Florida meeting guide.

A PLANNER'S PARADISE

Florida is an association meeting planner's paradise. The state has so much to offer that it's difficult not to conduct a successful event. Great weather, famous family attractions, beautiful natural surroundings, miles and miles of white sand beaches, more golf courses than any other state, and an outstanding selection of world-class, meetings-oriented resorts and hotels combine to make Florida a favorite destination for associations.

The Sunshine State's attractions and facilities continue to grow and generate widespread interest. New Disney resorts will open this year while Universal Studios Florida will open major new attractions in Orlando as well. Excitement is reaching a fever pitch with the recent announcement that the Jacksonville Jaguars will become the NFL's newest team in 1995, while Florida-based cruise lines continue to introduce new ships and on-board meetings-related amenities to meet the growing demand for a variety of cruises. South Florida continues to rebound in grand fashion from the effects of Hurricane Andrew as hotels and resorts reopen fresh from renovations in Miami and beyond.

From the rustic beauty of the Panhandle to the spectacular sunsets of Key West, Florida looks good for any association meeting.

CRUISE LINES

Florida is the undisputed cruise capital of the world. In 1992, nearly seven million cruise line passengers passed through Florida's bustling ports. The Port of Miami is the busiest cruise port in the world with 3.1 million passengers in 1992, followed by Fort Lauderdale's Port Everglades with 2.3 million passengers. The Port of Tampa also stays busy hosting ships from major lines such as Carnival, Holland America, and Regency Cruises.

Florida offers a world of opportunities for group events aboard cruise lines. According to Josephine Kling, president of Miami-based cruise consultants Landry & Kling, associations have many cruise options.

"Everybody wants to cruise these days, and associations could easily tap into this drive to boost their meeting attendance in a variety of creative ways," says Kling. "Some cruise lines work with groups to tie-in post-conference cruises that allow delegates to use the cruise lines' 'free air' option to attend a meeting." Kling also points out that with many ships adding more meeting space and amenities for executives, some associations can conduct half their meetings at a hotel with the balance aboard a ship to offer something different and boost attendance. For example, Royal Caribbean's 1,600-passenger Nordic Empress recently added two more meeting rooms, while three new Celebrity Cruises vessels will feature amenities such as retractable desktops designed into seating for 1,000 in the main showroom, and 3,500 square feet of dedicated meeting space.

SPAS

If association meeting planners are looking to pamper their boards of directors or increase attendance by making the conference attractive to spouses and guests, Florida's spa resorts are the perfect choice. A full-service Florida spa that features attentive personal service and outstanding amenities can make anyone feel special. The state offers an array of top spas.

The Doral Resort and Country Club features the highly regarded Doral Saturnia International Spa, a 148,000-square-foot, Tuscan-inspired spa that offers half- and full-day programs to all Doral guests. The spa has 48 luxurious guest suites and personal trainers who determine fitness levels and develop individual exercise plans for guests.

Opened in 1992, the spa at the PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens combines the elements of a classic European spa with an American emphasis on fitness, nutrition, and an active lifestyle. The spa features six relaxing "Waters of the World" mineral pools. Spa guests can be pampered with hydrotherapy treatments, body treatments such as a seaweed body polish, deep cleansing facials, and even acu-pressure massages.

The Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa is located on 80 acres on San Carlos Bay, overlooking Sanibel and Captiva Islands on Florida's southwest coast. The 40,000-square-foot spa features 10 indoor whirlpools, four hot and cold plunges, a full range of exercise equipment, and an 1,800-square-foot aerobic dance studio. In addition the spa also offers its BETAR bed ride--a unique music relaxation experience.

The Registry Resort in Naples enjoys its reputation as one of Florida's top resorts, being named one of the "Top 20 Mainland Resorts" in 1992 by Conde Nast Traveler. Part of the reason for the 395-room resort's top standing is the spa services at its health club. In addition to three pools, steam rooms, and full range of exercise equipment and classes, the resort offers Swedish massage, aroma-therapy masks, body peel with algae, pedicures, and hair styling.

The Registry's boardwalk to its beach runs through the heart of a fascinating mangrove forest. The Amelia Island Plantation on the northwest Florida coast outside Jacksonville features the Baker International Wellness Clinic within its Health & Fitness Center. The Wellness Clinic is supervised by one of the top cardiology teams in the country who design, supervise, and evaluate personalized exercise and wellness programs.

The Fountainbleau Hilton's state-of-the-art spa complements a long-standing favorite of association convention planners who want to meet in the Miami Beach area. The 1,200-room resort with 190,000 square feet of meeting space also offers a full-service spa with indoor/outdoor massage center, individual mineral baths, Adrien Arpel Salon, loofah and herbal wraps, computerized fitness evaluation, aerobics classes, Nautilus, and other exercise equipment.

RESORTS

When association meeting planners think of Florida, their first thoughts are likely to focus on the enticing selection of grand resorts throughout the state. Florida offers more than 700 hotels with 128,265 units (not including motels), making for a great selection in facilities and amenities for any type of association event. It is the state's numerous grand resorts, however, that can make meeting in Florida truly memorable. From the old-world elegance of the Biltmore, Boca Raton Resort & Club, Breakers, and Don CeSar to the great new facilities at the Turnberry Isle Resort & Club and the many Disney-affiliated properties, there is a truly impressive selection of full-service resorts in Florida.

Collectively, the Disney hotels comprise Florida's largest resort hotel complex. Several resorts within the massive complex of fine hotels offer conference delegates top amenities such as fax machines, voice mail, concierge services, and convention complexes. Surrounding Disney's Magic Kingdom are five themed resorts--Disney's Grand Floridian Beach Resort, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort, The Disney Inn, and Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground. They contain 3,093 guest rooms and a host of convention facilities and top resort amenities. Included in the complex are 90,000 square feet of meeting space at the Contemporary Resort and 40,000 square feet of meeting space at the Grand Floridian, which was named "Best Overall Hotel" in Orlando by the Zagat U.S. Hotel, Resort, and Spa Survey.

Popular meetings hotels in the EPCOT resort area include the Walt Disney World Swan (758 rooms) and Walt Disney World Dolphin (1,514 rooms), which feature a combined 254,000 square feet of meeting space. Also in the area are Disney's Yacht Club Resort (635 rooms) and Disney's Beach Club Resort (580 rooms), which offer a combined 73,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club enjoys a spectacular setting along the white sand beaches of Ponte Vedra Beach in northeast Florida. The Inn offers 202 oceanside rooms and suites appointed with designer furniture, fully stocked bar and refrigerator, plush terry robes, private terrace or patio, and nightly turndown service. In addition to 36 holes of championship golf, the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club offers great resort amenities such as 15 Har-Tru tennis courts, four sparkling pools, an executive fitness center, fishing and sailing, four restaurants, and a spa offering a wide range of personal pampering services.

The landmark Fountainbleau Hilton on Miami Beach is located on 20 acres of oceanside gardens with waterfalls, two magnificent pools, a full spa, and seven tennis courts. The Hilton, opened in 1954, has 1,200 waterfront rooms and 190,000 square feet of meeting space, including its 32,499-square-foot Grand Ballroom, the largest in south Florida. The Fountainbleau, which also has 12 restaurants, is in the midst of a multimillion-dollar renovation including creation of a new concierge level, boardroom, and cocktail lounge on the top three floors of its Chateau Building, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.

The Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, just four miles south of Miami International Airport, has been a leading resort in Florida since it opened in 1925. Placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973, the famous hotel underwent a complete and historically accurate $55 million renovation in 1986.

Marriott's Marco Island Resort & Beach Club has long been one of southwest Florida's leading resorts, as reflected by its being named "One of America's Top 20 Resorts" in 1992 by Conde Nast Traveler. Located 15 miles south of Naples, the Marriott has 735 guest rooms and suites and 48,000 square feet of meeting space, making it the largest resort on Florida's Gulf Coast. Its large beach offers the gamut in water sports, while its championship golf course and John Jacobs' Golf School, 16-court tennis complex, health club, on-site shopping, and three gulf-edged pools complement the island resort experience.

The Sundial Beach & Tennis Resort on Sanibel Island is renown for being on one of the best "shelling" beaches in the world. Visitors who stay at the 265-suite resort often develop the pleasurable malady, the "Sanibel Stoop," from bending over to collect shells. Regarded as a great tennis resort with six clay and six hard courts along with daily tennis clinics, the Sundial also offers 10,000 square feet of conference space. Popular with families with its suite layout and variety of children's activities, the Sundial was named one of "30 Favorite Family Resorts" in the nation by Better Homes & Gardens in 1993.

Built in 1926, The Breakers in Palm Beach, 65 miles north of Miami, is one of the legendary resorts in the entire United States. Created in the Italian Renaissance style as inspired by outstanding villas throughout Italy. The Breakers offers 562 guest rooms and 20 meeting rooms that are surrounded by the elegance of Mediterranean courtyards, frescoes, and decorated vaulted ceilings.

In addition to being a renowned host of PGA tournaments, the Turnberry Isle Resort & Club is an excellent meetings venue that is actually on its own 300-acre, self-contained island. The present facilities are the result of an $80 million expansion program completed in late 1990.

The Don CeSar Beach Resort is the legendary pink castle on St. Petersburg Beach that has stood as a landmark since 1928. The delightful pink palace offers 277 guest rooms and 34,400 square feet of meeting space that are complemented by marble fountains, antique French candelabras, exquisite works of art by European masters, and other touches that give The Don its famous Moorish/Mediterranean character.

The Boca Raton Resort & Club combines the great service of a world-class resort with 70,000 square feet of flexible meeting space that can accommodate groups from 15-1,500. Four distinct complexes offer 963 guest rooms, two championship golf courses, 34 tennis courts, a half-mile-long private beach, five outdoor swimming pools, three fitness centers, a 25-slip marina offering a variety of water sports, award-winning restaurants, and a host of other amenities that have made the Boca Raton Resort & Club a standard of resort excellence for 65 years.

What's New In Resorts

The first phase of Disney's All-Star Resort will open in May. The first phase--Disney's All-Star Sports Resort--is set to encompass 1,920 rooms and include a colorful sports theme with larger-than-life football helmets, surfboards, and baseball bats. The second phase--Disney's All-Star Music Resort--will include 1,920 rooms and will celebrate the diverse world of music with features such as a three-story pair of cowboy boots, a swimming pool shaped like a guitar, a giant Broadway theater marquee, and a walk-through neon jukebox. The All-Star Music Resort will open in 1995.

Opening in late spring is Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort, a 729-room resort themed after the romance of Old Faithful Lodge and the geyser meadows of Yellowstone National Park. In addition to the rustic-style guest rooms of an authentic lodge, the resort will feature a volcanic meadow with bubbling craters, babbling brooks, and geysers spewing misty streams into the air.

The 550-room Ramada Resort Deauville in Miami Beach completed a $5 million renovation in August.

The Sonesta Beach Resort on Key Biscayne reopened last October after an extensive $15 million post-Hurricane Andrew renovation.

The 668-room Sheraton Bal Harbour Beach Resort recently completed a $15 million renovation that included a new conference center.

BEACHES

Wherever your association meets in Florida, your delegates will not be far away from the state's famous beaches--no location in Florida is more than 60 miles from an oceanside beach. Sand beaches account for 1,100 miles of the state's 1,800 miles of coastline. Actually, Florida has more than 8,000 miles of shoreline, ranking it second only to Alaska in that category.

Florida has so many beautiful beaches that a sandy, ocean sojourn is always nearby. In fact, the July 1993 Conde Nast Traveler rated five of Florida's beaches in the nation's top 10 based on an in-depth study of beach quality and beauty conducted by the University of Maryland. It's no wonder, then, why Florida's beaches are so popular.

Miami Beach has enjoyed a renaissance in recent years as the area has become a hot spot for the film and fashion industries. Extensive restorations have transformed many of the legendary hotels along Collins Avenue into sleek waterfront resorts. A multimillion-dollar sandlift also has restored the beach itself to its tropical glory as well as adding a scenic beachwalk. A wide array of dining choices and fabulous shopping make Miami Beach a recreational haven as well.

South Miami Beach's Art Deco District was recently added to the National Register of Historic Places, becoming the youngest community to be thus honored. The one-square-mile area from 6th to 23rd streets and from Ocean Drive to Lenox Avenue has become an internationally famous dining and entertainment district.

The white sand beaches along St. Petersburg Beach offer some of the state's finest waters along with the convenience of being only 30 minutes from Tampa International Airport. Averaging 361 sunny days per year, the 400-mile shoreline along the St. Petersburg/Clearwater beach area is a perfect spot for great resorts such as the Tradewinds, a 544-room beachfront resort that also features 28,000 square feet of meeting space. The largest beachfront resort on Florida's central Gulf Coast, the Tradewinds expanded by 200 rooms in November 1992, when it merged with the neighboring Breckenridge Resort.

Although Fort Lauderdale's famous beaches no longer host as many wild college students during spring break as in years past, the sands of southern Florida still beckon visitors from around the globe. Hollywood Beach stretches six miles, featuring everything from trendy boutiques and cafes to sea grass and sand dunes that have been carefully restored to their natural state. Lauderdale-By-The-Sea lies snug between protective coastal dunes, where visitors are so close to the off-shore coral reef that divers don't need a boat.

Many beach areas in Naples are known for their pristine environment that brings the fascinating wildlife of Florida close to its visitors. The Clam Pass Beach behind the Registry Resort in Naples borders an extensive mangrove forest where roseate spoonbills, osprey, great blue herons, and even bald eagles can be seen from the resort's three-quarter-mile boardwalk through the forest.

The beaches of Jacksonville, spanning the communities of Jacksonville Beach, Atlantic Beach, and Neptune Beach, encompass 20 miles of wide, sandy beaches offering swimming, surfing, fishing, and sunning. Just 12 miles from downtown Jacksonville, the beaches offer a wide array of dining and accommodations on clean, well-maintained beaches.

ATTRACTIONS

Florida boasts truly world-class attractions that bring people from around the globe. From its theme and amusement parks to its tropical gardens and unique museums, Florida is second to none in attractions for the entire family.

Any discussion of attractions in Florida must begin with Walt Disney World. Convenient to the entire state due to its central location in Orlando, Disney is the complete convention and vacation destination that just continues to grow in its offerings. Since opening in 1971, the Magic Kingdom has grown to encompass 45 major shows and adventures in seven lands, including the brand new Splash Mountain and the newly reopened Tomorrowland.

EPCOT Center, opened in 1982, has a new stage featuring fountains that splash up to 150 feet in the air and a new show called Food Rocks at the Land Pavilion that is a musical salute to favorite foods.

The Disney-MGM Studios Theme Park offers its visitors a glimpse of a real motion picture, television, and radio production facility while taking them on a backstage studio tour. The park's newest attraction will be The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a scary tour of a deserted hotel that climaxes with a 200-foot plunge from the hotel's 13th floor.

Disney's Pleasure Island features an entire complex of nightclubs, restaurants, and shops for the 18-and-older crowd, including its new 240-seat Pleasure Island Jazz Club.

The 56-acre Typhoon Lagoon water theme park at Disney offers all the wave action and slides you'd expect from a world-class water park, but it also features its 362,000-gallon Shark Reef in which guests snorkel in a saltwater paradise alongside fish, rays, and other reef creatures.

Universal Studios Florida in Orlando continues to grow into one of America's most popular attractions. The largest television and motion picture studio outside Hollywood, California, Universal Studios Florida offers guests more than 40 attractions as well as realistic street scenes from New York to San Francisco. The newest attractions are the JAWS ride featuring a 32-foot great white shark and two exhibits based on the popular film "Jurassic Park."

Busch Gardens Tampa is a 300-acre family entertainment park with thrill rides, live entertainment, and animal exhibits in naturalistic environments, in eight distinctly themed sections that capture the spirit of turn-of-the-century Africa. Busch Gardens also ranks among the nation's top zoos with 3,400 animals. Introduced in 1993 was the Myombe Reserve: The Great Ape Domain, where visitors can take a self-guided tour through a lush rainforest to observe lowland gorillas and chimpanzees in their natural environment.

The National Museum of Naval Aviation is one of the largest air and space museums in the world with 250,000 square feet of exhibit space. The museum is located at the historic Pensacola Naval Air Station, known as the "Cradle of Naval Aviation" and still home to the world-famous Blue Angels.

Wakulla Springs State Park, located south of Tallahassee, features one of the world's deepest freshwater springs. It offers glass-bottom boat tours, a picnic area, swimming, nature trails, a 27-room lodge, and conference facilities for up to 75 people. The Florida Museum of Natural History is ranked among the top 10 natural history museums in the U.S. Located in Gainesville on the University of Florida campus, the museum contains exhibits varying from paleontology and animal life to cultural diversity and computers. Castillo de san Marcos National Monument is a massive masonry fortress built by the Spanish in 1672-95, and it stands as the most significant historic site in St. Augustine, America's oldest city.

Daytona International Speedway, which opened in 1959, is host to the world's most prestigious stock car racing event, the Daytona 500. The World Center of Racing Visitors Center is open seven days a week for tours.

NASA Kennedy Space Center's SPACEPORT USA, one hour east of Orlando, is the visitor center at Kennedy Space Center and home launch base of America's Space Shuttle program.

Cypress Gardens, 45 minutes southwest of Orlando, has lush botanical gardens with over 8,000 varieties of plants, action-packed ski shows, and the "Wings of Wonder" butterfly conservatory.

Bok Tower Gardens, located in Lake Wales, is one of Florida's oldest attractions and now celebrating its 64th year. This majestic 57-bell carillon tower is surrounded by 128 acres of gardens and nature trails.

Arabian Nights Dinner Attraction in Kissimmee includes Arabian Dancing Horses of the Desert, Walter Farley's Black Stallion, the Royal Lippizzans, and many other spectacular steeds performing as a four-course dinner is served.

Alligatorland Safari Zoo in Kissimmee is a nine-acre zoo with more than 2,000 alligators and more than 100 species of exotic reptiles and animals. Sea World of Florida in Orlando is the world's most popular marine zoological park. It features kids' play areas, live shows, champion waterskiing demonstrations, and a variety of exhibits such as "Terrors of the Deep"--the world's largest collection of dangerous and deadly marine creatures.

The Salvador Dali Museum in St. Petersburg houses the world's largest collection of the famous Spanish surrealist painter's works.

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art is the state art museum of Florida. Located on 66 landscaped acres in Sarasota, it consists of the Art Galleries, the Circus Galleries, the Asolo Theater, and the Ringling Residence.

Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg is a lush tropical paradise where more than 5,000 varieties of plants and hundreds of birds are on display.

The Edison Winter Home in Fort Myers offers home and garden tours of the American inventor's winter home. The Henry Ford Winter Home adjacent to the Edison Home also is available for tours.

Bayside Marketplace in downtown Miami on Biscayne Bay is a colorful and upscale complex featuring restaurants, shops, cafes, and boutiques reflective of the ethnic and cultural diversity of the city.

Biscayne National Park Tour Boats, located in Homestead, offers glass-bottom boat tours of the Biscayne National Park's 180,000 acres of islands and reefs.

The Miami Seaquarium is South Florida's largest marine attraction, with Lolita the Killer Whale, dolphins, a manatee breeding colony, the world's largest shark channel, and dozens of tropical aquariums.

The Miccosukee Indian Village and Airboat Rides in Miami take visitors through the heart of the Everglades to visit an authentic Indian village that has been occupied for more than 100 years.

The Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum in Key West is a registered National Historic Landmark with original furnishings. The house still harbors a score of six-toed cats descended from the famous writer's own pets.

SPORTS and RECREATION

With wonderful weather year-round, spectacular natural surroundings, and incredible recreational facilities, Florida is a dream come true for sports and recreation enthusiasts. With sandy beaches and warm ocean waters as well as abundant freshwater throughout the state, water sports beckon.

Florida's 10,000 lakes and 166 rivers offer some of the best freshwater fishing in the nation, with the 450,000-acre Lake Okeechobee--the second largest freshwater lake in the United States--enjoying its reputation as the "Bass Capital of the World." The state's surrounding ocean waters are world famous for their excellent saltwater angling opportunities as well. The Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament, where anglers vie for $275,000 in cash and merchandise prizes, is one of several Florida off-shore fishing events that attract anglers from around the world.

A wide range of charter services and fish camps are available throughout Florida for visiting anglers who want to make sure they catch the keepers.

Florida's famous waters also provide visitors with the opportunity to powerboat, waterski, sail, canoe, snorkel, and scuba dive. Snorkelers can swim with lovable manatees in some of Florida's more than 300 crystal clear springs. Serious scuba divers can see the estimated 4,000 undersea shipwrecks in Florida waters or visit the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park off Key Largo, where a nine-foot bronze statue of Christ rests in 25 feet of water. America's newest national park, the Dry Tortugas, 68 miles west of Key West, also offers underseas adventures, while the Biscayne National Park off the coast of Miami is a 180,000-acre marine playground.

For land lovers, there's more than 7,700 tennis facilities located throughout Florida. Always a hotbed for tennis action, both the Women's Tennis Association and the Association of Tennis Professionals call Florida home.

For those who would rather watch sports than play them, Florida is a sports fans paradise. Due to the recent addition of professional sports franchises, Florida meeting delegates can catch action in professional baseball, basketball, football, and hockey.

The Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are Florida favorites, while the Jacksonville Jaguars become the NFL's newest team in 1995. Three of college football's best programs also are based in the Sunshine State, with the University of Florida Gators, Florida State University Seminoles, and University of Miami Hurricanes annually in the exciting hunt for the national championship.

Pro basketball came to Florida in a big way recently with the Orlando Magic and Miami Heat offering hot NBA action. The Florida Marlins are now playing major league baseball throughout the spring and summer in Miami, and 20 of the 28 major league baseball teams conduct spring training--the state's annual "rite of spring"--in several areas of the state.

Tampa features the National Hockey League expansion team, the Tampa Bay Lightning. NASCAR fans enjoy the action at the Daytona International Speedway, drag racing is featured at the popular 12 Hours of Sebring, and Gatornationals and internationally recognized Grand Prix racing events take place in both Miami and St. Petersburg.

Visitors who like to place a wager while they watch sports will find ample opportunity throughout Florida. Pari-mutuel facilities are offered at 18 greyhound tracks, and there are 12 jai-alai frontons, four thoroughbred racing tracks, and one harness/quarter horse racing track.

GOLF

Golf holds a special place in the hearts of Floridians and those who love to visit the state. With 1,100 of the estimated 14,000 courses in the entire United States, Florida has more golf courses than any other state. From Scottish-style links to flat and hilly tracts sporting designer labels such as Fazio, Nicklaus, and Dye, Florida fairways play host to 55 million rounds of golf annually.

The host to 20 professional golf tournaments each year, Florida is home to many of golf's associations including the PGA of America and the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). It's also home to many of the nation's premier golf and resort complexes that make the perfect setting for a variety of association meetings, conventions, and other activities.

The beautiful Ponte Vedra Inn & Club on the Atlantic Ocean outside Jacksonville offers two world-class golf courses designed in the classic Scottish links tradition. Featuring elevated Bermuda greens protected by steep-faced bunkers, the Ocean Course and Lagoon Course have been graced by the likes of golf greats such as Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player in almost 60 years as popular golf destinations.

The venerable Boca Raton Resort & Club features two 18-hole championship courses designed by noted golf architect Joe Lee, as well as the Dave Pelz Short Game Golf School, the only U.S. golf school that focuses exclusively on the all-important short game. Named one of the nation's top golf resorts by Golf Magazine, Boca's original course opened in 1926 and featured renowned head pros Tommy Armour and Sam Snead over the years.

Amelia Island Plantation features 45 holes of award-winning golf on its 1,250-acre resort in northeast Florida. Its 18-hole Long Point course designed by Tom Fazio winds along the oceanfront dunes of the barrier island. Long Point has been named among the "Top 75 Resort Courses in the U.S." by Golf Digest.

Marriott at Sawgrass Resort features 99 holes of golf, making it the nation's second-largest golf resort. Home to five excellent courses, the Marriott is one of only two resorts in the world to host two Tournament Players Club (TPC) courses.

Grenelefe Golf & Tennis Resort in Orlando features three championship golf courses, 950 fairway villa/suites, and 70,000 square feet of meeting space. Its Grenelefe West course is ranked in the top 15 in Florida by Golfweek Magazine and has played host to several professional tournaments including the Senior PGA Tour's National Qualifying Finals each December.

Marriott's Orlando World Center is the state's largest resort with 1,503 guest rooms near Disney World. Its Par 72, 6,150-yard championship golf course is designed by Joe Lee. The resort recently received a "Reader's Choice" award from Conde Nast Traveler, based on attentive guest service, extensive amenities, and overall charm. The PGA National Resort & Spa, as home to the PGA of America, features five championship golf courses. The Champion Course, which was redesigned by Jack Nicklaus in 1990, annually hosts the PGA Seniors' Championships. Four of the course's holes have been named among the "10 Toughest Holes on the Seniors' Tour" by the PGA Tour.

The Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, located on the Intracoastal Waterway in North Miami, offers two championship Robert Trent Jones golf courses that are famous for their lush tropical surroundings and "island greens." Named as one of the "Best Resorts in America" in the silver medal division by Golf Magazine, Turnberry Isle has hosted the PGA Championship, PGA Seniors, and LPGA tours.

Saddlebrook Resort, on 480 acres of natural countryside outside Tampa, has two championship golf courses designed and built by Arnold Palmer. Tall pines and cypress line rolling fairways and undulating greens, and lagoons and water hazards abound throughout the courses. Saddlebrook also is the world headquarters of the Arnold Palmer Golf Academy. Saddlebrook has 500 suites and more than 60,000 square feet of meeting space.

The Innisbrook Hilton Resort in Tarpon Springs, outside Tampa, features the legendary Copperhead course, home to the J. C. Penney Classic and rated the finest course in Florida for six consecutive years by Golf Week. Innisbrook features 1,000 suites and 65,000 square feet of meeting space.

Disney's resort area features the "Magic Linkdom," a series of five championship golf courses and a nine-hole, family-play course. The two latest additions opened in 1992 at Bonnet Lakes Golf Club near Disney's Fort Wilderness and Dixie Landings resorts. Of the two new courses, Tom Fazio designed Osprey Ridge while Pete Dye designed Eagle Pines. They complement three Joe Lee-designed courses--the Magnolia, Palm, and Lake Buena Vista--that annually host the PGA Tour's Walt Disney World/Oldsmobile Golf Classic.