It won’t be long and the Florida temperatures will start to rise, making long afternoons on a Florida golf course unbearably hot.  The best time for golf vacations in Florida is between October and March, when you don’t have to worry about torrential rains or blistering heat.

While you still have time left, here are some of the best places for golf vacations in Florida.

Best Golf Vacations in Florida

Pine Barrens Golf Course – Brooksville, Florida

Pine Barrens Golf Course - Brooksville, Florida

Brooksville, Florida is north of Tampa on Florida’s golf coast and is home to World Woods Florida Golf Resort. This is a great place to start one of your golf vacations.  The 18-hole Pine Barrens course features 6,458 yards of golf from the longest tees for a par of 71 . The course rating is 71.6 and it has a slope rating of 134 on Bermuda grass.  But World Woods is most noted for it’s #1 ranked practice facility and driving range. (Photo courtesy of World Woods Florida Golf Resort)

While in the area, you can enjoy rounds at one of several golf courses in Brooksville.  You’ll find the local Brooksville hotels reasonably priced, if not geared more towards a guy’s weekend than a girl’s spa getaway.

Bay Hill Club & Lodge – Orlando, Florida

Bay Hill Club & Lodge

Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge offers the very best in golf vacations.  Home of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, you’ll have the chance to challenge yourself on the same course that Tiger Woods (and other greats) has played.  When you stay at the Bay Hill Club & Lodge, you really have no need to leave the resort during your entire vacation (although there are obviously plenty of Orlando attractions nearby).

Much more than a world class golf course, the resort offers a first class hotel, luxury spas and gourmet dining.  If you’re bringing someone who doesn’t appreciate golf along on your vacation, rest assured they’ll find plenty of ways to enjoy themselves here.  (Photo courtesy of Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge)

Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club – Palm Harbor, Florida

Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club - Palm Harbor, Florida

Another Tampa area destination for golf vacations, the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club is one of several golf courses in Palm Harbor, Florida.  The 18-hole Copperhead course here has a course rating of 75.6 and slope rating of 140 on Bermuda grass.

Much like the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, you can enjoy an entire vacation at this golf resort.  Enjoy the amenities of an upscale hotel – including spa treatments and a fitness center – and up to 36 holes of golf each day. (Photo courtesy of Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club)

Stoneybrook West Golf Course – Winter Garden, Florida

Stoneybrook West Golf - Winter Garden, Florida

Stoneybrook West is a public golf course that offers surprisingly good golfing away from the heart of the Orlando attraction center.  But don’t let the modest location fool you.  Designed by architect Arthur Hills, Stoneybrook West was named the #27th Best Golf Course in the Country by GolfLink.com.  The golfing and the views here make this an excellent option for golf vacations in Florida.

For budget conscious golf travelers, you can stay at a local Winter Garden hotel and save money off the cost of the hotels closer to the amusement parks in Orlando.

Magnolia Plantation Golf Club – Lake Mary, Florida

Magnolia Plantation in Lake Mary, Florida

Head north of Orlando and you’ll find yet another top 100 rated golf course at the Magnolia Plantation Golf Club in Lake Mary, Florida.  This is a particularly challenging course designed in the Wekiva River Basin.  The Magnolia Planation Golf Club provides another opportunity for an exceptional value in golf vacations, with lower than expected fees and world class play for the money.

Lake Mary itself is not known as a tourist destination, which might make it perfect for a relaxing getaway.  There are plenty of hotels to choose from in Lake Mary, as well as modest shopping and dining available.  But realistically, you’ll spend most of your vacation on a Lake Mary golf course.

Players Stadium Golf Course (TPC Sawgrass) – Ponte Verde Beach, Florida

The17th Island Green on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course

Between Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Florida, golfers can find the opportunity for a once in a lifetime golf vacation at TPC Sawgrass.  The PLAYERS Stadium Course boasts one of the most challenging and photographed holes in golf, the 17th Island Green. It also hosts THE PLAYERS Championship.  A trip to The PLAYERS Stadium allows golf fans to experience a small slice of life as a PGA TOUR golfer.

For your vacation, you might choose to stay at the Sawgrass’s Marriot Resort and Spa or check into one of the beachside hotels, like the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club.  Either way, you’re guaranteed a spectacular view.

When planning golf vacations, keep in mind who will be going and what kind of vacation experience you’re looking for.  Will you be traveling with a spouse or other family members who will need to find entertainment off the golf course?  Would you prefer to challenge yourself and improve your golf game on a difficult course?  Are you looking for a luxury golf experience, or trying to get the most bang for your buck?

Whatever you’re looking for, Florida offers a variety of golf vacations to choose from.

By the time you finish reading this, I don’t say you’ll be walking on water like Tiger Woods, but you’ll know the best golf courses in New York State, how to get hold of tee times of your choice, and enjoy golf vacations without breaking the bank.

You could make it easy and book yourself into one of these fancy New York vacations with a few rounds of golf thrown in. But these are usually budget busters, designed for upscale tourists.

So, let’s start with the courses. Here’s a full list of all public and private courses in New York, categorized by city. If that sounds like information overkill, here’s a filtered list of all the best golf courses, categorized by state. FYI, the second link is the 2007 rankings from Golf Digest, for the best golf courses in each state.

But the only name you really need to know is Bethpage Black in Long island, where the U.S. Open will be held from June 15-21, 2009. You need to book tee times two days in advance, if you’re not a New York resident. Before you can use their reservation system, you need to be a registered user. About 30 miles and 45 minutes from NYC, with a $4 reservation fee and $100/120 for weekday/weekend fees. You’ll find a lot more useful and practical info here. Or, you could take the easy way out, and let NY Golf Shuttle do it for you.

Moving Upstate, the Adirondacks, and especially Lake Placid, have a lot more on offer, in terms of golf vacations which are tilted more towards offering a complete getaway experience, rather than just the golf. Select Inns offers cheap golf packages which include lodging, 18 holes of golf and cart. If you’re looking for something more exclusive, the Mirror Lake Inn is an award winning resort which offers upscale golfing packages which combine the golf with signature romantic getaways for couples.

If you’re planning a trip, check out flights to New York.

Photo credit - Golf.com