Plantation has real golf, and most of it doesn't require a country club membership. There's a genuinely public championship course the city itself owns and runs, plus a semi-private club with two full 18-hole layouts. Those are the ones worth knowing about as a dad who can't exactly commit to steep club dues right now.

Here's what I've figured out about playing golf here without blowing your Saturday.

The Courses Worth Knowing

Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club at 7050 West Broward Blvd is the city's own municipal course, and it doesn't play like a typical public track. It's a 7,148-yard, par-72 championship layout designed by von Hagge, Smelek & Baril, with five sets of tees on every hole so you can set your own difficulty instead of getting steamrolled by a course built for scratch golfers. There's also a clubhouse with panoramic views, a 55-acre linear park with a 1.1-mile multi-use trail if the rest of the family wants to walk or bike while you play, and PGA professionals running lessons and junior clinics. Call (954) 585-5020 for tee times.

Jacaranda Golf Club at 9200 W Broward Blvd has two 18-hole courses: the East and the West. The West course is the better one — long, well-placed bunkers, and rough that actually punishes errant shots instead of just annoying you. It's also the one open straight to the public. The East course is more forgiving if you're shaking off rust or just need a low-stress round, and the club runs it semi-private with the ability to book public tournaments and corporate outings. Both courses carry a Four-Star Golf Digest rating and have hosted PGA, USGA, and FSGA championship events. There's a full practice setup too — driving range with six practice tees, a chipping area, and putting greens — plus a pro shop that books lessons at (954) 472-5836. Course hours run 6:30am to 6:30pm daily.

Dad's tip Weekday mornings between 7–9 AM are the sweet spot at either course. You'll finish faster, the course is quieter, and you're home before the day gets away from you.
Warning If you find "Inverrary Country Club" mentioned anywhere as a nearby option — skip it. It closed permanently in April 2020 after Broward County classified golf courses as non-essential during COVID, and it never reopened. The course sits idle in Lauderhill now. Don't plan a round around it.

What to Actually Expect

South Florida golf comes with summer heat that will humble you fast. June through September, if you're teeing off after 10 AM, you're playing in heat and humidity that makes the back nine feel like a punishment. Go early or don't go.

Cart fees are almost always included or bundled in at these courses. Walking is allowed at some times but check first — not every course permits it during busy periods. If you like walking for the exercise, call ahead and ask specifically.

Pace of play is generally decent at Jacaranda and Plantation GC on weekdays. Weekends after 8 AM can drag depending on who's in front of you. A 5-hour round is not how you want to spend your Saturday.

Before You Go — Fast Checklist

  • Book online or call at least a day ahead
  • Tee time before 9 AM if it's summer
  • Collared shirt required at most courses
  • Bring cash for tips — rangers and cart staff appreciate it
  • Download the course's GPS app or grab a yardage book at the pro shop

The Real Reason to Go

I'm not going to dress this up. Golf is a few hours where you're accountable to nothing except the shot in front of you. No email. No school pickups. No decisions. Just you, a club, and a ball you're going to blame the wind for anyway.

Plantation is genuinely set up for this. The courses are close, the tee times are reasonable, and you don't need a country club membership to play decent golf here. That's the whole pitch.

You come home lighter. My wife has pointed this out. It's not golf that does it — it's three hours of doing something you're actually focused on instead of half-present everywhere. Whatever the mechanism, it works. Schedule the tee time.