Nicknamed the Gold Coast, and for good reason: The Palm Beach area has been regarded for centuries as the state’s home of exclusivity, wealth and culture. Today, Old Florida sophistication blends with a stimulating metropolitan dynamic to make this area as fashionable as ever. 

MARINER SANDS
Unlike the glitz and glamour of neighboring Palm Beach, the city of Stuart stands out for its refreshing charm, historic downtown district and scenic St. Lucie River shoreline. Equally alluring is the country club community of Mariner Sands, a testament to the laid-back lifestyle of the Sunshine State. 

Its Treasure Coast location brings ocean breezes into play on Mariner Sands’ pair of 18-hole courses, recently renovated designs from Tom Fazio and longtime Palmer associate Frank Duane. There’s also a new 31-station driving range and short game practice area. With less than 500 golf members, Mariner Sands affords the rare commodity of uncrowded conditions, and this leisurely ambiance pervades the club’s excellent fitness and tennis centers as well as its award-winning dining room.

In fact, the community as a whole has retained a low-density ambiance notably absent from other established developments in the region. Teeming with mature tropical landscaping, shimmering lakes and emerald fairways, Mariner Sands is a Treasure Coast gem for those seeking a slice of classic Florida living.

where  Stuart, on the Treasure Coast

amenities  Two golf courses designed by Tom Fazio and Frank Duane; nine Har-Tru tennis courts (seven lighted); swimming pool; clubhouse with fitness center, pool and dining.

real estate  Cottages, patio homes, condos, detached homes and custom-built homes from the $250s to more than $1 million.

contact 877-283-0203, 772-221-7300; marinersands.com

PERFECT DRIVE VILLAS AT PGA VILLAGE
For those who regard the “perfect” golf trip as 36 holes a day with brief interludes for food and sleep, we’ve got just the place.

The aptly named Perfect Drive Golf Villas at PGA Village offer spacious two- and three-bedroom, fully furnished villas and town homes, and are about a driver and a wedge from a truly legendary venue. PGA Village features three terrific 18-hole courses designed by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye (both Fazio courses were renovated in 2006; the Dye Course reopened in October following its own renovation). The Village is also the home to the PGA Historical Museum, a memorable shrine to the history of professional golf, as well as the expansive PGA Learning Center, one of the largest teaching and practice facilities in the U.S.

The Perfect Drive Villas are, well, perfect for stays from a weekend to a month, with many offering magnificent golf course views. There’s also a six-hole short course open from dawn to dusk (free of charge), three restaurants in PGA Village, and a wide variety of attractions and amenities just outside the Village in Port St. Lucie.

where  Port St. Lucie

amenities  54 holes of championship golf designed by Tom Fazio and Pete Dye; a six-hole short course; PGA Learning Center; PGA Historical Museum; swimming pool; tennis; walking trails; nearby restaurants, lounges and attractions.

packages  Fall Packages from $346.50 per person including two nights, two rounds and breakfast. Please call for availability and more information. 

contact 877-805-7113; perfectdrivevillas.com

SAILFISH POINT
As luxury real estate goes, Sailfish Point has a legacy without peer. More than two decades after being unveiled by Mobil Land Development, this ultra-private enclave continues to astound with its almost incomprehensible beauty.

Sailfish Point is situated on a stunning spit of land at the southernmost end of Hutchinson Island, just off the coast from Stuart in Southeast Florida. Enveloped by the St. Lucie Inlet, the Indian River and the Atlantic, the community has 520 residences, a posh oceanfront clubhouse, and a 77-slip deepwater marina. But the main attraction to Sailfish Point has always been its golf course, with perhaps none more smitten with the property than Jack Nicklaus.

Nicklaus was still actively playing–five years before his legendary win at the ‘86 Masters, his last major—when he crafted the original Sailfish Point 18-hole course, one of his first solo designs. After 25 years of wear and tear from wind, sand and sea, Sailfish Point members came calling for a restoration in 2005, and Nicklaus was more than happy to return.  

“The changes that were made to this course, though they focused heavily on aesthetics, have enhanced the beauty and the playability of this course tremendously,” said Victor Tortorici, director of golf at Sailfish Point. “With every hole replaced and re-greened, the course looks refreshed. It’s constantly changing. It’s a different course every day.”

The restoration of Sailfish Point wraps up this fall, with much of the work involving topographic enhancement. By creating some refreshing elevation changes and reconfiguring much of the bunkering, Nicklaus has added an exciting new character to the course that complements its spectacular setting. Many holes view all three surrounding bodies of water, and ponds and canals come into play on 15 holes.

It’s not an experience shared by the masses. Sailfish Point has just 320 golf members, all of whom own property within the community, and membership itself runs into six figures. But such is the nature of Sailfish Point, which embarks on its next 25 years as close to perfection as ever.

where  On the southern tip of Hutchinson Island, between the St. Lucie Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean, north of Palm Beach.

amenities  18-hole Signature golf course by Jack Nicklaus, eight Har-Tru tennis courts, full-service deepwater marina and 60,000-square-foot oceanfront clubhouse.

real estate  Oceanfront condominiums, riverfront townhomes, single-family villas and estate homes from $800,000.

contact  772-225-6200; sailfishpoint.com