Anyone played near Destin lately??

[bcflyguy1]

On 11/7/2024 at 9:29 AM, bcflyguy1 said:

PSA:

My home club, Rocky Bayou CC in Niceville, is starting a complete irrigation re-work in a couple weeks. Two holes will be closed at a time, and the club was given a 3 month ETIC on the project, so hoping that's a conservative estimate. Playing conditions are still quite good, but best to know that should you choose to play here over the winter.
Once that's done, I expect we're going to see the fine work our new Super and his crew have been doing over the past year really come good. The old system was really hurting us, and of course drought piled on over the summer and fall.

Pleased to report that our irrigation project will likely be one on all 18 holes by the end of this week. After that, they'll work our practice area and get new pumps installed but all 18 holes will be open for play with no tractors and workers. 

Playing conditions are still very good despite all the digging; greens rolling exceptionally well.

[frenchiegolf33]

Bumping this.

 

Love the area and will be back in mid May. Plan to play a couple of rounds with my father in law and brother in law. Have played Regatta Bay, Rocky Bayou, and Emerald Bay. Loved Regatta and Rocky, Emerald Bay was ok, but won't play again.

 

Really want to try Kelly, Indian Bayou, or Windswept Dunes. 
 

Can anyone update the course conditions on some of these?

 

Thanks!

[bcflyguy1]

On 3/12/2025 at 7:33 AM, frenchiegolf33 said:

Bumping this.

 

Love the area and will be back in mid May. Plan to play a couple of rounds with my father in law and brother in law. Have played Regatta Bay, Rocky Bayou, and Emerald Bay. Loved Regatta and Rocky, Emerald Bay was ok, but won't play again.

 

Really want to try Kelly, Indian Bayou, or Windswept Dunes. 
 

Can anyone update the course conditions on some of these?

 

Thanks!

It's been a tough year for volunteer poa annua at every course in the area, but by mid-May it may be warm enough that poa is starting to burn off/be crowded out by the bermuda.

Kelly is in the middle of renovation work, but it's open and think conditions are OK apart from the construction work.

Indian Bayou's green conditions are consistently as good as anywhere in the area. Layout is a bit flat and plain compared to others, but still a fine choice.

Windswept is fun and offers a very different experience from courses closer to the beach.

Mid-May is a prime window for aeration, so best to call ahead before going anywhere to avoid unpleasant surprises.

[frenchiegolf33]

Thanks @bcflyguy1!

[vandyfan]

Does anyone know what the extent of the renovations were at Kelly Plantation? Did they change any of the holes or widen it at all or was it just re-doing greens and tee boxes?

[Bogeyman_MD]

On 4/4/2025 at 10:05 AM, vandyfan said:

Does anyone know what the extent of the renovations were at Kelly Plantation? Did they change any of the holes or widen it at all or was it just re-doing greens and tee boxes?

I’m curious about this as well.

[BENNYSUPREME]

I played out at Sand Destin a little over a month ago. The Links course was in good shape/nice, but played tough with 20+ MPH constant winds.  I shot an 82 with three straight double bogeys. Another guy in my group shot a 77. 

Edited May 28 by BENNYSUPREME

[bcflyguy1]

On 5/3/2025 at 9:59 PM, Bogeyman_MD said:

I’m curious about this as well.

I've not been past the range at KP doing fitting events (scheduled there again this Friday, weather permitting) for some time, but what I can gather is that the course changes have made the course much easier.  Definitely an on-going shift in the business model away from a more private, secluded, member driven club to much more tourist traffic. You can imagine how that's been received by the membership, or what's left of it. They've pushed an insane number of rounds across the course over the last five years with tourists paying a rack rate that is confounding. Seen many times where they'll have groups waiting on the practice green in the afternoon for carts to get turned because every functional cart was out on course.  Sight lines around the perimeter of the course have been opened with the removal of tree curtains so course is much more visible from the outside, and many bunkers/trees have been removed to make the course play easier for the targeted clientele.

Don't take any of that is discouraging anybody from playing there; just different than it used to be and still in the midst of significant change.

Edited May 8 by bcflyguy1

[vandyfan]

28 minutes ago, bcflyguy1 said:

but what I can gather is that the course changes have made the course much easier. 

 

I would welcome that, it is (was?) a rather stressful course off the tee for me. Lots of holes with 35 yd landing zones with trees/OB on one side and water on the other side. Would appreciate some tree removal but that is just me. But I also come from TN where most of our courses are more open than you would ever seen in coastal resort areas due to more abundant land, etc. 

 

29 minutes ago, bcflyguy1 said:

Don't take any of that is discouraging anybody from playing there; just different than it used to be and still in the midst of significant change.

 

I didn't take it that way but just an honest review. Appreciate the on-the-ground reporting @bcflyguy1

[tngolf22]

I'll be in the area the second week of June and plan on playing Tues and Thurs 10th and 12th around noon.  There are three of us and we're middle to high single digit hcps.  We just want to play a course that's in decent shape for the money.  We're trying to play at places between $50-85 for 18 holes.  Ft Walton, Shalimar Pointe, Rocky Bayou, etc.  We played Ft. Walton several years ago and it was nice (don't remember which 18 we played), but the latest Google reviews on Ft. Walton make it sound less desirable.  Maybe it's in worse shape than usual?  We'll consider Indian Bayou if someone says it's well worth the fees they're charging (I'm currently seeing $106 on their website).  Any and all comments appreciated!

Edited May 28 by tngolf22

[vandyfan]

19 hours ago, tngolf22 said:

We played Ft. Walton several years ago and it was nice (don't remember which 18 we played), but the latest Google reviews on Ft. Walton make it sound less desirable

I know Ft Walton Pines course is undergoing a re-sodding of all their greens that started this Spring. I think overall, the (Oaks) course's conditions have been struggling the last year or more. They have also been doing some one off work on cart paths and some holes in the last few years so things are very much in flux there. Eglin closed 9 holes so Ft Walton will still get traffic for sure so I think this is prudent for them to reinvest in the course. The main issue is that they have weeds and like 3-4 different types of grasses growing on the greens. That has been a constant out there the last few years. Also, a lot of top dressing and sand on the greens all the time. 

[Abh159]

20 hours ago, tngolf22 said:

We just want to play a course that's in decent shape for the money.  We're trying to play at places between $50-85 for 18 holes. 

 

I think finding both of these in such a touristy area will be a challenge. Not saying all of the "cheap" courses will be a dump, but unless you want to increase the budget you might have to lower your expectations on course conditions.

[frenchiegolf33]

We just got back from a week in Destin where we played twice. Kelly Plantation and Rocky Bayou.

 

We really wanted to try Kelly. Been to Destin alot and have always heard great things. I can confirm. Course was great and fair and staff was nice. We booked on GolfNow at 2 when the rate dropped down to $130 and literally almost had the place to ourselves on a beautiful Monday afternoon. Conditions were very nice!

 

Rocky Bayou was our next round. Although not quite the conditions of Kelly, it was still very nice. Fairways were great! We like the layout alot there and how the course doesn't seem like typical Florida course with flat holes with water and sand everywhere. Played on Tuesday morning for $98 I think. Once again, nobody pushing us and we didn't have to wait on anyone.

 

I would recommend both courses. I was pleased with both our experiences! I'll attach some pictures.

 

Edited May 30 by frenchiegolf33

[tngolf22]

5 hours ago, frenchiegolf33 said:

We just got back from a week in Destin where we played twice. Kelly Plantation and Rocky Bayou.

 

We really wanted to try Kelly. Been to Destin alot and have always heard great things. I can confirm. Course was great and fair and staff was nice. We booked on GolfNow at 2 when the rate dropped down to $130 and literally almost had the place to ourselves on a beautiful Monday afternoon. Conditions were very nice!

 

Rocky Bayou was our next round. Although not quite the conditions of Kelly, it was still very nice. Fairways were great! We like the layout alot there and how the course doesn't seem like typical Florida course with flat holes with water and sand everywhere. Played on Tuesday morning for $98 I think. Once again, nobody pushing us and we didn't have to wait on anyone.

 

I would recommend both courses. I was pleased with both our experiences! I'll attach some pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appreciate the write-up!  We were trying to keep it to $85 and less, but that doesn't seem realistic, so we're definitely going to play Rocky Bayou. 

 

I was looking at recent Google Reviews for most of the local courses, and it looks like Gator Lakes (on base) is a hidden gem for the rate ($52 but $33 at 1pm or later).  Reviews of up to 8 months ago say the conditions have really improved.  Of course, you have to go on base and get a background check and pass (no additional cost), but I thought it would be worth checking out.

Edited May 30 by tngolf22

[bcflyguy1]

On 5/30/2025 at 6:55 AM, frenchiegolf33 said:

 

 

Rocky Bayou was our next round. Although not quite the conditions of Kelly, it was still very nice. Fairways were great! We like the layout alot there and how the course doesn't seem like typical Florida course with flat holes with water and sand everywhere. Played on Tuesday morning for $98 I think. Once again, nobody pushing us and we didn't have to wait on anyone.

 

I would recommend both courses. I was pleased with both our experiences! I'll attach some pictures.

Glad you enjoyed your round at Rocky, and your timing was perfect as we did our spring aeration of fairways and greens the day after you were there.

The winter wasn't particularly kind to us as you saw (7" of snow in late January), and also we're looking at an aggressive oak removal project in the near future. We've got way too many oaks in close proximity to lines of play and critical turf areas, and obviously it shows. Too much shade, and even more importantly the oak roots also out-compete the bermuda roots for water and nutrients from underneath. A grenade that our charter members unwittingly pulled the pin from 50 years ago, but hoping to get that solved in timely fashion.

[tngolf22]

Back from Destin.  We changed plans and played Shalimar Pointe ($65) on a Tuesday.  We enjoyed the layout but the conditions were spotty.  Overall it was a nice experience.  I think if the conditions improved it would be a much better place to play.  We found a "Hot Deal" and paid $106 for Indian Bayou on Thursday.  Very nice course, good layout and it was in great shape.  We decided if we come back we'll just splurge and play Indian Bayou twice.

[bcflyguy1]

41 minutes ago, tngolf22 said:

Back from Destin.  We changed plans and played Shalimar Pointe ($65) on a Tuesday.  We enjoyed the layout but the conditions were spotty.  Overall it was a nice experience.  I think if the conditions improved it would be a much better place to play.  We found a "Hot Deal" and paid $106 for Indian Bayou on Thursday.  Very nice course, good layout and it was in great shape.  We decided if we come back we'll just splurge and play Indian Bayou twice.

Conditions at Indian Bayou are as consistent as it gets in this area. Might not ever be the absolute best, but they're never anything but very good.