Shark’s Tooth Location & Vibe
Where: One of WaterSound Club’s Three Championship golf courses with 54 holes within the exclusive Wild Heron residential community in Panama City Beach, Shark’s Tooth Golf Course offers a serene escape just minutes from the white-sand beaches of Florida’s Emerald Coast.
At the same time, primarily a private club, guest access is available through the Camp Creek Inn and the beachfront WaterSound Inn Resort’s golf packages for a prestigious Stay and Play golf vacation on the shores of the Emerald Coast of Florida.
Why Golfers Play Here: Beyond the prestigious Greg Norman signature design, golfers are drawn to Shark’s Tooth for its natural beauty—the course winds through palmetto forests, wetlands, and Lake Powell, Florida’s largest coastal dune lake. A luxury boutique setting with beach club on Scenic 30A is dramatic and idyllic setting, with fine dining, and a very relaxing setting.
The pristine conditions and relative exclusivity create a peaceful alternative to the region’s more crowded resort courses. With a new clubhouse at Shrak’s Tooth and town other courses, Camp Creek Golf Course, and the brand new golf course “The Third Golf Course“ establish this as a number 1 luxury golf destination away from the hustle of PCB Tourist Towers to a wooded lakeside golfers paradise.
A Greg Norman Design Coastal Masterpiece
Course Architect: Greg Norman, two-time Open Championship winner and prolific course designer with over 100 courses worldwide.
A Greg Norman Signature Style: Norman’s “least disturbance” philosophy shines here with a layout that embraces the natural terrain. Expect generous landing areas off the tee followed by challenging approaches to well-protected greens—classic “Shark” architecture that rewards strategic play while punishing poor decision-making.
Shark’s Tooth Awards & Accolades
✔ Named among “America’s Top 100 Golf Courses” by Golfweek
✔ Recognized in Golf Digest’s “Best in State” rankings for Florida
✔ Hosted multiple PGA Tour Q-School qualifying events
Golf Course Stats By the Numbers
Yardage/Slope/Rating:
- Par 72, 7,246 yards from the championship tees, Slope 130, Rating 74.6
Key Features: Five sets of tees accommodate all skill levels. The course showcases remarkable variety—from pine-lined fairways to dramatic five lakeside holes. Rough comes into play off many of the tee boxes (any duff shots will be punished), while brilliant white-sand bunkers defend greens and contrast beautifully with the emerald fairways and native vegetation.
Shark’s Tooth Golf Course Signature Holes
The 2nd Hole: A mid-length par-3 plays into an oppositely oriented green that is 42 yards long but only 15 yards wide requires accuracy, and is difficult as does the tee-shot off 18 with several holes have pines flanking the tee boxes for narrow windows.
The 5th Hole: Plays like a gated community that is surrounded on all sides by hazards, with this long par-3 that is stunning to look at and navigate. I personally loved it. Rewards accuracy and time well spent on the practice range.
The 6th Hole: “Norman seems to have a penchant for incorporating a par-5 hole into his designs that presents players with numerous strategic options, all of which possess significant risk. There’s simply no low-risk way to play the sixth.” – Commented Jaxon MacGeorge
Lakeside Finish (16-18): The closing stretch along Lake Powell provides both challenge long-hitters and spectacular views. The par-5 18th demands precise shots over expansive strategic bunkers to the green that appears just in front of the expansive clubhouse.
19th Hole Clubhouse at Shark’s Tooth
Dining: The clubhouse offers casual post-round fare and upscale dining options featuring fresh Gulf seafood. The outdoor terrace provides stunning sunset views over Lake Powell.
Pro Shop: Well-stocked with premium brands and exclusive Shark’s Tooth merchandise that makes for great souvenirs.
Extras: Comprehensive practice facilities include a wide driving range, short game area, and multiple putting greens. PGA professionals offer golf instruction to guests looking to improve their game.
Pro-Tips about Shark’s Tooth
Head Coach at ACC Golf Tournament at Shark’s Tooth, “The greens are not super large. We call it a second-shot golf course because you are going to have to be really good from that area to the hole to play it well. That is not something that is in modern golf. Golf today has large greens with different sections to them and Shark’s Tooth is not that way.” –Trey Jones, FSU’s head golf coach and director of golf.
Booking Tee-Times and Stay and Play Options
📍 2003 Wild Heron Way, Panama City Beach, FL 32413
⏱ Peak rates (Spring-Fall) run premium green fees; the value season (Winter) offers savings of up to 30%
💡 Insider Hack: Book through the CampCreek Inn for preferred tee times and potential package discounts, including other area courses. Current Stay and Play Packages
FINAL VERDICT
Norman’s Shark’s Tooth delivers a formidable yet fair test where Florida’s natural beauty meets world-class design. This genuine, prestigious, must-play golf course elevates Panama City Beach golf getaway.
