Raven Golf Club

The Raven Golf Club sits in the Sandestin resort area of Miramar Beach along Florida's Emerald Coast, where Robert Trent Jones, Jr. routed the course through native longleaf pine forest and wetlands characteristic of the region's coastal plain. The design takes advantage of the natural topography, incorporating elevation changes uncommon for northwest Florida golf, with fairways that move through stands of mature pines and around preserved wetland areas that frame several holes and influence strategic decisions from the tee. Jones's routing emphasizes accuracy over distance, with relatively narrow corridors defined by the pine canopy and natural waste areas. Water features appear throughout the layout, both as hazards and visual elements, while the bunkering follows Jones's typical style of large, sculpted sand complexes that guard greens and frame landing zones. The greens themselves offer moderate undulation and are sized to reward precise approach play, a recurring theme in Jones's work from this period. The course serves as one of several layouts within the Sandestin resort complex, which has developed over decades into a significant golf destination along the Florida Panhandle. The Raven operates within this resort environment, drawing visitors to the area's white-sand beaches and coastal attractions while offering a golf experience distinct from the more open, links-influenced designs found elsewhere in the region. The pine forest setting and emphasis on target golf give the course a character more typical of inland layouts than beachside resort courses.