In Panama City Beach, Florida, fairways, food and beaches equal warm winter enjoyment.
Nestled alongside St. Andrews Bay, across from the opulent subtropical 510-hectare St. Andrews State Park, the Bay Point Golf Resort delivers a fabulous respite from northern winter blues. Here on the Florida Panhandle, blues are vitalizing colours—the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida sky, St. Andrews Bay and Bay Point’s pools and cabanas. With the lush greenery of tropical plants, bright blossoms and well-manicured fairways and greens, it’s a golfer’s paradise.
Bay Point’s service and amenities set the standard for splendid southern hospitality. Guests are welcomed like family and all 316 rooms deliver the comforts of a favourite aunt’s upscale home. Included are the 60 golf villa suites that overlook the resort’s two courses—a favourite for golfing enthusiasts.
A Duffer’s Haven
There are two 7,000-yard, lavishly landscaped par 72 championship golf courses—the recently updated Nicklaus design course and the country club traditional Meadows. The all-inclusive pro Golf Centre has clothing, clubs, lessons, tournament registrations and, yes, the all-important Club 19.
You don’t have to raid Aunt Mattie’s kitchen to eat well at Bay Point. There’s the traditional breakfast and lunch fare of Club 19, an extensive multi-cuisine menu in the elegant Kingfish Restaurant and succulent seafood dishes at the beach bar and grill. Speaking of Club 19, Thursday night is the inexpensive all-you-can-eat Southern buffet and Tuesdays are taco night. After going 36 holes, you get more than your money’s worth of reviving victuals.
“The food is a bargain,” agrees George Murphy, a transplanted Bostonian who retired to live next to the club. George is the local volunteer impresario of the Men’s Golf Association tournaments that continuously keep the greens keepers busy. Bay Point guests are welcome, he says, and the frequent Dog Fight scrambles are a favourite fun day in the sun.
Asked which course he prefers, George reflected a moment. “The Nicklaus course is more forgiving. You can make a mistake and have half a chance of recovering. It isn’t as easy to recover on the Meadows.” Both courses accommodate players at all playing levels with five tee boxes at each hole to accommodate every handicap.
The Nicklaus course has wide fairways with fewer trees, but more water. Lots more water. First timers often get distracted on holes 4 and 5, which lie right next to, and have wonderful vistas of, the Bay.
So, pack the clubs and trade those northern blues for the southern blues—and greens—of Bay Point Golf Resort.
Travel Planner
For more information, visit:
Bay Point Golf Resort: baypointwyndham.com
Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau: visitpanamacitybeach.com
St. Andrews State Park: floridastateparks.org/standrews
