Sandestin / 30A

Robert Trent Jones Sr. routing through dunes and scrub pine, recently restored and playing like a links-meets-Sandhills hybrid you don't expect to find on the Gulf. Wind off the bay turns it into a different course depending on the day. Tee it up here and you'll spend the back nine wondering why anyone bothers with the resort tracks.

RTJ Jr. layout along Choctawhatchee Bay that's the clear standout among the four Sandestin courses. Generous off the tee, but the approach shots into bermuda greens are where the scores get made or lost. Play the bay-side holes late in the day when the light hits right.

Rees Jones design that's the longtime members' favorite at Sandestin and the toughest test inside the gates. Tighter corridors than Raven, more water, and greens that will embarrass you if you miss on the wrong side. Worth the upcharge over Baytowne.

Tom Jackson 27-hole complex that's the easiest tee time to grab and the right call for a warm-up round or a group with mixed handicaps. Nothing here will blow you away, but nothing will ruin your day either. Play the Harbor and Dunes nines together.

Greg Norman design at Wild Heron in Panama City Beach, semi-private and worth the call to see if you can get on. Big, muscular routing with serious teeth from the back tees and one of the better conditioned tracks in the Panhandle. Pair it with Camp Creek for a day trip east of the resort.

Fred Couples and Gene Bates collaboration in Destin with a few holes right on Choctawhatchee Bay that photograph as well as anything in the region. Pricier than the Sandestin tracks and conditions can be variable, but the marquee holes earn their keep. Book a morning tee time before the wind picks up.

Robert Walker design tucked into a residential community in Destin with more wetlands than the Sandestin courses and a softer green fee. Not the round of the trip, but a solid fourth or fifth option if you want variety without paying premium. Pace can drag on weekends.

The newest and nicest hotel inside the Sandestin gates, with rooftop pool, Hugh Acheson's restaurant downstairs, and walking access to Grand Boulevard. Right call if you want resort-tier finishes without renting a whole house. Rooms are tight for groups of four-plus.

Big Gulf-front tower that's been the default beach play in Sandestin for decades. Not flashy, but the location is hard to beat and the package deals with Sandestin golf are the easiest way to bundle the trip. Ask for a high floor with a Gulf view.

Salamander-run property in Destin that's the upscale beach hotel of choice for groups who want service and don't want to deal with the Sandestin gate sticker. Quick drive to Kelly Plantation and Regatta Bay. Splurge tier, but the rooms and pool deck earn it.

Small boutique inn right on the beach in WaterColor, the move if you want to stay on 30A and walk to Seaside for dinner. Closer to Camp Creek than anything inside Sandestin. Only 60 rooms — book early.

Condos and villas across the Sandestin footprint — Village of Baytowne Wharf for the social crowd, Bayside for quieter, Beachside if you want sand out the door. Best move for groups of six or more who want a kitchen and golf cart access between courses.

For groups of six-plus who want a beach house with a pool on 30A, this is the play. Pick something between Seagrove and Alys Beach to balance Camp Creek access with the Seaside dinner scene. Pricey in season but cheaper per head than four hotel rooms.

The 30A institution. Get the seafood gumbo, the smoked tuna dip, and whatever's on the chalkboard fresh. Loud, no-reservations for parties under six, and worth the wait — show up before 6 or after 8:30 if you don't want to lose your evening to the host stand.

Rooftop bar in Seaside, sunset view over the Gulf, and a kitchen that handles the gumbo and the grouper better than it has any right to given the tourist traffic. Get a drink upstairs at the Tarpon Club, then move down for dinner. Reservations essential in season.

The white-tablecloth move in Alys Beach, set around a pool that looks like a Mediterranean magazine spread. Italian-leaning menu, strong wine list, the dinner you tell your wife about so she lets you do the trip again next year. Book two weeks out minimum.

The steakhouse inside Sandestin at Baytowne Wharf, and the right call when nobody wants to drive 30 minutes east for dinner. Dry-aged steaks, raw bar, dark wood, exactly what you want after a 36-hole day. Sit at the bar if you didn't book.

Jim Shirley's spot on the Seaside green and the best breakfast on 30A. Order the Grits à Ya Ya — shrimp, spinach, smoked gouda grits — and you'll think about it on the first tee. Also solid for lunch if you're already in Seaside.

Old-school 24-hour Destin diner that's been feeding hungover golfers since before the resort scene existed. Cake donuts, biscuits and gravy, country breakfast plates the size of a hubcap. Stop on the way to an early tee time at Kelly Plantation.

Quieter, more grown-up alternative to the Seaside crowds, sitting on the Rosemary Beach square. Small menu that leans Gulf seafood and grilled meats, serious wine program, and a bar that knows what it's doing. The play when the group needs a reset from the loud spots.

Open-air waterfront spot on Choctawhatchee Bay in Santa Rosa Beach, sunset on the deck, live music most nights. Casual menu — fish tacos, burgers, raw bar — and the kind of place where you end up staying two hours longer than planned. Pull in by boat if that's an option.

Seagrove dinner stalwart that's been on the map longer than most of 30A has been developed. Wood-fired everything, strong martini list, and the room is dressed-up enough to feel like a real night out. Older crowd, but the food doesn't miss.