Golf Communities in St. Johns County — A Buyer’s Guide
By Josh Rogers
Quick Answer: St. Johns County and the greater Northeast Florida corridor have one of the best concentrations of quality golf in the Southeast. For buyers who play — or who want golf as a central part of their Florida lifestyle — this area delivers genuine options from casual community courses to nationally ranked championship layouts.
Why Northeast Florida Is a Golf Market
Northeast Florida’s golf reputation is built primarily on Ponte Vedra Beach — specifically TPC Sawgrass and The Players Championship, one of professional golf’s most prestigious events. That tournament happens annually at TPC Sawgrass, about 30 minutes from most of St. Johns County’s major communities.
But the golf story extends well beyond TPC. The area has a density of quality golf courses — public, semi-private, private club — that makes it a legitimate golf destination, not just a market with courses.
Golf Communities in St. Johns County
World Golf Village
Covered in more detail in the World Golf Village community post, but worth noting here: the King & Bear (Palmer/Nicklaus) and the Slammer & Squire (Sarazen/Snead/Floyd) are legitimate championship courses with distinctive pedigrees. Living in World Golf Village with access to these courses is genuinely appealing for serious golfers.
Palencia
Palencia is a master-planned community in northern St. Johns County with an Arthur Hills-designed 18-hole championship course. Palencia Golf Club is a private club within the community; membership is separate from home ownership but available to residents. The course is well-regarded in the Northeast Florida market.
Palencia’s community character aligns well with golf-lifestyle buyers: established, well-maintained, quieter than the newer planned communities to the south, with a club-centered social culture.
Cypress Knoll Golf Club (Palm Coast)
Just south of St. Johns County in Flagler County, Cypress Knoll represents the expanding golf access available within a reasonable drive of St. Johns County communities.
Nocatee and Golf Access
Nocatee itself doesn’t have an on-site golf course within the development. However, its location puts it within 30-45 minutes of multiple quality golf options in the region — TPC Sawgrass, courses in the Ponte Vedra area, Palencia, and others. For Nocatee buyers who golf casually, this is typically sufficient. For buyers who want to walk to the first tee, Nocatee isn’t the right community.
Shearwater and Golf Access
Similar to Nocatee, Shearwater doesn’t have an on-site course. Its CR-16 location puts it within reach of several area courses, including access to the World Golf Village area.
Julington Creek Plantation
Julington Creek Plantation is an established community in northern St. Johns County with an on-site golf course. The Julington Creek Golf Club offers residents and members a full 18-hole layout within the community. This is one of the more accessible golf-integrated community options in the area — a neighborhood built around the game without the private club price point of some other options.
St. Johns Golf and Country Club
St. Johns Golf and Country Club is a semi-private club in St. Johns County offering golf membership with access to an 18-hole course and country club amenities. It provides accessible club golf for everyday players who want a membership option without premium initiation fees.
Cimarron Golf and Country Club
Cimarron Golf and Country Club is another St. Johns County option for buyers seeking golf community living or club membership. The course and club offer a more intimate golf environment relative to the larger destination-style courses in the market.
Southampton
Southampton is a golf course community in the St. Johns County area, offering residents proximity to golf in a more established neighborhood setting. Course-adjacent and course-view lots are available within the community.
Major Golf Options in the Broader Northeast Florida Area
TPC Sawgrass (Ponte Vedra Beach)
The stadium course at TPC Sawgrass — home of The Players Championship — is available for public play outside of tournament periods. Playing this course, with its famous island-green 17th hole, is a genuine bucket-list golf experience for many buyers. It’s not a daily option (rates are premium), but its proximity to St. Johns County is a real perk for golfers.
Ponte Vedra Club
The historic Ponte Vedra Club has Lagoon and Ocean courses that are private club experiences with long-standing prestige in the market.
Multiple Public and Semi-Private Options
The Northeast Florida area has numerous public and semi-private courses at various price points. St. Johns Golf and Country Club, Cimarrone Golf and Country Club, and others in the immediate St. Johns County area provide accessible options for regular play at rates accessible to everyday golfers.
Club Membership Considerations
For buyers who want private club membership as part of the golf lifestyle:
Initiation fees vary dramatically — from modest initiation at semi-private clubs to significant initiation fees at premium clubs.
Annual dues similarly range from a few thousand dollars per year to $10,000+ at premium clubs.
Reciprocal access — Some clubs have reciprocal agreements with other clubs, which expands where you can play with your membership.
If golf club membership is a priority purchase, research specific clubs’ current membership availability and costs before committing. Some clubs have waiting lists; others are actively accepting members. This changes.
What Golf Buyers Need to Know Before Purchasing
If living on a course matters: Several communities in St. Johns County offer course-front or course-adjacent home purchases: Palencia, World Golf Village, St. Johns Golf and Country Club, Cimarron, Julington Creek Plantation, Valencia, and Southampton. Course-view or course-adjacent lots carry premiums in all of these communities.
If golf club membership is your primary intent: Research membership separately from the home purchase. Buying in a golf community doesn’t automatically include membership; these are typically separate transactions.
If “golf community feel” matters even if you don’t play seriously: Communities like World Golf Village have a golf orientation that influences the community culture — more subdued, club-centric — even for residents who aren’t avid golfers.
The Bottom Line
Northeast Florida, and St. Johns County specifically, is genuinely one of the better golf markets in the Southeast. From championship courses with significant pedigrees to accessible daily-fee options, the infrastructure is real.
For buyers who want golf as a central element of their Florida lifestyle — whether that means living on a course, joining a club, or simply having multiple quality options within a reasonable drive — St. Johns County delivers.
If you want to match your golf priorities to specific communities and options, reach out at StJohnsWithJosh.com/contact.
