Since the trains began operating in 2023, sports fans have gladly boarded Brightline, traveling north to south and vice versa.
Whether headed from West Palm to a college bowl game in Orlando, where the Miami Hurricanes are playing, or departing Sunday morning from the station at MCO to arrive in time for a Dolphins tailgate party and a one o’clock kickoff, or to this week’s F1 race at Hard Rock Stadium, the options are endless.
With the PGA Tour’s return to Trump National Doral for the debut of the Cadillac Championship, April 27–May 3, I’ve already booked my round-trip Brightline ticket for the season’s fifth signature event.
With stations in Orlando, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Fort Lauderdale, Aventura, and Miami, golfers can also avoid traffic and arrive relaxed and ready to tee off after a 20–30-minute ride-share to championship-caliber courses throughout Central and South Florida.
Bringing Your Own Clubs is Easy
A standard soft-sided golf bag is included with a PREMIUM fare at no additional cost, or a modest standard baggage fee of $35 applies to SMART travelers, the equivalent of main-cabin economy class.
Beyond convenience, Brightline offers a hospitality-centric experience that has reinvented train travel at a price comparable to driving or flying. PREMIUM is the way to go, with complimentary, unlimited snacks and beverages, including wine and beer on tap, plus access to dedicated workspaces.
Orlando Brightline Station
Consider the possibilities when traveling from South Florida to Orlando to play golf on any of Walt Disney World’s Championship courses operated by Arnold Palmer Golf Management. Originally designed by Joe Lee, Disney’s Magnolia has crowned PGA Tour winners for more than four decades and now opens 365 days a year to the public, along with Disney’s Palm, Lake Buena Vista, and Oak Trail Courses. The area also features courses designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Jr. (Celebration Golf Club), Greg Norman (Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, home to the PNC Championship each December), and Shingle Creek Golf Club, located near Universal Studios.
West Palm Beach Brightline Station
Notable experiences include PGA National, host of the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches, and The Park at West Palm Beach, co-designed by Tiger Woods and featuring both a championship course and a lighted 9-hole walking layout. Another Masters Champion, Raymond Floyd, designed the Palm Beach Par-3 Golf Course – an iconic oceanfront layout ranked among America’s best par-3s.
Boca Raton Brightline Station
All aboard for terrific options, just a short ride to and from the station. There’s the centrally located Boca Raton Municipal Golf Course, Osprey Point in Palm Beach County, less than 2 miles away, with several challenging courses. You will also want to plan to play the Alan C. Alford Red Reef Family Golf Course – a 9-hole, 1357-yard gem that offers breathtaking views of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean.
Fort Lauderdale Brightline Station
Enjoy Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club, Jacaranda Golf Club with two courses to choose from, and Davie Golf Club, a municipal course popular with locals, all within about 20 minutes of the station.
Aventura Brightline Station
Sports fans know this stop well for Hard Rock Stadium. Those who like to swing a golf club should find themselves on the tee sheet at JW Marriott Miami Turnberry, one of my favorite courses in South Florida, with a magnificent view of the city. Greynolds Golf Course, influenced by Donald Ross, is also a fantastic municipal course to try and conquer.
Miami Central Brightline Station
This area is renowned for iconic scenery and urban golf experiences. It features the four championship courses at Doral, led by the famous Blue Monster, which will soon host the world’s best golfers competing for a $20 million purse and coveted FedEx Cup points.
Before or after watching your favorite pros, you can also enjoy the recently redesigned Miami Beach Golf Club, just minutes from South Beach. Be sure to play at Crandon Golf on Key Biscayne. It hosted the PGA Tour Champions for nearly two decades and offers bay-to-ocean holes and sweeping views.
There’s no shortage of great golf in Florida, and Brightline makes day trips or long weekends much easier, so you can save your energy for the golf course and leave your car behind.
Coming Attractions
Construction is currently underway for Brightline to connect Las Vegas to Southern California, making your future West Coast golf trip that much easier, but that story is for another day.
