Kelly Plantation Destin

[Ben_Howell34 687]

Playing Kelly Plantation in Destin, FL tomorrow on a work trip. Have heard it is a great course, fellow spy @Mtbryant01has played there I know. Anyone else played there and had a good experience? I will give a review tomorrow of my own. 

[CarlH 8,676]

I grew up just up the road from Destin....didn't play golf then and Destin was nothing more than a sleepy fishing village at that time (60s).  No condos, no golf courses, no wall to wall people, no traffic.....nothing like it is today!!!  

[GaDawg 1,773]

I played Kelly Plantation a couple of years ago. It was in very good condition at the time. I am sure you will enjoy the day.

[Mtbryant01 1,523]

19 hours ago, Ben_Howell34 said:

Playing Kelly Plantation in Destin, FL tomorrow on a work trip. Have heard it is a great course, fellow spy @Mtbryant01has played there I know. Anyone else played there and had a good experience? I will give a review tomorrow of my own. 

Fun track. Lots of water. Favorite hole might be hole 4 I think with the bay on the left and hotel on the right.

[Ben_Howell34 687]

Got to play it today. Was very nice and a fun track. Fairways and greens rolled very well. Lots of water as the guys before mentioned. A few scenic holes as well which is always fun. However the course in my opinion did not justify the price tag of $160. I have definitely played better courses for less. 
 

The layout was not super tough besides having to be wary of water. However there was definitely a difference in being in the fairway and not which made hitting fairways a priority. In contrast the greens were very tough with a lot of tough pin placements.  I actually 4 putted a par 5 number 6 where I had a GIR and the pin was on a ridge and I was playing hockey with it seemingly. To my recollection I have never 4 putted before. 
 

Overall a great course and had a fun time (will post about the round more in “How’d You Play?”) but not sure I’d play again unless the price gets closer to $100. 

Edited August 13, 2021 by Ben_Howell34

[vandyland 513]

The thing I like the best about Kelly Plantation is that it has an extra par 5 (and technically an extra par 3 to compensate). That made it more fun as who doesn't love more par 5s? Also, compared to the other Destin golf courses, I thought parts of the course felt very secluded and quiet. A nice natural looking design without a nice variety of holes kept me interested the entire round. I agree the course is more expensive than it should be but I would also say that about Emerald Bay, Regatta Bay, Baytowne and The Raven. Real estate is not cheap in and around Destin so they pass the expenses on to the consumer. 

[GaDawg 1,773]

Times have changed for sure, I played all of these courses back 10 - 12 years ago for $50 or under. The best bang for the buck in that area is Windswept Dunes. It's a 20 minute drive out towards Freeport. I believe it's the longest course in Florida.

Edited September 1, 2021 by GaDawg
spelling

[h2ohzrd 12]

1 hour ago, GaDawg said:

Times have changed for sure, I played all of these courses back 10 - 12 years ago for $50 or under. The best bang for the buck in that area in Windswept Dunes. It's a 20 minute drive out towards Freeport. I believe it's the longest course in Florida.

Played Windswept Dunes when it first opened.  I think the tips were 7700 yards.  Very nice track

 

 

[h2ohzrd 12]

On 8/12/2021 at 8:01 PM, CarlH said:

I grew up just up the road from Destin....didn't play golf then and Destin was nothing more than a sleepy fishing village at that time (60s).  No condos, no golf courses, no wall to wall people, no traffic.....nothing like it is today!!!  

Now Destin is a madhouse. Used to vacation there in the ‘90’s but it got too crowded.  

[Peejer 133]

I lived in Niceville, just across the bridge from Destin for 2 years.  I took lessons with Rob Strano (of the Golf Channel) at Kelly Plantation.

I definitely enjoy the course, but they're pretty proud of it - it's pricey.  Don't know if you got a chance to get along the waters edge, but there are thousands of hermit crabs and scallops to be found.  There's always a persistent wind coming off the bay, which adds to the challenge.  I've even seen dolphins out there while playing.

It's a good time, definitely a vacation golf place, as only the members and visitors play it regularly due to the cost.  There are better priced options just around the corner - Blue Water Bay comes to mind, as does the Eglin Golf Course (36 holes open to the public).  To be clear, they're not in the same pristine condition that Kelly's is, but pretty nice shape and a heck of a lot cheaper.  On the Destin side, you could play 9-holes of night golf (all holes are lighted) at The Golf Garden of Destin.  Especially if it's a work trip and you're busy during the day.

If you get a chance, Indian Bayou was always in great shape and a fun track to play.  Same with Emerald Bay.

Enjoy your trip - and the local seafood!!

-- Peejer

[Peejer 133]

23 minutes ago, h2ohzrd said:

Now Destin is a madhouse. Used to vacation there in the ‘90’s but it got too crowded.  

They privatized the beaches, which means that any property on the water side, owns the beach down to within 20' of the water.

That means 4.6 miles of the 6 miles of beach are now private.  Huge mistake - now the 'public' squeezes into the few places that are open to everyone.  The local's said the Governor allowed it because he had supporters who owned beachfront property and wanted the beach to themselves.  If you go, the only place to stay and expect some access to the beach is a waterside house/condo/hotel.  Renters beware...

-- Peejer

[CarlH 8,676]

39 minutes ago, h2ohzrd said:

Now Destin is a madhouse. Used to vacation there in the ‘90’s but it got too crowded.  

I know.  I was just there 2 years ago for a reunion.  Insane!

[GaDawg 1,773]

1 hour ago, Peejer said:

They privatized the beaches, which means that any property on the water side, owns the beach down to within 20' of the water.

That means 4.6 miles of the 6 miles of beach are now private.  Huge mistake - now the 'public' squeezes into the few places that are open to everyone.  The local's said the Governor allowed it because he had supporters who owned beachfront property and wanted the beach to themselves.  If you go, the only place to stay and expect some access to the beach is a waterside house/condo/hotel.  Renters beware...

-- Peejer

After owning a house in Seagrove for the last 12 years, we sold it in April. Getting on the beach is so difficult due to the new laws, which are ridiculous. Additionally, the market was so hot, we could not turn down the profit. Golf in that part of Florida is good, but not as good as other parts of the state.

[CarlH 8,676]

34 minutes ago, GaDawg said:

After owning a house in Seagrove for the last 12 years, we sold it in April. Getting on the beach is so difficult due to the new laws, which are ridiculous. Additionally, the market was so hot, we could not turn down the profit. Golf in that part of Florida is good, but not as good as other parts of the state.

Indeed!

[jdennish 20]

I play with 24 old frat brothers every April at Kelly, it's a fun tract, runs $110 in April and it's in great shape and there is NO ONE around.

[HDTVMAN 167]

Played last year. Great course, one of the nicest in Destin.

[DeBartola_B 60]

On 9/1/2021 at 4:22 PM, h2ohzrd said:

Played Windswept Dunes when it first opened.  I think the tips were 7700 yards.  Very nice track

 

 

I've been going to the Destin/30A area since I was a kid and have driven past Windswept Dunes so many times.  It is in such a confusing place but looks amazing.  I am planning to play it in a few weeks and looking forward to comparing it to other tracks in the area.

[GaDawg 1,773]

On 5/3/2022 at 10:58 AM, DeBartola_B said:

I've been going to the Destin/30A area since I was a kid and have driven past Windswept Dunes so many times.  It is in such a confusing place but looks amazing.  I am planning to play it in a few weeks and looking forward to comparing it to other tracks in the area.

I have played Windswept Dunes around 10 times. It's been about 14 months since the last time. I have always enjoyed the course, it does not have the character as some of the higher priced courses in the area. It's fairly open off the tee. I always enjoyed it due to excellent pace of play and it being a relaxed round of golf. That entire area has changed so much, years ago you could play Camp Creek for $75, which is an excellent golf course.

[DeBartola_B 60]

14 hours ago, GaDawg said:

I have played Windswept Dunes around 10 times. It's been about 14 months since the last time. I have always enjoyed the course, it does not have the character as some of the higher priced courses in the area. It's fairly open off the tee. I always enjoyed it due to excellent pace of play and it being a relaxed round of golf. That entire area has changed so much, years ago you could play Camp Creek for $75, which is an excellent golf course.

I have a tee time Friday morning, I'll see if I can post some pictures.  I have played Sharks Tooth in the last few months but apparently Camp Creek has been in rough shape.  They cut the greens really low for a member tournament and couldn't get them to come back.  Such a shame cause they were recently closed for over a year to redo the greens.

[hawkdriver 44]

Thanks to the Army, I spent a lot of time at Ft. Rucker, AL (about an hour and a half away from Destin).  We have continued travelling to the Destin/30A area every year for the past 20 years.  There are a few courses that my Dad and I always make sure that we play....and Kelly Plantation is one of them.

Some other good mentions (that have already been brought up):

- Regatta bay

- Camp Creek

- The Hombre

- The Raven

- Windswept Dunes

- Tiger Pointe