Relaxed, Spacious Villas near PGA Golf Mecca

After kicking off their spikes, golf companions sip drinks on a screened-in patio, recalling birdies and near misses, and spinning the day’s exploits into the web of golf legend. The four celebrated courses of PGA Golf Club—all open to the public—are just a chip shot away from the palm-dappled grounds of the Castle Pines Golf Villas in Port St. Lucie. Following a round at the Village’s Tom Fazio–designed Wanamaker course, lodgers can retire to spacious one-bedroom villas outfitted with two double beds, a full kitchen with a breakfast bar, and a light-filled living room.

On the hotel grounds, a large pool awaits sunbathers, and a play area and separate kids’ pool allows younger guests to reenact their favorite scene from Das Boot. Come evening, a dip in the hot tub elicits “oohs” and “ahhs” from typically taciturn muscle groups. Steaks and fillets of locally caught fish sizzle at the on-site barbecue area during do-it-yourself feasts.

Port St. Lucie, Florida: Golf Destination along the Atlantic Coast

Drenched in the subtropical sunshine of Florida’s east coast, Port St. Lucie occupies a swath of land that stretches from inshore wetlands to the Intracoastal Waterway and the white-sand beaches of the Atlantic. Although it is best known for its surfeit of pristine golf courses, the area draws visitors who come to boat and fish or photograph its diverse wildlife. At Moore’s Creek, manatees lazily swim through the warm waters of the Indian River, and along the beach, adventurers on horseback rides take in the sunset or attempt to hurdle napping sunbathers.