Inside Old Shores, Florida’s most ambitious new golf destination
- Jake Nicholas
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
The team behind Bandon Dunes, Sand Valley, Rodeo Dunes, and Wild Spring Dunes has just unveiled its next bold destination: a sweeping new golf resort and community in northwest Florida that’s already shaping up to be one of the most ambitious developments in the state. Led by Michael Keiser and anchored by a headline course from Tom Doak, Old Shores is now under construction, with the first of five world-class courses officially underway.
Nestled about 30 miles north of Panama City Beach and just inland from the sugar-white sands of Florida’s Gulf Coast, Old Shores is envisioned as more than just a golf course — it’s being designed as a living, breathing community with a walkable village, accommodations, restaurants, outdoor recreation, and premium homesites.
The first course under construction at Old Shores is a Tom Doak-designed 18-hole layout, with shaping already underway and preview play anticipated by late 2026, followed by a grand opening in fall 2027.
Doak’s routing exploits an exceptionally varied landscape, terrain unlike a typical Florida course, including roughly 40 feet of elevation change, sandy soil, longleaf pines, open savannas and unusual karst depressions that include dramatic sink features and the expansive Long Lake, which can reach about 50 acres in size. Doak’s longtime associate Angela Moser is playing a key role on the ground, working with the shaping team, bringing her own design experience from high-profile courses like Pinehurst No. 10.
The full vision for Old Shores calls for a diverse, multi-course lineup designed to make the resort feel alive from morning to sunset: two championship 18-hole courses, a dedicated 9-hole course, and a par-3 built for casual rounds, families, and twilight play. Together, they create a campus-style golf experience—where serious players can tackle full-length courses, while friends and families drift between shorter loops, quick matches, and social rounds. Surrounding it all is a walkable village that leans into outdoor living, with fishing, hiking, and shared gathering spaces woven through architecture inspired by the timeless charm of English and Scottish hamlets.
Old Shores is also offering Founderships — early membership opportunities that grant preferred access to construction updates, preview play, special events, and first choice at homesite releases — reflecting the resort’s blend of exclusive golf and lifestyle living.
