Short Drive, Big Time: Daytona Beach’s Inland Golf Courses Are a Treat to Play

Victoria Hills

(DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.) — A Daytona Beach golf trip offers the opportunity to play within a 7 iron of the Atlantic Ocean, but for golfers willing to venture from the beauty of the coast, Volusia County is home to a trio of outstanding inland layouts.

While they fly under the radar, the area’s landlocked courses are among Daytona Beach’s best, delivering memorable architecture, outstanding conditions, and an unrelenting commitment to customer service.

If your group wants to challenge some of Daytona Beach’s best and most underrated layouts, these three courses should be on your must-play list:

- A former U.S. Open Qualifying host, DeBary Golf & Country Club has a different feel than its more coastal cousins. Water comes into play on only two holes - No. 9 and No. 18 - on a layout routed through land that was once home to an orange grove. While any mention of the U.S. Open conjures up images of difficult courses, DeBary, with five sets of tees ranging from 5,060 to 6,776 yards, is playable for golfers of all skill levels. The Lloyd Clifton design is worth the trip.

- It might be difficult to call a course Golfweek has ranked among the Sunshine State’s top 15 public layouts underrated, but Victoria Hills doesn’t receive near the attention it deserves. The Ron Garl design, which features rolling property and pine tree-lined fairways, evokes comparisons to courses in North Carolina’s famed Sandhills, distinguishing it from many of its Central Florida peers. Victoria Hills is a treat to play and DeLand is a charming town, offering the opportunity to soak up a little history and enjoy a great meal after your round.

- There isn’t a drop of water for golfers to contend with at The Deltona Club, minimizing penalty strokes on a course that has been ranked among Florida’s top 20 public layouts by Golfweek. Combine the quality of Bobby Weed’s design work with an unwavering commitment to keep the course in prime condition and the appeal of the Deltona Club is readily apparent.

A Daytona Beach golf trip provides players the chance to enjoy a variety of experiences, and golfers, despite the drive, are well served to keep the area’s inland offerings in mind.

For more information, visit DaytonaBeach.Golf.