Ft Lauderdale, FL

Like much of the southeast coast of Florida, Fort Lauderdale offers a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere with a tremendous variety of excellent accommodations and golf courses at prices to meet every budget. Couple that with an exciting nightlife, endless cultural opportunities, exquisite dining options, and some of Florida's finest beaches, it is easy to see why Fort Lauderdale is a top destination in the Sunshine Sate.

Bonaventure Country Club offers two courses perfectly suited for a full day of golf. The challenging, yet playable par-70 West Course boasts no residential development on site and has three par 3's and three par 5's on each side. Bonaventure's East Course is a classic South Florida layout designed by Joe Lee that winds though numerous waterways and stands of mature palms challenging the player on every shot tee to green.

Deer Creek was recently voted as the "Best Course in Broward County." Since the 2003 redesign of the course by world-famous course architect Arthur Hills, the course has generally become regarded as one the toughest tests of golf in South Florida.

Once home to the Honda Classic and voted one of the "Top 10 Places to Play" by Golf Magazine, Heron Bay features gently rolling terrain bordered by a network of lakes and wetlands, over 100 bunkers, 83 different tee positions and elevated, undulating greens.

Jacaranda Golf Club provides 36 holes of championship golf that were recently renovated and upgraded by course architect Bobby Weed. The West Course, with an emphasis on accuracy off the tee, is more exacting than the East; however, both require the player's full attention throughout the round.

Plantation Reserve, part of a 211-acre master planned recreational facility for the residents of Plantation, Florida (20 minutes west of Fort Lauderdale), is a beautiful course that winds through wetlands and the natural habitat of the area providing a great test for golfers of all skill levels.

Of course, all of these great courses and many more are within a very reasonable driving distance from all the great accommodations Fort Lauderdale has to offer. Embassy Suites Deerfield Beach offers a magnificent oceanfront setting featuring 244 two-room suites all fully equipped with a sleeper sofa, dining area, wet bar, refrigerator, microwave, coffeemaker, two telephones, and two TVs.

Having just completed a $25 million renovation, the Holiday Inn and Suites is offers top-of-the-line amenities including a state-of-the-art fitness center, a well-equipped business center, an outdoor heated pool, and eight flexible meeting rooms. All 297 guestrooms have been renovated with a slick modern decor and feature free high-speed Internet access and much more.

Hyatt Regency Bonaventure at Weston is a beautiful property is surrounded by 23 acres of lush tropical gardens featuring 504 luxurious condominium resort residences all lavishly appointed with custom-made furniture.

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel, South Florida's leading entertainment destination featuring live action poker and the most popular gaming machines on its 130,000-square-foot casino floor boasts a 500-room hotel with several restaurants and lounges, a full-service European-style spa, and Seminole Paradise, an adjacent complex of 24 retail shops, 17 restaurants and 10 nightclubs.

At the Sheraton Yankee Trader, all 457 guestrooms include great in-room amenities and offer a view of either the Atlantic or the Intracoastal Waterway. The resort features a sports deck with basketball, ping pong, and a four-hole putting green as well as a variety of dining choices including the Deli, the Pool Bar & Grill, and Shula's on the Beach with "the best selection of Certified Angus Beef Steaks in town."