Best Public Golf Courses Near Dunedin

by Hunt Brothers Realty

The best public golf courses near Dunedin, Florida start with Dunedin Golf Club, the city's restored Donald Ross-designed municipal course. Nearby Clearwater adds Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club, The Landings and public-access play at Cove Cay, while East Bay Golf Club in Largo and Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club in Seminole expand the choices farther south. Golfers can choose among historic championship golf, shorter executive-style layouts, target golf with substantial water and bunkering, and longer traditional courses. Public access, rates, tee-time windows and course conditions can change, so confirm current details directly with each facility before playing.

Quick Answers About the Best Public Golf Courses Near Dunedin

What is the best-known public golf course in Dunedin?

Dunedin Golf Club is the defining public course in Dunedin. The municipal course is a Donald Ross design dating to 1927, plays to 6,745 yards at par 72 and underwent a major Kris Spence restoration completed in 2024.

Can anyone play Dunedin Golf Club?

Yes. Dunedin Golf Club identifies itself as open to the public, and the City of Dunedin describes it as a public municipal course. Membership options are also available.

What is a good public course near Dunedin for shot-making?

Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club in Clearwater is a strong option for golfers who value accuracy over length. The par-69 Denis Griffiths layout has more than 70 sand traps, water hazards on 12 holes and two-tiered greens.

Where can you play a shorter 18-hole course near Dunedin?

The Landings Golf Club in Clearwater is an 18-hole par-63 public course with nine par-3s and nine par-4s. It provides a different experience from a full-length par-71 or par-72 championship layout.

Which public course near Dunedin has Tampa Bay views?

Cove Cay Golf Club in Clearwater offers public tee times and a setting along Old Tampa Bay. Water comes into play on 13 of its 18 holes, with holes 13 through 18 positioned along Tampa Bay.

Which nearby public course offers a longer championship-style test?

Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club in Seminole stretches to 7,015 yards from its back tees and has hosted professional tournament golf. East Bay Golf Club in Largo provides another traditional 18-hole option at par 71.

Do you need to join a private club to golf regularly near Dunedin?

No. Dunedin and surrounding Pinellas County offer enough public-access golf that a private-club membership is not necessary for regular play. Golfers can rotate among municipal, public and public-access facilities in Dunedin, Clearwater, Largo and Seminole.

Which Public Golf Courses Near Dunedin Stand Out?

The Dunedin area offers unusually varied public golf within Pinellas County. The strongest choices are not interchangeable, because each course provides a different reason to play.

Dunedin Golf Club: historic Donald Ross architecture and a major 2024 restoration
Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club: shorter public shot-making course with extensive bunkering and water
The Landings Golf Club: shorter 18-hole par-63 public format
Cove Cay Golf Club: target golf with Old Tampa Bay scenery
East Bay Golf Club: traditional public par-71 golf in Largo
Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club: longer public-access golf with professional tournament history

For homebuyers, this variety also means that living near golf does not necessarily require purchasing in a private golf community. Hunt Brothers Realty's guide to golf communities near Dunedin explains how residential options such as Fairway Estates, Highland Lakes, Countryside, Innisbrook and other nearby communities relate to different golf environments.

Why Is Dunedin Golf Club the Essential Local Round?

Dunedin Golf Club combines public access, significant golf history and restored Golden Age architecture within Dunedin itself. The course opened on January 1, 1927 and was designed by Donald Ross, one of the most influential golf architects in the United States.

The 18-hole course plays to 6,745 yards at par 72. From 1945 through 1962, Dunedin Golf Club served as the home of the PGA of America, and the club reports that it hosted 18 Senior Tour Championships during that period.

That history would make the course noteworthy on its own, but its recent restoration has made the current playing experience particularly relevant.

What changed during the Dunedin Golf Club restoration?

Architect Kris Spence led a comprehensive restoration intended to bring the course much closer to Ross's original design. The project addressed greens, bunkers, tees, fairways, irrigation and drainage while restoring important Donald Ross characteristics.

The City of Dunedin reports that the project cost approximately $6.2 million and was completed in late 2024. The course reopened for public play in December 2024.

The restoration subsequently received Golf Inc.'s 2025 Renovation of the Year award in the public-course category. In 2026, the City also reported that Golf Digest gave the restoration an honorable mention and Golfweek ranked Dunedin Golf Club No. 23 among public-access courses in Florida.

Do Dunedin residents receive a golf discount?

As of August 2026, the City of Dunedin states that Dunedin residents, property owners and business owners receive 25 percent off applicable daily rates at Dunedin Golf Club. Active and retired military members and active first responders are also listed for the discount.

Rates, eligibility documentation and discount programs can change, so golfers should verify current requirements directly with the club before booking.

What Is Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club Like?

Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club in Clearwater is a public course that rewards accuracy and course management more than raw distance. The Denis Griffiths-designed layout is par 69 and measures approximately 5,454 yards.

The course has more than 70 sand traps, water hazards on 12 holes, two-tiered greens and Bermuda-grass fairways. That combination makes it a useful choice for golfers who enjoy strategic positioning and approach-shot decisions.

The course is also connected to the Chi Chi Rodriguez Youth Foundation. A portion of golf fees supports educational programming through the Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy and First Tee Clearwater.

Can the public book Chi Chi Rodriguez?

Yes. The course states that it is open to the public, with tee times currently available for booking up to seven days in advance. Rates vary by month, day and time, so golfers should use the current booking system rather than relying on an older published rate.

Who Should Play The Landings Golf Club?

The Landings Golf Club of Clearwater is particularly useful for golfers who want 18 holes without the length of a full par-72 course. The public facility is par 63, with nine par-3 holes and nine par-4 holes.

The course was established in 1970 as Clearwater Executive Golf Course and was designed by Ron Garl. It is located behind Clearwater Airpark off Hercules Avenue.

The shorter format can appeal to golfers who want to work on irons and scoring, newer players building confidence, or experienced golfers looking for a different kind of round. Shorter does not automatically mean easy, because repeated par-3 approaches place a premium on distance control and accuracy.

Why Consider Cove Cay Golf Club?

Cove Cay Golf Club combines public-access golf with a setting along Old Tampa Bay in Clearwater. The 18-hole course offers four sets of tees and plays from approximately 4,216 to 6,079 yards.

Water is a major part of the experience. The club reports that water comes into play on 13 of 18 holes, while holes 13 through 18 run along Tampa Bay.

That makes Cove Cay a useful contrast with Dunedin Golf Club. Dunedin's identity centers on restored Donald Ross architecture and historic strategy, while Cove Cay emphasizes target golf, water hazards and Tampa Bay scenery.

Can nonmembers book Cove Cay?

Yes. Cove Cay currently offers public tee times, with its published policy allowing public reservations seven days in advance. Its practice facilities and Bayview Grill are also open to the public.

What Does East Bay Golf Club Offer?

East Bay Golf Club in Largo provides a traditional public 18-hole alternative farther south of Dunedin. The par-71 course was created by William Mitchell in 1961 and features elevated, bunkered greens.

Water comes into play on 14 holes, making placement and course management important throughout the round. The facility also offers a practice range, putting green, pro shop and clubhouse.

East Bay can make sense for a golfer who wants a full-length public round and does not mind traveling farther south into central Pinellas County. Current tee-time availability and rates should be confirmed directly with the course.

Is Bardmoor Worth the Drive From Dunedin?

Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club in Seminole is worth considering for golfers who want a longer public-access course with tournament history. The course stretches to 7,015 yards from its back tees and currently accepts public tee-time bookings.

Bardmoor reports that the property hosted 13 PGA and LPGA Tour events, including years as the site of the PGA/LPGA JCPenney Classic. The course underwent a major renovation led by PGA TOUR winner and golf architect Gary Koch, including reconstructed greens, irrigation improvements and bunker work.

The layout includes elevation changes, water features, mature trees and several strategic holes. Golfers looking for more length than Chi Chi Rodriguez or The Landings will find a substantially different test here.

What About Clearwater Country Club?

Clearwater Country Club belongs in the broader Dunedin-area golf conversation because the City of Clearwater identifies it as one of three city-leased courses available for public use. The club operates as a semi-private facility rather than a purely municipal public course.

The Herbert Strong-designed 18-hole course dates to 1920 and includes a driving range, practice facility, pro shop and clubhouse. Stevenson Creek crosses portions of the property, introducing water into the strategy on multiple holes.

Golfers interested in a broader comparison can also read Hunt Brothers Realty's guide to golf courses near Clearwater Beach, which compares public, semi-private and private options throughout the Clearwater area.

How Do the Best Public Golf Courses Near Dunedin Compare?

The best choice depends on what kind of golf experience you want rather than a single universal ranking.

For historic architecture: Dunedin Golf Club
For playing within Dunedin: Dunedin Golf Club
For accuracy and shot-making: Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club
For a shorter 18-hole round: The Landings Golf Club
For Tampa Bay scenery and water: Cove Cay Golf Club
For traditional public golf in Largo: East Bay Golf Club
For more length and tournament history: Bardmoor Golf & Tennis Club
For a traditional semi-private experience with public access: Clearwater Country Club

Golfers should also compare current rates, walking policies, cart requirements, practice facilities, booking windows and seasonal course conditions before choosing. These operational details can change throughout the year.

Should Golfers Live in Dunedin or a Golf Community?

Golfers do not need to live inside a golf community to have several courses available near Dunedin. Public golf makes it possible to prioritize other housing features while still maintaining access to multiple places to play.

For example, a buyer might prioritize Downtown Dunedin, coastal access or proximity to the Pinellas Trail while playing Dunedin Golf Club and rotating through nearby Clearwater courses. Another buyer might prefer a home directly beside a fairway or within a country-club environment.

Hunt Brothers Realty's Best Golf Communities Near Dunedin guide compares residential options for buyers who want golf to play a larger role in where they live.

What Should Homebuyers Know About Living Near a Golf Course?

A golf-course view can be appealing, but buyers should evaluate the exact home's relationship to the course rather than relying only on the community name. Homes along different holes can have very different orientations, views and exposure to normal golf-course activity.

Useful property-specific questions include:

Which hole or practice area borders the property?
What is the direction of play relative to the home?
Where are cart paths located?
How are the patio, lanai and primary windows oriented?
What vegetation separates the residence from the course?
Are there HOA or condominium fees in addition to any club costs?
Is golf membership included, optional or entirely separate?
What are the current club membership terms and availability?

Private or semi-private club access should always be verified independently from real estate ownership. Membership categories, initiation charges, dues, waiting lists, transfer provisions and golf privileges can change, and purchasing a nearby home does not necessarily provide membership rights.

Why Does Dunedin Work Well as a Base for Public Golf?

Dunedin gives golfers a notable combination of a high-quality municipal course inside the city and additional public options throughout nearby Pinellas County. That makes it possible to vary course style without relying entirely on private-club membership.

The broader lifestyle extends beyond golf. Dunedin also offers a defined downtown, the Pinellas Trail, waterfront parks, a municipal marina and causeway access toward Honeymoon Island State Park. Hunt Brothers Realty's guide to living in Dunedin, Florida explores those residential and lifestyle considerations in more detail.

Golfers can also look north toward Palm Harbor golf communities, where options include golf-oriented residential environments and access to additional courses.

Which Public Golf Course Near Dunedin Should You Play First?

For a first round, Dunedin Golf Club is the logical starting point. It is located in Dunedin, is open to the public and combines a restored Donald Ross design with nearly a century of golf history.

After that, the choice depends on your priorities. Chi Chi Rodriguez emphasizes shot-making, The Landings offers a shorter 18-hole format, Cove Cay adds Tampa Bay scenery and water hazards, East Bay provides traditional public golf, and Bardmoor adds more length and professional tournament history.

Tee-time availability, greens fees, course maintenance and access policies are subject to change. Golfers should confirm current information directly with the facility before planning a round.

Explore Dunedin and Nearby Golf Communities With Hunt Brothers Realty

For homebuyers who want golf to be part of everyday life, the Dunedin area provides several ways to approach the search. You can live beside a course, choose a nearby golf community, or prioritize Dunedin's downtown and coastal lifestyle while using the area's public courses.

Hunt Brothers Realty helps buyers compare Florida communities and individual properties based on location, golf access, association structure, ownership costs and property-specific considerations. Explore golf communities near Dunedin, visit the Hunt Brothers Realty Buyer Resource Center, or contact Hunt Brothers Realty to discuss your Florida home search.

This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. Golf-course access, rates, memberships, discounts, tee-time policies and operating conditions can change. Homebuyers should verify anticipated golf privileges directly with the applicable course or club before making a purchasing decision based on golf access. Property-specific financial, legal, insurance, inspection, association or other professional questions should be reviewed with the appropriate qualified professionals.