Golf Courses in Port St. Lucie: Public Tee Times, Private Clubs and Golf Homes
October 14, 2026 · 10 min read · By Onias Derilus, Broker
A guide to golf courses in Port St. Lucie: where the public can play, which clubs are private, what changed recently, and how to shop for a golf home on the Treasure Coast.
Golf courses in Port St. Lucie give the city an outsized golf scene for a place better known for spring training and new construction. Between the PGA of America's 54 holes at PGA Village, a city-owned course that has been open since 1961, and several private clubs, golfers here can play a different layout most days of the week without a long drive.
This guide sorts the area's courses into public and private, flags what has changed recently, and covers what golfers should know before buying a home near the course. For readers who arrived looking for Cape Coral options such as Cape Royal Golf Club, think of this as the Treasure Coast equivalent: similar weather, similar value, and a shorter drive to Palm Beach.
Key takeaways
- PGA Golf Club at PGA Village, owned by the PGA of America, has three public par-72 courses: Wanamaker and Ryder by Tom Fazio, and Dye by Pete Dye.
- The Saints at Port St. Lucie is the city-owned public course, open since 1961 and run by the city since 2001.
- Private golf includes Tesoro Club (Arnold Palmer and Tom Watson designs), Legacy Golf and Tennis Club, and the Jack Nicklaus course at Ballantrae.
- Fort Pierce adds county-owned Fairwinds, where active and retired military play free with ID.
Public golf courses in Port St. Lucie
PGA Golf Club at PGA Village
The anchor of local golf is PGA Golf Club, owned by the PGA of America. It has 54 championship holes on three par-72 courses, all open to the public:
- Wanamaker Course: A Tom Fazio design, roughly 7,100 yards from the back tees.
- Ryder Course: Also by Tom Fazio, similar in length, and often the friendlier of the two for mid-handicappers.
- Dye Course: Pete Dye's layout, the longest of the three at about 7,200 yards, with the bunkering and angles you would expect from Dye.
The club also has a short course for quick rounds and practice, and the PGA Gallery of golf memorabilia. Rates swing a lot by season. Winter tee times cost more and book up early, while summer rates make it one of the better golf values in South Florida.
The Saints at Port St. Lucie
The Saints is the city's own public course on Morningside Boulevard. Its first round was played in November 1961, when General Development Corporation built it alongside a second course known as the Sinners. The City of Port St. Lucie took it over in 2001. It is an 18-hole, par-72 layout of moderate length, home to the city golf championship, and the most affordable regular round in town. It also has an upgraded driving range.
St. Lucie Trail Golf Club
In St. Lucie West, St. Lucie Trail is an 18-hole Jim Fazio design from 1988. It began as a private PGA club, became public and took its current name in 2014, and was sold by the PGA of America in 2018. The buyer said it planned a semi-private model with both memberships and public play. Call ahead to confirm how outside players can book.
Savanna Club
Savanna Club offers an 18-hole executive course of about 3,800 yards. It suits beginners, seniors and anyone who wants a faster round.
Private golf courses in Port St. Lucie
Tesoro Club. Tesoro is a gated community in south Port St. Lucie with two signature courses. The Palmer Course is an Arnold Palmer design that plays up to about 7,300 yards, and the Watson Course is a links-style Tom Watson design. Tesoro hosted a PGA Tour event, the Ginn sur Mer Classic, in 2007, then went through years of dormancy after the original developer's financial trouble. New ownership brought the Palmer Course back in the early 2020s. The club has said the Watson Course will reopen after renovation, so ask about its status before you buy for golf access.
Legacy Golf and Tennis Club. Legacy sits near PGA Village. George Fazio designed it as The Reserve, and it opened on January 1, 1984. A later owner renamed it the Legacy in Fazio's honor. It offers 18 holes of about 7,000 yards plus a par-3 course. It is private, so play requires membership or a member's invitation.
Santa Lucia River Club at Ballantrae. Ballantrae, along the St. Lucie River, has the area's only Jack Nicklaus Signature course. It opened in 1993 as Ballantrae Golf and Yacht Club, and Nicklaus reopened it after a refurbishment in 2007. It is a private club tied to the community.
Nearby golf in Fort Pierce
Ten to twenty minutes north, Fort Pierce adds two more options:
- Fairwinds Golf Course: Owned and operated by St. Lucie County Parks and Recreation. It is an 18-hole public course, home to the county amateur championships, and active and retired military play free with ID.
- Gator Trace Golf and Country Club: A semi-private, par-70 Arthur Hills course of about 6,100 yards, good for golfers who value accuracy over distance.
What changed recently at golf courses in Port St. Lucie
A few older guides are out of date. Club Med closed its Sandpiper Bay resort in 2022. The property reopened in January 2026 as the voco Sandpiper all-inclusive resort after a $50 million renovation, but the status of its old golf course is unclear, so call before planning a round there. Tesoro's two courses sat idle for years before the Palmer course came back. And St. Lucie Trail is no longer a PGA of America property.
Buying a golf home near the golf courses in Port St. Lucie
Golf is a big part of why buyers look at Port St. Lucie. Homes here often cost less than comparable golf homes in Palm Beach County, and many new communities sit a short drive from PGA Village. Before you buy, check these points:
- Equity vs. non-equity membership: Some communities require a club membership with the home, while others make it optional. Mandatory memberships can add a large initiation fee and annual dues on top of HOA fees.
- Golf course lot trade-offs: Fairway views are pleasant, but stray balls, morning maintenance noise and privacy matter. Our guide to living on a golf course lot covers what to ask.
- Course health: A course that closes or changes owners can affect nearby home values. Ask about the club's finances, capital plans and any deed restrictions that keep the land as golf.
- Property taxes and assessments: Some newer areas carry CDD or special assessments. Read our breakdown of the Port St. Lucie property tax rate before you compare monthly costs.
You can browse golf-community listings on our golf and country club homes page or see the full market on our Port St. Lucie city page.
When to play the golf courses in Port St. Lucie
The calendar shapes golf here more than most newcomers expect. From roughly January through April, seasonal residents and visitors fill tee sheets and green fees peak. Mornings book first, so plan a week or more ahead at PGA Golf Club in high season.
Summer flips the math. Rates drop sharply, courses empty out, and you can often walk on in the afternoon. The trade-off is heat and the near-daily thunderstorm pattern. Locals tee off at first light and finish before the storms build. Many courses also close for a short stretch in late summer or early fall to overseed or rebuild greens, so call before you drive over.
Wind is the other local factor. The Treasure Coast gets a steady breeze off the ocean, especially in winter, which makes open, links-style holes play much longer than the card says. Pick your tees with that in mind.
Golf access without a private membership
You do not need to join a private club to golf often here. A few common approaches:
- Resident and loyalty programs: Public courses often offer resident discounts, punch cards or annual passes. Ask each course what it currently sells.
- Twilight rates: Late-afternoon rounds cost less year-round and are the best value in summer.
- Leagues: Men's, women's and senior leagues at public courses are an easy way to meet regular partners after a move.
- Practice facilities: Ranges and short courses let you keep your game sharp between full rounds without paying for 18 holes.
For buyers, this is the real takeaway. You can live in a non-golf neighborhood with lower HOA fees and still play several times a week. Compare the full cost of a golf-community membership against what you would actually spend on public rounds before you decide.
Frequently asked questions
How many golf courses are in Port St. Lucie?
Port St. Lucie has roughly ten courses when you count PGA Golf Club's three layouts, the Saints, St. Lucie Trail, Savanna Club and the private clubs at Tesoro, Legacy and Ballantrae. Fort Pierce adds Fairwinds and Gator Trace nearby.
Can the public play PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie?
Yes. All three PGA Golf Club courses, Wanamaker, Ryder and Dye, accept public tee times. Book early in winter.
What is the cheapest golf in Port St. Lucie?
The city-owned Saints is usually the most affordable 18 holes. Summer rates at PGA Golf Club and county-run Fairwinds in Fort Pierce are also good values.
Is Tesoro Club open to the public?
No. Tesoro is a private, gated club. The Palmer Course is open to members, and the Watson Course has been under renovation.
Looking for a golf home on the Treasure Coast? Pure Equity Realty can compare membership costs, HOA fees and resale history across Port St. Lucie's golf communities. Reach out to our team and we will build a short list around how often you play.
