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Rating Index Rating
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4.3
278 Reviews (278)
5 Stars
166
4 Stars
81
3 Stars
20
2 Stars
6
1 Stars
5
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.1
Layout
4.6
Friendliness
4.6
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.3
95.5%
Recommend this course
257 out of 278 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.4
11 Reviews (11)
5 Stars
7
4 Stars
3
3 Stars
0
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
4.1
Value
4.3
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.2
Amenities
4.3
StaffFriendliness
4.5
90.9%
Recommend this course
10 out of 11 reviews
Read Reviews
Average Rating
Avg Rating
4.2
22 Reviews (22)
5 Stars
11
4 Stars
7
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
0
1 Stars
1
Conditions
3.9
Value
4.0
Layout
4.6
Pace
4.5
Amenities
4.2
StaffFriendliness
4.6
95.5%
Recommend this course
21 out of 22 reviews
Read Reviews
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AI summaries based on real golfer reviews
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Course Highlights
This scenic, wildlife-rich course offers a rewarding shotmaker's layout with well-maintained greens and excellent pace of play. Exceptionally friendly staff and strong value make it a memorable round worth repeating.

About

Holes 18
Type Public/Resort
Par 72
Length 6601 yards
Slope 139
Rating 72.0

Located in Carrabelle just minutes from the pristine white beaches of St. George Island and Cape San Blas, St. James Bay Resort boasts the only Audubon Signature Sanctuary golf course in the area. It's not an understatement to say that water is the course's most formidable feature. There are 15 lakes throughout the landscape that present a hazard on every hole. Towering pines and colorful flowers accent the scenic parkland as well. In addition to the natural hazards that have been seamlessly incorporated, bunkers were carefully added to strategic locations to make the course more challenging, but they still allow the landscape to truly shine. In addition to the golf course, St. James Bay offers a full practice facility with a driving range, a chipping green with a bunker, and two putting greens.

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St. James Bay Golf Club
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Course Details

Year Built 2003
Fairways Bermuda Grass
Greens Bermuda Grass
Golf Season Year round
Architect Robert Walker (2003)

Rentals/Services

Carts Yes
GPS Yes
Caddies No
Clubs Yes

Practice/Instruction

Driving Range Yes
Bunker Yes
Teaching Pro Yes
Pitching/Chipping Area Yes
Putting Green Yes
Dress code Appropriate golf attire.

Food & Beverage

Restaurant

Available Facilities

Clubhouse, Meeting Facilities

Available Activities

Swimming, Billiards

Available Sports

Fitness, Tennis

Accolades

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Reviews

4.3
278 Reviews (278)

What Golfers Are Saying

The 19th Hole is Great For:
Drinks 19
Brunch 13
Dinner 11
Course Challenges Include:
Forced Carries 28
Water Hazards 28
Bunkers 19
This course/club is great for:
Wildlife/ Scenic Views 25
A Weekend Splurge 19
Advanced Golfers 17
This Course's Location is:
Worth the Drive 29
At a Resort 8

Numbers based on reviews tagged with attribute.

Advanced Filters
Overall Rating
Recommended
Handicap
Age
Type of Golfer
Gender
Played On
Reviews 10
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Nice Day

Golf course is in excellent shape. I liked the fact that you need to think about your shots rather than just hitting and hoping. I hit a 6 iron off the tee on a par 5 because I could not drive over the waste bunker. Followed that with a 5 wood around the dog leg. Then hit a 5 iron to the green, well close to the green, sort of! Really enjoyed the course set up and having to plan shots.

Will be back again when I'm in the area.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing
Excellent weather
Used cart

Beautiful!

The course is Beautiful. It is challenging, which is great. The price was great. On the turn, went in to the restaurant, and had the MOST excellent food. The staff were Very friendly, and they have full bar. Golf Villas and Condos to stay on the property. Great getaway, with friends, had a great time. We will definitely be back!!! Be careful, LOTS of wildlife, but really neat to see!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Challenging Course

St James is always in fantastic shape. If you feel like challenging your game, this is the place. It's a tough course, but fun. Bring a few extra balls in the bag. You'll need them.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 13
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Excellent golf course

Beautiful, perfectly maintained fairways. Super fast greens. I didn't see another golfer all morning. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great course

Really nice course. Make sure you pay attention to the GPS and bring lots of balls though

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
First Time Playing

Forced Carry, Forced Carry, More Forced Carry

My title sums up the heart of this summary--significant forced carries on almost every hole...I tried to keep an accurate count, and I think I came up with 16 out of 18 holes have a forced carry shot over swamp or wasteland at some point. In my mind, forced carries are neither positive or negative, but I think an accurate review must include this information

I'm a 9 handicap and drive the ball between 280-300, so it didn't pose issues off the tee for me (longest forced carry I observed was around 220) However, I did play with my brother-in-law and sister-in-law who don't have quite the distance...Otherwise, this course is beautiful. Tee boxes, fairways, bunkers, and greens all in great condition...Some tee boxes could use some extra seeding and the greens appeared to be aerated sometime in the last month, but still in great shape...Finally, make sure you bring extra golf balls! I'll admit we didn't exactly hunt for our lost balls due to the swamp and wasteland OB (a lost ProV1 isn't worth a trip to the ER over a gator or snake encounter) And, this was my first time playing the course, so course knowledge will certainly eliminate some errant shots to blind spots, but as a 3-some we probably lost close to 30 golf balls--not an exaggeration!

Overall, it was a great experience that will undoubtedly become an annual tradition on our beach trip down to St. George

PS--We stopped at the turn @ the Crooked River Grille, and honestly, it was the best buffalo chicken sandwich and fries I have ever had at a course...Fantastic!

Conditions Excellent
Value Good
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Excellent Golf For This Area

This is a rare find for golf in the Panhandle. I have played this course since it opened some 10 plus years ago. It has always been in excellent condition. It is somewhat challenging until you learn how to play it. Several forced carries and numerous bunkers. GPS on carts is very useful. It is a must play if opportunity is available.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Advanced
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Fun golf course

Fun golf course. Golf cart GPS is a nice feature. Good layout. Friendly staff. Great value...

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Good
Played On
Reviews 2
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Great course

Awesome time.... Played solo first time ever. Enjoyed every hole.. Can't wait to come back

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played

Outstanding!

If you want a challenge, play this course. This isn't your average run of the mill course right here. It will test your ability to remain patient and select your shots carefully. If you're not able to do that, bring two boxes of balls. Words can't express how great of shape the course was in. Great golf at a great price. Kudos to the staff!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 10-14
Skill Advanced
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

You will like it

Excellent course, greens and value for under 20 handicap players. Difficult and not recommended for children and players that cannot consistently hit over 150 yards in the air, to clear many "waste areas" where your ball will be lost. The deep rough is mostly unplayable or lost ball territory as well.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Golf on the coast

I have played this course 7 or 8 times and it is always in perfect condition. It does not matter if it kicks your butt, it is great golf!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Extremely Challenging
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 5-9
Plays Once every three months
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Great Course

Very challenging but fair. Excellent course conditions.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 1
Skill Beginner
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing

Wonderful experience

Me and a buddy never went there because of the drive from Tallahassee. After playing there this one time its the only place I want to play.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Good
Amenities Excellent
Played On
Reviews 3
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a month
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Short but Great Course

This is a fun little course to play. Doesn't really play that difficult unless you try to do too much. It's not a long course but there are plenty of hazards to get yourself into trouble. Fairways are always in good condition. Greens are also in good condition. They don't play that fast and have very little break in them. Overall fun course to play and would recommend to anyone in the area.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Moderate
Played On
Reviews 1
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Good weather
Used cart

Continues to be Excellent Experience

I have been playing SJB as a vacationer on St. George Island for 11 years and the course continues to challenge and remarkably remains in excellent shape. It requires consistent accurate shots or lots of balls in your bag. I consider SJB to be my second home course, the first being The Walker Course at Clemson University, Go Tigers!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 2
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
4.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Used cart

shoot streight or else

It was a very pleasent experiance, However more then a fair share of hazzards which can not be played out of.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 15-19
Skill Intermediate
Plays A few times a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Excellent weather
Used cart

Prime Birding

Very good golf for North Florida in the spring and excellent bird watching on every hole.

Conditions Good
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Good
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 5
Handicap 20-24
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
Previously Played
Poor weather
Used cart

Tougher Than it's Rating

Our twosome have played this course in February for the last several years. It always plays tough for us. The weather was cold and windy, but the course was in excellent shape. The started provided us with great insight for holes we needed to be cautious on and "lay up" off the tee. Very enjoyable despite the weather!

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Excellent
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
Played On
Reviews 34
Handicap 10-14
Skill Intermediate
Plays Once a week
I Recommend This Course
5.0
Verified Purchaser
First Time Playing
Good weather
Used cart

Worth the trip

Interesting layout. Not long or too tight, but it does require careful shot selection and strategy.

Couse is in great condition for early Feb.

Conditions Excellent
Value Excellent
Friendliness Good
Pace Excellent
Amenities Excellent
Difficulty Somewhat Challenging
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