Panama City Beach swings into 2006 with exciting renovations and offerings at five championship courses.

Recognized by Golf Digest magazine as one of America's top three golf towns, Panama City Beach boasts pristine greens, reasonable fees and plenty of choices. Tee time is any time of year. The seaside destination enjoys an average annual temperature of 74 degrees and an estimated 320 days/year of sunshine. Here's what's new and noteworthy on these fairest of fairways.

Nicklaus Course and Meadows Course, Bay Point Resort
The Nicklaus Course at Bay Point premiered in the fall, 2005, as the only Nicklaus-design course in Northwest Florida. Travel + Leisure Golf quickly named it one of the most worthy redesigns and notable debuts in the state. The par-72 course replaces the former Lagoon Legends. The redesign consists of a comprehensive renovation, including the rebuilding of tees, bunkers, and greens, as well as the re-contouring of fairways. The 7,100-yard Nicklaus Course has a signature island lagoon hole (#5) and water features throughout the course. Players enjoy the natural terrain of scrub oaks, pines and salt-water marshes as well as panoramic views of St. Andrews Bay.

Bay Point's second course, the recently renovated Meadows Course, is designed for repeat play. Occasionally tight fairways and many bunkers and lakes provide ever-changing challenges. Advanced tees have handicap ratings ranging from a 73 at the Ladies' Tees to a 73.3 at the Championship Tees. The Meadows is a popular choice for members, hotel guests and locals. At 6,913 yards, the Meadows has the length to test even the best golfer's distance.

In addition to two 18-hole courses, Bay Point offers a comprehensive practice area, including manicured putting green, sand bunkers and driving range. Lessons are available with PGA pros. The golfer's lounge, Club 19, is open to the public for breakfast and lunch. For more information or tee times, call 850-235-6950.

Hombre Golf Club
Hombre's 27 holes - called the Good, the Bad and the Ugly - feature new greens and tee complexes. As host of PGA Tour Qualifying Schools, Hombre earned a reputation for intimidation. The Wes Burnham-designed course features water on 15 of its 18 original holes, the Bad and the Ugly. Hombre's nine newer holes, the Good, have less water, but wetland areas players must cross on three tee shots. The original holes have a 73.4 course rating and a 136 slope rating. Yardage on these holes is 6,836 from the championship tees; 5,400 from the senior tees, and 4,901 from the ladies tees. Scenic and challenging, Hombre is nestled amidst wetlands, lakes, marshes and preserves.

The Martin Green Golf Academy offers half-day as well as two, three and five-day clinics for every skill level. One of the nation's top professional instructors, Martin Green has taught many of today's PGA and LPGA Tour pros. Golfers can shop in Hombre's pro shop and relax at the bar and grill. The extensive practice facility includes a driving range, putting green, and chipping and bunker green. For more information or tee times, call 850-234-3673.

Holiday Golf Club
Eighteen newly constructed Tif Dwarf greens challenge even the most experienced short game artist. Located near the beach, Holiday Golf Club houses an 18-hole, par-72 championship course. Bunkers of silky, white sand protect the broad, lake-lined fairways and elevated greens. The championship tees provide a course rating of 72.2 and slope rating of 132. Yardage is 6,588 from the championship tees; 6,240 from the average tees; 5,749 from the seniors, and 5,446 from the forward tees.

Additionally, Holiday has Bay County's only lighted, 9-hole, par-3, par-27 course. Designed for the whole family as well as for the scratch golfer, the course offers three sets of tees, including junior tees. Holiday houses a pro shop; restaurant, and extensive practice area with illuminated driving range, practice chipping green and large putting green. Lessons, rental clubs and packages are available. Tee times are taken up to five days in advance. For more information or tee times, call 850-234-1800.

Signal Hill
As Panama City Beach's first golf course, Signal Hill was designed on powdery, white dunes. It features wide-open, well-groomed fairways; forgiving rough, and large, manicured greens. The18-hole, par-71 course has a slope rating of 100.82. Yardage is 5,617 from the blue tees and 5,259 from the red ones. Golfers enjoy breakfast and lunch at Signal Hill's snack bar and rent clubs or shop for new ones at the pro shop. Tee times may be made seven days in advance. For more information or tee times, call 850-234-3218.

Local hotels offers golf packages with discounted greens fees and preferred tee times. Panama City Beach boasts 27 miles of silky, white-sand beaches bordering the clear, emerald-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrews Bay. The Northwest Florida destination enjoys recognition as a top U.S. beach from Conde Nast Traveler, The Travel Channel, USA Today, Southern Living, Dr. Beach and the Clean Beaches Council, among others. Family attractions, championship golf courses, sporting events, delectable dining, predictably sunny weather and a vast number of recreational activities draw visitors to this seaside destination annually. For more information, call 1-800-PCBEACH (850-233-5070) or visit www.visitpanamacitybeach.com.