenance. Lots of bare dirt and winter kill. Fairways were also poor in maintenance. Lots of bear spots and weeds.

All and all, a really disappointing afternoon of golf on a $100.00 course that needs lots of maintenance.

Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Response from on 03/21/2025:
Thank you for the feedback. We aim to offer a quality experience and regret falling short. Your input helps us identify specific areas that need attention, and we hope to welcome you back in the future.
Default User Avatar
Cmorris1204
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Default User Avatar
davidlharrod
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
2.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Disappointed

Great layout but tee boxes, fairways and greens are in very poor condition. Tee boxes are bare, lack of grass in fairways and the greens have some kind of weed growing all over making them very bumpy. Not worth the money.

Conditions Poor
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Response from on 03/21/2025:
Thank you for posting a review. We’re sorry it didn’t fully meet expectations and appreciate knowing where we can improve. We value every opportunity to enhance our offerings and hope to do better next time.
Default User Avatar
u314159702768
Played On
Reviews 23
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Previously Played

Poor course

The greens are awfull with weeds; no grass in many places on fairways.

Overall, this course has been neglected!

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
JohnnyG52
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
gXLUnYPeCIVuvlxBUFlS
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played

Paired up with friendly players. Best time was getting Hole in One on #16.

Conditions Average
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
u000004644526
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Featured
Find Out More >>
Default User Avatar
u314163464591
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
1.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Greens and pace of play

The greens were the worst we played on all week in Destin. It was cart path only and that made play slow but we had five groups on a hole multiple times. We called the pro shop about pace of play twice and to our knowledge no Marshall came out to speed up play but they did post on our cart that you could get off cart paths after hole 12. We still backed up four groups numerous times. We love playing the course and I am sure the greens will come around but course was extremely rough

Conditions Poor
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
mikesbiken
Played On
Reviews 12
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Average
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
RG8E65600001C9A068C7
Played On
Reviews 6
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
3.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Fair
Value Average
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
1yuhur7wABCrkjAFRzQp
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Average
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
X5085201320y
Played On
Reviews 5
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
2.0
First Time Playing

Not worth the price

Greens were patched in many places. Carts path only on many of the holes. Slower greens.

Conditions Fair
Value Fair
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
u314161191347
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
1.0
Previously Played
Windy weather
Used cart

Horrible experience

I play Emerald Bay every winter at least once.

The course is in horrible condition! Fairways are bare with no grass in many places. The green have bare places with mud on some green and ‘ground under repair flags on some greens.

Jimmy, the starter, put a ‘5some’ in front of my group, (3 some) and I was told they are members. Play was worse than slow, and I left after 13th hole.

Horrible management here, and I was told they chose not to overseed this winter.

I have played here at least 5 or 6 times over the past few years. It is obvious no one is putting any $ into this place, however golf rates for winter higher than ever.

Never again!

Conditions Poor
Value Poor
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Poor
Amenities Fair
Difficulty Moderate
Default User Avatar
savvy1954
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Conditions

Being early in the season. It is what it was. Overall ok. Be better in a month. I would play again

Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Featured
Find Out More >>
Default User Avatar
macdoug
Played On
Reviews 19
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Default User Avatar
mtrible
Played On
Reviews 4
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
3.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Fair
Value Poor
Layout Average
Friendliness Average
Pace Fair
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
mikesbiken
Played On
Reviews 12
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Good
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Average
Default User Avatar
u590480373
Played On
Reviews 7
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Emerald Bay

Nice track with a lot of water. Considering mid Feb most of the greens were nice with the exception of 2.

Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Default User Avatar
jponstine
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Average
Value Average
Layout Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Good
Default User Avatar
macdoug
Played On
Reviews 19
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Conditions Good
Value Good
Layout Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
10 11 12 13 14
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